Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“Tyr! Where is the bread?”
Riley’s call made him groan and arch his back, his hand at the small of it. “Um. I don’t know. I missed breakfast.”
He had been so very tired lately, and he was sleeping later and later. He knew he still had a long way to go with his pregnancy, but somehow, he felt as if his mojo, as Sloan would call it, was very low.
“That’s cool. I can find it, or I can go get more.”
“I could make some.”
Riley walked around to the main room of the house, where he lay on the sofa, and kissed his head. “Nope. You are resting today. I’ll make breakfast. Let me just fly into the village and get bread. I really think it would be great warmed up with some honey.”
“Mmmm.” That did sound delicious. “But I don’t wish you to go to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I’ll be back in just enough time to get everything made before Sloan returns from patrolling with Cade.”
He leaned back against the couch, hand on his belly. “Thank you, Riley.”
“No problem. You rest before Fredda gets up and no one rests.”
“Mmhmm.”
“I hear Mari’s going to be here to take them back to the ocean soon. Brayden and I are going to stay here, help with the hives.”
He blinked. “You are?”
“Yeah. I think Brayden has a real fondness for the village right now, and I want to be around to help.”
“I— That’s very kind, Riley.”
“Hey, what are brothers for? I’ll be back.” Riley ruffled his braids, making him laugh. Then he was out the door and on his way to the village for bread.
Riley really liked his bread. In fact, Tyr would bet he was the one who had eaten the rest of it last night.
He was just dozing off when he sensed a presence. He opened his eyes to find Tor watching him, sitting in the chair across from him, warming his feet at the fire.
“Oh. Brother. Riley went to get bread so he could make breakfast.”
“That’s fine, brother.” Tor leaned over, reaching for him. “You’re feeling poorly.”
“I’m just very tired. I feel drained.”
“Hmmm.” Tor put a hand on his arm, a warm golden glow emanating from where they touched. “Yes. Your energy is very low. How is the baby? Is she moving? Talking to you?”
“Yes. She’s very active.” He took Tor’s hand and moved it to his stomach.
A huge wave of movement under Tor’s hand made them both laugh out loud.
“Well, she’s not having any trouble. And I know you and your mate have cemented the mate bond. I can see the threads of it when you are near each other so clearly. Even now I can see his twined with yours.”
“I’m sure it’s just my body adapting to this pregnancy. And it has been so cold this winter.”
Tor frowned a little. “It has been, hasn’t it? Are the bees ready to start anew?”
He nodded. “Sloan and I checked them yesterday. They are moving a little slow, but fine.”
“Good. Good.” Tor tilted his head as if hearing something far away.
“Why do you do that?” Tyr asked.
“I am listening to the currents of magic around us.”
Fascinating. Tyr tilted his head. He could sense the buzz and hum of the bees, and the constant moving of dragons—Fredda, Aleana, his mate on patrol. “What do you hear?”
Tor shrugged. “It’s hard to say, but I feel as if the magicks here are just a bit… tilted.”
“Tilted.” Tyr slanted his head. “How do you mean?”
His twin glanced at him, then chuckled. “Well, you do have many new beings here—werebears, a werewolf, dragons who are used to being human—and things are changing. There’s a portal to the human world, literally right there up the mountain. Anyone could get to it.”
“But you don’t honestly think—”
“Oh, I honestly think. I genuinely do think. I don’t believe they’re bad.” Tor gave him a chuckle. “I don’t think this is inherently bad, but you have to admit—”
A sharp rapping came to the window, a rustle and click-click-click. But his orblok was inside.
Tor leapt up, light flashing as he threw the heavy golden-colored curtains open, ready to defend them from all dangers.
“By Bolun’s broken wing! What is that?”
“Who.”
“What?”
“No, who.” Tyr chuckled at sight of the tiny bird-like dragon poking at the window, the feathered darling a study in white and gray. “That, my dear brother, is Stella.”
“Stella?”
“Yes, she belongs to Brandon and Abe from up the mountain. Let her in please.”
“Brother, it’s an owl dragon.”
“It’s a Stella. Let her in.”
Tor flipped the latch and pushed open the window, allowing Stella to come fluttering in. She landed next to him with a thud on the arm of the sofa. “Hello, friend!”
“Hello, Stella. Good morning. Does anyone know where you are?” In his experience, that question had to be asked with this group. A lot.
She shook her head. “No, I’m off visiting.”
“Oh, are you? You came to visit me?” Sloan, love, Stella is here at the house. Can you let her fathers know, please?
Of course. On it. Keep her there.
She nodded, smile huge. “Oh yes, I’m here visiting you.
I wanted to see the baby, and everybody’s worried about Penny.
” She rolled her great big green eyes. “Everybody’s always worried about Penny because she’s so special.
