Chapter 8
Holding his Little on his lap, Rogan could sense the mating bond was easing. His prediction had come true and the last of Brooks’s hives had disappeared overnight. Without the medicine to make him drowsy, his mate had recovered his energy.
To his delight, Brooks had chosen to play in his nursery today. After his last mate had passed, Rogan had gutted the previous nursery and turned it into a guest bedroom. This room would only be Brooks’s. The games and activities he’d gathered while he searched for a mate were a big hit.
“I like that this is my room,” Brooks said softly.
“I do, too.”
“Could you tell me about your other mates?”
“Of course. I’ve had five other mates—four female and one male.”
“Who was your first?”
“Ian McDougall. A strapping man of Scottish descent. I don’t know who was more surprised, his family or Ian. He struggled in having his life’s course totally upended. Dedicated to his family, he chose not to run away, but I’m sure he wanted to a million times. Until his heart wouldn’t allow him to hide our bond.”
“You said that almost all mates are Little?”
“I won’t reveal any living person’s secrets, Brooks, but I shared accurate statistics with you,” Rogan answered honestly.
“So, let’s go back to the past. All your other mates were women?”
“Yes. Three from other families and another from the MacDougall clan.”
“No other Battlefields?” Brooks asked.
“No, Adventurer. You are my first from that family.” Rogan loved Brooks’s proud smile. “They will carve your name in the risers of the steps on the square soon. We should go check out the other names there.”
“Is there a mate you’ve loved over the others?”
Rogan had expected a question like this. “Love is a wonderful thing. It is infinite, without limitations. I care deeply about each of my mates and miss them now that they are gone. After a mourning period each time, the hurt of losing them fades and only wonderful memories remain. That made me eager to experience the happiness a bond provides. And I looked forward to the uniqueness each mate brings to my life.”
“That makes sense. I think it would be sad to know you’ll outlive a mate,” Brooks suggested.
“It is. But the world has many surprises up its sleeves. While my dragon is a fierce beast who can vanquish foes, I am not eternal. At some point, old age, disease, or a lucky blow could end me.”
When Brooks appeared worried, Rogan added, “I do not plan for any of those to happen in the next few centuries. Dragons usually live for a long time.”
“Good. Would you take me for a flight?”
“Of course. Run back to our room and grab your sneakers,” Rogan directed. Brooks obviously needed a break from the serious conversation.
His mate ran out the door and disappeared before he could remind Brooks to stay close. To his relief, no shout of pain echoed down the hall. As Rogan suspected, their connection had matured, allowing the mate bond to allow Rogan more freedom. No longer did they need to stay in extremely close proximity.
“Hey, I had one shoe on when I realized that didn’t hurt!” Brooks burst into the room, holding one sneaker with the other untied on his foot.
“Come here, Brooks. Let me tie your laces and help with the other.”
Brooks climbed back on Rogan’s lap and allowed him to get Brooks straightened out. Rogan kissed the side of his neck. “I think our bond has decided you need some freedom. Don’t push it too hard. I always want to know where you are.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Want me to ask if Lalani can cut your hair? We could zip over there,” Rogan suggested, ruffling Brooks’s hair.
“I’d love that. I’m having trouble seeing. Or you could loan me a pair of scissors?”
“Not happening. Let me see if Lalani is working today.”
By the time they were outside, and Rogan had shifted, Khadar had responded with an invitation to visit. We’re on our way, Adventurer.
Brooks responded with happy thoughts and fireworks that filled Rogan’s mind, making him snort amused smoke, to the delight of his mate. Rogan had a feeling his unique mate would come up with many novel ways to surprise him.
In a few minutes, Brooks settled in place and held on firmly. The desperate hold of a newbie had eased. Brooks trusted him.
On our way, Adventurer!
Can I see your mountain?
Of course.
Rogan flew on each side of the rocky peak, highlighting the most breathtaking spots in his territory. His mate’s awe and enjoyment of the tour radiated into Rogan’s mind. He could see it for the first time through Brooks’s eyes. Rogan was proud of his land and was glad to get to soar once again in the crisp, clean air without fear of a monster hunt.
During the age of technology, the horde had hunted mainly at night and had only frequented Wyvern in human form. The knowledge of their existence had fallen to the Guardians of each family’s pact and was passed on frequently when the end of their lives was eminent. In the high-tech era, who would believe that dragons existed?
Almost as if Brooks could read his mind, his mate asked, What would have happened if something hadn’t taken out our computers and machines?
I can’t answer that, Brooks. Perhaps the end of dragons?
No. Brooks refused to consider that. Dragons will always exist.
Perhaps you are right. Look! Lalani is waving to you. Shall I wave back?
