Amethyst Storms (Primordial Protectors #1)

30. Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Ionus

Our mate was breathtaking.

The many swells along his scales where the colors darkened at each dip and bend only to morph into shimmers of greys and lilac when the sunlight hit them.

Our eggs were a pure mix of both our bloodlines.

I figured it’d take more coaxing to get his dragon, Bront?, such a perfect name for a perfect dragon, to surface but I guess the pain of egg birth was enough. Either that or Sarah’s magic triggered his dragon side. He sparkled in the daylight, so bold and brilliant. I just couldn’t get enough of him or his dragon.

I hopped in front and faced him in a crouched position.

Spread your wings as wide as you can, Bront?.

It took a couple of times before he got it.

Look! Look how big they are!

My chuckle came out as a snort.

Quite an impressive wingspan. How does it feel?

Amazing!

Now, wave them up and down. There you go, but not as hard. Lightly, it will build the wind beneath them as you lift above the earth. Once you’re airborne wave them in long, deep strokes.

“Is that…?”

Yes, it is indeed, Baird. Your great grandson amid his maiden flight.

Baird shifted and joined us. His merriment was felt through the familial connection.

Brothers, come see this. Alexander has shifted into the most spectacular dragon.

Before long, all but Odem had joined us, and Knox watched from the ground below though his shouts of encouragement reached our ears. Alexander was beside himself as the brothers did their best to teach him figure eights. He stumbled and fell into a downward spiral a couple of times. My dragon wasn’t happy, but it was important Alexander learn to get himself out of such situations and he did, pulling out just in time.

I’m fine. Deep breath, Torran and Ionus. There are enough of you here to catch me if I fall.

Tapping into his heightened senses would give him an edge with the hatchlings. Goddess knew we’d all need to call upon them in the days to come. One or two younglings were easier to manage but four and with the twins already presenting impish behaviors it’d be all hands, or in this case all talons on deck.

Oh shit, how do I land?

Ha-ha, that one will take a couple of times to get down. But don’t fret, we all rolled our landings in the beginning. For your first landing it’s best to come in slow.

Bam! Roll, roll, roll.

Yeah, softer next time.

Thanks, Mattias, like I didn’t figure that out myself.

I landed beside Alexander and shifted. Are you okay, my love?

Nothing more than a bit of wounded pride. But can I just say that was freaking awesome!

Leave it to my daredevil mate to find nearly breaking a wing, or two, was awesome. It took him a bit to shift completely back, his hands and feet giving him the most trouble, then I scooped him up and swung him around.

“Nothing short of brilliant, you were.” I kissed him into a fit of giggles.

I want to get back to the nest after a quick shower.

I figured as much. I’ll join you for a quick cleansing.

Quick? We both know better but considering the amount of adrenaline coursing through me, something to take the edge off would be nice.

Oh, I’ll take the edge off all right.

“Good job, Alex,” Baird gripped his shoulder. “So proud of you.”

“Thanks, Great Gramps.”

Alexander was all smiles as each member of our growing family congratulated him. The newly named Torran and I stood nearby like the proud mates we were.

“Your shower or mine?” Alexander laughed. “What?”

“Your flirting skills are seriously lacking.”

“Pfft, I’ve got game.”

“And now you sound like Torran with the pfft.”

“FYI, brother, you’ve got no game and never have had any.”

“I’ll remember that the next time we’re on the pitch, Quint.”

“Have I told you how amazing and beautiful you are?” Alexander’s head was thrown back, and I stared in awe as the water cascaded down his body. How I loved watching him come undone as I brought such pleasure to him as my hand slid along his shaft, stroking just the way he liked it.

“Mmm,” he moaned and gripped my cock. “I’m not the only one deserving of a happy ending.”

“Aye.”

How long had it been? Weeks for sure. My poor mate had been so uncomfortable the last bit of his pregnancy that copulation and anything that didn’t massage away the pain wasn’t on the table.

