Nothing…Firecracker
Roarke
Iturned to see both Addison and Aaran with looks of surprise on their faces. I stood and fully faced them.
"Yes, Devin is pregnant. We just went through the mating heat. Why would you think he wouldn’t conceive?" I asked, thoroughly studying my brothers.
Aaran had been the one to shout and had always been a bit of a jackass. Addison was the softest-spoken of the triplets, but he still had a stubborn streak, like all of us.
"But I t-thought," Aaran stuttered and stopped, clearly shocked about Devin’s condition.
"Thought what?" I pressed.
"I thought you were just doing this to shirk your responsibilities, like you always do.
I thought he was your chosen mate, but if he's pregnant, then he's your fated mate.
Oh, gods, he's your fated mate? Oh, gods.
Oh, gods. I've been such a dick. I'd never have been that way had I known he was your fated.
I am so sorry," Aaran rambled and shook his head in apology, clearly shaken by his previous actions.
"You think I'd mate someone just so I'd avoid going back to Glenfinnan? Why the hell would I do that? And if by shirking responsibilities, you mean not doing whatever Father says, damn right. He's way out of line this time in his decrees. He had no right to promise me to anyone," I replied hotly.
I felt myself getting angry, and my dragon rumbled, wanting to make an appearance.
"It's because you hardly ever come home," Addison said quietly.
"I admit, I too thought Devin was just your chosen bondmate. Not because I believed you were neglecting your responsibilities, but just because I thought you’d fallen in love with him. There hasn't been a true mating in our circle in centuries," he continued.
"Calm down, firecracker. I know you're upset, but this explains the chilly reception from Aaran," Devin whispered, rubbing my shoulder.
At his touch, I felt my body relax and my dragon settle. I took a deep breath.
"Devin is my true fated mate. My Cardia, my heart," I stated firmly, so there would be no misunderstanding.
Aaran and Addison nodded.
"Congratulations, really. I'm sorry for how I've been acting," Aaran said contritely.
"Come on, let's sit down. We have a lot to discuss," Devin said, guiding me back to my seat on the couch.
As we all sat down, Angus started chuckling. I looked at him, trying to figure out what was funny. Knowing him, it could be anything. Angus had always possessed an odd sense of humor.
"What's so funny?" I asked, my patience running thin.
"Nothing…firecracker," Angus said, full-on laughing now.
Krispin started laughing too. As did Ben, and soon, all of us were laughing. It felt good to laugh. Even my usual stoic mate was laughing. We finally settled down.
"Devin and I discussed it," I started. "We figured this is news that is best shared in person. We are going to head to Glenfinnan."
"Do you want us to tell Father? We haven't called him yet," Angus said with unease.
"It would be best if you didn't. I want to talk to him and da in person. We were going to leave in a few days. Perhaps you can stay and go with us," I responded.
"That will work," Aaran said, the tension that had been in his voice now gone.
"Ben, Callum, and I will also join you. As well as Cam and Jackson. They'll be here tomorrow. I've already booked a private jet," Krispin said.
I looked at him. We had told him nothing about Scotland. How did he know? I guess my face showed my surprise because he said, "Ben and I figured you would want to go home, and you would need support."
"Thank you," I said.
"We are going to head to the coven later. I need to talk with Master Stephen. Did you want to go?" Devin asked the room at large.
"The coven? Ben had mentioned a coven when we first met yesterday, but I didn't know you were still part of it," Angus said.
"Yes, I'm the second of the coven. That's part of what I need to discuss with Master Stephen," Devin responded.
"Do they know you're dragons?" Addison asked with worry in his voice.
"They know—" I started, but before I could say another word, Aaran jumped up.
"But the law! You can be in trouble with the council!" he all but yelled.
There was a law that a dragon must remain hidden, only revealing themselves to other dragons and their mates.
It was a law that Krispin had enacted three thousand years ago after the death of his family.
It was also the law that Krispin had changed after meeting Ben, but my brothers didn't know that.
They didn't know who Krispin was, and that he was actually their king.
"Calm down. There will not be any trouble with the council," I said firmly. "Did you want to come to the coven?"
Aaran was still on his feet; he turned and looked at Addison and Angus, who just shrugged. He turned back to us.
"Are you sure it won't be a problem?" Aaran asked nervously.
"You will be perfectly safe. There will be no issues with the council or with your going to the coven with us," Krispin said with authority.
Aaran and my brothers clearly relaxed. They may not have known who Krispin was, but they recognized his authority and leadership in this area.
"Yeah, we'll go to the coven," Aaran said, nodding his head.
"Great! We can have lunch there. I think it's lasagna day." Ben said happily.
I grinned as I remembered how much Ben loved lasagna. When he was pregnant, he’d tossed Basil, the coven's head enforcer, because he was blocking the path to the pan. My brothers and Krispin looked amused at Ben's excitement.
"I'm going to get Callum's stuff ready. Stephen and Semais will be so happy to see him. Especially since we didn't go yesterday," Ben said, jumping up excitedly.
"Come on, let's go get ready. We need to clean up after flying," Angus said to my brothers.
As they left the room, I looked at Devin. I knew going to the coven was a big step. I reached out and grabbed his hand. I'm here for you, love, I thought through our bond.
He smiled.