Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
He’d gone looking for Isaac because he’d taken off without warning and it bothered him to not know where he was. He didn't expect Isaac to be with Ozen, nor did he think the mage would be fighting for his career. After what happened, he didn’t deserve his career anymore. When he told Ozen he’d hand in his handover report by the end of the week, Ozen said they’d discuss it later. He figured it was because he wanted privacy for the discussion, since Isaac’s family was around. He didn’t think he was on the fence enough for Isaac to talk him into changing his mind. It was ridiculous.
He bit his tongue against an argument when Ozen made his demands. A week off wasn’t going to do anything. At this point, he didn’t think anything would. But he didn't want to undermine the effort Isaac had made. He’d screwed with the man’s life enough.
After Ozen disappeared out of sight, though, Maverick’s tongue loosened. “I’m not going with you. You need to focus on you, not me. You’ve done enough.”
“I don’t remember asking your opinion,” Isaac snapped back. It was so fierce, it made Maverick’s head jerk like he’d been slapped. Isaac was usually calmer than this. What happened to his well-honed control?
Spinning on his heel, Isaac stomped back to their room, where his parents and roommate were waiting. He grabbed the clothes his roommate had brought him and disappeared into the bathroom without a word. All eyes swung to Maverick, who gritted his teeth to hide his irritation. He’d already gotten dressed, and the apprentice dropped off his salve. He didn’t need to wait around anymore. Isaac was well taken care of by his family. He didn’t need a frustrated dragon to add to his stress.
“If he leaves, I’m not going home!” Isaac shouted through the closed door. “He’s going with me whether he wants to or not!”
Maverick’s eyes widened in shock and fury. “Isaac–”
“Shut up, Maverick! You’re going! And my family will help with that if they don’t want me using my magic to force you!”
Shit. Three sets of eyes all locked on him, and Isaac’s mother actually moved between him and the door, crossing her arms over her chest. Isaac said she wasn’t as strong as he was. Maverick didn’t think he needed to worry about her. It was Isaac’s threat that stalled him. He didn't want Isaac overdoing it to get what he wanted. That was dangerous and he couldn’t stomach causing Isaac any more pain.
With a frustrated snarl, he clenched his fists at his side. He couldn’t even storm off. Not without moving Isaac’s mother. No doubt, three mages would be enough to cause him trouble. Especially in his weakened state. Damn it.
Isaac came out a moment later, grimacing at the robes his roommate had brought him. “You planned for me to go home, didn't you?”
The roommate scoffed. “Of course I did. You need to heal. Besides, your mom called me and told me she was taking you home. At least now you won’t stand out like a sore thumb.”
Isaac crossed his arms, irritated. “I like standing out. You know that. And I’m not going home without picking up my things anyway. You’ve only drawn out the–”
“You’re not going anywhere near your apartment right now. You can have things delivered once we get there,” his mother interrupted with a frown. “Your father already warned you of the media circus. Maeve is going to stay with her family too, to avoid it. Both of you are going straight to the portal. End of discussion. Let’s go.”
And despite significantly weaker power on her part, Mrs. Silverbreeze was not to be argued with. Maverick found himself following behind Isaac with a scowl as they all trooped out together. Isaac’s father pulled the car around and they said their goodbyes to the roommate before Maverick was pushed into the passenger seat, with Isaac and his mother in the back. It was easier on his long legs that way, so he didn’t argue.
“I’ve alerted your grandmother you’re coming. She’s preparing for your arrival. You’ll get time on your own to commune, but there will be family rituals as well. You’re welcome to join us, Maverick.” She said the last part a little louder, probably thinking he couldn’t hear her from the front seat. She wasn’t aware that he could hear her even if she was whispering.
“You’re not making him join a ritual,” Isaac snapped. “And I don’t need one, either. I can do it on my own.”
Maverick’s knowledge of magic rituals was limited. He knew mages returned home to surround themselves with nature at least once a year, and to heal. But he wasn’t sure how that was accomplished. He had assumed it was a lot of meditating, like they’d been doing thus far.
Isaac and his mother bickered through the entire two-hour drive. His father didn’t engage outside of when his wife demanded his input, and even then, he seemed to maintain neutrality through it all, seeing both sides of the argument. Every once in a while, he’d glance at Maverick, giving him a look that said this wasn’t unusual between the mother and son, and it was best not to get involved. Maverick didn’t argue that point.
They arrived at the portal station after nightfall. Built like train stations, portal stations held permanent portals to the most common realms, like the silver realm. Mr. Silverbreeze parked their car and led the way inside. His wife and Isaac followed behind him with Maverick in the rear, his mood turbulent. He didn’t want to distract Isaac from his healing, but he knew it would only make things worse if he refused to go with. He wished he could think straight long enough to muster up an argument, but his dragon side was in full agreement with going along with Isaac, and he was still out of sorts from the incident.
