Chapter 27 Mina
Mina
We stay into the late evening, the sky above us deepening from azure to indigo to black velvet studded with diamond stars.
The air grows cooler against my scales, carrying the scents of pine and earth as we engage in deep discussions with several nests.
The murmur of voices rises and falls around us like waves, occasionally punctuated by the soft rustle of wings or the scrape of claws against stone.
Several things are agreed on. The betrothal system is abolished and basically outlawed.
If someone wants to do the symbolic anointing ceremony, it’s done with essential oils, nothing else.
The scent of lavender and rosemary hangs in the air as examples are passed around, so different from the acrid, chemical smell of the binding oil.
Females no longer are to wear any form of a mage cage.
I can still feel the phantom weight of mine sometimes, the cold metal against my throat.
Most of the females want me to teach them to fight, their eager voices creating a symphony of requests that makes my ears ring.
I roll my eyes so hard I think they’re going to come out of my head, the muscles aching with the effort.
The last thing in place of the betrothal system, we are holding a yearly gathering to allow nature to take its course.
The yearly gathering is Thauglor’s idea, his deep voice resonating in my chest as he explains it.
He says it would be like how the females migrated years ago to find a mate.
Rules are being set as we speak, the scratch of pen on parchment a constant background noise, mixing with the soft crackling of the fire that illuminated our council circle.
The big one I am fighting for is that the females get to choose the male.
The males can have competitions the first day of the gathering to show off their strength and dragon.
Day two, we have a meet and greet where the females can speak to the males directly.
By the end of day three, either you have a mate or you are in talks for a marriage.
The way Thauglor fights for the change, his voice rising with passion, his scent heavy with determination, I know he’s picturing a world where he has a daughter.
Especially since while he’s talking about the gathering, he’s holding Lily, her tiny form nestled against his massive chest, her scales gleaming like polished obsidian in the firelight.
He’s making sure our daughters and future daughters to come are safe, his protective instinct palpable in the air around him.
We take off to head home. It’s been a long day, and I really want to see the rest of my family.
“Do you think those males will come to Shadowcarve?” Abraxis asks as he walks up my dragon’s neck, holding onto my frill, his footsteps a gentle pressure against my scales.
The night wind tousles his hair, carrying his familiar scent to me—pine and something uniquely him.
I rumble to him. We will have to wait and see the vibration deep in my throat, making my scales shift slightly.
Turning my head, I look at Thauglor with Lily sleeping between his wings on his back, her small form rising and falling with each breath, perfectly secure in her nest father’s protection.
It’s moments like this I know the books were wrong about the ancients.
Then I remember when a male from an orange dragon nest wanted to fight for his right to be a mate.
Just as my silver talons broke free, Thauglor already had the male up in the air by his throat, the unfortunate male’s feet kicking helplessly.
With a flick of his wrist, the male’s neck snapped like a twig, the sound sickeningly final in the sudden silence.
The scent of fear and death hung heavy in the air for hours afterward.
In that instant, the books were far too kind about the level of brutality my mate is capable of.
‘She’s doing fine, little momma,’ Thauglor tilts his head, looking at me, the moonlight catching in his ancient eyes. He knows I keep checking on her out of habit, my gaze drawn to my daughter like a compass to north.
‘Sorry, it’s not that I don’t trust you with her. I just feel better with her on me,’ I apologize and lower my head slightly, the movement causing my scales to rustle softly.
‘Never apologize for worrying about your progeny. You’re an excellent mother.
You love your children so much and take such good care of them and all the hatchlings in our flight,’ Klauth says as he banks closer to me for a moment so that the tips of our wings touch briefly, the contact sending a shiver through me.
His massive form blocks out the stars momentarily, his shadow falling across me like a caress.
‘I thought I was going to fail as a mom because I barely could spend time with mine.’ There’s a sourness to my tone, and a mournful whine escapes my lips, the sound carrying across the night air.
