Chapter 32
CHAPTER 32
T udor gripped Alex’s hand as they left the last house. They walked away from the house and as soon as they were clear, Alex whisked them all back to the pack grounds.
Tudor turned and wrapped his arm around Alex, who dropped his hand and pulled him close.
“You did amazingly well, Tudor,” Donovan said gently, touching his back.
“Your father is right, sire, you did the gargoyles proud,” General Gasgoyne added.
“You really did, sweetheart,” Alex added, dropping a kiss on Tudor’s head.
Tudor pulled away and looked at them. “Thank you I was so scared I would say something wrong or make matters worse although how anything could be worse than hearing your loved one has died I have no idea but I tried my best.”
The general touched his arm. “That’s all any of us can do, sire. You showed compassion and love.”
“Thank you for that general are you okay can I do anything to help?” Tudor asked him.
The general smiled at him. “Thank you, sire, I’m okay. I’m going to check on our injured and the other guards. If you need me for anything, just call.”
“We will, thank you.” And with that, the general walked off in the direction of the hospital.
Tudor looked at Alex and Donovan. “Thank you both for coming with me I know it wasn’t easy for either of you especially you dad so thank you.”
Donovan touched his arm. “I will always help you when needed. I’m so proud of you, Tudor.”
“Thanks Dad we should go and see Blake.”
Alex took his hand. “Come on then.”
They walked into the kitchen and saw Blake, Baylan, Puff, Mateo Atticus, Paris, Ashton, Dane, Ares and Jason.
“Welcome back. How did it go?” Blake asked them.
“It was sad and heart-breaking but we saw everyone,” Tudor said simply, sitting down.
“It was the same for us,” Mateo remarked. “The dragon guards’ families want a vigil. They’re all fine sharing the vigil with their fallen brothers and sisters.”
“The gargoyles are the same, but their families want the vigil at the gargoyle palace. Apparently, it’s tradition,” Alex added.
Blake looked at Puff. “Do you need to have yours at the dragon palace?”
Puff shook his head and spoke through the pack link. No, they don’t mind where it’s held. I was hoping we could hold it on pack lands. We might need to use some of the new land as we’ll have dragons in attendance.
Blake nodded. “We can do that. I’m sure there will be somewhere lovely on the grounds that can be used.”
“Puff also wanted to explore bringing mated dragon guard’s families here to live with their mates,” Atticus said.
“We thought about doing the same it doesn’t seem fair to keep them apart when we are all living with our mates,” Tudor agreed. Dane touched his arm and Tudor stopped talking.
“That’s a very good idea and one I hadn’t even considered. We can have homes built for the families, plus a proper school,” Blake said.
“The hospital could be moved there as well,” Dane said.
“Let’s get the funerals out of the way and we can look into all of that.”
“When are the funerals?” Baylan asked.
“Puff thought we could start ours tomorrow evening,” Mateo said.
“We'll wait and have ours when yours are finished unless we should hold ours tomorrow as well,” Tudor wondered.
Dane touched his arm.
“It might be good to have all three kings at each ceremony,” Donovan said. “For the dragon vigil, you, Tudor, and Blake could join the last hour of the vigil and stay for the funerals whatever they may be. Then you, Puff, and Blake could join the gargoyles for the last hour of the gargoyles’s vigil and funerals.”
Blake nodded. “I like that idea. Puff, Tudor, is that alright with the two of you?”
Puff nodded.
“I think that’s a brilliant idea yes we could all be there together.” Alex touched his arm and Tudor stopped talking.
“You need to wear your crowns,” Ares reminded them.
Puff groaned.
“Well if we have to wear them then Alex and Baylan have to wear them as well.”
Blake burst out laughing. “That, Tudor, is a wonderful idea. Yes, the wonder twins will both wear their crowns.”
Alex’s head hit the table.
“There, there,” Ash said, patting his back and laughing.
“Paris, can you message the next of kin and give them this address and ask them to be here late afternoon? Explain that we want to start at twilight,” Blake said.
“I can,” Paris said.
