Chapter Twenty-Five
Odem
The smiles on Ronan and Upalo’s faces made the mission more than worth it. Not that rescuing the others wasn’t important, but finding their parents was at the top of my list. Hopefully Mattias will have insight as to where their mother is soon.
Speak of the devil and half of his mates. Still can’t work past that lucky dragon being blessed with two of them.
“Came to speak with Kaelith and visit with my nieces, of course,” Kes grinned beside him and Mattias planted the sweetest kiss atop his head.
“Absolutely. Help me take our nest side picnic up. You two are welcome to join us.” Mattias was a big seafood aficionado like my mate.
“Don’t mind if I do.” They each picked up a tray and followed me upstairs.
“We have company,” I announced as we stepped inside. “Kaelith, you remember my brother Mattias? This is one of his mates and Upalo’s bestie, Kes.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Kes,” Kaelith rose and gripped his forearm. “One of your mates?”
“Aye,” Mattias grinned. “The Goddess has blessed us with another, though we have yet to find them.”
“Mattias controls the seas. His knowledge will be of great assistance in the quest to locate your mate.” If anyone could find her it would be him.
“Yes, please, sit,” Mattias gestured toward the nest. “Let us break bread and get to know one another. The more you can tell me about her and her clan the better chance we have of finding her.”
The Goddess did our family proud, did she not?
She did, Odem, and hopefully Kes and I will have our missing mate soon.
Speaking of mates… “Knock-knock,” Rory peeked around the door frame and Upalo ran right over and hugged him.
“I believe my eldest son has found his mate as well?” Kaelith smiled. “Please, join us?”
“Rory. Sorry. Rory, this is our father, Kaelith. Dad, my mate, well, we believe we are, but haven’t had time to, you know,” Upalo’s cheeks matched his dragon’s scales.
Kaelith’s laughter rumbled through the room. “I will assist in finding your mother. You and your brother need time with your mates, fulfilling your bonds. It’ll strengthen your dragons.”
How lovely is this? A picnic with our girls and our growing family. I can’t wait for them to officially meet everyone. Ronan was the happiest I’d ever seen him.
It’s beyond words, my love, and soon you’ll have your mother here too. I hope your parents plan to stay on with us as Gramps and Baird have done with Ionus and Alex.
Me too. I want them to be here for all the firsts with the girls.
I’ll settle this now. “Kaelith, Ronan and I would love for you and your mate to stay with us—permanently. You and Rory as well, Upalo. Family is everything to my brothers and I.”
If I’m not mistaken, Kaelith’s eyes lit up. “We wouldn’t want to impose.”
“It will only be an imposition if you decline.”
“We wouldn’t dear dream of disappointing a protector and son-in-law, but how far are you from the water? My dear Cynda will need to be close.”
I glanced at Mattias. “That’s not an issue. We still need to give you the full tour, then you’ll see what we mean. Being of water dragon myself, my home leads down to the water where you’ll frequently find me, plus there are natural springs throughout our intricate tunnel system.”
“What do you say?” How was it I’d suddenly become as excited as my mate was?
“I say it sounds like we found our new home.”
I’ve never loved you more than I do right now.
Really? Not even the other night with your legs in the air while I… Ronan cut me off.
Are you trying to kill me? My family is here.
Yes, yes they are.
Pretty damn proud of yourself, aren’t you, dragon?
And then some, adding to my own personal brand of snark, I winked at him.
Mattias and Kaelith made plans to visit the ocean after our morning practice.
Our group of five had increased to close to two dozen.
The new dragons requested to join the fight, and we couldn’t be happier to have them.
Too many had lost their friends and even more, their lives.
It was time to take back what was rightfully theirs and end this maniacal tirade.
“Ronan, why don’t you show your dad around the house. I’ll stay with the girls.” Papa needed girl time. Perfect way to end a long day. Well, that and being buried deep inside my mate, but that’ll have to wait for another night.
He kissed the tip of each egg, then me before he left.
The girls snoozed away in their cozy cocoons while my dragon and I curled around them, offering our warmth.
Visions of braiding their hair, while they dressed Papa up, haphazard makeup applied to my face, looking much like a clown, my hair in the strangest braided pigtails, courtesy of Papa’s angels, of course.
Giggles filling my once far too empty house, solidifying that it was now truly a home.
An oddly decorated Christmas tree beside the hearth.
Ronan and the girls merrily singing to carols.
Goddess, I was well and truly blessed.
Please let Quint’s happily ever after be waiting nearby.
