Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
P oe sat in the middle of their house, utterly enthralled.
He realized he should be worried about scary boogeyman coming and stealing the children and dire warnings from possibly drunk musicians.
He knew he should be concerned, but really, this was too cool to do that.
Things just appeared. He just sat there and watched things grow and change and manifest. This was stunning.
Their home was totally unique from anything he’d seen in the village. It was a log cabin, but not a simple one. This was two-storied and well-chinked, with a lovely balcony for them off the master bedroom. Then there were the bedrooms. Four of them, like promises of things to come.
And Cade’s only comment? “We can always make more.”
Poe shivered and wandered through the bottom floor, fingers trailing over the bookshelves that were filling themselves in waves. The autumn sun poured through the multitude of windows, and he peeked out of one to see Preston and Tanya out in the forest stacking pinecones happily.
He loved how they integrated into the trees here. Unlike the Rocky Mountain clan, they were much less merged into the rocks and stones, but they were also much more natural and rustic than in the village. Poe grinned—this was something totally unique, utterly theirs.
Best of all, he could just sit here and watch things appear. Books, glass windows, bedrooms. He was fairly sure there was a basement. He hadn’t quite gotten around to going down there yet, because what if there wasn’t? Or what if the house decided it didn’t want to have a basement anymore? That could be awkward.
Roots crept along the bottoms of the rooms like baseboards, and then at the back of what he assumed was going to be their front room, a vast tree was growing in one corner, the huge trunk anchoring their home.
And if Poe went and looked out the skylight—there was a skylight—he could see the tree covering their home, huge heart-shaped leaves turning bright blues and purples. Cade said that meant all of its leaves were about to fall.
Which reminded him, he needed to ask Cade about whether or not they needed to push the leaves off the skylight when they fell. He supposed they could just go fly up there and blow them off.
They could just fly up.
The longer he was here, the happier he was.
A lovely table appeared in the center of the dining area, the edges carved with snowflakes, a note on the top.
A gift for our beloved son, his mate, and sweet Tanya.
Oh.
Tears stung his eyes.
He had a family. Him and Tanya. They had a place. They had love.
As much as he hated those fucking vampires, he was grateful that they’d pushed him and Tanya to meet Cosmo and his family, to come through the veil where he could have his mate.
Tanya waved at him through the window, and he smiled at her and waved back.
Justin and Myk were coming down along with Jules. They had a cart they were bringing filled with foodstuffs and plates and dishes, just things, along with some of his hoard, much of which had appeared around the house like it knew where it belonged.
Everything in his house was lovely.
And now that they could stay here, have dragons inside, it was all the better. Poe had to wonder if they had dogs here—pets. Not even companions, just pets.
He supposed he was going to find out. His family was the closest now to the village, although the children went down often for school.
That was where the older ones were right now. The older children went four days on, four days off, and the younger children went for only half a day with the others, every other day. He wasn’t sure what happened after their schooling. Did they go to a university? Did they apprentice? Both? Either. Neither.
Another thing to learn. Tanya was going to have to start schooling at the beginning of the next week.
Everyone assured him it would be good for her.
Cade had explained that their year was separated into seasons, their weeks eight days long, with a two-day period of rest at the end of each week where families came together and relaxed.
“Are you well, my love?” Cade asked him, coming in to bring a load of wood. He wasn’t the only one out with the children, so it was fine. They were well-watched.
“I am.” He was better than well. He was fantastic. “The house is really taking shape.”
And suddenly, Poe wondered if that phrase came from just this phenomenon, before the magic left the human world.
The thought kinda boggled his mind.
Poe grinned at Cade. “The house is building itself. My hoard keeps showing up.”
“The glass,” Cade agreed. “It is lovely. The light plays with it.”
“It does. And you hoard…clocks.”
“Yes.” Cade’s cheeks went pink. “I love them. I have been fascinated with them since I was a youngling. I also like clockwork toys.”
“You do?” That was so cool! And so unlike a big, alpha guardian. It just made him smile. “I would love to see them.”
“When the right room forms. They would have to be protected from the children. They are very fragile.”
“Of course.” He wondered how old they were. Automatons had been very popular at certain times in human history. He supposed some things were universal.
“I have some that they can play with.” Cade beamed. “I think Stella will like one especially. It is an owl. I had it made several years ago by a clockmaker in the village. He needed coin for his daughter’s hoard. She took a fancy to shiny coins, and he usually trades for his wares.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.” Cade just kept surprising him.
“I try to help around the village. The people give me coins sometimes for helping with heavy things, or with building things. Items or situations they have trouble with. But I have very little use for them.”
“Someone up at the clutch hoards gold and silver.” He tilted his head. “I can’t remember who.”
