Chapter 23 #3
Cade and Harden sat at the table with them, waiting until they were served, and Aleana as well, before taking a plate for themselves. Tyr smiled faintly at them, and they both grinned.
“Might as well have breakfast,” Cade said, “While we discuss what’s going on. I can’t believe I didn’t know they were here.”
“You were with your family, Cade. It was early. Time for breakfast. No one expects you to be out patrolling yet.”
Cade cut him off. “Now they will, and they should. This can’t happen again. It’s the second time someone has come near the children; the first time was at my home. Do you remember? Arielle pushed the dragon away then.”
“I do remember that, my friend, but I’m sure that Riley and Sloan and Brayden will help you rotate watch.”
“We will too,” Abe said quietly. “I know we’ve always been rather lax about contributing to the patrols, but we’ll make a schedule now.”
“Are we sure they’re the same situation? The same dragons?” Tyr asked, because he’d been there when Arielle and the others had chased the intruding dragon, and it had not been this small, sneaky dragonkind. He’d been quite overt and willing to talk. Cade had told him.
Cade blinked at him. “What do you mean?”
“This was a sneak attack, not ‘I’m going to come talk to the families and see if the children want to come to the city.’ This seems very different.”
Abe cleared his throat. “Perhaps this is something we should discuss when the children are playing.”
He glanced at Fredda, who watched him with big eyes, her lips quivering.
“Yes, I suppose perhaps—”
The whomp of big wings sounded, and he heard the thud of a huge dragon landing. Fredda squealed. “Daddy!” She tore out of the house, running outside, and Aleana chuckled. “Well, that was fast.”
He glanced at Aleana. “You don’t think he’s going to be mad at us?”
“Why would he be?” She scoffed. “You saved her. You and little Stella. Your guardian. You saved her.”
“Hey!” Tor threw a piece of bread at her. “Don’t forget about me.”
She rolled her eyes, but her grin was kind of wicked. “I suppose that you did something, you and all of your shining.”
Tor gaped at her, but Tyr had to start laughing. It was so strange how normalcy happened in the midst of drama.
Mari strode in, carrying Fredda, and he swept a hard look over all of them. “You are all well, my family? No one is injured?”
“We’re fine, my love.” Aleana stood, moving to hug him.
“Tyr? Tor, hello. You are all right?”
“We are,” Tyr said, trying not to wilt under the force of Mari’s stare.
“Good. Good. I was worried for you all. Thank you for protecting my ladies.”
Oh… Not mad at all. More scared.
“Da! This is my best friend, Stella. She can fly.”
Mari blinked at Abe and little Stella. “Bright blessings.”
“A bright day to you as well.” Abe offered Mari a smile. “I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances. I’m Abraham from the Rocky Mountain clutch.”
“Abraham, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Stella yelled at the bad mans. She yelled at them, and they stopped.” Fredda seemed so impressed, and Stella blushed and peered at Mari, chirping madly.
“Well, Stella, you are a hero.” Mari looked hopefully at the mounds of food. “Is it still breakfast time?”
“Of course. Grab a plate and help yourself.” Tyr waved a hand. “We are not being formal.”
Mari nodded in thanks and grabbed a plate. “I must say, you’re looking very round, brother Tyr.”
“Well, I am pregnant, and really that’s a good enough reason to be round.” He patted his belly, and the baby kicked, hard. “She’s going to be a good-sized baby, I can tell.”
“We’re all eager to meet her when it’s time.” Mari sat down to eat.
“Are you going to stay for long?” Tor asked, and Mari shook his head.
“No, in fact, we’re leaving today. We’re going home.” Mari’s voice brooked no argument, but Tyr still had to ask.
“Are you sure that’s wise? We’re all here to protect her.”
“My people, my clutch, will also all be there to protect her. We can go visit my parents for as long as we might need to and protect both my babies.”
Aleana put her hand on her belly, smiling at her mate. “That is a good plan, love.”
“Papa! Can Stella come visit? She’s my best friend.”
Stella added a little screech.
“If Stella’s alpha father and omega parent say yes, then of course they may come, daughter.”
Stella looked up at her father, her eyes huge, and Abe nodded.
“Absolutely, we like to visit. Brandon and I love to learn about people. We love to visit new places.”
“Yay!” Fredda ran to Stella and hugged her. The two were just bouncing around and laughing, singing, “Best friends! Best friends! Best friends!”
Mari watched them with a fond expression on his lips, and then those lips tightened, and his eyes got hard. “I could have lost her.”
“I would not let that happen. Neither would Tor.” Tyr blew out a breath, the scent of burnt honey strong now, almost charred.
“That’s enough, Tyr,” Tor said. And that’s enough. Sloan, it’s time for you to come in and quit being out there pouting.
I’m not pouting.
You’re pouting. Get your ass in here.
Tyr stared at his twin. Tor!
He’s pouting. We have things to talk about. He can get over his mad later. Tor held his gaze. Besides, you’ve spent an enormous amount of energy today. You need to protect it with everything you have for that baby’s sake, and your mate is the one to help you with that.
Sloan came in, face calm, even though his eyes were blazing a little bit. “You’re absolutely right, Tor. Thank you, brother, for looking out for Tyr.”
“I love him; he’s my family.”
Mari nodded to all of them. “Yes, and you are all my family. However, I believe that keeping any targets as far separate as we can is the wisest course of action for us. You have one up the mountain, and we’ll go into the sea.”
“And Stella can visit?” Fredda added.
Mari nodded to his daughter. “Yes, Stella can visit. Your uncles can visit. But I would like to spend the summer at the ocean.”
“What’s an ocean?” Stella whispered.
“You remember the book that we read about the big boats? All the vast water that has fish in it the size of entire houses. Bigger? That’s an ocean.”
Fredda grinned. “Yes, whale dragons! So pretty and smart. They are the helpers in the ocean.”
Stella’s eyes were absolutely huge, and Tyr bent to try to eat again, the fork seeming to be so heavy, as if it were made of lead.
“Mate, are you well?”
He blinked up, exhaustion flooding him. “Just so very tired, love.”
“Let’s get you to bed. You can eat in there. We’ll call a meeting. Mari, will you stay long enough for Tyr and Tor to rest and for us to meet with the elders?”
Mari looked torn, but then he finally nodded after Aleana stomped on his foot. “I will. But we will leave before we sleep.”
“Fair enough. I’ll be right back.” Sloan lifted Tyr right up to carry him to the bedroom as if he weighed nothing. He tried to protest, but he was so sleepy, and his head felt odd and empty.
“You really don’t need to carry me, love.” He clung to Sloan’s neck though because he wanted Sloan to hold him and make everything well.
“I actually do. Riley is bringing your food. I want you to sit and eat while I stay with you, and then I want you to sleep, okay?”
Tyr yawned. “I’m just not used to using my magic that way. I tend to use it for the bees.” And his bees had been so good to him, supporting him, making sure that he had all the energy he needed to use. He hoped he hadn’t hurt them, drawing on them the way he had.
Sloan laid him in the bed and stroked his braids. “I’ll check on the hives, love. I promise.” Sloan sat on the side of the bed, and his plate sort of appeared in front of his face. He took it, so Riley slipped out of the room without saying a word.
“Do you need me to help?” Sloan asked, taking his plate out of his trembling hands.
Sloan didn’t wait for him to answer; he just took a forkful and held it up to his mouth, letting him nibble on it.
The eggs were perfect, and there were vegetables, but it was the bread and honey that finally did it.
His appetite returned, and he tore into three pieces, devouring them.
Then he lay back, mumbling about how much he loved his mate, closed his eyes, and went right to sleep.