Chapter 6
Puff was down with his hoard. Dinner had been eaten, and Puff had wanted some time alone and decided his hoard was probably a good place to find some peace and calm. He had been right; being down here surrounded by his things, he felt calmness settle around him.
He spent time looking at his possessions. He picked up a few items he thought would make good presents for people and put them on the golden table.
He saw a lovely platinum dragon brooch, with small blue sapphires around the edge that would look good on Atticus’ suits, and a golden, jewel-encrusted dagger that he knew Mateo would like.
Is there anything in here you want to see, Bob?
He felt Bob come forward. No, just being in here is comforting. I’ll have to take you to see our other hoards soon. We have hoards around the world.
Puff shook his head. That’s crazy.
He felt Bob shrug. Not really. The dragon king has been around for thousands of years; of course we’ll have hoards around the world.
I guess, Puff replied. I’ve never given it much thought, to be honest. I mean, there is more than enough in here.
Our guardian and grounding force are coming.
Bob retreated just as Mateo and Atticus walked into the basement.
Puff smiled and walked over to join them.
Atticus opened his arms, and Puff walked happily into them. He wrapped his arms around him and leaned in for a moment, while Mateo moved and hugged him from behind. Puff moved and wrapped an arm around them both.
“You okay, Puff?” Atticus asked him gently.
Puff pulled away and nodded. Yeah, I was just taking a moment to calm down and de-stress.
Atticus grins. “We can help you de-stress,” and with that he dipped his head and kissed Puff.
Puff stepped closer to Atticus and returned the kiss, while Mateo moved behind him and started kissing Puff’s neck.
Puff moved one arm so he could touch Mateo, sighing into the kiss. They slowly pulled back, and Puff blushed and smiled at him. So perfect.
“It was. Now let our guardian help.” Atticus turned Puff so he was facing Mateo, and Puff stepped closer to him.
Yes, please, Puff said, smiling at Mateo.
Mateo dragged Puff into his arms and kissed him, while pulling him tighter against his body.
Puff felt his stress slipping away. Here with his mates, he could forget everything and just be with them.
Atticus moved around and stood behind Mateo, and taking a leaf out of his book, started kissing Mateo around his neck. Finally, they broke apart. Mateo rested his forehead on Puff’s.
“Feel better?” Mateo asked him softly.
Puff nodded. I do. He took a step back and looked at both men. Thank you. Being with you both is just what I needed, but the two of you need to share a kiss now. Saying that, Puff took a step back, as Mateo turned and looked at Atticus.
“Yes, why don’t we?” Atticus replied, catching Mateo around his neck and pulling him forward, not that it took much pulling, and soon they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed.
Puff sighed happily. Our mates are amazing he said to Bob.
He felt Bob smile. They are indeed. How lucky are we?
Before Puff could answer, Atticus and Mateo pulled apart. Mateo snagged Puff’s hand, pulling him closer again.
“It just keeps getting better and better,” Mateo said.
“It does,” Atticus agreed.
Puff blushed. It does. Come over here. He said, leading them to the golden table and dropping their hands. He picked up the dagger and brooch and held them out to Mateo and Atticus. I saw these and just knew they were meant for you. I hope you like them.
“Puff, this is stunning,” Atticus says, taking the platinum brooch.
I thought you could wear it on your suit lapel.
Atticus rubbed his thumb over it. “I can indeed.” He pulled Puff into a kiss before pulling back and holding it out to Puff. “Pin it on me?” He asked softly.
Blushing again, Puff took the brooch back and pinned it to Atticus’ lapel.
“That looks amazing, Atticus,” Mateo told him, touching his arm.
It really does. Puff agreed. He looked at Mateo and handed him the knife.
Mateo looked at the knife and pulled it out of its sheath. He looked up. “Puff, this is stunning as well.” He touched the blade reverently before putting the knife away. He pulled Puff into a quick kiss and touched his cheek. “Thank you, Puff.”
Puff smiled. I’m glad you both like them. If you see anything in here you want, just let me know, and it’s yours.
“Thank you, but all I want is you two,” Mateo said, looking at them both.
“The same,” Atticus added.
Puff blushed again. Apparently, I have more hoards around the world. We can discover them together soon.
“And I can show you mine,” Mateo said.
“And you can see mine as well,” Atticus said.