“I will ask them.” Cade nodded. “I would be happy to help them with their hoard.”
“You’re my generous mate.” He held out a hand and Cade came to him, callused fingers wrapping around his.
“You seem tired, mate.” Cade sat and kissed his cheek.
“I kinda am. And I have to admit, I’m starving.”
“We should take the children home. And see if they will feed us up there.” Cade waggled his eyebrows.
“That actually sounds great.” He had a distinct taste in his mouth, and he thought it might be something from back home. What was it?
“Come on, love. Let us go blackmail Jules into going back up.”
He chuckled and rose with Cade. “I bet he’s happy to unload and turn back around.”
They headed outside, and Cade assured him no one would bother their home. “The trees can protect themselves,” Cade said.
“Okay. Does that mean we get tree sprites to help with the housework?”
“Hmm?” Cade frowned slightly.
“Well, some of the clutch have brownies. Some have gnomes…”
“Ah. House spirits.” Cade’s rumbling laugh sounded. “If we have enough babies, perhaps.”
Now his cheeks heated. “I want that with you.”
“I do as well, my love.”
“Well, we’ll have to see, won’t we?” He hooked his arm in Cade’s. Then stopped and blinked. “Cade, Justin and the others are bringing food and everything down. They’re bringing a whole load. I just forgot. You make me a little dizzy.”
“Me? Nonsense.” Cade picked him up and spun him around, making him and the kids laugh.
“Me next. Spin me next!” Tanya came running up to him, her arms upheld.
Poe smiled as Cade swung her around. He had to wonder how long it would be before she found a name for Cade.
“What’s the dragon name for daddy, Cade?” he asked, and Cade blushed.
“Kadi.”
“That’s almost your name!” Tanya beamed at Cade, so excited. “That’s almost your name, and your name is almost that.”
“Well, my whole name is Cadeyrn.”
She nodded. “Yes, but I’m going to call you Kadi.”
Our daughter is very, very sure of herself.
He felt a rush of pure joy from Cade. Our daughter?
She doesn’t have anyone else. We’re her family now. She’s our daughter, through and through, as much as if we’d given birth to her.
That pleases me.
You please me.
Cade’s eyes went wide, and then he felt a rush of amusement; his mate’s laughter just rang through the trees, and the rumble of a cart sounded from up the mountain,
“I hear our next shipment coming down.”
Poe thought it would be nice for everyone, having them halfway in between the village and the Rocky Mountain clutch, especially in the dead of winter. Someone could stop here, warm themselves, wait out a storm, spend the night, whatever was necessary.
A nice stopover, so to speak.
“Do you think we’ll need outbuildings for the bocapal? Any carts or carriages?”
“I’ll speak to the trees, ask them for a space.” His Cade was magical. Truly.
“Thank you. That would be most excellent.”
The cart appeared, the twins Syd and Leo riding atop the huge pile like they were bull riders, Stella flying around them in circles.
Wow.
That was.
Wow.
He chuckled, and they moved out to meet everyone. Stella came right at them like an arrow, her feathered little dragon form so adorable. Cade caught her, then flung her away, making her shriek with laughter.
Oh, Cade was going to be such an amazing alpha father.
“Hey, all!” Justin hopped down from the wagon once he had it stopped and braked. “We have a load!”
“It looks like you brought the whole mountain,” Poe said.
“Well, we did bring most of it.” Jules laughed, stepping down to grab the kids off the pile.
“You two drew the long straw?” Poe asked.
“Huh?” Syd blinked at him.
“It means you got lucky to come along,” Justin said.
“We are lucky.” Leo blew a stream of rainbow-colored bubbles at them, a little pop of joy happening every time one burst.
Someday, this dragon was going to be in big demand. He was sort of like a little baby shot of whiskey while his brother was pure smoke. Together, they were something else.
“Nevvy’s at school,” Syd explained. “She gets to go to school.”
“You’ll start next term after Yule.” Myk rolled his eyes. “These two are desperate to be with their big sister and all the other big dragons. I want them home just a little bit longer.”
“Don’t you have two others even younger?”
“We do.” Myk nodded and kind of pinked. “We’re thinking about a sixth, maybe?”
Jules rolled his eyes. “You guys are incorrigible.”
“What’s corrigible?” Tanya asked.
“Incorrigible is when you won’t do what you’re told.”
The corners of Tanya’s lips drew down and her eyebrows lowered. “Uncle Myk’s good. He makes strawberries, and he’s always nice.”
Poe watched this with fascination. He was going to have to learn this and fast because he didn’t have baby through toddler through young child to learn how to balance all this. He just had, boom, tween.
“Yeah, Uncle Jules,” Myk said. “I’m good. I make strawberries.”
