Chapter Fifteen
Odem
Ronan’s memories, courtesy of his dragon, were increasing in frequency and I hoped like hell they weren’t upsetting the girls.
He’d done pretty well at masking his fear when sharing, but I felt it through our connection, and my fear was the girls did too.
We’d feel it too though, right? If the girls were bothered?
I added it to the list to speak to Emerson about and answered an incoming text.
Donovan: The dressing room is done and ready for the big reveal.
Odem: Awesome, my mate could use some good news. Thanks, man. Send me the bill and I’ll get ya paid.
Donovan: Will do.
“Hey babe, come with me.” He’d just finished the massive seafood platter I’d put together for him. Man did he ever love seafood. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Ronan burped. “Shoot, sorry. Definitely better going down the first time.” He struggled to stand, these last couple of weeks the eggs were growing at an alarming rate. “I love surprises.”
He eyed the top of the stairs as we approached them like they’d personally offended him. “I’ll carry you, my queen.”
“Smart ass, but I will take that free lift, dear dragon.”
I scooped him up and headed toward the main bedroom, which he’d slept in every night since my first patrol. Now he’d get to officially move in. He wobbled a bit as I stood him up, bracing him from behind. My poor mate looked like he’d swallowed the biggest beachball in history.
“Open the door.” He turned the handle and the occupancy sensor kicked in. The gorgeous chandelier illuminated, raining prisms across the massive marble top dresser island in the center. Each section of the shelves that lined the walls lit up too.
“Oh. My. God. Odem!”
“Yeah, you’ve screamed that a time or two,” I teased. “Do you like it?” Fucking hell, I hoped I didn’t get this wrong.
“Like it?” He squeaked. “It’s fucking amazing. When can we move my clothes in?”
“I’ll do that now. Grab that remote,” I pointed to the countertop. “Go ahead, push the buttons.” The shoe racks moved forward and rotated, Ronan’s eyes widened comically. “It’ll hold three hundred and fifty pairs of shoes in total.”
“Holy shit!”
“Yes, you now have a special place for your horde, though if you’d prefer, I could have Donovan install the same racks in the main horde room.”
“N-no, this is. Oh, Odem,” tears welled in his eyes. “I don’t deserve this. I’ve been so mean to you.”
“Sweetheart, I get it, I really do. You’ve been to hell and back, then I come along, knock you up, and turn the life you were building for yourself upside down.
I’m sorry it went down that way but I’m not sorry that you’re my mate or that you’re having our babies.
I love you, Ronan and all I want if for you and the girls to be safe and happy. Are you happy?” Please say yes.
“Yes, I really am. Odem, I love you so much it scares me.”
I tugged him as close as I could get him with our girls between us. “Don’t be scared, I’m not going anywhere.”
“The only two people I ever loved were my mother and my brother and they both disappeared and left me with that abusive asshole,” he sobbed into my shirt. “I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
“I wanted you to have your own special place. I know how much your clothes and shoes mean to you. You even have mirrors that allow you to see all the way around you,” I pointed to the trio of mirrors. “That other door leads into our bedroom.”
“Our bedroom.” And more tears. “I suck. I’m a horrible mate. I asked for my own bedroom. I don’t want it, Odem, I want to be with you and the sunshine pillows.”
“Sunshine pillows?”
“Yes,” he sobbed again. “You smell like sunshine and I can’t sleep without that scent.”
I didn’t mean to chuckle, but it couldn’t be helped. “My love, I’ll mark whatever you want with my scent so you’re never without it. Come on, I’ve got one more thing to show you.” Jacob had delivered the furniture earlier today.
We walked across the hall to the girls’ room. “Ta-da!” I announced as I flung the door open.
“Wow. He made these by hand?” Ronan ran his hand across the first one. “Ruby. Where did the beautiful ruby he embedded into the headboard come from?”
“Our horde.” I was super proud of myself for coming up with that idea.
“And the Opal for Opal is from your horde too?”
“Our horde and yes. Two of the most exquisite and valuable pieces I’d collected.
All the furniture is made of white oak and when I told him about your butterfly and dragonfly he carved those into the footboards.
The really cool thing about these cribs is that they transform into toddler beds, so they’ll use them for many years to come. ”
“I’ve never seen anything like them. Matching dressers and the rocking chair.
