Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
Lachlan ended up being incredibly busy for the next week or two after Wiver showed up.
The appearance of a creature like him told the guardians that they had a lot of work to do on the wards.
Why would Wiver have set off so many alarms?
He was a magical creature, but there was absolutely nothing about him that could be used for evil.
He was created as a pure light, there to help with the children.
When he dragged himself the house one night, his wings drooping, his feet dragging, he realized it had been two days since he’d even seen Kieran and Micah.
He sighed and headed into the foyer, and Alban met him there with a sandwich and a beer.
“You are a miracle worker.”
“I’m made to care for you.”
“Well, I don’t tell you thank you enough. All is well? Kieran and Micah are asleep?”
“Everything is fine. Kaden and Lars are here, and Arthur is bringing Bryant so he could ride and rest.”
“Oh, good. Good. I’m exhausted.” He bit into the sandwich, the effort to chew almost too much.
“You are.” That wasn’t Alban, that was his beloved mate. “Come to bed. I’ll bring your drink.”
He went right to Kieran, embracing him, careful not to squish his sandwich against Kieran’s back.
“Hey, you. The boys and Wiver are together. Lars is waiting for Bryant, and we’re going to bed.”
“We are?”
“Yes. We’ll hydrate and feed you, and then you’re all mine.”
Oh, he loved the sound of that.
“It’s been a long, hard few days.”
Kieran nodded. “I know that, love. Come upstairs. Bryant will be here and asleep soon.”
He let Kieran take his arm and lead him to the stairs, both of them thanking Alban once more before they stumbled up to their rooms. Kieran let him finish his sandwich and drink before tugging him to the shower.
The water was hot, and the hands adoring him were hotter, burning as they loved on him. Kieran cared for him so well, and he knew his mate was just as tired, his belly still a tiny bit queasy some days, his hormones running wild. But he was there for Lachlan in all ways.
“I love you.”
“I know. I love you too. My poor overworked dragon.”
“Mmmm. And you’ve been busy too. Warding a wing and growing a new dragon are both hard magical work.” Though his was far less involved.
“It is, but good work. Jake and Bea are taking the next shift?”
“They are, and Logan will be going in and out. He’s been resting a little bit more so he could do that. And Mariposa and Amber are helping. You know how they are.” He leaned on the shower wall, propping them up under the hot spray.
“Perfect. I will sleep with you, we’ll eat and love on our son, and you’ll feel better.”
“I will.” Lachlan reached up to touch Kieran’s cheek. “Are you well, love?”
“I am. I’ve been hanging out with Lars and resting, playing with the babies.” Kieran kissed him. “Worrying about you.”
“Well, here I am.” He smiled, or at least he tried to. His eyes kept crossing.
“You’re going to have to rest, love. I’ll hold down the fort. I swear.”
“I don’t want you overdoing it.”
Kieran was healthy, his pregnancy proceeding well, but he had a lot on his plate with Micah and the other guardian mates and children.
“I won’t. We’re going to have a long sleep, some good food. You’re going to play with Micah.”
“Okay, love.” He smiled, making sure Kieran got clean, too, loving the feel of his mate. “My fierce one.”
“That’s me. Protecting my family with everything I am.”
“I’m so glad. I adore that.” They got the water off, then staggered out to dry off like a three-legged race was on.
Soon enough he was cuddled in bed with his mate, heavy and snuggled in. Kieran covered them with softy blankets, draping over him too, and they both sighed.
The world fell away, and he was sleeping hard.
When he woke up hours later, Micah was playing peek a boo with Lachlan’s wing.
“Pook-a-bee!” Micah sang, and Kieran chuckled.
“Peek-a-boo, baby!”
“Oops-a-baby, boo!”
Lachlan rumbled with laughter, sweeping his wing over Micah. “Oh no! Where did he go?”
“Pook-a-pook-a! Eee!” Micah’s laughter was pure joy. “Papa! I here!”
He lifted his wing, grinning down at Micah. “There you are, my little hero.”
“He-wo!” Micah grabbed him and hugged him tight. “Luff Papa!”