“I can do the same for the gargoyles. All gargoyle guards will be in attendance at the palace,” Dane informed them.
“Can they all be there in three days?” Ash asked.
“It will be tight, but yes,” Donovan said.
“But any gargoyle guard that wants to attend the dragon funerals can then we can find a way to get everyone to the palace in time,” Tudor said.
Dane touched his arm.
“I can get everyone to the palace in time,” Ares said.
Tudor smiled at him. “Thank you that would be amazing we can all support everyone.” Alex touched his hand.
“We can indeed,” Blake reassured him.
“Did we miss anything while we were out and about?” Alex asked.
Blake shook his head. “No, thankfully, there were no new dramas. Ajax, Brook, and Demi came back and had something to eat. Saxon and Oz supplied dinner for the injured guards, and most of the dragons that were healing under the dome are all better and shifted back. I think there’s only one still in a healing sleep and Hades has gone to collect the crystals we need to stop the dream walker.”
“How do we protect everyone in the meantime?” Donovan asked.
Blake sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. “That, is the question.”
“What did Zeus mean when he said it was all in the wording?” Jason asked.
“I don’t know.” Blake drummed his fingers on the table.
“Oh!” Puff croaked out.
“Tell us through the pack link,” Blake suggested curiously.
Puff nodded. I think he means one of our pack gods can help. I think the wording thing was because of the whole non-interference thing. Meaning, none of them can just wave a hand and protect everyone until the necklaces are done, but there is nothing to say that Ares can’t protect his pack, or Demi can’t protect his family and by extension everyone. It’s just all in the wording.
Ares leant forward. “Just like I can help with battle plans and training. I’m not offering as Ares, God of War, but as Ares, Jason’s mate.”
Puff nodded, his smile exuberant.
“That makes perfect sense,” Blake said, eyes wide and delighted as he looked at Ares. “Can you do something?”
Ares nodded. “I can. I’ll have Demi and Dask help me, after all, three gods are better than one.”
“Thank you,” Blake said. “If there’s nothing else, I suggest we all go and de-stress now that that’s settled.”
“I’ll grab my brother and son and we can sort out the protection,” Ares commented, standing and dropping a kiss on Jason’s head before he strolled out of the kitchen.
Paris stood up. “I’m off to send the messages I need to.”
“Do you need me for anything?” Ash asked Blake.
Blake shook his head. “Nope.”
“In that case, I’m off as well.” He got up and walked out with Paris.
“Me, too. I have people to contact as well. I’ll do that, then see you all in the morning.” Dane paused and looked at Tudor. “You did good today, little brother.” And with that, Dane stood up and also left.
“I’m on patrol in a bit, so I’ll bid you all goodnight,” Donavan said, leaving the kitchen.
“Tudor and I are off as well, see you all in the morning,” Alex announced, and the two of them vanished.
“The three of us should also get going,” Mateo said as he stood up. “Night.” After a round of goodnights they left the kitchen.
“And I’m off to see Kieran. See you both tomorrow,” Jason said, standing up and leaving.
“And then it was just us,” Baylan observed.
“It was, but how about you take us to bed?” Blake suggested with a sly grin.
“You have the best ideas.” And with that, Baylan whisked them both away.
Ares knocked on Brook’s and Demi’s bedroom door. Willow opened it smiling at him. “Come on in, we’re just sat down talking to Eggleston,” she said.
Ares burst out laughing and walked in, seeing them sat around the box that held the egg. “You named your baby Eggleston?”
“Tobin did, and it’s only until the baby’s born,” Brook explained with a grin at Tobin.
“Well, we needed to call the baby something,” Tobin told him as he gently stroked the box.
“This baby is going to be so loved,” Ares said, looking at his family.
“Eggleston will be,” Demi agreed.
“Demi. I wonder if I can borrow you for a little while. I’m going to grab Dask as well, so we can sort out protection against dream walkers until Hades brings the necklaces.”
“Yep,” Demi said, standing and dropping a kiss on Brook’s head. “Be back in a bit.”