Would our power increase when all five gems illuminated? Mattias’ was only partially lit, pending his remaining mate, but the other three glowed like the sun.
The prophecy was real, now we’ve just gotta hope we don’t fuck it up.
What are you thinking so hard about? Ronan asked as he snuggled in, tucking my dragons wing over him and the eggs.
The prophecy. How much our lives have changed. You showered?
Mmm, yes, took advantage of the free babysitting.
Everyone settled in?
Yes, and they thanked us so many times I lost count. Dad was especially thrilled to take a warm shower.
Glad they’re happy.
They are, as am I.
With my dragon and I so content, showering would have to wait until the morning.
“How was practice?” Ronan asked, puckering those gorgeous lips at me.
“Mmm, better now that I’m home,” I stole another kiss. “Some of the new guys are quite adept at hand-to-hand combat while others are stronger in the air.”
“I’m sure Ionus will whip them into shape.”
“Or die trying,” I chuckled. “Larkin wants to start sending his newbies over to train with us too. Not a bad idea, especially for the ones who’ve been in hiding.” I’m sure the agility portion of being a dragon would soon return to them.
Probably.
“Hey little bro,” Upalo mussed Ronan’s hair and he huffed. “Let’s make everyone breakfast.”
“If what he said last night is true,” Kaelith began, “then you’ll want to retract that offer, son.”
“Ha-ha, I’ve got ya, Upalo. Let’s get our breakfast on.”
“Well, you got your mother’s looks, and your brother got her ability to play chef. Nice balance.”
I couldn’t wait to see what the girls got from Ronan and me.
“Are you really leaving already, Dad,” Ronan asked, taking a seat next to his father at the table.
“Aye, I am. But I’ll be back, and hopefully with your mother.
We have to find her, son.” Kaelith’s sadness shone through his words.
He missed his mate and that I understood.
Mate bonds are not meant to be broken, which is why most don’t survive when they were.
“I heard some stories about a certain dragon and his ability to launch deadly lava bombs.”
Ronan giggled. “Yes, even while in denial. My dragon protected me even when I didn’t know he was there.” His dragon preened, mentally nuzzling mine.
“Ah, just in time,” Mattias rubbed his hands together. Kes, Caro and Emerson followed him inside.
“Kaelith, I’m Emerson. We briefly met on the pitch the other day. When you return, may I steal you away and pick your brain?”
“Aye, historian, you may. And who is this tiny smiler?” Kaelith grinned at Cade.
“This is our son, Cade,” Caro proudly replied. “A mini historian in the making. He has a curiosity to rival his Daddy’s.” Had to admit, Emerson was adorable when he blushed.
“What a wonderful family of protectors. Thank you for taking in and caring for my family. That is a debt I’ll never repay.”
“Our family,” I clapped his shoulder. “We are as one now, therefore, no debt to be repaid.”
After breakfast I ran upstairs. One of the things I’d ordered and was most excited to arrive had come in the mail. I set it up then met the others downstairs to send off those embarking upon the next mission this morning.
“Oh. My. Goddess, that is so awesome!” Ronan announced, checking the straps on the double egg chest carrier I wore. The girls were wrapped tight and wide awake inside their tiny domes.
“Ha-ha, you look like you have man boobs!” As soon as Upalo said it the house erupted in laughter.
“Huh, guess it kinda does.” I posed, twisting side to side. “The girls are ready to go outside for the first time.”
“Wherever did you find such a contraption?” Kaelith was full of youthful curiosity, checking every inch of the carrier. “That is quite the…I don’t even know what to call it.”
“Caro had one for Cade. As soon as I found out we were having twins I reached out to the manufacturer and voila! They sent us one. They went through a couple of protypes but as soon as they added it to their website, sales went crazy, so they gifted us with this.”
Instead of taking the tunnels down to Mattias private beach, we walked the long way down the side of the pitch to the water. Much easier this way with the crowd we’d amassed.
It was a gorgeous day outside, a bit warm, which my dragon loved, and it appeared our girls did too.
They flittered away inside their shells, enjoying every moment of our adventure.
Ionus took one look at me, shook his head, doubled up his steps and sped right by me.
Sometimes his old grouchy side peeked out, but for the most part since Alex came along, he was wayyyy easier to be around.
“Report as often as you can,” Ionus directed. “Be safe and keep your eyes and ears open.”
“Always, brother,” Caro assured him. “Will be nice to visit with Tasi and the Tempest Clan again.”
“Pfft,” Mattias groused. “Thankfully your mate befriended them, or they’d have handed you your ass.”