I can see us in here reading them bedtime stories.
Oh, Odem,” he cried again. “Our girls will always know they’re loved.
Did you hear that my tiny butterflies,” Ronan rubbed his belly, “Daddy and Papa love you so much. I can’t wait for you to see all the beautiful things we have for you. ”
My heart melted like ice cream on a warm summer day.
“Can we build the nest in the center of the room?”
“We can but then if you want to shower you have to go across the hall to our room.”
“We can’t leave them alone,” his dragon nearly roared. “Never.”
“Ssshhh, you’ll scare the girls.” That time I felt a tremble in our connection with them.
Guess I had my answer. “That will not happen. I can stay with them when you need to shower if you really want the nest in here. But, we absolutely have to get it set up soon. You look like you’re about to pop. ”
Awe, snap, there went that hand on his hip and the attitude was back. “Are you calling me fat?”
“Never. You’re with child, two of them, and they are very healthy,” he huffed, guess that wasn’t good enough. “Ronan, you’re absolutely glowing. I’ve never seen a sexier, hotter, pregnant mate.”
“You better not,” he smacked my chest. “I am the only pregnant mate you’re allowed to check out. Got it?”
I saluted him, earning another slap. “Aye, aye, Captain!”
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it. Now, time to move my stuff. I’ll direct you where to put it all.”
I hadn’t a doubt in my mind that was how this was all going down.
“Alright, Queen, sit at your make-up station. You can arrange that while I do the rest.” By the time I got it all moved in and his majesty was pleased, he was half asleep.
We’d taken to showering together the bigger he got at my insistence.
The fear of him slipping in the shower gave me nightmares, so I’d taken on the duty of washing and drying him.
Not a hardship by any means but it was a sweet ass excuse to finally get something I wanted.
We’d barely snuggled into bed before the room filled with my mate’s sweet snores.
“So far, there are no direct matches to Ronan’s blood and the new dragons,” Larkin mentioned as the morning meeting commenced. “Though I will tell you, many are absolutely terrified. I don’t know what they’ve seen but we must find a way to get them to talk.” Larkin sighed.
“Spit it out, Larkin.” Ionus was in quite the mood this morning.
“After we wrangled the blood from the two prisoners and ran the samples, they came back with trace matches to Emerson’s.”
“What?” Caro bellowed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was. Did Emerson recognize them from the photos we sent?”
“No,” Caro shook his head. “But he was young when they kicked him out and lived fairly sheltered before then.” Much as he prefers to now.
“Do we have enough homes for the newcomers?” Ionus asked. “Or should we draw up expansion plans?”
“So far, so good,” Larkin replied. “The main apartment complex still had a few units left, including the one Ronan vacated. If the influx continues then I’d say we revisit that option then. Definitely keep it in mind though.”
“We’d considered adding a second building in that same complex and still have the designs for it. Shouldn’t take much to push it through planning,” Mattias reminded us.
“True.” Right now, the Drakemyres are still bunking with Ionus, Mattias, and Quint, though there will come a time when they’ll want their own homes, I’m sure. Though Baird and Gramps will likely stay with Ionus and Alex to be near the dragonets.
“Angus and Elgin are ready to leave for the Smoky Mountains, Ionus,” Baird announced. “Will a protector be with them?”
“Aye, I will,” Quint replied. “We leave at sunset. It’s about a four-hour flight to reach the vast area. It may take a day or two to locate the village.”
“If Ronan shares anymore details, I’ll be sure to pass them right over to Quint.” Hopefully we can get more from his dragon.
“Daigle,” Ionus snarled. “Dangerous, unpredictable and ruthless. I’m glad Ronan didn’t put up a fight about destroying his car.”
“As was I,” Larkin added. “That leech had eggs all over his engine. We fried every last one of them.”
“Mind control was his game, and it sounds like it still is. Thought we’d done away with him centuries ago,” Ionus shook his head. “This time, we make certain of it.”
“I wonder how many more blasts from the past we’ll stumble upon.” These last couple of years have been nothing but surprises. Both good and bad.
“Unless,” Larkin paused, all eyes turned to him. “Raven. I have a feeling those in the dungeons have been infected with those leeches. Do you think Raven would have the ability to safely remove them if they do indeed have them?”