“Your hands are magical, my love.” Light jolts of lightning surged through his touch. Just enough to arouse and excite me. Alexander was testing his given gifts, and I was more than happy to be his practice dragon. But, given our elements were somewhat shared, I gently pushed the wondrous stirring back onto my mate.

“Holy shit,” he moaned.

“Holy shit is right. There are…there are no words.”

Our hips thrust back and forth as our cocks slid through the other’s grasp. Such a simple act yet one that felt amazing just the same. This would definitely take the edge off. Until later. Another brother could watch the eggs after my mate and I napped with them for a bit. Then I could whisk Alexander off for a night of pampering and love making. Yes, a lovely date night was in order.

“Ionus,” he gasped my name as his cock throbbed and he came, triggering the same from me.

While he caught his breath I took the time to give him a thorough washing.

“That was by far the most intense orgasm I’ve had. Have you ever used your elements in that way before?”

“No, never thought of it. Before you it was more about a quick fix. Did I ensure my partners were taken care of? Yes, but never with our magic.”

“While I don’t really want to hear about past conquests, I do appreciate I’m getting the better side of you.”

“Always, my love. No other has ever held my heart.”

“Nor your eggs.”

My laughter rang through the bathroom. “Nor my eggs.”

“How dumb is it that I worried the first time I shifted it would hurt? Like bone breaking, blood curdling screaming at the top of my lungs in pain.”

“That’s from all that monster porn you read.”

“Hmm, possibly. Some of the descriptions do get kinda graphic. But honestly, it didn’t hurt at all. It was a little confusing at first, trying to communicate with my dragon. I love the name, by the way, Bront?. They were already on the verge of a full shift in the cave, and I had zero control.”

“In time, you’ll learn to work together. I believe recent events along with the use of magical assistance confused your dragon. They’d been hidden for so long, that jolt of magic likely roused them.”

“That makes sense. Can we fly every day? It was exhilarating. And amazing. And awesome.”

“Ha-ha,” I pressed my lips to his. “We can do our best. I don’t recommend flying in storms and I have a feeling there are many sleepless nights in our future once the eggs hatch.”

“True dat!”

I’d have to ask Odem about that one.

“But I do promise to do my best for us to get as many days riding the wind in as we can. Now, let’s go give Uncle Odem a break.”

While my mate headed toward the nest, I veered off to the kitchen to whip up an early dinner. As soon as our bellies were full I knew we’d both nod off curled up around the eggs.

“He did well I take it,” Odem said as he stepped inside the kitchen.

“Aye. His dragon is magnificent.”

“Maybe tomorrow another brother could egg sit so I can join the fun?”

“Absolutely, and Gramps will be on duty tomorrow. I couldn’t believe that my grandson was in the air today. My only regret is that his parents weren’t alive to see it.”

My gut told me there was more to that story than any of us knew. I hoped and prayed to the Goddess we’d find their killers. But rather than give false hope, I’d let it be. For now.

“Have either of you eaten?”

“You know me,” Odem rubbed his belly, “I can always eat.”

“I could eat, too. Whatever you’re whipping up, Ionus, smells wonderful.”

I enjoyed cooking for others. There was just something about it. Maybe it was the gathering of friends and family or merely the satisfaction of tantalizing another’s palate.

“Gentlemen, there you are.” I slid a plate of seabass, garlic roasted rosemary potatoes, and a small side salad in front of them then placed the same on a tray for Alexander and I. “Bon appetite.”

“Thanks,” they murmured in unison, mouths already full as I headed down the hallway to join my family. I had wondered why I hadn’t heard from Alexander while I cooked and found my sweet mate curled up around our eggs as best his human form could do, soundly sleeping. Waking him was hard especially knowing how tired he was, but eating was a must after all the calories he’d burned off flying today.

“My love, time to eat.”

“Just five more minutes.”

