Chapter Five #2
Caro’s eyes were wide and his smile even wider as he trailed after Emerson. My brother quite enjoyed this new side of his mate. Good thing our houses didn’t have connecting walls because the chances were high another egg may be in their new future after tonight.
“Ronan,” Ionus begun and I feared what he was about to say.
“Never in all my centuries have I come across a more defiant omega than you. Do you know how many omegas would stand in line to be the mate of a protector? This is a gift you’ve been given from the Goddess, don’t disrespect her with your asinine behavior by rejecting it.
As Emerson told you, that will only end in yours, your eggs, and Odem’s demise, and I will not lose my brother. ”
Ionus left, Mattias and Quint followed him out, leaving me alone with my mate. My very angry mate.
Is there another name for a mate who’s kind of still a fiancé of sorts?
Well, whatever Ronan was now, it was just the two of us.
Plus, our eggs.
Goddess, I was so excited about those two dragonets. The thought of losing them absolutely gutted me. My final plea, exposing the lifeforce, was my last hope.
“Ronan, come with me. I need to show you something.” No malice, no elevation in my voice, just a simple request. Ronan nodded but said nothing as we exited through the kitchen door. It looked like any other pantry door only it led to the intricate tunnel system beneath our homes.
“What is all of this?”
“A series of tunnels that connect our homes as well as what I’m about to show you.
They also lead to the shore beneath us.” Before I lay the big reveal on him, I’d throw a hopeful bone his way.
“These are natural springs, warm and cool, within the tunnels. Emerson and Alex both sought solace in them while pregnant.”
“Why are you showing me this?”
With a heavy sigh, I replied. “All I want is for you to be happy. With me. If there is something I can do to make your life easier, I will. These helped Emerson and Alex and it’s my hope they’ll provide the same comfort for you.”
“Oh, um, thank you.”
Well, that was far better than being called a doofus again.
Further into the twists and turns we went to our most protected area.
“Whoa, are those…”
“These are the protectors’ lifeforce. Each color represents our elements.
Ionus, our leader and eldest brother, is Amethyst. He controls the storms. Emerald for Caro, whose element is Earth.
The bluest of waters are represented in Mattias sapphire stone.
Our most venomous brother, Quint is topaz and myself,” I conjured a fireball and watched as Ronan stared in awe, “is fire, therefore my stone is ruby.”
“That’s so cool. Do it again.” Not what I expected but I’d take it as a step in the right direction. Fire circled us, the flames not warm or dangerous.
“Touch it.”
“What? I’ll get burned.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you. Touch it.”
Reluctantly, Ronan reached out, and when his hand wasn’t met with flame burning heat, he allowed it to sink into the flames and waved it around. “How is this happening?”
“Not only can I control the heat of the flame, but you’re the mate of the one who controls that element, therefore it won’t burn you, or our dragonets.” The fire disappeared and his attention returned to the stones.
“Why are only two of them alight?
I glanced at Ionus and Caro’s eggs, then knelt beside mine. “They’ve both fully mated and the bond is complete, mine, as you can see, only has a flicker of a flame. Before I found my mate it was as dark as Quint and Mattias’ eggs are.”
“What does that tiny flame represent?”
“My last hope. When the flame goes out it means I no longer exist.”
Ronan remained silent for a few seconds before he again spoke. “How can I trust you? I’ve heard the stories about you nailing every willing and able omega around town.”
“Stories are great, but they’re just that—stories.
I have not slept with every omega in town, and just for the record, I’ve not slept with anyone but you since our first time.
” And now for the final truth to share. “In hindsight, I should’ve known right then that you were my mate, but I didn’t.
Not until you told me you were pregnant. ”
“You really haven’t slept with anyone else?”
“Not since you, nor can I get anyone but my true mate pregnant.” Something I’d already shared but felt the importance of reiterating. “Once we find our mate, that’s it. There’s never another, and when our mate dies, so do we.”
“How old are you exactly?”
I chuckled. “In human years, over three thousand years old.”
Silent blinks. More blinks. Mouth opened, yet for the first time nothing came out of it.
“There is no limit on our lives unless our mates die.”
“But I’ll only live a normal human existence, so my death is inevitable. Why would you tie yourself to something, or someone, with an expiration date?”
“Once we’re mated, my life source becomes yours. It will flow through your veins and protect you, heal you when you’re injured, and if what happened with Alex and Emerson proves correct, it will draw your dragon forth.”
“So, everyone here is a dragon?”
“Everyone but Raven and her coven.”
“I-I’m not a dragon,” he defiantly rebuffed, showing his snarky side again.
“Yes, mate, you are.”