Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
C ade looked at the house, which seemed to be mostly finished growing…
He hoped.
At this point, he didn’t want Poe to get lost in there, and he wasn’t sure how many rooms they could possibly need.
Maybe the goddess knew something he didn’t.
He wandered down into the below-ground area, his feet just taking him wherever they wanted to go. This was all new, this level, and even Poe had not been down here.
He hoped Tanya had not been either. It could be dangerous to explore if things were still changing, but Cade had an excellent sense of direction, and, unlike his mate, he had been born here.
He loved how cool it was down here. Oh, it was frigid right now, and he would have to talk to the fire dragons about how to heat the lower levels efficiently, but…
Love? Are you there?
I am exploring our basement. Cade laughed, remembering his discussion with Poe about how difficult basements were where he came from. This cellar had not been difficult at all. I think we can store all manner of things down here.
Are there huge tree roots down there?
Cade looked about, squinting. Tree roots did intertwine all through the walls, but they looked almost like petrified wood. It was fascinating, and he went to put his hand on one. It’s as if they’ve solidified.
Fascinating. Can I come see?
I will meet you at the stairs. I would prefer no one but me come alone until it is through growing.
Okay.
His mate was waiting at the top of the stair for him, which he appreciated because he had never seen a dragon quite so large in his pregnancy so early. Granted, he’d never been intimately involved in pregnancy like this, but he’d known many, many pregnant omegas. Not to mention that everyone seemed to be concerned about the speed with which Poe’s pregnancy was advancing.
His mother had suggested that maybe it was because Poe had come from another world, that perhaps the rules were different there. None of the Rocky Mountain clan dragons had had a child since arriving.
Although there were rumors that one or two of them were with child again.
The midwife and Abe seemed to believe that there were simply two babies growing inside Poe, and that it was perfectly normal for him to be large, especially considering the amount of food he was taking in. These babies were hungry.
Regardless, Cade preferred that Poe not try to navigate the stairs without him. That little belly was already fairly round.
“Are you all right? What are you frowning for?” Poe scowled at him, eyebrows drawn together.
“I’m well, mate. Simply worrying about you going up and down the stairs.”
“I’m fine. I want to see the wood.” Poe started heading down the steps. Oh, he didn’t think so.
Cade shook his head and smiled, and then swooped his mate up. “Where’s Tanya this afternoon?”
“She’s visiting a friend after school to play, and then she’s going to see your father. They’re working on a project for school. She’s going to talk about clothing in the human world. And then she’s supposed to make a cake with your mom.” Poe shrugged, one arm around Cade’s shoulder. “You know how your parents are. They’re so excited to have their granddaughter around.”
“Yes.” They would deliver her here, fed and spoiled and laughing. It was a quick ride up from the village, and his parents seemed to love having the ability to bring Tanya home after her school day. It suited him well, how much joy she brought to his mother and father. “They care for her very much.”
“Of course they do. She’s amazing. I’m just glad that she has a friend in town that’s… That’s new.”
“It is. Do you think Arielle and Nevvy will be jealous?” He carefully set Poe on his feet after making sure the floor was not damp.
Poe pondered that. “I don’t think so. They both have school friends. Arielle even goes by Sparkle with some of them.”
“Sparkle?” Cade turned that over in his mind, unable to put together the wild, fierce redheaded girl he knew with “Sparkle”. “Huh.”
Poe snorted. “I know, right? But she has a merdragon buddy. It’s adorable. Oh, look at that!” Moving to touch the wood, Poe closed his eyes, a smile on his lips.
“It’s amazing, no?”
“Yes! I mean, the stone is so prevalent up the mountain, but the forest is the heart of our house.”
That made sense to him. Their home was not up in the mountains. They were not a part of that clan. They were a nexus, a connection, something to tie both sets of dragons together here at the beginning.
Soon it would be different. Soon there would be new dragons and mating and young dragons falling in love.
“So what are we going to do with all this space down here?” Poe wandered in a big circle, exploring the wood, a dreamy smile on his face, and Cade had to go and steal a kiss. “I guess we could keep our hoards down here, but I wouldn’t think that underground would be good for clocks.”
