Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Odem
Tonight, Caro and I were on patrol and it damn near killed me to leave Ronan after seeing the visions he’d had. Scary, horrific visions of abuse. My dragon wanted nothing more than to curl up in full form, tucking him and our girls safely inside his wings.
No child should ever feel unsafe in their own home.
Those eyes that haunted him concerned me. If that man came anywhere near my family he’d regret it.
Thinking about Ronan’s visions? Caro asked. Ionus had told our brothers and the Drakemyre’s what Ronan had shared.
Aye. I’m both glad and terrified about the memories his dragon has now chosen for him to see. Why now? Was it because his dragon finally felt they were safe?
Not only did I know next to nothing about Ronan and his past, but it now appeared he didn’t remember much of it either.
I can’t imagine how lost he’s felt all this time, then to wind up in a town you knew nothing of after having been chased from one place to the next.
At least his dragon protected him. I’d be sure to thank his dragon personally the next time they woke.
If those were his father’s eyes that followed him, he knows where he is.
Yes, but I’m hoping they’re his brothers and he’s kept watch over Ronan.
I reached out to ask him if his father and brother possibly had matching eyes, but my mate was asleep.
As much as I hated upsetting Ronan, difficult conversations lay ahead for him.
I only hoped he and his dragon would be prepared for the tough emotions those memories were sure to bring.
If our eggs showed any sign of stress during it, I’d put a stop to Ionus’ interrogations.
Angus was with Larkin’s team, patrolling Dragon City while Caro and I covered our compound. Patrolling was long and boring, and more than anything, I despised those who made this necessary due to their lack of morals.
I have a really bad feeling about this. Between my mate’s father coming to town not once, but twice, and now the possibility of yours doing the same, the proverbial shit is about to hit the fan, I can feel it.
As do I, brother.
There was a reason that all our mates were showing up now and why the town’s population had drastically increased as of late. A shift in the wind was what they used to say, only now that so-called wind was headed directly for us.
How many were friend as opposed to foe? How many were terrified, searching for a safe space to call home?
This was one of those events where only time would tell, for evil would always reveal itself.
As the sun rose after a very long and thankfully uneventful night, we landed on the practice pitch and headed straight to Ionus’ office. When we stepped inside, all our brothers, plus Larkin and the Drakemyres, were there.
“Morning, take a seat.” Straight to the point, that was our dear Ionus. “As you know, Odem, I’ve briefed the others on Ronan’s revelations. Larkin, any update or concerns with the influx of newcomers to Dragon City?”
“Yes,” Larkin replied. “It’s taking some time to get them all into the database.”
“Wait, they’re all shifters?” There was no way. It was like a fucking mecca landing in our once quiet town.
“Aye, they are and the vast majority are dragons. Many of which are sharing stories similar to Ronan’s during their processing interviews.”
“Fuck. Me.”
“Your concern is warranted, Odem, though your choice of verbiage is questionable,” Ionus groaned. “What can we do to help, Larkin?”
“Looks like it’s going to be all hands-on deck for a while. Something has spooked them and the devil, or in this case devils, may be headed our way,” Larkin sighed, “And the ones in the dungeon still refuse to talk.”
“Have you taken blood samples from them as well?” Not sure why that just hit me. I know when any shifters move to town taking a vial of their blood was part of the interview. It was analyzed and entered into the database.
“No, but that’s a great suggestion, Odem. May take a couple of us to hold them down to get it. I fully expect them to put up a fight. Once we run it through the system it will link them to any matches we already have.”
Anyone else get hit with a slight feeling of dread over that?
Sadly, Emerson may match several of them and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ronan did too, Ionus added.
“Mattias, Quint,” Ionus began, “Since the two of you are on day shift why don’t you head into town with Larkin when the meeting is over and help make that happen.”
“Aye,” they readily agreed.
“We’ll take the van and pick up any parcels at the post office,” Quint added.
“I’ll patrol the compound. Odem, since your mate is pregnant, you’ll stay close to home, plus you and Caro need to get some shut eye. Let’s reconvene before the evening shift. Maybe Ronan will have more to share, along with Larkin?”
