Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
C osmo helped Cullen move a chest of drawers into his bedroom. They’d found it in Hawk’s attic, which was full of the most amazing shit, and Cullen had immediately claimed it as his. It was huge, and he was panting by the time they got it into place.
“Why didn’t we make Corbin and Hawk move this?” Cosmo asked.
“Because Corbin would have called it for his seed collection.”
“Oh, good point.” Cullen’s house was fascinating. It was a massive A-frame, formed from huge logs, or what seemed like massive beams, but something had happened, and the house had hundreds of secret doors and hidden places to wander, tunnels to explore. It was a marvelous place—not scary, just fun.
And somehow, no matter how often any of them wandered, no matter where they went, they ended up back at the big kitchen that formed the rear of Hawk and Corbin’s house.
“I think it looks perfect here, don’t you? What are you going to put in it?”
“Toys. I think it would be so much fun to have a place with a ton of toys.” Cullen patted the dresser, bouncing. “I want this to be a game room.”
“That’s cool, I like that. Put the dangerous ones at the top, hmm?” One day, there would be babies. One day, these houses would be filled with family.
“Yes. We put them in order of age. Crawling, toddling, and then the adult toys all the way up at the top.”
“Good deal.” He helped get the piece in just the right place, then stepped back to watch.
Oh, it was perfect. It fit just right.
And Cullen was making it this…colorful, wonderful place full of pillows and blankets and illusions. He could get lost in there for days.
“Perfect. Now help me move my bed to that wall.”
Cosmo groaned. “Your bed is a wall. Why don’t you have slider thingies to move it?”
“I do.” Cullen beamed, holding up an Amazon package.
“Oh, good deal.” That would make it way easier. They got the ends lifted a tiny bit and the gliders placed underneath, and it was like whoosh. The bed was moved in seconds.
They grabbed each other’s hands and bounced up on it, flopping hard.
“Man, I want a milkshake,” Cullen said.
“Well, we just happen to have ice cream.”
“In a minute.” He looked at the chest from across the room.
The curtains blew, the featherlight fabric brushing against the bureau.
It was amazing to him because, if you looked out the window that was next to the furniture, the light poured in and it was summertime, puffy clouds lolling across the sky.
There were roses blooming, and the trees were deep green and full. And if you looked just right, you could see his mother’s house up on the top of the hill, the curved shape almost hidden by a multitude of roses. He could smell them, along with apple and honey. It was pure warmth.
If he’d looked out the window in Corbin’s house just now, it was springtime. Flowers and trees were just beginning to bud. Everything was light green and…actually, they were kind of the color of Corbin. Everything was beginning to grow and sprout and be beautiful.
This morning, from the windows in their house, it was the deepest part of autumn. It was that moment, right before the snows came, when everything had gone quiet.
Harvest was over and there was this deep waiting silence, like the world was whispering, ‘go to bed, go to bed, go to bed.’
Even better, it was pouring outside of Corbin’s windows, and there may be snow tomorrow in his. Here, there was a summer squall, just begging to water the flowers.
So much fun.
“It’s cool, huh?”
Cosmo nodded to his brother. “Yes, but I have to admit I don’t miss the constant summer, and I’m ready for fall—I want our Halloween party. Of course, we’re lucky. If we get tired of one season, we can go somewhere else.”
“I know! There’s something exciting about scary stories and casseroles and harvest festivals. In Lunastra, it’s all asparagus and eggs.”
“I know. It’s wild and wonderful, all at the same time.” He grinned at Cullen, tickled. This felt so normal. “What kind of toys?”
“Well, I think games, puzzles. Books. Things that will last. Because. I mean, this is our home. We’re going to be here. We might as well be prepared to stay and enjoy ourselves. Also cards. I love cards.” Cullen rubbed his fingers together and a slew of cards seemed to fly at Cosmo, spin around him like wild black and red butterflies. And then they flew away back into his hands before they disappeared.
Cosmo applauded. “You’ve been practicing.”
“It’s so much easier here. I imagine it’s because I don’t have to worry about covering us up, about us having different skin or eyes or anything. I can just spend all the magic making things. I know they’re not real, but they’re so much fun.”
“Show me your best thing.” He leaned against the windowsill, the scent of rain getting stronger.
“Okay, I’ve been working on this. Stand back.”
Wait for me! Corbin’s call came from deep within the house. I want to see too.
Well then, come on. I’m going to make it happen soon. I’ve been working hard. They chuckled as Corbin came barreling in, screeching to a halt just in time to slam right into him. Both of them rocking together and tangling in the curtains.
Did I make it?
You made it.
“Okay, we’re going to have to focus. Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.”
Cullen closed his eyes and rubbed his hands together. At first, he moved them up and down, and then began to drag them in circles over and over and over again.
The horse appeared first, beautiful and white. Then a tail appeared, blowing in a soft breeze.
Oh, it’s lovely.
He’s not done.
I don’t think he’s done this before.