I chuckled. “Let’s eat then Torran can curl up around all of you.”

Yes, please. I want to hold our family.

Easy, Dragon. Let’s feed our mate first.

Pfft, food is overrated.

Says he who once devoured an entire buffalo in one sitting.

Pfft.

That damn pfft is for the birds. I curse whoever taught it to you.

You used it, too, so you can’t lay all the blame on me.

I can and I will.

Dragon, or Torran as our mate had lovingly named him, wasn’t content until he was protectively curled around his family. We napped to our hearts’ content. No one woke us nor did I hear another stir within the house. The best way to end a phenomenal day.

Our days became a bit routine. Boring to some, but ideal for us. We woke with the sun, practiced and flew with the others. Alexander adapted well to his dragon, Bront?, and while the first time he breathed fire it scared the shit out of him, he quickly harnessed the wild flame. His battle skills improved with each match and without a shred of doubt he’d prove to be a formidable opponent. Especially when it came to protecting our younglings.

Some of our clan ventured into town in the afternoons to work with Emerson while Alexander and I used the time to nap with our eggs. Raven and Carver were hard at work reaching out to covens far and wide, building relationships that would eventually allow us to gain access to their lands in search of other dragons we now knew were out there. It still amazed me after all this time that my brothers and I hadn’t a clue so many of us still existed.

To date, we’d visited one such plot of land aside from Knox’s but returned emptyhanded as the nest the mages detected had been cleaned out. I only hoped those who’d been in it were safely tucked away in another location.

“Jacob, let me help you in with that.” I’d no sooner stepped outside than along came my brothers, each lifting a piece of nursery furniture and we hauled them up to the room.

“Wow, these are amazing.” Each bassinette had the respective baby’s name etched into it tied in with an intricate design. “Wait, is that our family crest?”

“It is. Caro suggested it and provided it to me. Too much?”

Too much? It brought tears to my eyes. “No, not at all. Thank you, friend.”

While Jacob and I situated the furnishings, Mattias, Quint, and Odem brought up the remaining dressers.

“Where’s Caro?”

“He headed into town,” Quint winked.

“Ah, gotcha.”

“What’s all the noise?” Alexander wobbled in, wiping his eyes. “Oh my Goddess. Jacob.” A wave of emotions rushed through our connection. Our mate was pleased. “Jacob, they’re beautiful, and you have their names etched on their dressers as well. Whatever we paid you for this, it wasn’t enough.”

“If you think these are great, wait until you see the cribs. The first one is nearly done. I’ll bring the changing tables by tomorrow.”

“We can run out and pick them up today if you’d like?” Odem surprised me by asking. He was really taking this whole proud uncle deal to the next level. My brothers and I had always been close, but Alexander and our hatchlings only served to strengthen that bond and this side of Odem warmed my heart.

“That would be great, thanks for that.”

“I’ll ride out with you,” Quint offered Odem.

The others left and Alexander and I got to work tucking away the freshly washed clothing.

“I can’t believe this is real and that this is our life.” Alexander ran his hand along the top of Griffin’s dresser. “These are so detailed and thankfully sturdy.”

“Hopefully Jacob’s hard work won’t go down in flames.” And that I meant in the literal sense.

“No kidding. I wish there was a way to fireproof wood. I just can’t wait to meet our babies.”

“Me, too, my love. Me, too.”

As we finished with the clothing, Odem and Quint returned with the changing tables. Together as a family we completed the nursery which meant all that much more as the room and our lives were filled with so much love. This was truly a Denarius family affair.

“I can’t wait for my turn, brother,” Quint clapped my shoulder.

“The pitter patter of little feet and the fluttering of tiny wings. I can’t wait for all our homes to be filled with those wonderous sounds. Christmas will never be boring again.”

Caro laughed and rubbed his hands together. “I for one can’t wait to spoil them rotten.”

“Uncle Odem has first dibs on babysitting!” Odem called out.