“I love you, little one. Have you been playing with Kaden?”
Micah nodded and grinned, little teeth shining. “Pway, Papa. Kay-Kay.”
“You’re so smart. I love how you love all of us, my sweet boy.”
“Wiver too?”
Kieran laughed softly. “Yes, Wiver too.”
“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!” Micah threw his arms up in the air, shrieking with happiness.
Lachlan leaned in, tickling gently, living for the soft giggles.
“Papa!”
“My sweet baby boy. Now, shall we go play?”
“Pway! Wif Ka-Ka?”
Brother, are you awake?
Bryant’s chuckle was soft. We are, and hungry. Also, my son would like his cousin, please.
Ditto. We’re going to play outside, if you would like to come. Because why not have all of them there? His life was so full…
Absolutely, I’m all in. Arthur says he and Alban are totally making food. We can have an al fresco experience.
Perfect. Al fresco sounds great.
Kieran was already up and moving, getting little Micah dressed and ready to go play outside.
Lachlan hummed, getting prepared himself. He needed sturdy clothes for this. Jeans, T-shirt, flannel — perfect for playing with rowdy babies. Not that anyone fretted about how much laundry there was, but still…
“Papa! Pway!”
Listen to his little one, talking and chatting and laughing. It made him so very proud.
He grabbed Micah in his arms once Kieran had him all dressed, and they met Bryant and Lars and Kaden downstairs.
The two boys immediately set to playing, jabbering at each other in some interesting dragon language.
He would laugh, but he and Bryant had always been that way together as well, so he understood.
Bryant looked rested, finally, and Lars seemed less green and grumpy, offering hugs freely.
The table was laden with food, groaning under the weight of a feast. Bacon and sausage, waffles and cinnamon rolls, hash browns, and juices.
“Do you honestly think we’re going to be able to eat all of this?” he asked Alban, who winked at him,
“Do you honestly think Logan isn’t on his way here with the kids and Dakota, along with Bea and Mickey and their baby.”
“Don’t forget Samuel and Grant and Gwennie and Jake, too.” Lars winked. “It’s your turn to host breakfast.”
There were worse things to do.
They would have a lot of kids out there playing once everybody came and ate their fill.
Once again he was so grateful for Alban, who kept their house running so smoothly, and he had been utterly opposed to the dragon coming and living with them to begin with.
He’d been terrified that someone infiltrating his household would have a way to harm him.
Now he was in the center of all of them, the heartbeat of a family, and they were his life.
He followed them all to the kitchen, as Bryant let the others in, everyone gathering just as he’d always dreamed of.
The kids were playing together, coming by for bites and hugs. Everyone was laughing and chatting and eating, and Lachlan met Kieran’s gaze.
I love you.
Kieran beamed at him. I love you, mate. You’re all right?
I am. I cannot believe this is my life. I’m so damn happy.
I am too. You need more rest is all.
His mate took such good care of him.
This situation is unique.
Except was it? Oro was a convergence point of ley lines. It seemed to draw stuff to them.
“That’s why there are so many of us,” Logan nodded to him. “That’s why we have enough guardians to cover.”
“True.” He grinned. “We do seem to have more than our share.”
Bea snorted. “But we need us all.”
Samuel nodded from across the table. “We do. This is an amazing wing, and we’re…together.”
Jake kissed his cheek. “We are, dearest.”
“Mmmm. And we have the best food.” Lars licked his fork.
Everyone stared at him a moment, then burst out laughing. A storm of it.
The children looked at them, and then their laughter pealed out, light and joyous. So sweet.
Even Wiver did a happy little dance, his whole body undulating. The kids adored him, with his sharp tipped tail, his quick flutters, and his joyful play.
When breakfast was over, they headed outside and he had to admit it felt good to know the wards were stronger and that they had shored everything up. He wanted a safe place for his children. He wanted a safe space for all of the wings’ children, so it was important that they did their job.
He pushed Ari and Mari on the swings while Grant played with his younger wing-mates in the ball pit, making the balls fly around the littlest ones, careful to amaze but never hurt.