Not yet, Corbin.
Cullen made a tube with his hands clasped together and a column of smoke appeared, then he drew his hands up, tightening them slowly all the while. It was as if Cullen had formed a cone.
Then Cullen put the cone on the horse’s forehead, and it became a twisted, beautiful silver spiral. The perfect horn.
The big head turned to look at him, those dark eyes, so blue and so perfect. The fur so white it glowed.
“You made a unicorn!”
“It looks good, doesn’t it?”
“He’s just gorgeous.”
“I’m so proud.”
Cullen bowed. “Thank you.”
“I like the room, too, Bro.” Corbin looked out the window as the unicorn leaped out and galloped across the yard. “And the view is stellar.”
“It is. I think I want a milkshake.”
Cosmo grinned at Corbin, who rolled his eyes. “Well, we just happen to have ice cream.”
The unicorn whinnied, the sound solid and incredibly real, and Corbin leaned out the window to see. “That’s impressive, bud.”
“Yeah, you don’t usually?—”
Cullen blinked. “It’s not me.”
“What?”
“I didn’t do it. It’s not me. I mean I made the illusion, but not the real thing…”
“Well, at least it went the right way.” Cosmo wasn’t going to freak out. Who really knew what went on out there in the Land of Summer, which was where Cullen’s house faced.
“That was new,” Corbin murmured.
“We all focused like he told us. Maybe we did it together.”
Cullen looked a little wild around the eyes. “Let’s go make milkshakes. I can come back and move furniture in a bit.”
Food was always the answer when they were wigged out.
“Good idea.” Corbin led the way back out of Cullen’s bedroom, heading down to the communal area that kept…changing to suit them. It was mostly Hawk’s kitchen and dining room, but then the great room seemed to be from… He didn’t know. Maybe Myk’s brothers’ house? Or maybe it was a manifestation they’d made too.
Whatever. It was comfy.
It was really weird how everything had changed so much, so quickly.
Everything for the dragons was new, but only for them. The ways that the houses had altered and shifted seemed to be stabilized in the dragon world.
Here it was less so. Here, the house was in constant flux.
Cosmo supposed that made sense because they were living in between at least three great big worlds.
He sighed.
He was really tired of having to think all the time.
Maybe he should just appreciate it. The space was glorious. A weird amalgamation of three different homes and the three of them plus Hawk—it was a warm, cozy, comfortable space with books and puzzles and places to be together.
That’s what this was. It was their place to be together while still having homes that were separate.
He blinked and looked at his brothers. “You do realize that this is the best house?”
Corbin tilted his head. “Well, there’s three houses.”
Cullen chuckled. “And one house. Like us.”
“One house, one heartbeat, three bodies.”
They started to laugh, all three of them just cracking up.
It was perfect. They lived in the perfect house, and he hadn’t even noticed that until right now. He’d been so involved in the grumpiness of having to worry and deal with the cleaning and the organizing and the moving and the…
But the house was helping, this space was good, and they were so lucky.
“What’s funny?” Can I come in? Would I be disturbing you? That voice belonged to Hawk.
Come. You’re always welcome with us. Always.
Hawk wandered in, covered in dust and cobwebs, and the three of them stopped and stared.
“What happened?”
“I was exploring,” Hawk explained.
“Did you take water?”
“And a snack.”
“And did you leave a note?”
Their questions flashed out one right after the other. There were rules for a reason. They didn’t have a lot of rules, but those rules they did have were important.
“I, uh…”
“Hawk,” he admonished.
“I’m sorry. I’ll remember next time.”
“You’re forgiven,” Corbin said. “Did you find anything amazing?”
“I found my hoard.” Hawk beamed. “I had a little help.”
Cosmo tilted his head. “From who?”
“Bakli, would you care to meet my mate?”
A tiny man appeared out of a little door that opened in the kitchen wall. “Hello. I am Bakli.”
Cosmo gaped. The guy looked like a Christmas elf from an old cartoon. “Hello, Bakli. I’m Cosmo. And this is Corbin and Cullen.” They all bowed to the little man. “We were about to make milkshakes. Would you like some ice cream?”
Bakli reached into his hat and produced a mug the size of a thimble. “That would be welcomed.”
He was not going to giggle. Nope. Not even close. But that was the cutest thing ever.
“I’ll get making,” Cullen said, grinning.
“Thank you.” Bakli let Hawk lift him up to sit on the table, where he sat tailor style, nodding to all of them.
“Did Bakli help you find your hoard, love?” Cosmo asked.
“He did. He says he’s been here waiting for me to return, and for the house to fill with you and your brothers.” Hawk gave Bakli a warm smile.
“So you knew Hawk before?”
“Oh, yes. It was a bit disconcerting when the house came but Hawk stayed asleep elsewhere.” Bakli patted Hawk’s hand. “It is good to see him.”
“Thank you, friend. I’m overjoyed to be home with my mate.” Hawk drew Cosmo in, hugging him tight.
