Chapter 23 #3
Of course. Poor Declan. Poor Pat. Oh God. So, tell me, what do I need to do? Do we need to get rooms ready? Is there a way to make sure that no one can get through?
Goddess, Daniel made him so proud. We’ll put them in the north wing. There’s an entire set of rooms there for when his team is here. I don’t know how many of them are coming. I don’t know anything right now except that Declan was calling to warn us.
Well, obviously that didn’t work.
Hayden rolled his eyes as he realized that he was standing there, naked, in front of the open window, snow blanketing his feet. I’m assuming that he was unconscious from the blast. I don’t know what kind of shape he’ll be in.
Whatever it is, we’ll cope with it.
Okay, I appreciate you.
Hey, they brought us together. If it wasn’t for them I would never have known you and that’s not okay. We just need to deal with it.
I’ll be down in a few minutes. I need to get dressed and close up this room. I’m going to look around just to make sure they didn’t leave anything behind.
I’ll put extra marshmallows in your hot chocolate.
He had to smile at that because, yeah, that would be welcome. A little bit of extra sugar never hurt anything when people were shocky.
He wasn’t even sure he was shocky, but he did know that whatever he was, sugar would help.
He hated this shit.
He couldn’t believe it, seriously. A bomb? An honest-to-god bomb?
He still couldn’t believe that Pat was gone. That just didn’t seem reasonable. Pat was calm, stable, just basically a good dragon.
Hayden threw on some clothes and then went back in and did a quick sweep of the room, looking for bugs, anything.
He imagined that Jacks would be sleeping with them for at least a couple of days, but he wanted everything cleaned.
Grab his dragon baby toy?
Of course.
He didn’t hesitate much longer—his family was waiting, and he could sense the rumbling fury of the women.
Denise met him before he got to the bottom of the stairs. “We didn’t know he was molting, or we would’ve been more careful. He usually tells us.”
“Has anyone checked on him?”
Denise shrugged. “I saw him a few days ago, but it’s been a couple of days.”
“Go check on him. I want to make sure he hasn’t been harmed or compromised.”
“Okay I’m on my way.”
“Take Dusty with you please.” He wanted to make sure all of them had somebody with them even if it was the cat.
They were strictly on the buddy system from here on out because they had to be able to protect themselves.
“And bring him back in if he’s ready. I don’t like him just being out there by himself. ”
Molting or no, at full power or no, only one phoenix, no matter how powerful, wasn’t going to be able to stop this if it was a major force.
She just kind of grinned at him. “Sure I’ll take the cat.”
Hayden fought not to roll his eyes because Denise had a point—she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but he just felt better with everybody having somebody with them. If nothing else, Dusty could come back and tell him that Denise needed help.
“I’ll be back,” she said. She ducked out of the house, calling for Dusty as she went.
He headed back to the kitchen, shaking his head at Rita when she raised an eyebrow at him. He didn’t want to get into it even though he imagined Daniel had heard what he’d said.
His mate knew how to monitor his conversations now mentally so, unless Hayden deliberately shut him out, it didn’t matter.
Jacks reached for him as soon as he was within reach, and he took him out of Daniel’s arms, wanting to hold him and smell his baby smell.
Jacks patted his cheeks. “Papa. Papa, okay.”
“I’m so glad, baby. I’m so glad you’re okay. I’m sorry I didn’t realize you were in trouble.”
“Hey, he doesn’t need that. What he needs is for you to hug him and tell him that he’s perfect.” Daniel gave him a wide smile that didn’t really reach his eyes.
He was right. Jacks didn’t need his guilt. He needed his reassurance. He needed to know that he was okay for real even if he’d already said it.
So Hayden kissed Jacks on both cheeks and grinned down at him. “You are my perfect boy.”
“Papa.” Obviously Jacks agreed with that because he just grinned right back into Hayden’s eyes. “Fire.”
“Yup, fire cleanses, baby. It does a wonderful thing sometimes but mostly outside, okay?”
“Okay.” Jacks made kissy noises until he bent and gave his baby another kiss.
When he looked up, Daniel was watching them with misty eyes.
Are you all right, love?
Daniel nodded. I’m trying to be, yes. We have some things to do. Daniel’s eyes flashed. If they ever think that they’re going to get near my children again, they have another thing coming .
I believe you, and I’m with you. Trust me on this. He would burn the whole place to the ground to protect Jacks, but he was also going to empower Jacks to be able to protect himself. That little boy was going to be fierce, and it was time that he started to learn to control his fire.
“I have some things to get accomplished,” Daniel told him. “Are you staying down here with Jacks?”
“What do you have planned?”
“I need to get rooms ready for our guests.” Daniel offered him a warm smile and then a nod, one hand petting his belly absently. “Declan’s going to need our help.”
“He is. He’s also going to need our love and care. He’s lost a lot.”
Jacks patted his cheeks. “Decca.”
“That’s right, baby boy, Dec. He’s going to need us really bad, okay?”
“Luffs.”
“My generous Jacks.”
He would grab his hot chocolate, and they would mobilize. By the time Declan got there, they would be ready to hunker down and help him through whatever he was going through and to keep everyone safe.
This was literally Hayden’s one job.