“Not particularly, no, but I do think that we could find some way to use the space.” Poe had found him an amazing clock for Yule. He’d purchased it down in town, and it meant the world to Cadeyrn. It was the first clock that his mate had found for his hoard. No clock would ever be more precious.
“Well, we don’t know what Tanya’s going to hoard. She may hoard something like boulders. Or…” Poe tilted his head as he thought. “Furniture maybe?”
“We shall see.” Who knew what wonders Tanya would decide to collect.
“Come on. Let’s go explore some more.” Poe took his hand and started leading him deeper into the basement. “It’s vast. I mean, seriously, this thing is huge.”
He nodded. “I’m sure there’s a purpose. It wouldn’t grow this way if there weren’t a purpose.”
“Maybe we’ll tunnel down to the village and up to the Rocky Mountain clan. That way when it’s terrible weather, we can still get back and forth.”
That wasn’t half-bad idea, but he had no control over what the magick did, so he would just let it happen.
Cadeyrn? Cade, are you home?
Tyr? He tilted his head. Is all well?
I think so, but I need you and your mate to come upstairs right now.
He grabbed Poe and started moving. Something is wrong.
What? What’s wrong?
Nothing’s wrong! Just — You need to come upstairs. Now.
Poe blinked at him as they ran. “That didn’t sound like nothing was wrong.”
“No.”
They made it upstairs in a flash, coming face-to-face with a huge blue-and-silver striped cat with fangs easily as big as Tanya’s forearm. It had Tyr treed against the front door, a deep growl filling the air.
A palaag cat.
“Oh. Oh, hello beautiful.” Poe wiggled to get down, completely unafraid. “Welcome home! This is Tyr. He’s our friend.”
The cat swung its big head around to Poe, opening his huge mouth to roar, and Poe laughed, the sound utterly overjoyed.
“Yes. Yes, you are amazing. I am so glad to know you. This is Raffi, guys. Our beloved Raffi.” Poe finally broke free from his grip and went to hug the cat, almost disappearing in the big body.
“Raffi. Can you please call him off?” Tyr, on the other hand, sounded worried.
Cade chuckled. He could hardly blame his friend for being concerned. The cat was bigger than Cade in his human form. He was imposing.
“It’s a good thing it’s you, Tyr. If it was Harden at my door, I would let Raffi eat him.”
“Mate!” Poe glared from the mountain of fur he was embracing. “Come on, Tyr. No one is eating a anyone.”
Tyr chuckled. “I brought honey.”
“Oh, thank you,” Cade told him. “Bright blessings.”
“And to you.” Tyr set a large jar of honey on a table. “So, where were you?”
“In our new basement.”
“Oh? Is that where you’re keeping the palaag?”
“His name is Raffi,” Poe said, the sound firm. “And he’s sleeping in the nursery. It’s vast and amazing.”
The huge beast rumbled and chuffed, curling around Poe.
Cade nodded. “We have a bed in there for him, don’t we, big one?” He reached out, and Raffi snuffled his hand, so he rubbed that furry head. “So soft.”
“He is.” Poe chuckled. “I like him.”
Raffi grumbled a bit, as if he was saying, “Well of course you do.”
“Is there anything we can give you in trade, Tyr?” Cade asked.
Tyr chewed his lip a moment. “Do you have any of those cookies? What does the mountain clutch call them?”
“Oatmeal scotchies?” Poe asked.
Tyr’s golden eyes glowed. “That’s it.”
“Hmmm. I don’t.” Poe held up a hand. “But I have all the stuff to make them. Seth taught me to make my own butterscotch chips so I don’t have to wait on supplies from Cosmo and his family.”
Cade grinned as Tyr did a little dance. “Would you like to stay for tea, my friend?”
“I would very much.” Tyr gave them a winning smile. “What can I help with?”
“I’ll make cookies.” Poe waved them away. “Go show Tyr the basement.”
“Ah, yes. Come along.” He kissed Poe on the cheek as Raffi unwound from him. “Call me if you need me, my love.”
“I will.” Poe chuckled, moving to pull things out of cabinets.
“Are you sure?” Tyr asked. “I am selfish, wanting cookies just for me.”
“Ha!” Poe scoffed. “They’re for me, and you can have some.”
“Come on, Tyr.” Cade clapped his friend on the shoulder and headed for the basement.
“This is amazing,” Tyr said when they got belowstairs.