” She sighed, leaning in and clicking softly. “Sometimes I’d like to be special too…”
“Oh, sweet one. Don’t say that. You are special.”
She rolled her eyes again, so dramatic. “All right, well then, I want to be special to people here. Anyway, I just came to visit the baby. I can, right?”
“Of course you can. I mean she’s not here yet, but you can come and visit us. Have you met my brother, Tor?”
Stella tilted her head, her big eyes blinking. “No, I have not. Hello, Tor!”
“Bright blessings, little one.” Tor took the little feathery hand Stella held out, then bowed over it. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
She squinted at him. “You’re like Penny. You glow.”
Tor’s eyebrows went up. “Do I?”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded, her head moving so like an owl’s.
“Stella is from the Rocky Mountain clutch, brother.”
“Hello, Stella, it’s very nice to meet you.”
“Yes, it’s very nice to meet you as well.” She tilted her head, blinking. “Are you new here?”
Tor smiled at him. “No, no. I grew up here. When I finished school, I moved to the city.”
She blinked again. “Like Ari and Sebby will go to the city?”
Tyr nodded to her, smiled. “Will you go to?”
She shook her head, eyes wide and horrified. “Oh no, not me. I don’t need to go. I need to stay and make babies and bake cookies.”
Tyr beamed at her. “That sounds very fun.”
Tor smiled at her. “I quite like it.”
“Yes.” She curled up around his belly, stroking their little one. “Did you know Tyr’s bees fly? Birds fly. Butterflies fly, and I fly!”
He nodded. “You do! In fact, I understand that you were the first one to fly of all the little ones up the mountain!”
“Yes! I did it first!”
“See, you are special, my love,” Tyr told her.
She gasped. “I am. I love to fly so fast. The bees are starting to wake up, did you see?”
“I always see my bees, little owl girl.” He tickled her gently. “You should come in the summer and dance with them.”
They were almost as big as she was.
“I will! I love to dance too!”
Fredda’s feet pounded on the floor, a familiar sound he would miss so when they left, which would be soon. “Helloooooo! I love to dance.”
“Me too!” Stella screeched, hopping down to see his little niece. “I’m Stella!”
“I’m Fredda!”
“Will you be my friend?”
“Yes!”
Oh, that was adorable. Absolutely. Tyr felt tears sting his eyes, and he put a hand on his belly. Yes, he was emotional, but he was so happy to see the little ones dancing in circles together.
“I lives in the ocean.”
“And I lives in the sky!”
They sang together, both girls blissfully happy.
Tor sort of stared at them. That’s… fascinating.
That’s childhood. We had one, remember?
Yes, of course. But he could see Tor really didn’t remember ever being that… innocent. Unaware of the things that might hurt them.
How sad.
Tyr remembered being happy, free, laughing in the sunshine.
I do remember that too, Tyr. Tor touched his hand. With you. Never with anyone else.
I hope you find happiness soon, brother. Like I have.
There’s no happiness for me. I’ll give it all to you.
Those words broke his heart.
“Tyr! Tor! Dance with us!”
So Tyr decided he would. Tor’s touch had made him feel so much better. He rose up, grabbing his brother’s hands and swinging, trying to share some joy.
“You’re pregnant!”
“I’m happy!” he answered. “Spring is here!”
“It is.” Tor laughed, the sound bouncing off the ceiling, and that had the girls giggling madly. Even Aleana soon joined them, eyebrows raised until Tyr caught her and made her join in.
You’re a nut.
I’m allowed, he shot back. Fredda’s so happy.
Aleana glanced at her girl and laughed. She is. I will bow to your superior wisdom.
We’re coming to the hive with Stella’s father, love.
Be gentle. She’s having such a good time.
We will. I promise. Abe is the easy one, remember? Sloan’s laughter was like a storm cloud brushing his face.
It only took seconds before he heard his mate chuff softly. “Are we dancing?”
“We are!” Fredda ran to Sloan, dragging Stella with her. “This is my friend!”
“Hello, Stella. How did I know you would be a good friend for Fredda? My sweet girls.” Sloan gave hugs.
Stella snuggled in. “I came to visit the baby!”
“Did you?” Sloan chuckled as another dragon wandered in, growling just softly.
“Stella?”
“Papa?”
“Sweet girl, did you ask if you could come down? Did you tell us you were going to fly?” The big dragon pulled Stella into his arms.
She snuggled in, chirruping.
She’s feeling a little ignored, friend. She said she wasn’t special. I told her she was, but—
Ah. Well, I will make sure she knows how wondrous she is. Abe smiled at him, those pale eyes glinting with humor. Remember this when yours starts to fly.
Listen. I’m still trying to work out what I’m going to do when the baby actually decides to come. I’m not sure that flying is in my wheelhouse right now. He patted his stomach.