Chapter 25 Dragons Swarming #2
“Water is fine.”
“I didn’t ask what’s fine. I asked what you liked.”
“Um. Tea. It’s too late for me to drink coffee. Thank you.”
He smiled contentedly at me. “Good.” His expression promptly changed into a lethal glare as he turned to the teens. “Matt. Rusty.”
The kids stood, groaning theatrically before they began collecting the used plates and cutlery.
“How are you doing?” Ernest asked me in a whisper, stroking my knee under the table.
“I’m good.”
“Am I allowed to go pee, then?”
I snickered. “You have two minutes maximum.”
“I’ll be back in one and a half.”
“Three, two, one. Go.”
Ernest shot out of his chair and disappeared down the hall.
As soon as he was gone, Finlay sat next to me.
My heart thumped just a little faster with the older alpha staring at me inquisitively.
The oldest Bracknell brother had similarly distinct features to Ernest, with a big bumpy nose and pronounced cheekbones.
Except he was even bigger, easily seven feet tall. Even sitting down, he towered over me.
“Hi,” he began. “Still freaking out?”
“Um.” I made a show of dragging my eyes up his impressive chest until I met his gaze. “A bit.”
He clapped my back, sending me forward a bit. “You’re cute. So, you work for Sullivan, huh? Has the old fart finally found someone, or is he still single?”
“Single, as far as I know.”
Finlay shook his meaty head. “See, I was afraid Ernest would soon start building his own spooky castle somewhere in the forest. Happy you finally appeared.” He leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “Have you been flying already?”
“A couple of times, yes.”
His big green eyes flashed with yellow. Now that I knew what to look for, I was fairly sure I could recognize a dragon shifter among ordinary people by the unusual eye colors and scents. “Cool, eh?” Finlay winked.
“Um. Yes.”
“And you didn’t meet any harpies, did you?”
I blinked. “Harpies?”
“You know, huge condor shifters, big orange heads, like to peck at dragon meat? They swarm Cross Valley in late January ’cause it’s the start of their mating season. My Will and I had a close call with them once. I still have a scar on my shoulder. Wanna see?”
Gaping up at Finlay, I had nothing. He turned his side to me and began rolling up his T-shirt sleeve. My brain was completely blank. Condor shifters? Dragon meat? Swarms?
“Harpies?” I squeaked again.
“For heaven’s sake, Finlay.” It was Will, Finlay’s omega husband, standing above us with his hands on his hips, glaring daggers at his mate.
Finlay gave out a booming roar of laughter. “Look at his face!”
Will crouched down next to me and patted my shoulder. “Forgive my fool of a husband, and don’t ever believe a word he says.” Then he grabbed Finlay’s biceps and tugged him away.
Finlay waved at me, mouthing “sorry,” but his expression made it clear he wasn’t sorry at all.
When Ernest appeared, I was still a little stunned. He sat down next to me and put his arm around me.
“Lawrie?”
“Hm?”
“You’re kind of pale. Are you okay?”
“Not sure. Do harpies exist?”
“What?”
“Condor shifters who eat dragon meat.”
“Condor shifters,” Ernest repeated, looking at me curiously. Then he stiffened, his eyebrows drawing together in a furious scowl.
“No, love. They sure don’t,” he bit out.
The next second, he was out of his chair, striding away.
“Finlay!” Ernest’s roar shook the house. “You’re gonna wish you were dead!”
Gary, who sat at the other end of the table, rolled his eyes. “Alphas.”
My laughter bubbled up, and Gary winked at me.
Ernest’s omega dad appeared next, two glasses of wine in his hands. He probably thought I could use something stronger than tea, and he was right. “Come.” He tilted his chin toward the front door, so I followed him out.
The sun had already set, but the porch was illuminated by yellow lanterns. The warm glow together with the colorful fluffy blankets on the armchairs created a cozy atmosphere even in the chilly breeze.
Wordlessly, Manny handed me a glass and wrapped himself up in one of the blankets before sitting down. I followed suit.
I sipped my wine and looked at the dark-blue sky.
“I thought you might enjoy a quiet moment,” Manny said after a while.
“Thank you. You’ve been very kind to me.”
“So polite. You’re one of those people who’s used to seeing to the needs of others, hm?”
“It’s a part of my job.”