“I know.” Cade turned in a circle. “I am not certain why it is here, but?—”
“What’s it like?” Tyr asked.
“What is that?” Cade blinked at his friend.
“Being mated? Having a baby on the way.” Tyr’s cheeks went a bright honey color, his scales coming to the fore.
He grinned. Ah, his friend was seeing the advantages to having a mate, was he? “It is marvelous, my friend. I never feel alone any longer.”
Tyr was silent for a long moment. “Do you think, someday… I mean, I am considered very odd, Cade.”
“Because of the bees?”
“Because of the bees. Because of you. Because… I don’t know, okay? It’s just. Don’t you feel odd?” Tyr asked, lips pursed.
Cadeyrn nodded, because it was true. He felt solitary. Or he had. He’d known he was wanted, of course.
Loved? Absolutely.
But still, he’d always known his was a little bit off. “I think perhaps we’re all odd in our own ways. After all, I’m the one who is living halfway between the village and the mountain. And don’t forget, I mated with someone from another world.”
“Yes, well, you’re a special kind of odd,” Tyr teased, eyes dancing. “I’m happy with just being a normal every day average type of odd.”
“Weirdo.” He shook his head, clapping Tyr on the shoulder. “Your mate will come for you, I vow it, and our babies will play together and be friends as we are friends.”
Tyr nodded, and suddenly the basement flared with magic, the walls seeming to sing with the crystals that were embedded within it. They stared together, wide-eyed, then they both bowed their heads in reverence. “Should the Goddess will it, I am ready and waiting. Bring my mate on. We will raise bees and have babies with hair the color of honey and who smell like flowers.”
“Should she will it, I will be their fiercest defender, the uncle of their hearts. You have my word, friend.”
Their voices echoed for a moment, then the light faded.
“There will be honey cakes at every celebration, in honor of this moment,” Tyr vowed, and Cade nodded.
“Honey cakes and oatmeal scootches.”
“Yes, I very much like scootches. Every dragon home should have scootch in it.”
“Tell me, friend, what is the scootch?” Tyr asked, as they began to move again, exploring deeper into the space.
“I believe it is a sweet type of wine that they add butter to and then they drink a butter scootch.” Cade wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but he didn’t want to seem uneducated, so he simply had to deduce what to say.
“Oh. That’s. Interesting.”
Cade nodded. He didn’t think it sounded good to drink, but it made nice cookies.
“And why do they call them oatmeal scootchies when the oats in them are whole? They do not make meal from them.”
Cade lowered his voice, as if Poe could hear him. “I do not think that they understand what meal means. I think perhaps that has been lost to them.”
Tyr blinked at him. “That is an awful way to live, to lose entire words and their meanings.”
“Yes, but Tanya will know what meal is, and so will my children. They will know about scootches and meal.”
Cade felt very proud of that tidbit, in fact. It amazed him, the new things the Rocky Mountain clan had brought into their world—larparcas, scootches, etos.
Apparently many snack foods in the human world were called etos. There were cheese etos and flat etos and spicy etos. They were all crunchy, and he approved of that.
Even if they did leave very many stains on his fingers that he cared for less.
Still, there was much that the up-mountain dragons could learn from them—magic, for example. The dragons used a type of natural magic, much like his grandmother, but the type taught in the universities, in the cities—that had disappeared from the dragons in the human world.
They needed to be reintroduced to it. To learn to shape their world with it. The lovely thing for them was that the children would learn it, and then they would teach it to the adults.
Children were so open. So eager to learn, and such natural teachers.
“And I will be happy to teach them about bees and honey, if you like. To use to make whatever cakes and such that they wish.”
“You are a good friend, Tyr.”
They walked back up the stairs, because the mate bond told him that Poe was wondering why they had been gone so long, and he had no wish to worry his pregnant mate.
The cookies are ready and I’ve made tea. Does Tyr take it with lemon or milk?
Lemon and honey, of course.
Poe’s laughter filled the air. I had no doubt that honey would be involved.
“Come on, friend. The scootchies are ready.”
“Excellent. It is odd to me how far and deep your underground space seems to be here.” Tyr shook his head as they headed upstairs. “It seems unnatural.”
