Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
Sloan flew alongside Cade, Brayden on his other side as they made the rounds.
They had started just above Cade’s home, their guardian flight overlapping with that of Zeke and Beau from up at the Rocky Mountain clutch, who were soaring over the mountains and where he knew the grove was inside the forest.
He and Brayden would sweep down from Cade’s house along with Cade toward the sea, where they would meet up with the patrols he knew Mari’s people had put into place. Some of the big alphas had stayed behind as the others went fishing.
Better safe than sorry, he thought, because whatever it was the Onyx dragon had meant to tell them, they were going to make sure it did not come to pass.
I hope Tyr and his sister are getting along, Cade told him on a tight mental band.
Well, I think his sister is… He thought about whether it was his news to tell Cade about Aleana’s pregnancy, but then he supposed it might be a good idea to give the man some warning. Aleana is also pregnant so she’s hormonal, and she and Tyr are teasing one another very hard.
Ah. Cate’s mental chuckle came soft and warm. Tyr might seem so sedate these days, but he and his siblings have always torn it up together.
I would have thought Harden was the one to do that, he’s so grumpy. He scanned the ground, trying to make sure there was no one there that he didn’t know. They took turns looking up and down. Brayden was on watch above them right now.
He can definitely be caustic, but Tyr and his siblings have always given each other a hard time. Nothing ever comes of it, though. They love each other very much, rather like you and Brayden and Riley.
That’s good.
Their wings touched just briefly, and it wasn’t an accident. Speaking of Riley, how is he?
He could almost hear Brayden’s ears perk at that, the tip of Brayden’s tail flipping.
The last I heard from him he was fine. He has been traveling ever since the end of sports season. I think that he intends to be here in a few days for the Friends’ Meal.
That was what the dragons here were calling Thanksgiving, and he had learned that if he called it anything else a lot of them had no idea what he was talking about.
Oh, I would hope so. I would not want him to miss it.
No, me neither. In fact, the idea that Riley would just not be back for Thanksgiving hurt his heart.
He knew it hurt Brayden’s as well. He understood Riley needed to make his own way, but they were brothers, and up until they’d come here, they’d really never been separated.
He missed Riley like a lost limb sometimes, and wherever Riley was, he was far enough away that he couldn’t just easily be contacted with a mental shout.
Incoming, Brayden snapped, and they went on alert.
They made a formation like a triangle with Cade at the front and slightly above, Brayden dropping down with him to protect their underbelly whatever threat it was coming from above.
Two dragons appeared in the space above them, and just about the time he thought they were going to have to start a battle, a shout went up from one of them, flames shooting out into the air. Brothers, I have come home. I’m ready for Thanksgiving.
Speak of the devil, Brayden told him. Here he is.
Sloan sent out a roar of his own, trying to make sure he didn’t shake the ground too much. Riley! Bright blessings, brother! It’s about time you came back for a little bit. We’ve missed you!
I’ve missed you too! But I’ve learned so much, and I’ve been everywhere, and it’s so much fun. Riley actually made a loop de loop in the air and Cade blew out a frustrated breath.
Who do you have with you?
The other dragon, whose scales were bright, shocking green, spread its wings and lifted its head. And it was as if bursts of lightning or fireworks started sparking all around it.
You don’t remember me, Cadeyrn? Has it been so long?
Sloan could feel Cade’s shock, and that was well, to be honest, it was kind of horrifying. He’d never seen Cade shocked before, or worried, or even surprised.
Tor! Cade exclaimed.
Sloan thought he knew the name, but he wasn’t sure if it rang a bell.
I’m home. I understand my brother is with child finally. And I came to bring him my blessings, possibly a warning, and to meet his mate. I need to make sure that the mate is suitable.
Right. That was where Sloan knew the name. This was Tyr’s twin. He was going to have to tell Tyr and Aleana, to warn both of them before they all got to the hive. He wasn’t sure exactly if this dragon was dangerous, and he was worried that perhaps he was unwelcome to Tyr and oh…
He didn’t know about this.
Isn’t this a wonderful surprise? Riley swooped over Sloan’s head. I met him at a game, and he looked oddly familiar. And then when he introduced himself, I knew who he was. So I brought him home for Thanksgiving.
Brayden whispered softly to him so very privately. Of course he did. Of course he brought him for Thanksgiving. Why wouldn’t Riley do that?
