Chapter 24 #2
“You are not.” Sloan hugged him tight. “So you want me to carry you? That way, we don’t have to take the cart. I can fly you up.”
That sounded so lovely. He had stopped flying mostly already because his balance was so off, but bumping along in the cart made him even grumpier. He held his arms out to Sloan, wanting to be loved and cared for and, yes, carried.
“Okay, love. Come on. Do you want the basket?”
“It’s not cold, so I won’t need the blankets. Just hold me?”
“Of course.” They walked out to where Sloan could shift. That huge gemstone colored dragon body grew out of Sloan’s human form, and then Sloan cradled him in one paw, tucking him up against that scaled body for safety while Sloan took off flying.
Riley followed, and he took a moment to wonder where Brayden and Tor had disappeared to before they were soaring, and he felt the wind on his face. So cool and perfect, and his mood improved right away.
He closed his eyes, smiling hugely.
The village seemed busy. The thought made him smile, the way it reminded him of his bees. The hives bustled like this—the flying and flitting about. The hard work and hard resting. The dancing. It was all…
A hubbub of activity at Poe and Cade’s house caught his eye. The scent of food was strong, eating tables set up in the small clearing, and all around was lit up with fairy lights. How odd.
Do Cade and Poe have plans? Are they having a party?
Had they forgotten to invite him?
Surely not. Cade was his dearest friend, his cormdai. They were his family.
Perhaps the children were having a party. Now that they were a bit older, they could have friends to visit, he supposed—especially from the Rocky Mountain clutch. There were always babies up there who wanted to go and see and fly.
Coming in for a landing. He noticed that Sloan didn’t answer his question.
Sloan seemed very distracted these days. He thought maybe it was because the baby was so close to coming. He was the size of a house; this baby was going to be the size of a muktun by the time she showed up, he had no doubt.
He was almost sure that he was bigger than Poe was when he gave birth to triplets.
Speaking of, he couldn’t wait to see his triplets—Sherlock, Watson, and Mycroft were… in a wild phase, so Cadeyrn had kept them away from the hives.
Sloan carefully sat him down, helping him get his balance, before shifting back to human form.
Tyr handed him his clothes even as he called out, “Hullo to the house! I’m here to see my triplets, Watson, Sherlock, and Mycroft. Where are you? Are you having a party? It looks so lovely out here with so many lights!”
Poe came bustling out, grinning from ear to ear. “Here you are!” He held out his hands, and Tyr took them, getting a kiss on each cheek. “Come on! I have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise? Where are the babies? What are the lights for? Why are all the tables out? What smells so good?” He followed along, rocking from side to side, as he worked to keep his balance. He felt like a gigantic bear just swaying with this big baby hanging out in his front.
“Curious dragon,” Poe teased. “It’s a surprise.”
“I like surprises.” He really did, especially ones that made people smile. “Should I close my eyes?”
“Not while you’re walking,” Sloan growled. “Last thing I need is for you to fall.”
“I would never let him fall.” Poe’s laughter was warm and honeyed as he led Tyr into the clearing.
“I could carry you.” Sloan loved to haul him around like a sack of gurey tubers. It was so alpha of him. But he wanted to follow Poe on his own.
“You just did,” Tyr pointed out.
“No, that was me cradling you very gently in my strong, clawed hand.” Sloan was so silly.
“Very gently, huh?” Poe’s laughter filled the air.
“Incredibly.”
“Vastly.”
Tyr was still laughing when the lights came up brighter, and everyone jumped out. “Surprise! Happy baby!”
He gasped. The place was decorated in bears and honeybees and little pigs and donkeys. It was adorable with all the perfect bees and little pots. It was the most beautiful party he’d ever seen.
Even the cake looked like a hive.
He burst into happy tears. “Oh, thank you.”
“Yay!” Riley hugged him from behind. “Happy baby party.”
“We have all your favorites, Tyr!” That was Tor, laughing and tossing tiny bee-shaped paper in the air.
Suddenly the air was filled with paper bees, and he held out his hands, catching them. The baby inside him rolled and jumped, and he swore he could hear her tiny voice, her joyous little laugh.
Melissa.
He blinked. The whole world seemed to still. And he tilted his head. Is that your name, sweet girl?
Melissa, your honeybee.
He nodded. Yes, my own honeybee. We’re having your very first party. It’s all for you.
She laughed again, and then time began. He was still smiling, throwing bees in the air, and there were tears on his cheek.
Mate, are you well?
Her name is Melissa. She told me. I heard her.
Melissa. That’s beautiful.
He nodded because it was beautiful, and she told him her name here, surrounded by their community, who were celebrating her at her very first party. He would remember this forever. “Thank you all for coming. This is amazing.”
“We wanted you to have something really special.” That was Cade, who engulfed him in a huge hug.
“The bear is called Winnie the Pooh, love. He’s from the human world, and he loves honey above almost all things.”
“I understand that.” Tyr laughed, scooping up a handful of bees to decorate the nursery with.
Then he was brought a huge chair of honor, almost a throne, and he sat upon it with the blankets piled all around him to cushion his bony bed. And everyone came to visit to nod and smile. Even the Rocky Mountain clutch was here—Arielle, Sebby, the little ones along with all their fathers.
Best of all Aleana, Fredda, and Mari were here too, bringing amazing gifts: necklaces of sea glass and toys made of shell.
And Tor wandered about, allowing himself to relearn the villagers.
It was truly magical, and he was grateful to have it.
Are you happy, mate? I did well? Sloan nuzzled his cheek. There are many gifts for you.
“For Melissa, for us. You truly have become one with the village. I couldn’t possibly be happier, not even if I tried.”
Sloan beamed at him. “Neither could I. I love you so much. You and our little one. And I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Tyr shook his head at his mate. “There’s no worries tonight. There’s just party and honey cakes and celebrating our Melissa.”
“I love that somewhere back in my line, perhaps my mother’s mother, there was a Melissa. It was meant to be, right?”
“That was meant to be. You and me.” Tyr smiled around at everyone and couldn’t wait to try the cake, but what made him happiest was when Sloan sat down next to him on the floor and leaned against his legs. That way he could run his hands through Sloan’s hair and just be there and experience it all.
He knew there would be games, toys, and little tiny baby clothes and all of the wonderful things he remembered from when they had done a party like this for Poe, but right now, all he wanted to do was sit and let everything flow around him.
Friends, family, and his mate were what made everything else worthwhile.