“Your entire life is in the sun with the bees. Of course it seems unnatural to you. When you mate, your home will look like a giant beehive with dozens of little rooms and many angles,” he teased, because the magick would not make his home unnatural, would it?
“Many bees burrow underground and create their hives there,” Tyr said, and Cade blinked.
“Do they make honey under the ground?”
“No, they hibernate. They burrow down and stay warm.”
“Poe believes that these are going to become tunnels up to the Rocky Mountain clan and down to the village so that we can avoid traveling in the ice.”
“It could also be a place to protect the children,” Tyr noted. “Should we need to.”
Cade didn’t really care for that idea. It was his job to protect the children, and surely they would not need to protect the children, all of them, under the ground.
Children could not thrive under the ground. They needed the sunshine.
“The Rocky Mountain clan has an underground pool, which is warm all the time. It is massive, and they share it amongst themselves. Did you know that one of the little ones, Lia, tried to swim in the river? They were so sure they knew how to swim, and they did. Except they weren’t used to anything like currents. That quite surprised them and their fathers.”
“Oh my. There were no rivers where they were?”
“Not like we have. Apparently, the tributaries where they were ran very shallow, and very, very cold all year.”
“Ah. Unhealthy for children.”
“Yes.” They stepped into the kitchen, where Poe came to hand him a cup of tea, lifting his face for a kiss.
Cade gave it happily. Dragons were affectionate by nature, and while he had never thought he would have a mate, he was not at all above showing Poe off.
“Thank you, love,” he said.
“You’re welcome. Cookies for all.” Poe moved to give tea to Tyr.
“Lovely scootchies.”
“It’s—” Poe tilted his head. “Scootchies it is.”
He beamed at his mate. “You should know, my love. Tyr and I made a bit of a pact down in the cellar.”
“Oh?” Poe’s eyebrows went up. “What happened?”
“Cade promised me if I mate and we had children, he would keep them safe. So I promised honey.” Tyr winked.
“Ah. Well, I do love honey cakes.” Poe put a hand on Tyr’s arm. “I know you’ll find your mate.”
“I hope so, Poe. I truly do. I have rather lost hope in the village. Everyone there thinks me the mad beekeeper.”
“But they like the product of your labor.”
Tyr chuckled. “True enough.” He bit into a cookie, and he closed his eyes and hummed.
Cade agreed. He loved scootchies. He nibbled his, making it last.
“So, what kind of mate have you always dreamed of, Tyr?” Poe asked, moving to sit at their table, groaning as he stretched his back.
“Hmmm. I never had a certain kind of dragon in mind. An omega who is not afraid of bees and who likes honey, I suppose.”
“That’s a pretty open idea of mates. That’s good.” Poe winked at Cade, who ate another bite of cookie to hide his smile.
“I suppose they should not mind that I am…not neat. Clean. But messy.”
“Oh? What kind of clutter do you have?” Poe asked. “Books? Bee houses?”
Cade snorted.
“What?” Poe looked back and forth between them.
“Tyr hoards beads.”
“Beads?”
“Yes.” Tyr straightened up. “Glass ones. Crystal. Clay. Bone. Metal. Beads. I love them.”
“Oh, that’s amazing.”
“You will have to come to my home and see my hoard sometime soon, Poe. I would love to show you.”
“I would love to see it.” Poe grinned, grabbing a cookie for himself. “Okay, so now you two have to tell me what the deal is with Harden.”
Now Cade scowled. “Why?”
“Because I’m curious. What’s the big mystery. Tyr seems to be in on it, too.”
“In on it?” His scowl deepened. “I told you, he and I had a silly rivalry in our youth.”
“But you’re both still mad about it.” Poe winked at Tyr. “And neither of them are in their youth anymore, are they?”
Tyr chuckled. “None of us are. Though we are far from elders.”
“Hmmm.” Poe came to him. “It doesn’t matter, really. I just worry that you’re cutting yourself off from maybe an old friend because of some old feud. He seemed happy to see your father.”
“It really was ridiculous.”
They all went to sit around the hearth, cuddling into the deep couches.
“Surely you know of those situations where there is a little bite and then you scratch the sting and it becomes a sore and then the sore gets fixed. Then you tear at the scab and it gets bigger. That sort of thing.” Cade hated it, but it was the truth.