“I am glad.”
“So, does anyone want chocolate syrup?” Cullen asked. “Or do we want fruit?”
“I like cherry,” Cosmo said, raising an eyebrow at Hawk.
“I also like cherry fruit.”
“Sounds good,” Corbin said. “Bakli?”
“Oh yes. I very much like fruit.”
“Perfect! Fruit it is.”
“So, Bakli, it’s so nice to meet you.” He hadn’t even known there were house spirits to meet.
Bakli smiled at him. “It is also nice to meet you and to be able to come out and about. We weren’t sure if you were amenable to having non-dragons in the house.”
Cosmo winked at Bakli. “Well, we’re only half dragon, and we’re totally welcoming. Do you have a large family?”
“Yes, there is my husband and I, and we have seven children.”
“Oh my!” Seven? As in one less than eight. “That is a blessing worth of children.”
They were going to have to get toys for the children. After they found out how old they were, of course, but also how big, because that must be very small.
He would figure it out. They were smart dragons.
“It is a grand lot of children, but they are all good children. They are learning to help us with our jobs.”
“What jobs do you have?”
“We work for the home.”
Cosmo tilted his head a little confused, but more curious. “For the home? So you work for Hawk?”
“No. No. Mr. Hawk is our friend.”
They stared at each other, obviously confused.
Hawk cleared his throat. “I believe what Bakli means is that he works for the house. This is his house and our house, and together, we work to keep the place functioning. He helps in so many different ways, things that we rarely even notice.”
“Oh, I see, I understand.” He didn’t, but he thought maybe he did.
It was much like Tyson’s Helena or Ob and Bob. House spirits took many forms, and he was just incredibly grateful that his house spirit liked milkshakes and wasn’t pissed off.
Cullen perked up. “Does my house have house spirits? I want to meet my house spirits! They don’t even have to do anything. I just want to talk to them and see if they can show me anything else in the house. I’m working very hard on making tricks.”
Bakli shook his head. “I don’t have access to the other parts of the houses. This is my house.”
Cosmo frowned. “But this is the common area. This is all the houses.”
“Yes, and this is my door to that.”
“Okay. Well, I hope you’re happy. Is there anything that we can do for you that we’re not doing yet?”
Bakli tilted his head. “We very much like milk.”
“Ah, yes.” Hawk smiled. “We will get some for you, my friend. My memory can be foggy, so I didn’t get any on the way here.”
So he’d ask Hawk what portions of milk to serve to the…little people. He wondered what Bakli’s people called themselves.
Nisse, love. They’re nisse.
Oh, cool. Thanks. He beamed at Hawk.
“Do you have house spirits, Corbin?” Cullen asked.
Corbin shrugged. “If I do, I haven’t seen them. I worry that the…the problems ran them off.”
“So what do we do to let them know, if we have them, that they’re welcome to come say hi?” Cullen asked, looking at Bakli.
Bakli beamed. “Excellent question! Make your homes your own, your havens, your nests. The happy spirits will return and be awake.”
That made Cullen smile and nod, as if a question had been answered, but Corbin’s expression still looked troubled, and Cosmo moved over across the kitchen to help with the milkshakes.
What is it? What’s wrong?
Corbin shook his head, lips tight. What if I can’t?
What if you can’t what?
What if I can’t fix it? This. Corbin’s hands shook as he worked. My gift is making something grow. This is blood. This dragon blood is in the boards, it’s deep in the fibers, and it hurts. What if I can’t remove it and make things right?
Then we raze it.
Pure shock was written across Corbin’s face. What?
If we can’t clean it, then we take it out. We remove it. And we burn it.
The thought came as clear as crystal slamming into his brain.
Corbin blinked. Can we do that?
Why not?
What would Myk say?
Why would Myk have to know? He can’t come in here. He can’t leave the veil. You and I? We’re the only ones who would know. Cullen. Hawk. Who are we going to tell? We take it out and we remove it. No one ever knows. We’re the ones who live here. This is our home. We fix it.
As easy as that.
He shrugged one shoulder. Doesn’t matter if it’s easy or not. It is what it is. This is your home. Your life. We’re stuck here in this place . No, we were chosen to be here in this place, and I’m going to make it mine, and you’re going to make it yours. Fuck anybody who says otherwise.
Tension seemed to drain out of Corbin. Then he nodded, pouring the milkshakes into glasses. Right. All right, yes, I can do that. We can do that. Corbin gave him a warm grin, and his elder brother seemed to stand up a little bit taller. Thank you, brother.
I love you.
Corbin began to pass out glasses, and Hawk came back up to Cosmo, one arm around his waist.
You did well.
It seemed like the right thing to do.
It was perfect. Hawk’s smile was blinding. Absolutely perfect.
Feeling like a million dollars, like he had turned a corner in a road he hadn’t realized he was walking on, Cosmo lifted his glass. “To us.”
And everyone else lifted their mugs as well.
“Cheers.”