Chapter 25 Dragons Swarming
Dragons Swarming
Lawrie
The coffee might have been a bad idea. As I sat in the passenger seat while we drove through suburbs, my heart throbbed and my stomach churned. I even felt a little breathless, which was of course all nerves. Focused on driving, Ernest didn’t hover as much as he normally would.
I tried to tell myself it would be fine.
Wasn’t it a rule that a dragon mate had to be always welcome and respected?
Ernest had said something along those lines.
Even if they didn’t love me, they would be kind, right?
Or at least polite. What if they didn’t like me?
Especially Ernest’s omega dad. He was the first Ernest told that he’d found me, so he must be the most important person in Ernest’s life. What if he didn’t like me?
Blowing out a deep breath, I looked out of the window. Ernest patted my knee between shifting gears but said nothing.
I counted the Bracknells in my head—Finlay, Edvard, Gabe, and Gary were the brothers.
Ernest’s parents were Emanuel and Cyrus.
I didn’t remember all the brothers-in-law and nephews, so I’d have to pay extra attention today.
What was it like to grow up in such a big family?
I would have trouble keeping track of names alone, let alone form an actual relationship with all those people.
We left the rows of villas behind and slowly meandered through a pine forest for about fifteen minutes, then drove over a small stone bridge.
The landscape got hilly as we neared the mountains.
Then a small valley opened in front of us, with a single house at the end of the road, and I couldn’t help but gasp.
The place wasn’t at all what I’d expected. I’d envisioned something like Mr. Sullivan’s home, huge, opulent, and cold. It was remote, yes, but that was all it had in common with the Sullivan mansion. I should have known that the people who’d raised Ernest would have a different style.
The low ranch house stood on a gentle incline, facing south, a big porch along the front facade. Instead of a manicured lawn, flowers and vegetable beds surrounded the building. Three cars were parked in front, and through a half-open garage door, I noticed another vehicle.
Suddenly, a pair of enormous wings rose behind the house. The dragon shot into the heights, another creature right behind him. They spiraled above the roof, tails swishing.
“Do you see that?” I gasped, and Ernest slowed down.
A third dragon joined the two, smaller but fast like a rocket.
“They’re showing off,” Ernest muttered.
“Who is that?”
“My brother Finlay’s kids. The smallest one is Joey. He’s eleven. Rusty is thirteen; he’s the darker one. And the one coming at us is Matt. He’s fifteen and a terrible menace.”
The largest dragon lifted right in front of our car, flying over us. I turned in my seat to see him do a backflip and plunge back to the house.
I gulped.
Human teens were supposedly difficult enough. But this…this was another level.
“I told my dad they weren’t supposed to attack you on arrival,” Ernest bit out. “And in my book, zooming right above our car counts as an attack. Guess who’s doing all the dishes tonight?”
I pointed in front of us. “Matt?”
Ernest smirked and parked the car next to a gray seven-seater. The oversized vehicle was presumably also Finlay’s since he had the most kids—if I remembered correctly.
As soon as we exited the car, the front door swung open, and a small, skinny man rushed out.
He seemed between forty and fifty years old, but since he belonged to the dragon folk, he could be ninety for all I knew. For a short guy, he walked scarily fast, and the wide grin on his expressive face looked almost maniacal.
“Lawrence!” he exclaimed.
My mouth went dry.
So this was Emanuel Bracknell, the man I needed to impress today. He was even shorter and skinnier than me. How the hell had he produced all those kids?
“Good evening, Mr. Bracknell. Thank you so much for having me over. I hope we’re not late.”
To my horror, he burst out laughing. “Oh Lord. You look terrified. What on earth has Ernest told you about us?”
I swallowed. What would be the best thing to say? I couldn’t admit that Ernest told me his dad was scary. Even though he was tiny, I could easily imagine he took no shit. Looking me up and down, he emanated power.
“Um. I…” I got vaguely nauseous. Where was Ernest when I needed him? “I’m sorry…”
Before I could stammer out what I was sorry for, Mr. Bracknell threw himself at me, hauling me to his thin chest with admirable strength.
“My poor boy. You must be so overwhelmed,” he said quietly and squeezed me like a sandwich filling. “You don’t have to worry about a thing because I’ll always have your back. Welcome to the family, son.”
And I choked. I had no idea where it came from, but all of a sudden, tears flooded my eyes, and I drew in a ragged breath.
Mr. Bracknell smoothed my hair with a warm hand and rocked me gently.