“Do you even remember why you’re angry?” Poe asked him. “I mean, seriously, do you remember what happened first?”
“I do!” Tyr singsonged. “I remember. They fought over a boy.”
Poe’s eyebrow lifted. “They did, did they? Do tell.”
“Absolutely. Yes. His name was Ven, and he was very pretty. Topaz in color, with deep amber eyes, quite lovely. One day—Lovers Day, where all of the children bring sweets to their crushes and their friends. Do you have this?”
“Yes.” Poe nodded to Tyr. “Valentine’s Day. Same idea.”
“Excellent. So Cade brought Ven the first strawberry of the season, and Harden brought chocolate, and they fought bitterly over who was going to give Ven his gift first. And Harden smashed Cade’s strawberry and made him cry, and so Cade bit him!” Tyr started to laugh. “Bit him right on the hand, and Cade got sent home from school.”
“Oh no! Poor you. You got in trouble and Harden got the guy? That’s no fair.”
Cadeyrn beamed at his mate, who loved and understood him. “It was awful.”
“It was shocking—our good Cade getting sent home! Not only that, but Harden got to give Ven his chocolate, but by then, it had teeth marks in it and dirt from where it had fallen on the ground. So Ven said no and didn’t take the chocolate either. At the time, it was quite the scandal.”
Poe blinked at him. “How old were you?”
“I don’t know, five, maybe six. I was a child.”
Poe began to chuckle. “So you’re going to fight because of strawberries and chocolate when you were a baby dragon?”
“No, we’re not fighting. We simply don’t like one another.”
Poe shook his head. “Whatever happened to this Ven person?”
“Oh my, talk about scandal!” Tyr’s voice lowered, his eyes beginning to twinkle. “So when he was a young adult, he ran away from home to the city where he became quite the courtesan. There are drawings of him in books, and he was written about in journals. The stories even came down to the village. He moved his parents to the city into a huge mansion, and they have everything they could ask for. The rumor is the famous courtesan is now running a home with courtesans of his own. It’s quite powerful and decadent. I understand he still doesn’t accept chocolates as form of tribute.”
“Really?” Poe shook his head, grinning wide. “So he’s like a madam? Is he running his own little bevy of dragons? Fascinating!”
Cadeyrn wasn’t fascinated. Cade was a touch embarrassed by the thought of someone leaving the village like that. Cade wanted to forget how enthralled they’d all been, and how little he—or Harden for that matter—had mattered to Ven.
“Very powerful dragons pay very well for their company, from what I understand.”
“Hey, good for him, I say. You know, if it makes him happy, and it’s not hurting anybody, go for it. I think that’s adorable, though, that you both fell in love with this dragon that everyone is mad for. So cute.”
“It wasn’t cute. It was quite hurtful at the time.” And Cade was embarrassed, dammit.
Poe covered his hand and squeezed it. “Yes, I remember my first crush too, but don’t you think you and Harden should let it go? I mean, how many years has it been?”
Tyr rolled his eyes. “Many.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Cadeyrn protested.
“Many, many, many years.”
“We’re going to invite him for supper,” Poe announced.
“We are not.” It was one thing to have him over for giving to friends, but just on his own? No.
“Oh, yes we are.” Poe shot him a look. “And you’re going to be nice to him. Tyr, you’re going to come too. Bring a date.”
Tyr tilted his head. “If I don’t bring a date, we can play cards. It’ll be a foursome.”
“You are supposed to be my friend.” Cade glared at Tyr. “You are supposed to be on my side.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Tyr argued. “You two should be friends; your mate’s like an…animal person, They’re going to spend time together. You should be friends.”
“If nothing else, at least you can be decent to one another. It’s only right. Be angry at the people that have done real wrong to you, not silly kid shit.”
Cade’s cheeks felt terribly hot, but he finally nodded. “Very well. We can ask, but he might say no.”
“Then that’s on him,” Poe pointed out. “Not you. But I admit, I am selfish enough to want to be able to get to know his animals…”
Cade nodded, coming to a decision. “Then I will try for you, my love.”
Poe handed him another cookie. “Thank you. And you too, Tyr.”
“You are very welcome, my friend.” Tyr clapped Cade on the back. “I like your mate.”
“I do too, my friend,” Cade said, shaking his head. “I do too.”