Yes, Daddy!
Rogan tilted back and forth, waggling his wings at Lalani below and giving his mate a wild ride as well.
“Wooohoooo!” Brooks hooted into the air as he clung to Rogan’s neck.
That was fun! One more time!
Hold on, Adventurer. I’m landing.
After settling on the ground and shifting, Rogan guided Brooks forward to meet Khadar and Lalani. “Greetings. Thank you for allowing us to visit.”
“My mate enjoys having others around,” Khadar answered. Rogan nodded. He understood completely. Dragons were not the most social of creatures.
“Daddy, be nice. Hi, Brooks! Hi, Rogan. How are you both?” Lalani asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Good,” Brooks answered with a grin Rogan was pleased to see. It appeared his mate had begun to acclimate to his life as a dragon’s mate. Lalani’s gentle teasing didn’t make him uncomfortable.
“Can you trim up this shaggy guy? I can barely see his eyes,” Rogan said.
“Of course. Come to my salon. I always set up under that gigantic tree,” Lalani said and pointed a short distance away. “Your Daddy… Um, Rogan can come with us if you need to be close to him.”
“Go try it, Brooks,” Rogan urged, wanting Brooks to have some time to ask questions or chat without a dragon around.
“I should be fine,” Brooks answered. “I ran to get my shoes today and discovered it didn’t hurt.”
“That’s great and sad.” Lalani’s voice drifted to the dragons as she led Brooks away. “I enjoy sticking close to Khadar. It was nice to have a built-in excuse.”
“How’s your mate adjusting?” Khadar asked as he led the way up to the covered porch equipped with chairs.
“Well. It’s been quite a change for him,” Rogan admitted and settled into a seat before changing the subject. “Can you catch me up on what’s happened during the bonding?”
“Keres states he doesn’t remember attacking you and your mate. We’re going to have to deal with him soon, I’m afraid.”
“That’s not a good sign. Do we have many original Wyverns returning these days?” Rogan asked.
“No. The founding families report that all living relatives are now inside the borders. Drake and the Guardians are organizing another social in hopes of Keres finding his elusive mate.”
“If she or he is around. Keres may have missed his mate in this generation.”
“That would be the worst case scenario,” Khadar admitted.
“Are the others talking about driving him away?”
“So far, we’re avoiding that conversation. It will have to be discussed soon.”
Rogan shook his head. Several hundred years ago, he’d been in Keres’ situation. Struggling to hold on to his sanity while maintaining his hope of finding a mate. A small twinkle of existence had popped into his mind in his darkest moments. He’d grabbed that light like it was the northern star and maintained hope. A mate’s life force began. Eighteen years later, he visited every birthday celebration until he’d found her.
The horde sympathized with Keres, but they also had to protect their mates. They would not allow the black dragon to hurt or terrorize them.
“Any news on the smoke?” Rogan asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing. I’d like to believe we knocked back their operations when we decimated that storage area,” Khadar stated.
“But you don’t.”
“No. They’re biding their time. An attack has followed each mating.”
“You expect another now,” Rogan guessed.
“Yes. If I’m right, it will be soon. I’ve upped my patrols. I hate to admit I’d gotten lazy from using all the cameras and sensors from the past.”
“And the chatter on social media. Some people can’t keep their plans to themselves,” Rogan said, shaking his head.
A housekeeper emerged from Khadar’s mansion with a tray. The green dragon leapt to his feet and took the heavy item from her, setting it on a table. “Thank you, Louise. We’ll wait to dive in until our mates join us. Could you bring us two beers from my stash?”
“Of course, Khadar.”
With all the factories and breweries closed, the previously manufactured beverages were in limited supply. “We have a group of men working on relearning the old ways to brew beer now,” Khadar stated when they both had bottles in their hands and had sampled the concoction inside.
“Beer? No way.” Brooks jogged to Rogan’s side and started to climb up on his lap. He caught himself and hurried away.
“Come back, mate. I’ll share.” Rogan held out his bottle and scooped Brooks up. Sitting his mate on his lap, he patted Brooks’s thigh. You are fine, Adventurer. We are with friends.
Aloud, he said, “Let me see. Do I even recognize the mate stealing my beer?”
Brooks grinned at him and turned his head in each direction to show off Lalani’s talent. “You look different, Rogan, now that I can see you.”
“Rascal,” Rogan growled before turning to the hairdresser. “Thank you, Lalani.”
“I’m glad to help. I noticed that one section of Brooks’s bangs are turning red at the roots.” She leaned forward to peer closely at Rogan. “It’s exactly where your streak is. How is that happening to Brooks?”