“What’s wrong, Mina?” Abraxis asks as he takes a seat between my frill and horn on my head, his weight a comfortable pressure. I can feel his concern in the way his body tenses, his heartbeat quickening slightly.
Regretting not getting to spend time with my mom, I rumble to him. I make it loud enough for my other mates to hear. The vibration travels through my entire body, making my scales clink softly against each other.
“You and my mom are close. I know it’s not the same, but at least it’s something,” Abraxis offers, and I carefully nod my head, the motion slow and measured so as not to dislodge him.
His hand rests against my scales, warm and reassuring.
I don’t want to talk about parents anymore.
One was a monster and the other, well, she was a prisoner and in her own way, a monster too.
The memories leave a bitter taste in my mouth, like ash and old blood, and I turn my face toward the stars, letting the cool night air wash over me, carrying away the ghosts of the past, if only for a moment.
“Mina, you need to wake up.” I hear someone yelling into my room, the voice piercing through the warm cocoon of sleep like a needle through silk.
The sheets are tangled around my legs, still warm from the night, carrying the mingled scents of my family.
I have all three babies and Ziggy in bed with me, their soft breathing creating a gentle rhythm that makes leaving even harder.
“Okay, okay, I’m up...” I groan as my feet hit the floor, the cold stone sending a shock up my legs that chases away the last vestiges of sleep.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see the babies all laying on Ziggy, their tiny forms rising and falling with each breath, their bodies warm against his.
I know I made the right choice having him be a stay-at-home dad.
I get dressed quickly, the fabric sliding against my skin still sensitive from sleep, and grab my bag with my books for the second half of the year.
The leather is smooth and worn beneath my fingers, comforting in its familiarity.
Vaughn pops out of his room and bumps shoulders with me, the brief contact warm and solid. His scent—clean linen with a hint of sandalwood—mingles with mine in the narrow hallway.
“We have to fly in unless Ziggy is taking us,” he smiles, and I shake my head, feeling strands of hair brush against my neck.
“He and the babies are still sleeping, so I’m flying us in unless Thauglor wants to do the honors.
” We make it to the kitchen and see our cups of coffee already out, the rich aroma filling the air, bitter and inviting.
Steam rises from the dark liquid in lazy curls.
Abraxis has everything set for everyone, the table a carefully arranged display of morning offerings.
“Ready for your first day back?” he asks as he hands me my coffee and a danish, his fingers brushing mine in a touch that lingers just a moment. The ceramic mug is hot against my palms, almost uncomfortable but not quite.
“Yes and no,” I answer honestly before taking a bite of the cheese danish.
The pastry is flaky and rich, the cheese filling tangy and sweet on my tongue.
As I chew, I think about how I want to answer, the silence stretching between us like a living thing.
“I’m going to go to the school counselor today to talk about what happened.
” I honestly don’t know how I feel about what I did.
My eyes search Abraxis’s, seeking understanding in those depths I know so well.
He nods slowly, his gaze never leaving mine.
“I was going to ask if you wanted me to take you today. I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
” He walks around the side of the counter and kisses my temple, his lips warm and soft against my skin.
The scent of him—pine and leather—fills my nostrils.
“I’m proud of you, Mina.” He kisses my temple again before walking out of the room, his footsteps fading down the hallway.
The rest of my guys are standing there watching me, their gazes heavy and expectant on my skin.
Mental health has been a huge topic of conversation in the nest over the last three years.
Abraxis is in therapy as well, dealing with his near-death experience and not being in charge anymore.
Klauth and Thauglor go to help them adapt to current times.
We have a group session once a month as a check-in with the nest.
“I’m ready to go when everyone else is.” I know I move faster than the others in the nest, my body always humming with barely contained energy. But sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and relax and let Thauglor do all the flying, to feel the security of his massive form beneath me.
“I can take us if you want,” Klauth offers, and I smile, looking at him. His ancient eyes catch the morning light, turning them to burning embers.