“I’ll patrol with you,” Baird told him. “Ignatus, Elgin and Hamish, take the town patrol. Rory, stay behind and cover the ground.”
“Aye, Baird,” they readily agreed.
Shit was getting real. Should’ve known it wouldn’t be all fun and games finding our mates. The universe gives but it always comes with a price tag like it grants you a favor and takes something away in return.
Ionus adjourned the meeting and I followed the giggles into the family room to get my dragonet fix before heading home and straight to bed.
“Unca O!” the four of them cried out. I loved how they’d nicknamed me.
“Hold,” Luna’s tiny fingers waved up at me. I swung her up in the air, her laughter warmed my heart.
“Good morning, Princess Luna. How are you?”
“You silly,” she rubbed her nose against mine. “You play wif me?”
“I don’t have time today. Uncle Odem needs a nap, sweet girl.” I gave them each a hug and waved to Alex on my way out.
Ronan wasn’t up yet, so I inhaled several pieces of toast and headed up to shower, only instead of the silence I expected to find upon entering my bedroom, my ears were met with the soft snores of my pregnant mate.
All it took to get him into my bed was for him to miss me. He was so cute, all wrapped around one of my pillows. His pooch, a bubble beneath the sheets. I snuck past him, quietly closing the bathroom door and took a quick shower.
Odem?
Yes, love. He snuggled back against me. Sleep well.
I slid my arms around him, hands coming to a rest on his belly. The girls wiggled a bit then settled down, dozing off with their Daddy and Papa.
When can you and Ronan meet with the team?
Good morning to you too, Ionus.
It’s nearly dinner time.
Huh, guess we slept the day away.
Let me feed us both then we can get ready and head over.
We’ll feed you here. Get dressed and be here in thirty.
That man’s bedside manner needed a lot of work.
“Sweetheart,” I kissed the back of Ronan’s neck. “We’ve been beckoned to Ionus and Alex’s house for dinner.” And an interrogation, though I left that part out.
“I’m guessing he wants more of my backstory.”
“Smart mate. Yes, we’ve had an influx of dragons moving here and the more we know, the better prepared we can be.” Ronan groaned. “I’m sorry, my love. I know this brings up feelings you’d rather leave buried, but please know, I’ll be right by your side the entire time.”
“That’s supposed to help me?” His teasing words held no weight.
“I know it does.”
Another dramatic sigh. “Fine. The girls and I are hungry, so let’s get this where were you on the night of the twenty-seventh interrogation under way.”
Pregnant or not, there was zero chance Ronan was going anywhere not dressed to the nines. By the time we left the house, an hour later, Ionus was sending not so pleasant signals through our connection.
“Nice of you to join us,” was the lukewarm greeting we received the second we stepped inside.
Not gonna win him over that way, brother.
Not trying to win, trying to get answers.
Well, piss him and his dragon off and I guaran-fucking-tee he’ll shut you out.
Hmph.
“Ronan, please, have a seat,” Alex glared at Ionus. “I’ll bring you a plate.”
“Thank you,” Ronan replied, taking a seat as I pulled a chair out for him and then sat to his right. “This looks fantastic.” Ronan took a couple bites then got that all too familiar smug look on his face as he stared at Ionus. “If I help you, will you help me?”
Oh shit.
“That’s not how this works,” Ionus snarled.
“Really now,” Ronan resumed eating. Every dragon’s head in the room bounced back and forth like we were watching a tennis match. “Sad, my memory is so fuzzy.”
Get a grip on your mate, Odem.
Really? If I said that to you about Alex what would your response be?
Point taken.
Yeah, because Alex would’ve straight up told us to fuck off.
“Fine,” Ionus caved. “What is it you want?”
“I want to find my brother, Upalo,” Ronan paused. “He left one night after a fight with our father. From what I remember the fight had to do with me. As I mentioned yesterday, father wished to use me as some sort of pawn, and I have a bad feeling my mother leaving wasn’t by choice.”
“Ronan, do you remember if your brother and your father had similar color eyes?” Please let that be his brother who followed him. When he shook his head, I knew I’d hate the answer.
“No. My father’s eyes were cruel. My brother’s eyes were a brilliant blue and every time he saw me he smiled, so he had those happy lines beside them.