“It’s okay,” he murmured quietly. “It’s so hard, I know.
All of it is happening so fast, and you have no one to talk to.
But it’s going to be alright, I promise.
You’re at home here. You’re safe. And if Ernest ever does something stupid, you’ll come to me, and we’ll fix it, okay? ”
Fucking hell, now I was bawling. “Sorry,” I forced out.
“Nothing is your fault, Lawrence. You have nothing to apologize for.”
A pang of grief for my own dad cut through my stomach, and then I just gave in and slumped in Emanuel Bracknell’s arms. He smelled vaguely familiar—a pleasant, subtle scent of laundry detergent and a hint of fresh bread. Coffee and cookies. Home.
He cupped my shoulders, pulling me away gently, and I sniffled. Wiping my face with the back of my hand, I tried to meet his ice-blue gaze. His eyes were similar to Ernest’s but without the gold band.
“Thank you. I think I’m okay.”
“I think so too. Let me look at you.” He smiled sweetly, and I simply had to smile back. “My stars, Lawrence, you’re pretty.”
He patted my cheek as if I were a kid, but from him, I didn’t mind. I didn’t mind at all.
“Ernest told me how you found out.” He tsked and shook his head. “You must have been so scared.”
I managed a nod. “It wasn’t so bad in the end.”
Hugging me around my shoulders, Mr. Bracknell handed me a paper tissue he’d pulled out of nowhere. “Here, my dear. No rush. The rest of the lot can wait while you and I become friends.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle despite the drying tears.
“I don’t know what came over me,” I said. “I’m usually not this fragile, I promise.”
“You’ve had the most tumultuous couple of weeks in your life.
And you’ve just been attacked by a murder of dragons.
Speaking of which…” He leaned away from me and yelled in the direction of the house.
“Matthew Howard Bracknell, you’re doing the dishes tonight!
And don’t you dare try bribing Joey to do it for you! ”
“You won’t even say hi to me, Dad?” Ernest spoke from behind me.
Mr. Bracknell turned his head, not letting go of my shoulders. “Hi. I’ve known you all your life. Excuse me while I get to know the son I’ve just gained.”
This would be difficult but in a completely unforeseen way. My mind swung again to my dad, and I looked down, trying to school my expression. Except Ernest’s omega dad wasn’t having it. He cradled my face and found my gaze.
“Is it hurting you if I call you that, my dear? Ernest mentioned you’ve been all alone in the world since your dad died. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay.”
He frowned, scrutinizing me in a way that made it clear I wouldn’t ever be able to hide anything from this man.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Mr. Bracknell. It’s actually…quite nice.”
Mr. Bracknell beamed. “Call me Manny. Are you ready to come in?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s face the dragons, then.”
He kept chatting while he slowly led me to the house.
“Ernest tells me you work for Davidson Sullivan. You must be a saint to deal with that horrendous monster.”
“He’s been way nicer to me since I got together with Ernest.”
“Of course he has been. Because he knows very well, we’d rip his head off if he mistreated you. But isn’t it ridiculous that you had to get yourself a mate, a dragon no less, for him to treat you with some dignity?”
“Ernest says Mr. Sullivan is bitter because he hasn’t found a mate yet.”
“That’s no excuse. What would society look like if we all treated others with respect only when forced? I do hope his future mate will teach him a lesson.”
“You think he’d find someone?”
“Everybody does in the end. Now tell me quickly, do you have any allergies? Cyrus has been driving himself crazy in the kitchen since four.”
By the time dinner was served in the oversized family dining room, I had managed to memorize the names of all the adults and most of the kids.
Edvard, the second Bracknell brother, arrived later with his mate and three boys, ages between three and seven.
The kids were human, and as Ernest had explained, they didn’t know half of their family were basically mythical creatures.
I was nervous about how the dynamics of the room would change when those who weren’t in on the secret joined.
Strangely, nothing happened. Sure, certain topics weren’t mentioned, but everybody seemed just as relaxed and welcoming as before.
The kids played and bickered, the adults hugged, chatted, laughed, and shared their grievances, like any other family.
The secret didn’t seem to create any rift in the Bracknell clan.
It seemed to be a natural part of their lives, and even the teens respected it without fault.
Manny and Cyrus seemed to dote on their human grandchildren as much as on their shifter progeny, maybe even more, hovering protectively when the older kids got too loud.
After everybody had eaten, I stood to help with the cleanup, but Manny ordered me to stay put.
“Tea or coffee?” he asked.