He didn’t know. No, and he didn’t know what to do. At all. So he pulled closer, nodding his head. I am Sloan. I am Riley’s brother and Tyr’s mate.
Tor kind of blinked. And then another one of those odd, tingly, sparkly sensations hit him. Fireworks. It was like fireworks.
It’s magic, Cade murmured, as if sensing his confusion.
I don’t understand. We’re all magic.
No, no, not like that. This is magic. This is not the same. Take care.
Tyr, your brother is here with Riley, Sloan sent. I need to know what to do. Do I invite him to the hives?
My what? Are you sure? I— of course. Of course you invite him. There’s no choice there. It is our duty to have our family. Take care though. I worry.
You and me both, cowboy, he told Tyr. Then to Tor, he waggled his wings. You’re welcome at the hives; your sister is here as well to partake in the Friend’s Feast.
How very exciting. I can’t wait. It’s been so very long since I was able to interact with my family. We’ll have such fun.
Wow. Sloan didn’t like this. He didn’t like this one bit. There was something going on here that seemed wrong. Truly odd.
Tyr sighed softly in his back of his mind. We have no choice. He’s family. We are honor bound to welcome him here. All will be well.
Sure. Tyr was a little optimistic, he thought, about that whole ‘all will be well’ bullshit. He didn’t like this guy already.
Brayden murmured, his voice soft as anything against Sloan’s brain. This guy’s Tyr’s brother. Are you sure? This guy is intense. Tyr is whatever the polar opposite of intense might be. Nonsense? Untense? Free from tense?
Just because they’re twins doesn’t mean that they’re the same person, right? Brothers are different. And he’s been away a long time.
Don’t worry, Guardian. Tor chuckled, that odd sensation at the base of his brain getting stronger. My twin and I have things to discuss. And then once I get what I want, I’ll be off, don’t worry.
I’m not worried. Sloan let his own dragon nature come to the fore, his scales glowing with it, he was sure. But keep in mind, I will not allow my mate, my child, or my family to be harmed in any way.
Noted.
Wait, what happened? Sloan, take your brother to the hives and introduce him ‘round. I’m sure they will be excited to see him. I’ll continue our patrol. Cade sounded unsure. Still.
I’ll come with you, brother, Riley said. I am starving. And I’ve been dreaming about Tyr’s honey cakes. For weeks.
Sloan had to say Riley seemed excited to be home. And more grown up and solid than he’d ever seen him so… that was good.
Tyr’s nervousness was bleeding through their bond. Along with something that was very akin to rage from Aleana.
He would call to her, but he wasn’t quite sure that it wouldn’t bleed out to the others. Sloan still wasn’t very confident in his ability to speak to Tyr unless he was in close quarters. He was still learning.
Sloan led Riley and Tor back to the hive, landing in the yard and shifting to his human form. He wanted to look at Tor and see what his human form appeared to be, because he wanted to see if it gave him the same weird feeling that the dragon form had.
Riley set down near him and came to give him a giant hug. They pounded on each other’s backs, laughing.
Tyr walked out to meet them, handing them both a robe to wear, and Sloan was shocked to see that Riley filled it out now, even though it was his. He’d always been far bigger than his little brother.
Brayden touched down along with Tor, everyone’s quick shifting making the air around them pop with little sparkles.
“Brother!” Tor opened his arms, and Tyr hesitated a moment before walking over to him and receiving a bone-crunching hug.
“It is good to see you home, brother,” Tyr said, and Sloan could feel his tension.
“It is good to be home.” Tor said it quietly, and he sounded sincere.
In his human form, he had bright eyes the color of the first grass in spring, and his braids were a mixture of black and green.
A scattering of those crazy green scales ran down each cheek from his temple, but there was gold mixed in there too, a shine to his skin that told Sloan this was not someone who could ever pass in the human world. Not ever.
And Tor had something in common with Cullen’s mate Orion, the unicorn.
There was a sheen of some kind of energy to him, something that said he was really not of this world, even though he looked like a dragon. Sloan wondered if this was actually Tyr’s brother or if this was some sort of doppelganger or djinn.
Fredda came running out, her little feet pounding on the dirt. “Uncle Tyr! Is this my Uncle Tor? Is this your twin?”
“He is.” Tyr smiled down at her, his hand on her head. “Tor, this is Aleana’s daughter, Fredda.”
Tor bent over, his hands on his knees so his face was closer to the level of Fredda’s. “Hello, my sweet little girl. I’m very happy to finally meet you.”