Flight Risk

19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Kier

I hit save on the document I’d been reviewing for the past hour. With me going on paternity leave as soon as the eggs were hatched, Lord Malric insisted that I start having others assist with the front-desk responsibilities. For a few hours each day one of the administrative assistants has been sitting with me to learn the routine. They’d all been shocked at how much work I took on. Apparently, they had assumed they’d just have to check people in and out of the building. That was only a small piece of what I did. The rest of my tasks including a lot of coordination for the various events that were happening in the building, or other places. Essentially, I took care of whatever the dragons asked for.

It didn’t seem like a lot to me. It was just my everyday.

With how fantastic the daycare was at headquarters, I didn’t anticipate that I would need a lot of time off work. I’d at least take the first three months to hang out at home and get to know my children.

There would be three of them. A terrifying thought, but it was my reality.

A nanny would be in our future, which was common for dragons with larger clutches.

I crossed one item off my to-do list and added four more.

The door opened and the smoky scent of Gerald, the dragon who had given me a hard time, hit my nostrils. He had not visited headquarters while I was working since the incident. I didn’t know if my mate had seen him since then either.

I stiffened, but otherwise remained unfazed. He might be able to smell my fear, but he wouldn’t see it. I pasted on a smile.

“Good afternoon, how may I help you today?”

Gerald’s eyes remained downcast as he approached the desk.

The elevator doors opened, and Tav’s scent filled the air. My gaze was automatically drawn to where my mate stood. I relaxed now that he was near me. I didn’t expect trouble, not after the last interaction and especially since Tav was already here. Gerald would be really stupid to cause another fuss in the lobby of the clan headquarters.

Tav’s eyes narrowed when he caught sight of Gerald.

Before Tav could speak, Gerald placed an item on the desk, then lowered into a bow. “My sincerest apologies, Kier. I have been wrong in my behavior. Arrogant in my status as a dragon, and in doing so, I have insulted you, your mate, and this clan. I have seen the error of my ways and wish to make amends.”

I eyed the item on my desk. The shiny emerald shimmer of a single dragon scale, about the size of a silver dollar, had me gasping out loud. It was polished and it shone brightly, a stark contrast to the marble desk. I had never seen Gerald in dragon form, but the color matched that of a clan dragon. It had to be his.

“Gerald.” My mate’s voice was filled with respect.

“Is this yours?” I asked. I had no idea how to proceed. I’d never been gifted a dragon scale before. I’d never heard of any dragon doing so, and the protocol was unknown to me.

Gerald nodded. “It is. You may not know this, since the tradition is old and outdated, but I wanted to show my sincerity. A dragon’s scale is a sacred thing. We do not shed them lightly. I am giving this to you to show my seriousness and willingness to change. For the clan and for my family. Most of all, for you. I am sorry for the harm and distress that I caused.”

I was speechless. My throat threatened to close with the emotion that clogged. “Gerald. Thank you.”

Tav was by my side then, his arm around my shoulder. He held out a hand to Gerald. “Thank you. This means a lot to my mate and to me. We will not forget the integrity you’ve shown here.”

Gerald nodded, his shoulders finally relaxing. “I appreciate you hearing me out.”

“May I put this with the nest?” I asked. “Mistakes are a natural part of life. I want my dragonets to know that there is goodness in the world, and that for all mistakes we make, the important thing is to learn from them and right any wrongs.”

Gerald nodded. “I would be honored.”

With one last look at the both of us, he was on his way.

I held the scale in my palm.

“Well, that was completely unexpected,” Tav said.

“Indeed. Do you think your dad put him up to it?”

Tav shook his head. “No, he left the situation up to me, and I hadn’t even gotten a chance to talk with Gerald or his family. And giving a scale away... that is not something you ask a dragon to do. Not as a punishment, and not even as a suggestion. Scales have to be given freely.”

“I’m glad. I didn’t expect it, but I am glad for it. He made my day. And it will be yet another story to tell our dragonets about why our clan is the most amazing of them all.” I turned so that I was in Tav’s arms with my arms around his neck.

He smiled down at me, his grin broadening and his eyes sparkling.

“What?” I said.

“You said our clan. You’re fully immersed now. There’s no going back.”

“I really am,” I said. “When I took this position, I just wanted the security of a steady job and a place to live. I never dreamed it would lead to this.”

“And what is this, exactly?”

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed my mate. “Happiness. Incredible, undeniable, amazing happiness. And love. And a family.”

“And the sexiest dragon mate to ever walk the earth.”

I chuckled. “I suppose that could be true.”

“And to think, this was all perfectly orchestrated by me.”

“And a greedy airline that double-booked my seat.”

“That too.”