He was much older than I was and always made me feel safe.
Anytime our father’s ire was directed at me, Upalo stepped in and took the punishment on himself.
The memories after he left are hazy and I have a feeling after yesterday’s revelation that’s because my dragon protected me. ”
No question about that but what would it take to lure his dragon out again?
“Ionus, I have no problem telling you what I know, but until my dragon let’s those memories resurface, I have nothing. My brother holds the key to many of them, and with him nearby I’m sure they’ll come back. At least the ones when he was still around should.”
I felt his dragon stir and mine reached out to him. Ronan’s eyes met mine, though he said nothing as the two dragons nuzzled through our connection.
Protect mate.
Always.
Remote village in the Smoky Mountains.
Tell Ionus.
I nodded to Ronan. “My dragon just told me I came from a remote village in the Smoky Mountains.”
How do I not remember that? I drove here for fucks sake.
You drove but your dragon guided you, away from the pain.
“He’s feeding me glimpses of pain, pregnant omegas who don’t look well. Like it was a breeding farm of some sorts.”
“That explains your incubator comment,” I took his hand in mine. “I’m sorry. You’re not an incubator. You’re my mate, and I love you.”
He smiled, albeit briefly. “I know, and I love you too. Guess the initial shock of the pregnancy hit me hard and I’m getting a better understanding as to why.”
Yes!
He loved me!
While this might not be the best place to hear it for the first time, I couldn’t have been happier to learn of my mate’s feelings for me.
“Did you destroy the entire village?” Ionus asked and Ronan tapped into his dragon.
“No, only a bunch of the houses around ours and whatever those fire’s spread to.”
“Baird, we need to send a party that way. Fly by night under the cloaking spell. Omegas should be valued, savored above all others. Treating them this way is inhumane and unacceptable,” Ionus fist met with the table, rattling the contents. “We must stop this.”
There were very few spells’ we dragons performed and those that we did were used sparingly. We left that to the witches and warlocks because they drained our powers. But now was the time to utilize what we had.
“Do you think there’s a direct correlation between Ronan’s village and the Gorynych?” Mattias asked, Ronan cocked his head.
“Why is that name so familiar?” Ronan asked, though I believed it to be rhetorical.
“Anyone besides me think it’s odd that now two of three mates have ties to that clan?”
“Fantastic question, Quint,” Ionus replied. “I have a feeling this is the bidding of the Goddess herself.”
Are you alright, love?
Emotionally drained…Ronan pushed his half empty plate away.
Let’s go play with the babies.
While the others addressed patrols and what Ronan shared, we escaped to the one place that always made me feel better.
“We haven’t had to use a fire extinguisher in a while,” Alex winked as we entered the den. “I think we owe that to Uncle Odem.”
“Unca O!” The four dragonets cheered as they ran toward us. Ronan was a bit overwhelmed, but the second Luna rubbed his belly he melted.
“Babies happy. Oh-Paul and Rue-bee,” she did a pretty good job saying their names for the first time. “Happy.”
Ronan took a seat on the couch and Luna immediately crawled onto his lap. “You’re a smart girl, aren’t you, and a pretty one too.”
“I have tutus. Lots and lots,” then she growled. “Brothers burned some.” At least Kane and Hunter had the decency to look properly chagrined.
“Sorry Wuna,” they apologized.
“Daddy and Papa bought new ones, see?” She tugged at the lilac one she had on.
“I love it. Will you help me find pretty ones for Opal and Ruby after they come?”
“Yes,” Luna beamed. “More girls to play with.”
I think my mate just found his new BFF.
With Ronan in Luna’s capable hands, I sat on the floor with the boys.
Griffin currently drove the loud, noisy fire truck I got them for Christmas around the room, running over buildings and walls Hunter and Kane put in his way.
It was nice to see the three of them playing as children should.
Maybe Griffin was only in protector mode when emulating his father.
Besides putting those running from the Gorynych in our paths and in our lives, I believe the Goddess had bestowed gifts to our offspring beyond any we’d seen.
I couldn’t wait to see what this next line of protectors brought to their generation.
Bring it on, Mother Goddess. We’re ready to do your bidding.