Chapter 36
Devastated by his failure, Dakota felt Ian unhook him from the monitoring equipment; all he could think of was the loss of his mother—again.
“Da...Dakota? Is it really you?”
The voice whispered through him, jerking Dakota back from the abyss of grief he was facing. Not sure it was real, he tried to hear it above all the chatter going on around him but wasn’t able to isolate his mother’s voice. “Quiet!” he ordered. The room went silent. “Mama? I’m here…Dakota.”
“Da...kota.” Hope’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Baby, are you real?”
“Yes, Mama, yes…please open your eyes,” Dakota replied, grasping his mother’s hand and kissing it.
Focusing intently on his mother’s face, Dakota held his breath, waiting for a response.
Then, he saw it—a few flutters of his mother’s eyelashes before she finally opened her eyes and looked at him.
Smiling through the tears of joy now streaming down his face, Dakota squeezed his mother’s hand. “Mama, I love you.”
“I…love you...too...baby.” Then Hope closed her eyes, exhausted at the effort it took to keep them open.
Alarmed, Dakota looked at Ian. “What happened? Why isn’t my mother awake?”
Working quickly, Ian examined Hope, pleased with what he found. “Your mother is only sleeping, Dakota. When her body has rested, Hope will wake up and you can speak with her again.”
“Are you sure she hasn’t relapsed into her coma?” asked Dakota.
“Positive. She’s just very weak after spending the last several months in bed. Hope needs sleep and food to help build up her strength so she can begin to move around,” Ian explained. “Once that happens, you’ll see improvements quickly.”
“Food? Like what? I’ll make whatever she needs,” Dakota said, eager to help with his mother’s recovery.
“Broth is best. Nothing solid for now,” Ian replied.
“That’s easy.” Leaning back in his chair, Dakota finally looked around the room, seeking out his brothers who stared back at him in astonishment.
“Well done, Dakota,” Logan said, breaking into a big smile as he cuddled Kieran.
“You’re amazing, bro,” Colton murmured, bending down to kiss his mother’s forehead.
“It wasn’t just me…Ki helped, too,” Dakota said. “I couldn’t have done it without him.”
“Uh-uh,” Kieran added. “You were able to get past the mind block, Kota, something I couldn’t do.”
“I think we all can agree it was a team effort,” Ian said. “Dakota, your pup is fine, as is yours, Kieran. Mac, thanks for the help. Now everyone out, I want Hope to get some rest.”
“Can I see her again when she wakes?” asked Dakota.
“Yes,” Ian replied, “but you’ll have to wait until I feel she’s strong enough. In the meantime, go make the broth because I know your mother will need some nourishment when she wakes up.”
Springing to his feet, Dakota held out his hand to Slate. “C’mon, babe, I gotta do some research to find out the best broth to make for my mom.”
Logan looked at his mate’s aura and, noticing the blackness nearly gone, said, “That was fast!”
“I know, macushla,” grinned Kieran. “It’s because I’m so happy Hope is awake and I can’t wait until our squirt is born so he can meet his grandmother and it is just so amazing isn’t it that now he’ll have two grandmothers just as if my mother was alive.
I can’t wait for them to spoil him because that’s what grandmas are supposed to do, not that I know because I never had a grandma, but my Shaman told me all about it so I believe him because he never lied. This is the bestest day ever.”
“It sure is, mo anan cara,” Logan said. After his mate wriggled off his lap, Logan stood, drawing Kieran close to him. “Thank you so much for giving my mother back to me,” he whispered, as they left the hospital room.
Mac watched them leave, then turned back to Ian and Colton.
“You know, even though I read the files and saw what Kieran did for Aunt Hope when we arrived, there was still part of me that just didn’t believe it.
But this…what happened here today…has erased all doubts I may have had.
This was amazing and I owe Oracle a big ‘thank you’ for getting me this job…
it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. ”
Ian nodded in agreement. Then, after checking Hope once more, he led Colton and Mac from her room, stopping outside it.
Looking at his patient through the window, Ian said, “We’re lucky to have you, Mac.
Oracle made the right decision. Today wouldn’t have happened without you keeping Hope alive until Dakota and Kieran could bring her back from the edge of death.
” Then turning to face Mac, Ian said, “I’m honored to have you as my doctor. ”
Surprised, Mac stared at Ian. Then, a smile slowly lit up his face. “That means a lot to me, sir. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. Now, how about joining us for lunch? According to my watch, Theo should be bringing it soon,” Ian said, heading to his office.