Wiver dove for the balls over and over, careful of his sharp teeth so he didn’t pierce them.
Kieran and Lars sat in the sun, both of them soaking it up.
He loved that his brother and he were going to have babies together.
Again.
Micah and Kaden were days apart in age, and their new babies would be too. There was something so comforting about that, about knowing they would have fast friends in the wing, that they would grow up sharing experiences.
Bryant was flying Gwennie around, her laughter causing bubbles to pop in the air.
“Look at them.” Logan sounded utterly satisfied. “The future of our wing, Lach.”
“They all are. I love this. I love having our family here all around us.”
“Me too, my friend. And now we keep them safe and love them and add to our families.” He glanced at his mate again.
Kieran winked at him, expression warm and happy. Love you, mate.
Love you too. Are you well?
I am, and Lars feels so much better too. This is wonderful.
It is. Can you see the boys playing with the balls? It was the cutest thing ever.
It’s adorable, no? And Wiver is the perfect addition to the household. How are you feeling? Kieran had been tired lately, his body changing, taking his energy.
Pregnant. Loving these cranberry scones. Looking forward to our Halloween festival.
He loved that about his Kieran. Now that he’d decided to join the wing, he was active, planning things, and so present.
So giving and loving.
There are scones? He glanced sideways to Logan. “Did you know there were scones?”
“Cranberry and white chocolate, yes. They’re amazing.” Logan waggled his eyebrows at him.
“Why didn’t I get one?” He’d had eggs and pancakes and bacon and… But no scones.
“Did you miss them?” Logan shrugged. “You want some?”
As if he’d asked, Alban was there with a pair of perfect pastries, holding out a tray.
Lachlan took both.
“Thank you, Alban. I missed these somehow.”
“Of course, Lachlan. Kieran is very, very fond of them.”
That was good to know. He knew Kieran was having trouble keeping some foods down, so if he could eat these…
Yeah, he would make sure they had them on hand.
He hummed as he nibbled, then he went to offer his second scone to his mate.
Kieran glanced up with smile, one that went a little misty when Lachlan held out the scone. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome.” He winked at Kieran, so pleased.
“Come sit with me and watch the kids,” Kieran offered, making space.
Lars nodded and welcomed him, and Bryant followed behind soon enough. They leaned together, all of them cuddling.
They needed this. They were social creatures, dragons. They weren’t meant to be alone. It could happen occasionally, shame and fear and guilt making them draw away but this was better. Family, friends, love, care. So much better.
“Papa!” Micah came toddling over holding up his finger, tears in his eyes. “Owwie!”
“Oh no!” He picked up Micah to kiss his dirty finger. “There we go.”
Micah beamed at him. “Sank oo!”
Then his son was off again.
Lachlan shook his head. Children were so much more resilient than they were even as magical beings. They got bogged down in their own pain sometimes but the babies, they were pure joy.
“Good job, Papa.” Lars winked at him. “Those magical kisses, man.”
He took a seated bow. “What can I say? I have the power.”
Kaden came toddling up, holding up his finger. “Kissing me too!”
Lachlan kissed Kaden’s finger, making a big, smacking noise. “All kissed with magic, my love.”
Kaden grinned at him. “Sank oo!”
Then, one by one, from Grant to the little Kaden again, they all came for finger kisses.
Lachlan felt ten thousand feet tall, no question.
Kieran beamed at him. “You look so happy, love.”
“I am.” He shrugged. Why wouldn’t he be? He was home with his family. All of them. “I think you are too, yes?”
“Gods yes. I love you so much. This is amazing, this life.”
“Good.” He tried to ignore the little voice in his head that said this couldn’t last. That something awful would happen…
Stop it. There’s always something that happens. His brother shot him a glare.
Right. I know. I’ll be good. Because good things happen too. All the time.
That’s it. Ups and downs, right? You’re one of my best ups. You and Micah.
Thanks. He was a lucky dragon. He knew it.
It was time to look forward and not back.