Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Lachlan had to admit, Kieran was driving him mad.
Oh, not on purpose, but his scent had changed.
He always loved the way his mate smelled, but now it was intense, and Lachlan wanted to follow him around, nose pressed to Kieran’s neck.
He was incredibly grateful that his lover wasn’t too ill, that he was hungry and comfortable, but Lachlan wanted him.
All the time.
And the heat was over.
But to be fair, Kieran was always wet and willing unless he was queasy.
He grabbed his mate on his way by, stealing a hard, hungry kiss.
“Mmmm.” Kieran wrapped around him, holding on tight. “Hello, love.”
“You smell so good.” Lachlan was feeling a bit primitive.
“Do I?” Kieran chuckled softly, rubbing into him, spreading the addictive scent. “I’m glad.”
“You so do.” He nuzzled and licked at Kieran’s skin. “Amazing.”
“Just pregnant.” Kieran grinned for him. “I appreciate how you like it.”
“I’m glad.” He lifted Kieran in his arms. “Where were you headed?”
“I was going to go explore the house. There’s so much I haven’t seen.”
“Ah. Shall we do that together?” He could see the slight green tint starting to color Kieran’s skin and scales, and that could be bad. So he would postpone the mauling and distract him with a tour.
“I can’t think of anything I’d love more.”
Micah was actually having a playdate at Lars’s, without Kieran.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
So he gently set Kieran back on his feet, careful not to jostle, and was rewarded by his color returning to normal. Good.
“Let’s start up in the turret.”
“I love the word turret. It feels so magical. What do you do up there?”
“I haven’t really decided. I tried painting, but the light is all wrong because of the mountain’s shadow.”
“Oh, wow. Well, it’s got an amazing view. It could be a library.”
“I like that idea. A cozy reading room.”
“Just something for the two of us. We can make a children’s library downstairs, but this can be our place — a big comfy couch, shelves, books, pillows, and blankets?”
“That sounds like heaven, love.” He could spend hours up here with his mate. And a children’s library would be amazing for Micah and his siblings, and also for the other kids who came to their home. “We’ll have to speak to Samuel about our little library, yes? So as not to hurt his feelings.”
“Of course. I’ll absolutely need his help.”
“Yes. You’re so smart and kind.” Lachlan sat down and pulled Kieran into his lap. “We can just imagine though, huh?”
“Yes. We’ll need a little heat source, I think. Something to keep it cozy.” Kieran snuggled in.
“Mmm. And blankets. You said that.” He kissed the side of Kieran’s neck. He wasn’t feeling predatory anymore. Just loving.
“Yes. We can pretend to be Rapunzel in our tower.”
“I love that. Or maybe a prince being held by the hideous dragon who’s in love with him.”
Kieran whapped him. “Don’t call me hideous, mate.”
“Ow!” He had to laugh, because the very idea of Kieran being hideous was so ridiculous to him.
The idea gave Lachlan pause. Perhaps that was how Kieran felt about him. Maybe he should stop and think before he put himself down, even if he felt as if he needed to be self-deprecating by default.
Maybe it wounded Kieran just as much as it would hurt Lachlan if Kieran always felt badly about himself.
“Maybe we could tell ourselves a story about two dragons who were madly in love and creating a magical home in their castle.”
Kieran beamed at him, leaning in to offer him a hug. “I love that story. It’s got my favorite ending, that happily ever after.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do, my love.” His life was unbearably sweet right—
Lachlan’s head came up, his wings snapping open as a warning siren tore across his nerves. “Someone just tried to cross the wards.”
“Go. Go. I’ll get Micah.” Kieran didn’t hesitate, flying down the stairs in a streak of light.
He would protect Micah and Alban, dammit. And their new baby, growing within Kieran.
He roared as he took off from the turret, beating his wings to get elevation and fly toward the river.
Bryant met him on the way to the river, both of them flying furiously. Lars dropped off the baby at your place. He’s at the school.
Lachlan knew it drove his twin crazy to have his pregnant omega guarding the school, but it was Lars’ job.
Logan, Jake, and Bea are at their positions. They’d decided after the last attack that they weren’t going to congregate in one spot, but spread out so that the magics would hold. Lars, of course, had the school and the children.
Then we burn whatever it is now to the ground. Unless it was someone who needed help.
Absolutely. Bryant was all the way in, he could tell.
They swooped down, following the river up to the crossing by the cabins. Lachlan could feel the danger throbbing at the wards, could feel the magical call of them, pulling him right where he needed to go.
I’ll circle around out into town and then come back and we can flank them, Bryant told him.
Be careful brother. I don’t want anybody trying to take you out of the sky.
Bryant peeled off and left him, and he slowed his rush by back-winging a little so he could go in high and see what was going on. He needed to be cautious and not just zoom in there and end up getting hurt. He had to think about, not only the whole wing, but his family too.
He could hear Bryant in his head scanning the ground and keeping a running tally of what he saw. There were some deer, there was a mountain lion, and there were some shadows that seemed out of place. Nothing resolved itself into people or dragons.
So Lachlan took another turn around, swooping down lower toward the ground so he could actually train his eyes on the places Bryant had pointed out to him.
He understood what Bryant meant. The shadows were out of place.
They didn’t reflect what was going on with the actual light and it looked a little bit like oil spills.