“Part of your character more likely. Just don’t forget your own needs.”
I smiled. “Right now, I have much more than I’ve ever needed.”
“See, the thing about having a family this big is that there’s constantly someone around you who wants something. Mates, kids, the kids’ mates… And if you’re striving to make everybody happy all the time, it’s easy to exhaust yourself.”
“You’ve raised five dragon shifters.” A part of me was terrified to open the subject of kids with Ernest’s dad of all people. Another part longed to talk to someone who’d been there. Who could understand.
“I’ve learned to prioritize. Luckily, my Cyrus is sensible, so I’ve had it easier than most. I’ve never felt alone, you know? And yes, we were exhausted at times, both of us. That’s the thing with parenting. Magic or not, kids are hard work.”
“Ernest is an amazing man, so thank you.”
Manny gave me a brilliant smile. “He is. I’m happy he has such a lovely mate who appreciates him.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just took another mouthful of my wine and looked at the looming black forest.
“See, back then,” Manny began slowly, “we didn’t have a choice. Finding your mate meant having a child. And then another. I didn’t question or regret it because there was no point. We were in love, happy, and the babies were a blessing.”
I looked down into my glass, a creeping feeling of shame making me blush. Hopefully, in the weak light of the lanterns, Manny wouldn’t notice.
“But it was hard too. We met, moved in together, and within three months, I was pregnant. I felt as if my life had become an endless rollercoaster ride. Fast, exciting, and exhilarating, but sometimes, the speed of those changes made my stomach swoop and my ears ring.”
He scoffed softly, and I lifted my gaze, watching his profile. Manny Bracknell was something else. So much strength was hiding in the tiny omega.
“I remember I was still chest-feeding Ernest. He had a period between six and nine months when he wouldn’t sleep.
Nothing helped. He had a couple of naps during the day, but never longer than a few hours at a time, and during the night, he was wide awake, demanding we entertain him.
It was around midnight, I think, and I was so tired.
I wished someone would just smother me with a pillow.
Cyrus was passed out next to me, completely wiped out too, poor man.
Ernest finally drifted off, and I closed my eyes, only to hear footsteps in the hall.
It was Finlay, coming to tell me that Edvard had peed in their bed.
Ernest immediately woke up…and I started crying.
” Manny chuckled at the memory. “I was so drained. I thought it was all just a dream. I remember asking my husband in all seriousness how come we had three sons when we’d only just met.
Cyrus didn’t laugh. He looked at me for a long time and said, ‘I’ll be right back, Manny, and I’ll take him for the rest of the night.
Just a minute, okay?’ He kissed my forehead and went to change the bedding in the boys’ room.
Then he carried Ernest away, and I slept until noon the next day. ”
I listened to the story, my mind swirling. Manny didn’t sound bitter at all. It seemed the memories were happy ones, despite everything.
“And then you had two more kids.”
“Yes.”
Manny shifted in his seat, and I felt his gaze on me. “You’re even younger than I was when I met my Cyrus.”
He was obviously fishing, inviting the conversation we both knew I itched to have. But I wanted to hear his opinion as much as I feared it. “Mr. Bracknell…”
“Manny.”
“Um. Manny. I don’t know what to do.”
“That’s okay, Lawrence. You have time to decide.
” Manny finished his glass, put it on the coffee table, and wiggled in his chair, sighing comfortably.
“See, I don’t regret a thing. I’ve led an extraordinary life full of joy and what most people would consider miracles.
I love my children and my husband. But the truth remains, I didn’t have a choice.
You do. You can do whatever you want. And in my opinion, if one has a choice, considering it properly is an act of gratitude and humility. ”
I didn’t quite understand the size of the burden until I put it aside. The relief was immense. I slumped in the chair, drank my wine, and breathed the fresh night air, listening to the muffled cacophony of voices coming from the house.
“I’m only afraid Ernest will be disappointed if I ask him to wait,” I said after a while.
“Nothing about you will ever disappoint him.” Manny patted my hand where it lay on the armrest. “Ernest will love you for the rest of your lives, my dear. He will always put your happiness first. The bond is instinctual, a force more powerful than any selfish wish either of you might have, and it protects you from hurting each other. So consider your choice in peace, and rest assured that whatever you decide, Ernest will support you.”