Chapter 15 #2
“No not at all. The children just want a sweetie. And the adults? Will trade us other things for their honey. We’ll get flour, spices, and cloth.
From what I understand, even the Rocky Mountain clutch is here.
” And it was a good thing because they had to trade for quite a bit of their necessities.
And Tyr was fascinated with things that they brought from the other realm.
Wildly interesting toys and books that told of fantastical worlds within, where there were things he could barely even imagine.
Sloan wrapped one arm around him and began to trade as well, greeting each and every child as they came up, laughing and playing with them. It was perfect.
Though it made him ache inside, because he wanted a child of his own. He wanted to see Sloan play with their child. He wanted to dress his baby up as a larparca and bring them to the festival to be admired.
Cade came up to him, two of the three triplets in his arms, bumping their shoulders together. You want Watson or Sherlock? Harden has Mycroft.”
Tyr held out his hands, and whichever baby came, he took, snuggling them in. Cade looked at him, kind of sniffed him a little bit. “Are you well?”
“I’m wonderful. Very happy. This is my first holiday with my mate.”
“Well, congratulations.”
He peered down at the child dragon he held, who looked amazing with a tiny little horn covered in glitter. He also wore a little cloak, the thing made of wool, trailing behind. “This is adorable.”
“Poe couldn’t resist.”
And Sloan? Came over and chucked little Sherlock under the chin. A cutie. Watson struggled to get to Sloan, who took him easily.
“Now you’re stuck here,” Tyr murmured.
Cade blinked, eyes going wide. “What?”
“Oh, please, now that you don’t have any babies in your hands, we know where those hands are going to be going. Poor Poe.”
They cracked up, all three of them, and the babies laughed too, having no idea what was funny, but it didn’t matter. Happiness was happiness.
“My mother has agreed to take all four children to her home for the evening, so I have plenty of time to be with my mate at the dance.”
“I have to admit I’m a little excited for this dance now. It sounds almost wicked.” Sloan winked at him.
“No, no. Perhaps naughty is the word that you’re looking for. Not wicked.”
“My friend is concerned about the idea of wickedness,” Tyr teased, feeling wildly daring. “He doesn’t understand how sometimes it’s fun to be wicked.”
Cade leveled a glance at him. “Are you serious? You, my dear friend, are the sweetest of all of us. There is literally not an ounce of wickedness in your entire soul. We could boil you down to nothing, and there would be no such thing.”
Harden strolled up, his arms also full. “That’s because all of the wickedness was in his brother’s soul.”
“Hello, Harden, how are you?”
I am doing well. Were you serious about a baby larparca?” He glanced at Sloan.
“I would like a baby larparca, yes.”
“Then in the spring, you will have a baby larparca of your own. I have decided this.”
Sloan’s eyebrow rose. “So we’re becoming an animal farm, not just bees?”
“One larparca does not make a farm. One larparca is friendly.”
“Well then, I suppose I should make a little barn for it when it comes in the springtime.”
His life was so good to him. “Thank you, mate.”
“Of course. You know I would do anything for you.” Sloan bumped hips with him and bounced the baby in his arms. “So what do you wanna trade for this larparca, Harden?”
“Hmm.” Harden stroked his chin. “I think I would like for your brothers to go and help me bring back a couple of animals from another village.”
“Ah. Well, I would need to talk to them—”
“I’ll do it.” Brayden strode into their circle, laughing when Tanya ran to hug him. “Such a lovely naiad! I’ll go with Harden.”
“Wonderful.” Tyr just rolled right along before Harden backed up and changed his mind. “Sloan and I will watch your animals, along with Poe.”
“Then it’s a plan. Hello, all.” Brayden beamed at the assembled friends. “Anyone heard from Riley?”
“Not today.” Sloan sounded rather sad about that, and now was not the time for sad.
Tanya nudged Brayden with her elbow. “I have candies.”
“Do you?” He tucked a wild black curl behind her ear, her hair the color of the deepest night. “What kind, little love?”
“Honey ones. I also traded for gora fruit ones.”
“Well, I heard there was a party going on where we bartered, so I brought some taffy from the seaside.”
“Ooh! Want to trade?” Her eyes lit up.
“Of course! Bring it on.”