Jules narrowed his eyes. “I’m going to show you good.”
“You should totally show me good.” Myk was barely holding the laughter together, but it was Justin who couldn’t hold it.
Justin just lost it, laughing so hard that he thought the guy was going to forget how to breathe.
Tanya put her hands on her hips. “What is so funny?”
“It’s a grown-up thing, baby girl.”
“Ugh.” She stamped her foot. “I’m almost grown.”
Cadeyrn shook his head. “Allow yourself to be young, my sweet girl. You will miss it.”
“That’s what grown-ups say to make us be quiet, you know?”
Poe chuckled softly. “So, don’t you wanna get some of your things off of the cart? You have all the dolls that Arielle gave you and the art supplies that Nevvy gave you.”
Justin sighed. “Don’t forget the cages of chickens that Sebby sent. You got three hens and a rooster. Protect them with your lives, okay?” Justin didn’t sound like he was joking.
“We will. Thank you.” That was so sweet. “I’ll have to send him a note with my gratitude. That’s very kind.”
This little Sebastian had managed to create quite the little chicken situation up at the keep. No one would ever go without eggs. In fact, Sebastian might be supplying eggs for the entirety of Lunastra in only a few short years. Commercial dragon chicken farming.
“Cade, do we have some sort of coop situation?” He wasn’t sure what predators were here, but they existed.
“Sebby sent one!”
Poe laughed, clapping his hands. “Of course he did.”
Cade chuckled. “I will put it up for them. Did any food make its way down? My mate was going to drag me up the mountain to find some.”
“It did. We brought all sorts of stuff. Some stew and some bread. Some spice cake. Cookies. Some dried fruit.”
“Yum.” Poe’s belly growled audibly. “I could eat it all. I am starving. Though you know what I really want?”
“What’s that?” Cade asked.
“Fudge.” That was the taste he wanted. He’d just figured it out.
“Oh-ho!” Justin turned to go dig in the wagon. “It just so happens that Abe and Seth made some. Chocolate and vanilla both. Last night.” Justin handed him a paper-wrapped package, tied with string.
“Goddess,” Poe breathed, looking at the kids, then running for the house, his package clutched in his arms.
“Mate?” Cade hurried after him, but he felt a little feral. He didn’t want to share.
Not even a little.
“What is this fudge?” Cade asked when they were inside with the door closed after them.
“You’ve never had it?”
“I do not know. We may have something similar, but?—”
“Right. How do you know?” Poe chewed his lower lip. “I’ll share a bite of each with you, but that’s it.”
Cade’s lips curved, his brilliant blue eyes flashing with mirth. “That will be enough to know.”
“Okay.” He unwrapped the package, the scent making his mouth water. “Here.” He tore off a bit of each kind of fudge and handed them over. Then he stuck a huge piece of the vanilla fudge into his mouth. And chewed. “Mmmmm.”
Cade bit into the chocolate, his nose wrinkling. “That is very strong of flavor.”
“You don’t like chocolate?”
“It is bitter,” Cade said.
“Hmmm.” Poe tried some of the chocolate. “It’s perfect. Have the other.”
Cade popped the vanilla bit into his mouth, and his eyes widened. “It is Vernian tablet.”
“What’s that?”
“Vernia is a region a few provinces over from us. And they make this candy from the milk of a special kind of animal.”
“Well, we call it fudge. Though to be fair, I have heard it called Scottish tablet.”
“What is Scottish?” Cade asked.
Poe stuffed more fudge into his mouth, talking around it. “A country in the United Kingdom in the human realm.”
“Mmm. My father will be fascinated. Since he learned of the crossing of dragons into our world from yours, he has often wondered if such things as tablet originated here and went there, or if they were imported here from the human world.”
Poe nibbled more slowly on his third piece. “Cosmo would say that fudge is divine enough to be fae.”
“I suppose he would. Those triplets are an odd blend of all things.”
“I love them to death. They saved me and Tanya.” He ate another piece of chocolate. It was so good he just couldn’t stop stuffing it in his mouth.
“I admire them very much. I just mean they must feel torn between human, fae, and dragon.”
“I think they are.” He licked his fingers.
Cade watched him closely. “How does one make this fudge?”
“Butter, sugar, heavy cream… Or marshmallow fluff and chocolate. I’ll have to get Abe and Seth’s recipe.”
“Please do. I would like to make it for you.”
“You would do that for me?” Poe stopped with his fudge halfway to his mouth.
“I would.” Case rose, then kissed him. “I will go help unload. You be alone with your fudge.” And Cade slipped back out the front door, leaving him with his treat.
He’d never been so happy as he was—right this second, in his home with his fudge, knowing his mate and daughter were right outside.
He wondered if he could possibly get some peanut butter fudge…