That would be nice. But now we should go back upstairs, as I have king stuff to do.
“Then we will come and help you,” Atticus told him.
Mateo put the knife into his belt and held out both hands.
Puff and Atticus took them, and the three left the basement.
Tudor was sitting in the library with Alex, Donovan and Dane, surrounding the table Dane had claimed as his.
“Ready to start your king lessons?” Donovan asked, smiling at Tudor.
“Not really but I know I need to learn everything but I keep hoping I’ll wake up and you’re still king and I can just be Alex’s mate,” Tudor replied.
“That ship has sailed, sweetheart,” Alex said with a laugh, patting Tudor’s thigh.
Tudor sighed. “Yeah,” he said softly.
“You’re an amazing king already, Tudor,” Dane said, looking at him. “The way you’ve dealt with the last few days. The compassion you’ve shown, going to see the families of the fallen, you were a credit to all gargoyles.”
“Thank you it was hard but I’m glad I didn’t embarrass the family.”
“Tudor, you could never embarrass the family, the pack, or the gargoyle race,” Donovan told his son.
“Thanks Dad, Dane,” he replied softly.
Alex picked his hand up and kissed the back.
Tudor smiled at him, then looked back at his father. “So king lessons.”
Donovan pulled out a USB stick from the pocket of his shirt and held it out to Tudor. “This has everything you need to know, all broken down into subjects. Have a quick look over it tonight, and we can start going through it properly tomorrow.”
Tudor took it and scowled. “Thanks,” he said, not really meaning it.
The others laughed at him.
“We need to set time aside with Puff and Paris so we can go through our laws and bring them in line with the dragons I wonder if we should include Blake and Ash as well so we all have the same laws.”
“Breathe, my darling,” Alex said. “It would be good to include Blake and Ash as well.”
“See, you’re thinking like a proper king,” Donovan said.
“I would never have thought about doing something like this, bringing our laws in line with other shifter laws, but then I hadn’t made friends with the dragons.
Truth be told, I didn’t like Ian McDuncan, so tried not to have anything to do with him or any other dragon. ”
“I met a few dragons over the years, and they were nice enough, but no, I tended to just stick with gargoyles,” Dane said. “I’m glad Dad sent you here, because of you, we’re mixing with other paranormal’s and building strong bonds. That’s all your doing, Tudor.”
Tudor smiled. “I’m glad I was sent here as well Dad we need to design you a crown.”
Dane laughed. “I still think you could wear the queen’s crown.”
Donovan scowled at both Dane and Tudor. “No to the queen’s crown, and Tudor, I am quite happy without a crown, thanks very much.”
“And yet you’re having one King Father,” Tudor said directly, quite out of character.
Alex laughed. “Bad luck, Donovan.”
Donovan sighed. “I suppose it’s only fair that I wear one as well. See, Tudor, we can both suffer together.”
“That’s the spirit, Dad,” Dane said, grinning.
The smile fell off Donovan’s face. “Now for something serious.”
They all looked at him.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asked, sitting forward and looking concerned.
“Tudor, not including the vigil, when was the last time you shifted and rested? Properly rested?”
Tudor looked down.
Alex took his hand. “Sweetheart, you’ve not rested since we met.”
“Can I suggest when Blake returns, you shift?” Donovan said to him.
Tudor looked up. “But there is so much to do.”
“Which we can all help you with. You need to properly shift and rest; if not, you know what will happen.”
Alex looked at Donovan. “What will happen?”
“If a gargoyle goes too long without resting, they will start getting sick until their gargoyle will literally force a shift and rest on them, no matter where they are or what they are doing, and the shift will be painful.”
Alex looked at Tudor and used his finger to gently turn Tudor to face him. “Sweetheart, I can’t bear the thought of you in pain. It was bad enough when you were slashed the other day. Tomorrow, you need to shift and rest.”
Tudor looked into Alex’s concerned eyes. “Okay Alex I don’t know how long I’ll be resting for though.”
“It doesn’t matter how long you’re resting for. We’ll cover things for you,” Alex told him.
“Thank you, Tudor,” Donovan said, sounding relieved. “Can I suggest you have breakfast and then after that you rest?”
Tudor nodded. “Okay.” He suddenly grinned. “I don’t need to read that USB tonight then.”
Alex and Dane laughed, and Donovan just shook his head.