He knew some dragons could obfuscate and look like something they weren’t, so he let out a roar and sent a windy breath over the earth, trying to see what it would blow up.
Something moved, and he turned toward it, screaming for his brother as it leapt into the sky.
Dragon! It crossed the wards. It’s coming your way.
He wasn’t sure it was a dragon. It had something in common with them, but there was absolutely a weirdnesss to it. Maybe it was a wyvern or a winged serpent.
Be careful Bryant. It could have a barb on the end of its tail.
I’ll stay clear as much as I can. You be careful too. I don’t want you to take a spike.
He trumpeted to the other guardians, letting them know that somebody had managed to get across the wards and that they needed to be on guard. Every single one of them answered him, ready to take up the fight if they needed to.
Logan appeared next to him, swooping past, golden light beaming from him.
Careful Logan, it might be a wyvern.
We need to get it back across the wards. Hopefully we can just burn it up.
Yes. He fell in with Logan to push it back toward Bryant, knowing that it would start to panic if it was becoming closed in.
Unlike dragons, wyverns had relatively few talents and not very much in the way of magic. Basic glamour like it had used with the shadows was all it could summon.
He headed down, roaring a warning before he let the flames pour from him.
The wyvern — the beast about half his size and a baby pink that glimmered in the sun — stood up on his legs, waving his wings.
It didn’t seem frightened or threatening, either way.
So Lachlan came in for a landing, wary, but warning Bryant and Logan off. Let me see what he wants. Because it was a he. And a happy one if the bubbling thoughts were any indication.
Babes. The word was less language and more an image in his head. Micah.
Are you here to hurt him?
No! Protect. A fierce light shone around the wyvern for a moment.
Ah. Good. We can use the help. He opened his arms, and the little one jumped into his embrace, tail wrapping around his wrist.
He’s our familiar. He knew it as soon as they made contact.
Oh. Oh, thank the goddess. It meant the world to him that Bryant believed him, no question.
Mate? Micah is losing his mind, screaming not to hurt—
Wiver. MINE. No hurty! Papa! Papa, PLEASE!
I won’t hurt him, Micah. I promise. He’s safe. He sent a wave of calm to all of them. Micah. Kieran. The creature in his arms.
Wiver melted into him, an excited, buzzing sound on the air. Someone wanted his boy, wanted to be best friends.
Logan dropped to the ground beside him. What the hell, man?
Meet Wiver the wyvern. My boy’s familiar.
Wiver chirruped, and then bowed, turning a deep rose.
Logan gave half a bow in return. “Welcome to Oro Escondido, wivern.”
Another clicking, whistling sound rang out, and then Wiver relaxed, going boneless, and the soft snores immediately followed.
He’s exhausted. He fought the wards hard. I’ll take him back to the house if you call off the alarm.
I’ll make sure nothing followed him, Logan murmured.
Thank you, friend. He headed home, streaking toward his mate and his son. Bryant followed behind, staying close.
Kieran, it’s Micah’s familiar! They’re going to be best friends. And they would both protect the new baby.
Is he all right? Does he need help?
Meat. I think these guys are carnivores. He’s very tired. I think he’s been traveling a long way.
Possibly between dimensions…
I’ll tell Alban.
Papa! Wiver! Mine own Wiver! Micah’s voice was pure joy.
I know, my love. T Micah was advancing so much faster now. It amazed him every day.
“Wiver. I here!”
The wyvern shivered and woke, eyes popping open. There was joy-happy-love, the wyvern going bright rose pink.
Micah shot across the room, chunky little legs going ninety to nothing. The wyvern ran to Micah, wrapping around him, hugging him happily, nuzzling Micah’s baby cheek.
“Wow.” Kieran came to stand next to him. “That’s a little wild.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.”
“I’m glad you got there first.” Kieran stared at Micah with wide eyes.
Lachlan nodded. He shuddered to think what would have happened to the poor creature had Logan or Bryant gotten there first, but then they were guardians too. They probably would have figured it out.
Micah headed into the house, calling, “Ah-BAN! Ah-BAN!”
He could hear Alban calling back. “Yes, my little love?”
Wiver need meat!
“Wiver?” Alban smiled at the wyvern. “Well, welcome home, sweet one. Are you hungry?
There was an intense wave of longing, and an undulation that seemed to be a bit of begging.
“Come on, you two.” Alban scooped them up. “Let’s get some nummies.”
Micah cheered, and the wyvern flopped in Alban’s arms with a happy sound.
Kieran turned and stared at him, wide-eyed. “That was absolutely insane.”
“I know, love, and it was totally unexpected. I mean I suppose with you being pregnant, and Micah becoming a protective big brother, I should have expected this — but I certainly didn’t know that a wyvern would show up.
A mountain lion or a wolf wouldn’t have tripped the wards but a wyvern definitely did. ”
“Well, he is special, I guess…”
That was absolutely factual. No question.
“He is. So are you.” He pressed a kiss to the top of Kieran’s head. “Should we grab a cookie? Soon we’ll have a house full of guardians.”
“It isn’t the morning I’d dreamed of, but it is a joyous day nonetheless. Let’s do it.”
He had to laugh a bit because that was true enough. They had both had different plans. But as long as they were together Lachlan felt like that was what mattered, and they had a familiar to get to know.
So what they’d had planned for the morning they would just wait and do tonight.