Chapter 12
Luxuriating in the tub with her mates would always be one of her favorite memories, Skye decided. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in such a few short days. Hugging Ardon’s neck, she sent love through the triad’s connection, and that emotion returned twofold.
They were headed to visit her family and pick up the clothes she hadn’t taken to college. Her dragons wished to meet her parents. Skye was on edge at the thought of spending time with her mother. It was always a challenge to act and speak the way her mother required.
Skye rolled her eyes. She’d never hear the end of “How could she have mated with two dragons?” One dragon was bad enough. Her mother would always worry about what the neighbors would say. Was it greedy to have a pair?
Your mother will be suitably honored to have her daughter match with dragons or she will deal with us, Oldrik snarled.
You can’t eat her. Skye laughed.
She will be nice to you. We will not accept anything else, Ardon echoed.
She’s always pleasant. Mom just doesn’t understand. She wants the best for me. I’d love to find out who’s the guardian of our family. I’ve never heard of that.
The dragons circled over the street in front of Skye’s parents’ house, double-checking that everything was safe. Oldrik landed first and shifted. Ardon followed and sent Skye into the blue dragon’s arms.
The front door opened behind them, but Skye didn’t turn until she saw Ardon standing on two feet. Together, the triad walked up the stairs to greet Skye’s father.
“Dad! I’m glad to see you.” Skye forced herself to talk.
“Bluebird, I’m glad you’re here,” her father said, gathering her into his arms for a hearty hug.
“Bluebird?” Oldrik asked, holding out his hand to Mr. Ericsen’s. “I’m Oldrik.”
“My pet name for my daughter. She was all big blue eyes when she was a baby. Call me Tom,” her father requested, shaking Oldrik’s hand before repeating the process with the other shifter.
“Ardon.”
“I’ll be honest, three months ago if someone had told me I’d welcome two men who turn into dragons into my home, I’d have asked what they were on,” Tom confessed.
“The dragon ways had almost disappeared in Wyvern,” Ardon agreed.
Skye could hear the underlying fire in that statement but knew her father didn’t pick it up.
“We were all fools. And very lucky you protect the city. I don’t want to think about what’s happening out there. Come in. Your Aunt Abigail came to join us. You’re going to want to visit with her.” Tom pointed to a stack of boxes by the door before he led the way into a large gathering room. “Don’t worry about packing your clothes. We have everything boxed up for you. Your mom thought that would be easier.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Freezing in the doorway, Skye studied a large, wrapped package sitting on the coffee table. Something called to her from it. As she stared at it, a light flickered and grew in brightness. She walked forward and dropped to her knees in front of the table.
“The tome?” she asked, looking up at the two women seated on the couch.
“It is. I’ve heard it glows, but I’ve never seen that happen,” Abigail said. Wonder filled her words. She stood and lowered her head in honor of the dragons. “Sirs, I thank you for keeping vigil over Wyvern.”
Struck by her aunt’s homage, Skye clasped her hands to her heart. Her mother awkwardly rose as well. It was obvious she didn’t understand what was happening.
“Guardian. We accept your appreciation and promise to care for your tribute as our mate. Your family is twice blessed,” Ardon announced formally.
“There are no records of this ever happening before,” Abigail said in a hushed tone. “The Ericsens honor you, Oldrik, the blue dragon, and you, Ardon, the bronze dragon. We entrust you with our precious Skye.”
“Skye is a unique mate. We are pleased with her presence and treasure her as ours,” Oldrik stated firmly. He reached down to assist Skye to her feet.
“I want to be close to this,” Skye said, waving a hand at the glowing object.
“Skye, don’t be rude….”
Ardon interrupted her mother’s correction. “If our mate desires time with the record of your family’s pact with the dragons, she will get it.”
“Perhaps we could sit around the dining room table, Amelia,” Abigail suggested. “We can talk, and I can share the family history with Skye.”
“I’d like that.” Skye endorsed that idea. She leaned over to scoop the book up in her arms and smiled as a surge of warmth wrapped around her.
“I should have gotten you together with that a long time ago, Skye. Our family hadn’t produced a mate for a couple of generations. I should have suspected I would be lucky enough to see a matching,” Abigail said, walking with Skye ahead of the others.
The two women sat at one end of the table. Ardon took the spot next to Skye, and Oldrik remained standing, supposedly to see the pages of the book. Skye didn’t buy that. He was vigilant.
I’m safe here.
We’ll make sure of that, Ardon stated.
“I don’t remember hearing about any mates in our history. I mean, there is an Ericsen, Olivia Ericsen, I believe, carved in the steps of the square,” Skye’s mother said.
“Your great-great-great-aunt,” Abigail explained. “Open the book, Skye. I’ll show you the list of family.”
A couple of hours later, Skye was exhausted from all she had learned. She glanced up at Oldrik, who had never budged from his vigil behind her. His hand had landed on her shoulder when she needed assurances. Ardon next to her provided similar support.
“Our mate is tired. We will take her home. You will alter your door color to acknowledge blue and bronze,” Oldrik told her mother and father.
“Of course, Oldrik. It will be done throughout the family homes,” Abigail agreed. “We are delighted to honor the blue and bronze dragons.”
“Thank you. We stand ready to defend the Ericsen family as well as the rest of Wyvern,” Ardon added.
Come, mate. It is time to go . Ardon pulled her chair back and scooped Skye up in his arms.
Pressing her spinning head to his chest, Skye listened to his steady heartbeat. The slower, louder rhythm underlined the differences between them but no longer frightened Skye. She understood that she’d been fated since birth to be theirs.
“Skye, I don’t know what to say,” Amelia, Skye’s mother, admitted softly at her side. She reached out to smooth her daughter’s shorter hairstyle. “This suits you. It seems I have been wrong about many things. Be happy. Return to visit. We love you too.”
“I love you and Dad. I’ll come when I can, but my place is with them,” Skye told her.
“I recognize that now. They are perfect for you and you for them,” Amelia stated, looking at all three of them.
Skye could tell the idea of her daughter with two men, much less shifters, was completely out of her understanding. She appreciated her trying to adjust.
Down, Ardon. I can stand.
Her mate lowered her feet to the carpet, steadying her against him. Oldrik moved into position on the other side.
Stepping away, Skye hugged her parents and her Aunt Abigail. She whispered to the latter her thanks for being the family’s guardian.
“They couldn’t have chosen anyone better.”
“I am honored,” Abigail said, nodding. “Be happy, dragons’ mate.”
“Thank you.” Skye stepped back to join the shifters she adored. Will you fly me home, please.
Our pleasure, Blueberry.