3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Caspian
Goddess above, my mates were even more gorgeous in person than in my dreams. Mattias’ growly, possessive side and Kes’ sweet, calm nature were the perfect yin and yang for me.
“Both your dragons, really. Apparently, the three of us in the same room was strong enough for them to form their bond. Sounds like the two of you have been ignoring what you truly desire.” Mattias may be our alpha, our protector, but I had a feeling I’d be the mediator and I couldn’t wait.
Trapped between those two in any setting was what my dreams were made of.
And dreamed I have, after searching for them as long as I have been. “Now, about our bonding ritual.”
Mattias sputtered, Kes’s mouth opened and closed, then repeated again. And to think, I was the water dragon, not him.
“Oh. Um,” Mattias tried his best and his dragons’ laughter wasn’t helping him any. “You-you didn’t answer my question.”
“Nor did you answer mine. But, fair is fair and you did ask first. My herd, what’s left of them, reside deep within the sea.
The journey to get to both of you wasn’t quick nor easy and the fact I’m easily distracted only added delays.
New plants, beautiful fish, sea turtles, I tend to follow them all then have to find my way back to where I was.
But those weren’t the only challenges I faced.
There is a clan beneath the sea, killing those who refuse to follow their orders, and we’ve had a tousle or twelve.
” It took a few moments for Mattias to respond.
I felt his dragon reach out though it wasn’t to mine.
The question of who’s was soon answered when the room was filled with dragons.
“Caspian,” the largest spoke. He and three others towered above the rest, so I knew they were the protectors and Mattias brothers.
“I’m Ionus, leader of the Primordial Protectors and eldest Denarius’ brother.
Welcome.” One by one they introduced themselves and their mates, except for Quint.
He was a standalone, but I knew he’d find his mate soon. I could feel it.
Don’t worry, they’re all super cool, Kes reached out through our connection. But how is our bond so strong already?
On some level, the three of us have been reaching out to one another and the bond of a poly mating is always stronger. It has to be, given the challenges we’ll face. Once we’re fully mated, it will be so much better.
Once Caspian has healed, our alpha insisted.
Oh, I’m healed and I’ve waited long enough.
Their dragons chuckled though Kes’s face paled.
Kes? What was I missing? I’m a virgin too.
That’s not it, but good to know. That got a quick smile, though it left his face as quickly as it came. There was more to his story and being patiently impatient, I’d find a way to get it out of him.
“I believe I’ve heard something of dragonets?
” The room went silent, all eyes were on me.
“I love babies and plan to add many more to this family. Soon. When can I meet them?” I miss the little ones back home terribly.
Thankfully, we’d been able to hide them when they attacked our home.
Locked away with the elders, I volunteered to be the one to seek help.
A dangerous move, but one I was more than trained for.
Now, I’d not only found the help we needed, but my mates as well.
“They’re, um,” the one with the glasses pointed to the wall. “Over there?”
Did he not know where his offspring where? “Are you a dragon?” I knew he was but why in the world…
“Um, yes?”
“Was that a question?” My lack of filter at pointing out the obvious often times got me into trouble. But I refused to be anyone but me. “Why are you wearing glasses?”
The dragon beside him, Caro, sighed. “I’ve asked Emerson that a million times.” The little guy puffed up.
“Habit. Are you really a Seadragon?”
“I am a Seadragon. I take it none of you knew we existed?” Every head in the room shook, save for my mates’, though they were just as surprised by it.
Poor Kes thought he’d lost his mind, having seen me all those years ago.
“Sadly, there aren’t many of us left and we need your help.
I’m not well enough to make the long journey back just yet, but soon we’ll need to leave. ”
See, not well enough to mate.
See, not well enough to travel long distances but more than ready, willing and able to secure this bond. It will help all three of us and solidify our relationship.
Mattias and Kes’s dragons chuckled. At least they were on my side.
“I need baby time,” I stood, a bit too quickly and wavered. Kes and Mattias were right there, each gently taking an arm and settling me back down. “My heroes. I’m fine, just stayed in bed too long. Maybe we can go for a midnight swim later?”
“Oh, I like this one, he’s sassy. Sassy mates are randy in the sack,” Odem said, his mate, Ronan elbowed him. “Hey, what was that for?”