“Thanks, be there in a moment.” Waiting until the hallway was clear, Mac reentered the hospital room and walked over to his aunt. Lifting her hand up, he kissed it and then, brushing a wayward strand of hair off her face, whispered, “Welcome back, Auntie, welcome back.”
~/~/~/~/~
Penn pulled open the heavy oak door to the courtroom, letting Fionn, Hunter, and Dylon enter before bringing up the rear.
Ushering them over to their table, he directed them where to sit, after which he took the seat next to his client and began to remove files from his briefcase.
Flipping the top one open, Penn took out several documents, laying them out in front of him before looking up.
“Penn, any possible problems?” asked Dylon, his voice low.
“Not that I have knowledge of, but considering the stunt Fionn’s uncle pulled last time, don’t be surprised,” Penn replied.
“Good.” Turning to Fionn, Dylon said, “Remember…don’t respond, no matter what your uncle does, okay?”
“I won’t…I promise,” Fionn answered.
“Pet, can I help?” asked Hunter.
“Just hold onto me.”
Nodding, Hunter reached for his mate’s hand, intertwining his fingers with Fionn’s. “I won’t let go, pet.”
Hearing a commotion behind him, Fionn looked over his shoulder, catching sight of his uncle and his lawyer strutting arrogantly down the aisle to their table. Catching his uncle’s eye, Fionn shivered at the hatred reflected in them.
“Pet, look at me,” Hunter ordered. Once he had his mate’s attention, he continued, “Ignore him. He’s not worth wasting a moment’s thought on.”
“All rise!” the bailiff’s voice thundered.
Standing up, Fionn kept his eyes on the judge entering the courtroom before sitting down when Penn gave him the signal. Listening to the bailiff inform the judge all parties were present in the matter, Fionn waited to see what would happen next.
His uncle’s lawyer stood. “Your Honor, my client has several claims against the estate he hasn’t been able to submit prior to now.” Mr. Walker passed a number of documents to the bailiff before stepping over to Penn and handing copies to him.
After quickly skimming through the papers, Penn stood. “Your Honor, I must object. The time set for submissions of claims has passed without any motion being filed by Mr. Walker asking this Court for an extension of time.”
Glancing at his uncle, Fionn found him grinning at the judge without a bit of concern regarding Penn’s objection.
Slowly shaking his head at the farce playing out in front of him, Fionn knew the judge was about to deny Penn’s objection.
Squeezing Hunter’s hand hard, Fionn struggled to control the furious dragon fire rushing through his body; scales were beginning to emerge on his back.
Alarmed at what was happening to his mate, Hunter grabbed Fionn’s other hand, tugging it. Once Fionn’s eyes locked onto his, he murmured, “Pet, look at me…only me,” and surrounded his mate with his Alpha power, pulling Fionn back from the brink of shifting.
Still invisible, Cody moved next to the judge, waiting for him to rule. Seeing his hesitation, he leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Do you want me to send the recording to the High Council?”
Startled, the judge called out “No!”
Unclear as to what the judge meant, Penn asked, “Your Honor, are you allowing Mr. Walker to submit these claims against the estate?”
“Err, no. Objection sustained. Mr. Walker, you are fully aware the time has passed for claims to be filed and, not having filed a motion previously for an extension of time, I hereby rule against the admission of these claims.”
“But Your Honor, I was told…”
“Sit down, Mr. Walker,” the judge ordered, “or I will find you in contempt.”
Staring at Fionn, Hunter murmured, “Pet, it’s okay. The judge ruled in your favor.”
Blinking several times at his mate’s words, Fionn slowly smiled at Hunter as the dragon fire coursing through his body died out.
“I love you, mate.” Keeping his focus on his mate during the rest of the hearing—which passed without further incident—Fionn felt himself pulled up by Hunter when the bailiff called out for everyone to rise once again.
After the judge left the courtroom, Penn turned to his client.
“That’s it. All your father’s assets have been transferred to you, Fionn.
You’ll need to have your inventory list for your hoard amended but that shouldn’t be a problem.
I’ll file the transfer of titles for all the real estate your father owned and forward them to you once they’ve been recorded. ”
“What about the companies?” asked Fionn.
“You are now the owner of all of them as of five minutes ago, when the Court closed the estate,” answered Penn.
“Is there anything else I have to do?” asked Fionn.
“Right away…no. But I would recommend moving your father’s hoard as quickly as you can, simply because I don’t know if your uncle will attempt to access it,” Penn said.
“I was planning to do that,” Fionn said. “Penn, can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Penn said, putting his files back in his briefcase. “What is it?”