"Why three, I wonder?" Bas said, his magician's brain already ticking over.
"No one knows. Taranis and the others said it's rare. I'm also an alpha, which I guess is a power level thing. Yelena is, too," Valentine replied.
Cosimo pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped his eyes. They were glowing with a deep violet, and Valentine wondered if he was even aware of it.
"I wonder if Dad would change if you shifted and roared at him too," Reeve said.
"Let's not try it," Cosimo replied quickly. "My body has had enough shocks for one day. Do you have any more secrets you'd like to share while we're here, Valentine? Just in case I need more gray hair."
Apollo piped up. "At least it suits you, Dad."
"Strangely, that isn't helpful, son."
Valentine knew his biggest secret would likely get him locked in the nearest dungeon, so he went with the second biggest.
"My dragon thinks Yelena is my mate."
"No shit," Apollo said and laughed. "I mean, you might be dyads and all, but the mates thing makes sense too."
Cosimo rubbed his thumb over his stubbled chin. "But she's not fae. She's wild. How does that work?"
"I don't know if it's two-sided? She hasn't said anything to me about it. All I know is that my dragon is insistent about it," Valentine replied. "Neither one of us is a normal type of dragon. Maybe it's because we are both alpha? It could be a million things."
"Well, I think it's adorable," Bas said with a wide grin. "Baby Girl Galadriel is hooking up with our own little Sauron. Layla is going to have a field day."
"Layla's probably already written the fanfiction," Apollo said,with a wicked little cackle. That set off all the brothers, and Valentine let them have their teasing to lighten the mood.
"No more secrets, Val," Cosimo said softly while his other sons carried on.
Valentine couldn't promise that. "I really did think it was my fault. I was only trying to protect the family."
"And that was never your job. It was mine," Cosimo growled. "I failed you boys after Lisa's death. I fucked you all up more than her death ever did."
"That's not true. You lost your mate," Reeve said, silencing Apollo and Bas. "If something happened to Charlotte, I don't think I'd be able to live with myself."
"Don't say that," Cosimo snapped. "You think I would be able to handle losing any of you? This family has had enough death and loss of mates. Yes, it was horrible, and I lost my fucking mind, but I was also a father and should have been there for you."
"You couldn't even be there for yourself, Dad," Valentine said, and his father flinched. "We were all old enough to take care of each other and Reeve. None of us resents what happened then. We didn't know how to help you, but we didn't blame you."
"Bloody hell, I'm going to start crying again," Cosimo complained. "I am sorry, boys. No one could have helped me understand any of it, and I'm so grateful that you all have Taranis and the other dragons to help you if something happens to me."
"Nothing is happening to you," Apollo said, poorly hiding his panic. He shut his mouth for a second before mischief sprang in his golden eyes. "Except maybe finding another mate."
"You are still old enough to get grounded," Cosimo warned, making the rest of them laugh.
"He's right, Dad. You might have another one out there like Taranis and his dragons said," Bas argued, making Cosimo curse in Italian.
"Boys, I love you and the fact that you all have found your mates, but I'm too old to be dealing with that kind of nonsense. My dragon will cause a shift when it is ready to. I don't need, or want, another mate," he said firmly. "If I wanted to remarry, I would have done so by now. I tried dating. It was terrible. Dragon or not, sometimes there is only one person out there for us."
Valentine raised a brow. "When did you try to date?"
"None of your business. It wasn't for me. I'm happy being a bachelor," Cosimo said sternly.
"You are now, but what if you come across someone you really like again?" Apollo argued. "You know we wouldn't care, don't you? You deserve to have someone, too."
Cosimo got up. "And that's enough of this conversation for me."
"Dad, we are being serious," Reeve said, crossing his arms. "We wouldn't care if you wanted to remarry or mate or whatever. We know it wouldn't mean you loved Mom any less, but she wouldn't want you to be alone either."
