Chapter 20
Over the next few weeks, the trauma of her abduction waned in Skye’s mind. She gradually slept through the night without nightmares. Her mates guarded her closely as the other dragons investigated.
Skye overheard they’d destroyed key ingredients required for concocting the vicious poison. It reassured her to think that possibly that would be the last attack. It also helped that her mates kept her busy with a variety of activities.
“Are you ready to go to the grape harvest, Skye?” Ardon asked that morning in their living room at the mansion. “Your parents and your aunt will be there along with many Wyverns.”
Her mates had taken her to visit her family from time to time. Skye enjoyed seeing them—especially for a short chat.
She wrinkled her nose when Oldrik picked up one of her feet to examine it. “What?”
“How purple do you think your toes will be by the end of the day?” he asked.
It’s a joke, right? We’re not really going to stomp grapes?
“Of course. How else will Khadar use the bountiful supply of ripe fruit? I’m eager to try the wine this crop produces,” Ardon said.
But, I mean, Khadar doesn’t expect us to actually crush them with our bare feet, right?
“I guess we could shift and trample them in dragon form,” Oldrik suggested, planting a visual picture in Skye’s mind that made her giggle.
“Does Khadar have a big tub big enough for your scaly butt to get into?” Ardon asked, intensifying Skye’s merriment to include a few snorts as she tried to breathe through her laughter.
“You have broken our mate, Ardon,” Oldrik said and added in a mock, offended tone, “And may I remind you that your butt as well as the rest of your dragon form is scaly?”
Skye stopped trying to contain her laughter. She slid from the sofa onto the floor and rolled around. Scaly butt!
“Completely wrecked,” Oldrik said sadly before tickling the sole of the foot he still held in his hand.
Nooo!
Oldrik released her heel, allowing her to press it safely to the carpet. “I blame you completely,” he told Ardon.
Stop! I can’t breathe!
Oldrik waved a theatrical hand of proof toward their amused mate. “There’s no other option. We’ll need to take her to the other mates to recover. So, what do you prefer? Lilac or violet?”
“Violet, of course. Think how yummy her toes will taste,” Ardon pointed out, reaching down to scoop her up into his powerful arms.
You can’t eat my toes!
“Just nibbles. They’ll be fine,” Oldrik assured her as he stood to follow Ardon from the living room. “I think that purple princess dress is perfect for grape stomping, don’t you?”
“The best choice in her dress-up closet. We should braid her hair,” Ardon declared.
Skye still chuckled a bit when they finished preparing her for the fun. It was Oldrik’s turn to carry her on his back. She’d made a point to pat his powerful hindquarters before scrambling into place. Scaly butt, indeed.
When they arrived, it appeared her mates had not exaggerated. Practically all of Wyvern had come to help with the harvest. Skye heard her name and saw cherished faces waving to greet her. Eager to see her friends, she ran across the lawn. Ardon and Oldrik followed at a more regal pace.
The other mates greeted her with enthusiastic hugs. Somehow, Skye had become accustomed to their physical touches—even welcomed them. These were her people. The embraces didn’t feel uncomfortable like others she’d shied away from in the past.
“Come on, Skye. Let’s go stomping,” Lalani encouraged.
They ran to a large basin where the harvesters had piled the plump grapes. Shucking off their shoes, each mate stepped carefully in a smaller tub to rinse their feet before their mates lifted them into the large vat. Lalani got in first and yelped as she almost slid down on her bottom. Khadar steadied her, staying close on the outside.
“It’s a bit slippery when you step in. Hold on to your mate until they get their grape feet under them,” he called to the other dragons.
It didn’t take long for the women to catch on to the hang of it. It was best to grab the edge with one hand. As the juice poured out of the bottom of the tub into a waiting pipe and then into a big wooden barrel, the harvesters added more grapes. The mates’ merriment and love of life filled the air, bringing smiles to everyone working. Their mates lent their strength to transporting the harvest up from the fields.
A couple of hours later, the shifters hauled their mates from the squashing vat to rest, ignoring their protests that they wanted to continue.
Really! I’m not tired, Skye reassured her mates.
“Everyone is taking a break. That means you as well,” Ardon said as he removed the traces of pulp and grape skins from her feet.
“You are definitely going to wear dyed stockings for a while,” Oldrik observed, gesturing to her now grape-stained skin.
The mates huddled together, trying to figure out whose toes were the purpliest. Skye, with her pale skin, was elected the Queen of the Stomp. Her violet feet almost glowed.
Khadar’s staff brought out tables of sandwiches, salads, and snacks. Everyone filled up their plates and scattered around the large area, chatting and restoring their energy. The shifters and their mates gathered under a tree to enjoy the refreshments.
Half paying attention to the talk around her and half focusing on a new sketch of her handsome mates, Skye retreated into her art. She’d done a lot of peopling and needed some downtime. Her mates interrupted her often to tempt her with bites from their plates.
“Hey, Skye. Can I join you? I’ve been wondering how you are.”
The group glanced up to see Brooks Battlefield. Skye nodded enthusiastically as she smiled at the handsome man who’d helped her travel to Wyvern. Late at night, when she replayed that scary trip in her mind, Skye wondered if she would ever have made it to Wyvern and her mates without his and Derek’s companionship.