“Great question.” Ionus pulled his phone out and fired off a text. “We’ll soon know. I see where you’re going with this. As long as they’re under Daigle’s control, there will be no rehabbing them. And if we can’t safely free them of it they’re no good left alive.”
Brothers, do you think it’s possible that as long as they’re infected, Daigle and those he’s associated himself with can see and hear everything they do?
Fuck, that would explain why they haven’t torn their hearts out as the other had.
Too right you are, Mattias.
Ionus picked his phone up. “Larkin, Raven said she’ll meet you at the station. Quint, get some rest. I’ll update you before you head out tonight.”
“Same with you, Angus and Elgin,” Baird added. “Ionus, I take it you and I are headed into town?”
“That we are, my friend.”
After a quick hello to the dragonets, I went home and checked on my mate, who was still soundly sleeping, so I got to work whipping up breakfast for us. As soon as the smell of bacon hit the air, he wandered in all cutely tucked away under his adorable pink bathrobe.
“I’m so huge. Look,” he pointed to his exposed belly. “My robe won’t tie anymore.”
“Awe,” I came around the counter and gave him a kiss, “I love your belly,” then kissed his tummy and heard the girl’s giggle. “And I love what’s in there even more. Good morning Opal, good morning Ruby.” Their laughter made my day. “And good morning to you too, Daddy.”
“It’s gonna take weeks of work to get my figure back,” he pouted.
“Nope, you’ll have it in a day or two. That’s the magic of your dragon. I can’t wait to see you in full form and for us to fly together.” He groaned, but I just ignored him. It’ll take some coaxing to get him to fly, though I had a feeling his dragon was more than ready to spread his wings.
“Lazy day today? I’m on shift tonight.”
“That sounds wonderful. And Odem, thank you again for my special room and for the nursery. I couldn’t have imagined anything better.”
Whew, guess this old dragon did alright after all.
“I didn’t order the curtains or linens, figured you’d like to have a hand in that. You’ve mentioned a few different things so I thought we could shop for those together. Sprawl out on the big couch in our comfy clothes and shop away.”
“Perfect, though I may just stay in this, unless you think your brothers might pop in.”
“Always a possibility, but maybe just one of those cute, comfy maternity dresses you ordered.”
“Squee!” He almost jumped but caught himself. “Sorry, but I’m so excited to try them on and model in front of the new mirrors. Will you help me?”
“I’d be honored, sir.”
As soon as breakfast was over I whisked Ronan off to his dressing room. Standing naked in front of the mirrors, he whined.
“I’m huge.”
“Your gorgeous.”
“I can’t see my penis.”
More giggles from the egg den.
“It’s right here,” I slid my hands from his belly to grip it.
“See. I have no problems finding it.” As soon as I nipped his ear, my phone chimed.
“Ugh, as much as I don’t want us to be interrupted, there are a few important things taking place in town today that I need kept appraised of.
Finish this later?” He huffed and pointed to the dress of choice.
Once it slid into place I gave him a quick peck and checked my phone.
Larkin: There are three men here asking where Ronan is.
Me: WTF?
Larkin: One claims to be his brother, Upalo. Picture coming through, ask Ronan to verify please.
“Um, mate?” Knowing how badly Ronan missed his brother, I hoped like hell this wasn’t some ploy where my mate was being used as a pawn.
“Hmm?” He was still studying himself in the mirror.
“It’s Larkin. He um, wants you to verify these three men in the photo he sent.”
“Ugh, I hope I don’t know them.”
“Well, one claims to be your brother.”
Ronan grabbed my phone so fast he nearly launched it across the room. Thank the Goddess for dragon reflexes. I caught it mid-air and handed it back to him.
“Oh my God, it’s him. That’s Upalo and his two besties that he left with. I can’t remember their names for the life of me. Take me to him, please.”
“I’ll have Ionus and Baird escort them here. I’m sure you’ll want time with them, plus they’ll need a place to stay.”
Me: Bingo baby! Have Ionus and Baird vet them and bring them here. They can stay with us if the meet and greet goes well.
Larkin: Will do and I’ll come along. Need to get them processed first then we’ll head your way.
It’ll be interesting to hear what they have to say, but if they upset my mate in any way, they’d be leaving minus their wings.