She opened a little bag and pulled out a couple of colorful, dyed bone buttons. A candle that smelled like flowers. A small number of coins that were stamped with things Tyr didn’t recognize. And a pretty blue rock. She took that from her bag. “For your hoard?”
“That in itself is worth a whole bag of taffy.” Brayden produced a hand-sized bag from the pack on his back, and Tanya took it, running off to show her friends.
Brayden watched her for a second, a fond look on his face, then turned to Tyr. “This is from your sister. She says to tell you she misses you.”
Brayden handed him a set of shell plates big enough to serve on. They were shiny and sparkling, blue and green and pink on the inside.
“How wonderful!” He juggled them and the baby, but Sloan caught them in one big hand and put them in the wagon. He hugged Brayden with one arm. “Thank you!”
Brayden squeezed him, then pulled back to frown at him before hugging him again. Then Brayden sniffed him.
“What?”
“Hmmm?” Brayden gave him an innocent stare.
Do I smell bad? Did I step in something?
What? No. You smell particularly luscious. Like honey that’s been warmed in the winter to put on toast. Sloan’s eyes glowed for him a moment.
Oh. He melted a bit, his heartbeat speeding. I’m so glad. I worry…
About what? You are my perfect mate.
More children came running, and this time, he recognized some of the Rocky Mountain clutch. Sebastian, the oldest boy, was trailing behind them, smiling. He was clearly elected to watch them.
“Bright blessings, Tyr. Cade. Hello, Sloan. Brayden. Harden, how are the animals?”
“Akaki, Sebastian. They are well. The larparca is with child.”
The young man bounced, his face wreathed in smiles. “I’m so glad.”
“They are very friendly creatures. They like the bocapal, but the ysdri make them a bit nervous.”
“Mmmhmm.” Sebastian leaned over to sniff him.
His eyes went wide. “Okay, what is going on? Why is everyone smelling me?”
One of the little ones grinned at him. “Because you’s having a baby!” A little hand reached out to pat his belly.
Stunned, he stared hard, his breath catching. Until his ears rang and spots swam before his eyes.
“Love? Are you all right?” Sloan grabbed him as he staggered.
“Bring him over to sit…” Harden cleared a path to the cart and so many dragons gathered around, curious and concerned.
A baby.
Could it be true?
His baby?
Their baby?
“Come on, sweet.” Sloan led him to a set of benches that had been set out for later when the music began. He thunked down hard on one, still feeling not himself.
Sloan sat with him, one arm wrapped around him. “Breathe. A baby? Do you think?”
“I hadn’t, but… I want to. I want to think so.”
“Oh, Tyr, you’re definitely pregnant.” Cade chuckled, handing him a lovely tea with some of his honey in it. The scent was so soothing. “I can tell. I should know. My mate’s scent changed drastically with triplets.”
He sipped the tea, and it was delicious, rich and sweet and right. “Thank you.”
His scent had changed much? It seemed hard to believe. He was a little dizzy.
“Love.” Sloan was just staring at him with wonder in his eyes.
One of the toddlers from the village climbed on his lap and put an ear to his belly. “Hewwwwoooooo.” Then she giggled softly. “Is baybee! Is dwagon!”
“Yes, lovely. It’s a dragon baby.” He stared at Sloan. We’re going to have a baby. Do you… are you ready?
I am. I think you are too. The bee season is over, and we have time to get used to the idea. And then this coming summer, you’ll be pregnant, but not yet too big. I will help you, and we’ll bring in others, maybe the older children from the clutch or the village, as day help.
I— He leaned hard into Sloan’s side, breathing deeply so that he could focus on not crying. He didn’t want to ruin his first Kalan with a mate. He wanted to dance and feast and laugh.
Just breathe, sweet. It will take a moment. Sloan smiled at their friends and family, gathered around. “Can we sit with this for a few minutes?”
“Of course.” The babies had already been taken back, but the kids stopped crawling on him, and Harden and Brayden herded everyone away. Suddenly, it was very peaceful.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be selfish. I just…” A baby.
He was going to have a baby.
“You’re not selfish.” You’re the least selfish dragon I know. We’ll get back to trading and singing and dancing and eating in a moment. Sloan kissed his cheek, then the corner of his mouth. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He took a deep, deep breath, then let himself relax. He had a mate, a home, friends, and safety.
It was the perfect time to add to their hive.