Brooks settled between Skye and Lalani, who knew his mother well. The two chatted, including Skye in their conversation, even though she didn’t say much.
Delighted to see him for the first time in several months, she forced herself to say, “You’re staying in Wyvern?”
“It’s safe here. There’s a lot to do, so I can keep busy. I’ve been working on the passageways under the old town. I’m starting to feel like a tunnel rat. Mom insisted I come today to interact with people,” Brooks shared, before shaking his head and adding, “I hate to say, I’m getting itchy to travel around. I’m not used to hanging around the same place.”
“Your mom is so happy to have you here,” Lalani observed, and Skye suspected her friend hoped Brooks would remain for his mother’s sake.
“I know. I’m not climbing the walls yet. Just trying to decide what to do long-term,” Brooks assured her.
Skye patted Brooks on the shoulder and heard a growl times two. Brooks raised his hands to show he was harmless as Skye sent her mates a blistering look.
Friend, not competition, she reminded them.
With a huff, Ardon scooped Skye up in his arms and sat her on his lap. Brooks soon excused himself and moved to a safer spot on the other side of Lalani.
That wasn’t nice , Skye reprimanded her mates.
“Dragons aren’t nice. Rivals make crunchy treats,” Oldrik stated firmly.
Unsure whether he was teasing her or not, Skye quickly told them, No eating my friends! Their laughter reassured her they were indeed joking. You two. She shook her head and focused back on her artwork, staying happily on Ardon’s lap.
Feeling carefree and enjoying herself, Skye hummed under her breath. To her delight, Ciel cried, “I remember that tune,” and started singing. Aurora joined in. It was an old song those raised in Wyvern had memorized.
Wyvern. Oh, Wyvern, we reached you in a battered state.
Will your mountain barriers guard us from those who hate?
Seeking sanctuary, the families dared to make a deal.
Winged creatures and Guardians allowed us to heal.
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
Engrave their names in stone for all to celebrate.
Never ever forget the ones predestined as mate,
For the fiery beasts while fierce are honor bound.
Each match creates Wyvern’s protected ground.
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
Halfway through, the deep voices of the dragon shifters joined them. Then the townsfolk gathered in the area paused, and raised their voices in the song. The sound took on an eerily significant meaning, making the mates stare at each other in disbelief. A silence followed as the crowd processed the significance of that tune.
“It’s about us. About all those fated to join with dragons,” Aurora said, with tears springing to her eyes.
“I’ve heard that a thousand times and never stopped to understand the meaning of the lines,” Ciel said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Wringing her hands, Lalani requested, “Teach it to me. I want to memorize this as well.” She’d missed learning this from her birth family.
Of course, they sang it with Lalani until she was confident she’d remember it. The chills remained as they rehearsed the tune. Finally, Lalani requested to try it on her own. Her beautiful alto voice was hesitant at first but gained strength and confidence.
Skye leaned back on Ardon’s chest and joined Lalani in singing the final chorus. Her crystal-clear, high soprano notes set off those of her fellow mate, almost like sugar glitter on a cupcake. When the last note faded away, a potent hush fell over those gathered. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
Large claps sounded. Rogan approached, striking his powerful hands together in appreciation of the treat they’d all heard. Their song must have drawn him in to join the revelry. She smiled as the others applauded with him to celebrate the treat they’d just experienced.
Ardon pressed his lips to the curve of her jaw. “My Treasure, I hope you will sing for us again.”
As soon as he leaned back, Oldrik claimed her, lifting her onto his lap and squeezing her tight. Her blue dragon kissed her softly before whispering, “Each day is a delight to be with you, mate.”
Wrapped up in sharing the moment with Oldrik, Skye ignored Ardon’s first nudge. After his second, she looked up at him in confusion. Her mates never interrupted each other.
Watch.
She followed Ardon’s nod and spotted Rogan at the edge of their tree’s shadow. The red dragon’s muscles visibly flexed, and he’d lifted his nose into the air as he scanned those around.
He scents his mate? Skye asked, holding her hands clasped to her heart. She looked around the crowd. Was there a woman who appeared similarly affected? Her eyes flew to Brooks as her friend stood.
Really? She squeaked in excitement.
“Oh, just wait until his mother finds out,” Lalani murmured as Khadar lifted her onto his lap.
The other dragons drew their mates close as well, creating a path for the red dragon to walk closer. A rakish smile spread the dragon shifter’s lips with pleasure. Trembling as if he were trying to resist an overpowering force, Brooks reached up to brush back the red lock of hair that had fallen over Rogan’s forehead. The sizzle of that first contact reached all the dragons’ and their mates’ minds.
“Mine.” Rogan claimed his mate.
Thank you for reading Oldrik & Ardon!
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5.0 out of 5 stars - A very unique story concept!
This book was a lot of fun! Very unique from any romance and any age play books I've read before. It was a blend of both of those things AND sorcery/magic. Very unique.
This set up the series fantastically and I can't wait to see how things unfold. But what I'm really excited for is to see what happens after all 12 woman are with their sorcerer daddies.
I enjoyed Violet's rebellious/defiant streak. Those are always my favorite types of characters to read, those that are strong willed and strong minded. Gotta give that Pappa a run for his money!