“I had one mate in the past who had a pink streak appear in her blonde hair after we’d been together for several years. Perhaps it’s just contact with my magnetic personality,” Rogan joked. Brooks tensed at the reminder he’d had other mates, making Rogan wish he could erase those words.
“Can that even be possible? Have you always had that streak?” Lalani asked in fascination.
“I don’t ever remember not having it. If you check that spot on my dragon form, you’ll discover there’s a few black scales in the same place.”
From the fascination blooming in Brooks and Lalani’s eyes, they couldn’t wait to check for that. “My bond with the mate with the pink streak was the strongest I’d ever experienced until Brooks came along and blew that to smithereens.” He was glad to see the corners of Brooks’s mouth flex upward.
“That’s fascinating,” Lalani said. “Brooks’s is going to be deep red—like yours, Rogan.”
“You’ll be twins,” Khadar stated nonchalantly.
Lalani glanced back and forth between Rogan and Brooks—one man massively muscular, and one lean and fit. She covered her mouth as she tried to hold in the laughter that threatened at her mate’s suggestion that these two could ever be twins.
“I think it’s better if we don’t suggest we’re siblings,” Rogan recommended.
That statement pushed Lalani over the edge of controlling her mirth. Her giggles were infectious and soon everyone joined in. Rogan rejoiced in his mate’s relaxed enjoyment. It appeared that Brooks was adjusting well to his new life.
A few minutes later, Lalani said, “I have to go to the bathroom. Brooks, would you like to come in with me and use the facilities? Maybe see my room?”
“Yes, please.”
* * *
Brooks waited in the hallway for Lalani to return. Checking out his surroundings, he spotted precious paintings and other pieces of art lining the massive passage. Was that…?
Brooks walked closer to see a portrait of Khadar. Dressed in old-fashioned clothing, he looked almost exactly the same as in the present day. How old was that painting?
“He’s very regal, isn’t he?” Lalani asked. “He said his eyes changed once while he was posing, and the artist was terrified of him forever.”
“That’s awesome. I wonder if he did that on purpose.”
“I never thought of that. I’m going to ask tonight. My room is through here. It’s kind of babyish. Is that okay?”
“Of course. It’s great you have a space for yourself,” Brooks commented.
“They’re pretty overwhelming, aren’t they? The dragons, I mean.”
“Definitely. Can you imagine being Skye with two?” Brooks asked.
“No way. She’s happy, though. I mean really, really happy. It’s great she has them to take care of her. Here’s my room.” Lalani led the way into a beautiful room. “We could play a board game or put a puzzle together.”
“That sounds fun. This is a beautiful room, Lalani.” Brooks glanced around, noting the oversized furniture like he had in his room. He spotted a worn dragon stuffie in the crib. “Is that yours?”
“It is. It’s so funny. All the new mates have one. Hey, wait. Do you?”
“Rogue. He’s a red dragon. My folks bought him when I wouldn’t leave the store without him.”
Lalani nodded knowingly. “That fits with the stories I’ve heard from the other mates. I was adopted, but my birth mom sent Lettuce with me.”
Brooks turned to the stuffie and shook its paw. “Nice to meet you, Lettuce. I’ll bring Rogue next time and introduce the two of you.”
“We should have a tea party with our stuffies. We could invite everyone.” The excitement on Lalani’s face faded, and she quickly added, “Maybe boys don’t like tea parties.”
“Offer me cookies and I’ll put on a tiara,” Brooks assured her.
“Oh, fun. Sorry. We’ve been girls for so long…”
“Lalani, I understand it’s weird that Rogan’s mate is a guy. It’s outside my normal as well. I’d like to get to know the other mates better. From what I understand, we’re going to be around for a while. Friends are going to be important.”
“Exactly. Daddy and I started this puzzle. Want to work on it with me?”
“Will he mind?”
“Not at all. Khadar is really bad at puzzles,” Lalani shared.
“Really? You’d think he’d be used to looking down at things.”
Brooks and Lalani worked quietly on the puzzle for a few minutes. Finally, Brooks asked the question rolling around in his head. “Does everyone call their mate, Daddy?”
“Yes.” She was quiet as they worked on the puzzle for a few minutes before she met his gaze and asked, “Do you call Rogan, Daddy?”
He hadn’t blushed for years, but his face heated and he knew he was red. “Sometimes.”
“It gets easier. You know, the more time you’re together.”
Brooks nodded and focused on the puzzle for a few minutes before saying, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Brooks. You can ask me anything. I’ll probably answer,” she joked.
He smiled. Everything was going to be okay. He wasn’t alone. He had Rogan and the other mates. It seemed like they understood each other.