Isaac grabbed his arm, tugging gently to lead him. He’d been so lost in thought, he’d stopped walking. The crowds were oppressive and his dragon protested, pushing at his skin for a shift. It wasn’t recommended until the salve did its job. He’d have to wait. Isaac didn’t say anything, just led him along with a gentle touch, stopping at the back of a line leading into the portal. It wasn’t very long, and it took no time at all before it was their turn.
Maverick moved without thinking, taking Isaac’s hand when the mage tried to separate. He didn’t want to separate from him. He still refused to even consider the mate thing, but his instincts screamed at him to keep Isaac close, and he didn’t have the constitution to fight it. Isaac glanced at their hands curiously for a moment, but didn’t argue. He kept his grip gentle to avoid hurting Maverick’s injuries and led him through the portal without pulling apart.
A small part of him wished the fae was right. But then he hated himself for even thinking it. He wouldn’t saddle Isaac with all his baggage. That would be cruel. He was better off alone.
Something was bothering Maverick. Isaac couldn’t get a read on his mood, but the dragon seemed unsettled and distant. He could almost feel the waves of unhappiness coming from the man. And he wasn’t sure what to do about it. He knew Maverick would be pissed about being forced to join them, but he couldn’t coach him in meditation if they were realms apart. And he wasn’t willing to stop fighting for Maverick yet. They were going to fix this issue, and Maverick was going to keep his job. Isaac never backed down once he put his mind to something, and this was the hill he was going to die on. Maverick wasn’t losing his job.
He felt the magic sweep over him as they passed through the portal into the silver realm. It was warmer here, which settled Isaac a bit. And it’d only get more temperate as they went into the forest to where his family home was situated. The magic in the forest was very active, and it kept the forest balmy. It was his happy place as a kid. Whenever they came to visit his grandmother, he was happy to be there and spent hours outside surrounded by warmth and the sights and smells of the forest. He didn’t visit nearly as often anymore. Too busy with school and work. He didn't realize how much he missed it until he arrived.
Some realms allowed the passage of cars, but the silver realm was nature based, and anything bad for the environment wasn’t allowed. People traveled by foot or carriage unless they were flight shifters or a species that could portal. Isaac’s family had a carriage that they all used, and because his mother called ahead, it was waiting for them, with his cousin holding the reins of the massive pair of horses pulling it. He waved, a bright sunshine smile on his face, happy to see them. Then again, Alder was always smiling.
“Hello family! It’s been a while!” he called, bouncing in his seat with excitement. “Especially you, Isaac. How long has it even been?”
Too long. He wasn’t going to admit to that. Instead, he ignored his cousin, climbing into the back with Maverick right behind him. His mother must not have warned the family that Maverick was coming, because Alder’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in the large dragon shifter.
“Well, hello. Who are you?” he practically purred. Isaac saw the minute Alder switched from sunshiny to flirty. It pissed him off, and he had to fight the urge to crawl into Maverick’s lap and stake a claim. This possessive thing was getting old fast.
“We’ll introduce him when we get home. Don’t dilly dally, Alder. My son needs to be with his family.”
For the first time since she showed up in his hospital room, Isaac was grateful for his mother. She redirected Alder’s attention, sitting next to him up front so they could chat on the journey. His dad sat across from him and Maverick, his arm over the back of the seat and his neck craned so he could enjoy the view. They set off into the trees at an easy pace, and Isaac felt himself slowly relax.
“It’s beautiful here,” Maverick murmured beside him.
Isaac hummed in agreement. “It really is. Have you ever been to a magic forest before?”
Theirs wasn’t the only one, but it was one of the oldest. For all he knew, Maverick had been here before. He was probably way older than Isaac. He didn't actually know the dragon that well. Not outside of work and sex, anyway. If they were going to take a vacation together, he might as well get as much information as he could.
“Maybe when I was younger. Not in at least a century. My family lives in the saltoria mountains, in the dragon realm. There are not many trees there.”
No, there weren’t. Isaac hadn’t been, but he’d seen pictures. The saltoria mountains stretched so tall, the clouds covered most of them. Too steep to hold many trees. And without a dragon mate to bring you there, you weren’t finding out what was on the other side of the clouds. Everyone was curious, but anyone who lived there was tight lipped about it. You had to be a dragon or a mate to even be invited, and he assumed you were sworn to secrecy beforehand. If given the chance, he’d jump at seeing it for himself. But he’d need a dragon mate for that, and that was probably never going to happen.