“No flirting,” Ronan scolded.
“Wait, that was flirting?”
Ronan rolled his eyes. “Never mind. Get your men to carry you over. We’ve got the kiddos at Ionus and Alex’s house with the grands.” This was gonna be a fun group and I’m excited to get to know them. Maybe I finally found the ones I won’t annoy? Well, hopefully at least not as much…
Grands? I asked my mates.
Grandparents, Mattias replied. Our family has grown exponentially these last couple of years. Between mates and their relatives, it’s been busy around the compound.
Compound?
“Come on,” Mattias scooped me up like I weighed nothing. With my arms wrapped around his neck, I had the perfect angle to kiss his cheek.
Your blush is adorable, mate.
Hush, you. Though he turned and kissed me right back.
“Mattias and Kes and Caspian sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Odem sang. “Wait, how does that work when we’re dragons? Wouldn’t that be perched in a tree.” Ionus groaned and Ronan shook his head—again.
I like your family, they’re funny.
Our family, Mattias corrected.
Our family. What a lovely sound those words had especially since my direct lineage had been lost in battle.
You’re gonna love them, Kes added. They really are silly and unbelievably kind.
“I let Raven know Caspian was awake. She’ll meet us at my house,” Ionus said.
“Raven?” I questioned. “As in the bird?”
“As in our High Priestess,” Mattias replied. “She’s kept a watchful eye over you while you slumbered.”
“Then I must thank her for her kindness.” Kes’s words already rang true. They’d taken care of me when I was unable to care for myself.
The bright light of the sunny day as we stepped out into it was quite blinding. The others had taken the tunnel system, which Mattias assured me I’d see later, but for now he wished to show me around the compound, as he’d called it.
“See these five homes,” we stood in the center of the greenery, each home visible from this vantage point.
“These belong to my brothers and our mates.” Mattias pointed them and one by one stated who they belonged to.
“Over here next to the playground, is Ionus home. That’s where we’re headed. Down that hill is our practice pitch.”
“Practice pitch?”
“Yes, my brothers and I have lived here for centuries. That’s where we prepare for battle and spar with one another.
Dragon City didn’t exist when we first claimed the land but as we came across other shifters, we built it for them.
Today, there are officials in place in town who manage it, but it appears as of late, the Goddess is working her own bit of magic and leading others here. ”
He didn’t need to say it, I felt it in my bones and had just escaped it myself. She was preparing us for a war. A war against those who wished to expose us, turn humans into slaves and to end all who refused to join them.
“Gorynych.”
Mattias nearly dropped me. “What did you say?”
“Gorynych. They’re the ones who attacked our lair and took many lives in the process.”
“We need to get to Ionus’ house. Are you well enough to share details with my brothers and I?”
“Yes.” Though the night terrors may return.
But I chose to leave that piece out. If we were to share a bed, he’d find that out soon enough.
Although, he’d not made mention of it while I rested which I found interesting.
Perhaps Raven had put a healing spell on mind as well? Sound mind, sound body and all of that.
Children’s laughter echoed through Ionus’ home as we stepped inside, but I was carried right past it and into another room where Mattias’ brothers and Emerson waited.
“Caspian, please, sit.” Ionus gestured to an empty chair.
“We understand you have information about a shared enemy.” The brothers must have a mental connection.
I wasn’t aware it was possible to mentally communicate with another when not shifted aside from your mates.
Day one of my new life and I’d already learned many new things.
Mattias gently sat me in the chair, he and Kes remained by my side.
My valiant protectors. “They attacked our cave and nearly decimated my herd. We were able to hide the elders and children, and I was sent in search of help.” It wasn’t easy to escape, and I nearly lost my life in the process.
Many, many times. “They have trackers throughout the waters. Found that out the hard way.” Should’ve known it wouldn’t be as easy as swimming away.
“The connection with my parents severed mid fight, weakening me and that’s when they were able to apprehend me.
” The first time. “I escaped, but it was this last time they caught up to me that I nearly lost my life and somehow washed up on your shore.”
“I’m sure the Goddess had a hand in that,” Mattias replied, his warm hand on my shoulder grounded me.
“We’ve run into another water clan they attacked, but we didn’t know they’d reached the depths to which you lived. Is there anything else you can tell us about them?” Ionus asked.