The last piece of Operation Last Clutch is in motion, and success is finally within our grasp.
Chapter
Eleven
I don’t stickaround this time when I drop Vaughn off in the chamber with Mina. She prefers him in his massive stone form when they’re intimate. It’s something about the protective strength of his gargoyle nature that appeals to her dragon instincts on the deepest level.
I collapse into sleep for what feels like mere minutes but realistically must have been several hours. My body finally claims the rest it desperately needs after the exhausting day of romantic conspiracies and careful orchestration.
The gentle stroke down our mate bond penetrates my unconsciousness like a lightning bolt, instantly alerting me it’s time. The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived.
Seconds.I may only have precious seconds before Mina’s dragoness will tear free of her human constraints, driven by the overwhelming biological drive to nest and protect her developing young.
I phase directly into the hidden chamber and survey the scene before me. Vaughn looks like he’s been through an epicbattle and emerged victorious but thoroughly depleted. His usually composed appearance is almost shocking in its complete dishevelment—hair wild, clothing missing, and an expression of profound exhaustion mixed with overwhelming satisfaction.
“We need to go immediately,” Mina announces with urgency, leaning heavily against the chamber wall with her arms wrapped protectively around her middle. Her stomach is visibly distended now, clearly showing the precious cargo she carries within her human body.
The sight of her in this state fills me with such protective tenderness that I close the distance between us in mere seconds. I grab hold of her carefully and pull her through time and space itself, phasing us both directly into the main birthing chamber where the rest of our family can be present for this miraculous moment.
Balor is already there, having spent the time cleaning and preparing the area with characteristic efficiency. His presence reassures me that everything is proceeding according to plan.
Mina takes two staggering steps away from me and shifts on the spot, her human form dissolving into her magnificent dragoness in a transformation that never fails to take my breath away. Her scaled form immediately begins purring as she claws at the pulverized rocks from previous births, preparing her nesting area with instinctive precision.
I phase back immediately to collect Vaughn and transport him to his own bed. The man weighs considerably more than I expected—gargoyle bone density is apparently no joke. I settle him comfortably before returning to coordinate the family gathering.
I materialize in the main meeting chamber, where most of our family has congregated. “Everyone, it’s happening right now. Come to the birthing chamber immediately.”
Without waiting for responses, I phase out to seek our children, knowing they’ll want to be present for this momentous occasion. I find Lily, Raven, and Orpheus shifted and sleeping in their tangle of wings and scales. “Kids, wake up. Mommy is carrying her next clutch, and she needs you there.”
Raven lifts her head first, those brilliant sapphire eyes—so much like her father’s—locking onto mine with immediate understanding. She nods once before releasing a small roar that efficiently wakes her siblings. They follow her out of the chamber in perfect formation, already understanding their protective role.
Next, I locate my daughters sleeping peacefully with Thorne. “Good morning, ladies,” I say softly, and Azalea immediately lifts her head, her glowing eyes focusing on me with alert attention. “Mama is carrying her next clutch. She needs all of you there for support,” I explain gently.
Azalea uses her paw to wake both her siblings with characteristic efficiency, and I listen with pride as she explains the situation to them. They file out of the room in orderly fashion, their natural protective instincts already engaged.
Allister, as usual, was shadowing Klauth in the meeting room, so that should account for everyone. I can see the family chat lighting up with messages as news spreads and Thauglor issues protective orders with military precision.
When I phase back into the birthing chamber, the sight that greets me fills my heart with profound emotion. Theseven firstborn hatchlings have formed a perfect defensive ring around their mother, their small forms radiating protective determination that rivals any adult warrior.
Lily and Raven have their wings spread wide and their scales standing on edge in classic threat displays. Thorne sits regally on Mina’s flank, maintaining the same aggressive posture as her sisters. Orpheus has coiled himself around one of Mina’s curved horns, surveying the world from his elevated perch with basilisk intensity.
Azalea and Belladonna are using their claws to preen Mina’s neck scales with gentle precision, their purring creating a soothing soundtrack to the unfolding miracle. Meanwhile, Allister sits directly in front of his mother’s distended stomach, his posture screaming “worship me, you peasants” as he examines his black talons with dismissive superiority.
“What did I miss?” I ask, resting a supportive hand on Thauglor’s broad shoulder while studying our children’s impressive defensive formations.
“They instinctively sense whose hatchlings Mina is carrying, and they’ve appointed themselves as personal bodyguards,” he explains with obvious pride, gesturing toward his own daughter. “Raven is almost an exact carbon copy of me, minus those silver horns that curl just like mine. My offspring threatened to melt anyone who approaches her mother—including me.” His eyebrow arches with unmistakable satisfaction. “I couldn’t be prouder of her fierce protective instincts.”
There must be something fundamentally different about black dragon psychology that makes them view death threats as positive character development. “That’s considered a good thing?” I ask, glancing over at Abraxis for confirmation.
“Lily threatened to roast me on the spot if I got too close,” Abraxis adds with a lopsided smile that suggests he shares Thauglor’s peculiar pride in being threatened by his own child.
Callan and Leander enter the chamber at that moment, moving with the unsteady gait of men still recovering from intense physical and emotional experiences. When they see Mina in her full dragon form, the reality of the situation hits them with overwhelming force.
Leander falls to his knees immediately, tears streaming down his cheeks as he struggles to form words. “Are we? Am I really going to be a father?”
Callan appears equally overwhelmed, having trouble articulating the thoughts racing through his mind as he stares at the magnificent dragon who carries his future child.
“It certainly appears so,” Klauth confirms with characteristic directness, scanning the room before fixing me with a questioning look. “Where exactly is Vaughn?”
