“Shift back, Isolde. Time to open presents,” he instructs his little girl with infinite patience. She complies quickly, revealing hair that carries the same beautiful multi-colored tones as her father’s mane, while her eyes are pure Mina—that distinctive dragon gold that seems to hold depths of ancient wisdom even in one so young.
All attention turns to Vaughn and his son, who are engaged in what appears to be a serious arm-flexing competition, facing each other with the intense concentration of professional athletes. When Vaughn realizes everyone is waiting patiently for them to finish their impromptu strength contest, he rolls his eyes with good-natured embarrassment.
“Alright, Salem, you need to shift,” he says with a smile that speaks to his growing comfort with fatherhood. I approach with a fresh diaper and festive clothing for his boy, and the moment his son is properly dressed, Vaughn settles the baby on the designated blanket with the other little ones.
“It’s time!” Allister yells with the enthusiasm only a young dragon can muster, immediately taking off at a run and diving headfirst into the enormous pile of presents beneath the tree. Klauth runs a weary hand down his ancient face and huffs out a long-suffering sigh that speaks volumes about his son’s challenging personality. The little one is literally a royal pain in the ass, but he’s our royal pain in the ass, and we love him despite his dramatics.
“Alright, kids, let’s pass out the presents,” Balor says with the warm authority of someone who’s spent years managing excited children. He moves closer to the colorful pile and begins the methodical process of distributing gifts to eager hands, his movements efficient but unhurried.
According to our well-established family tradition, we adults will exchange our presents later in a more intimate setting. As a unified group, my brothers and I have chosen an enchanted ring for our beloved Mina, set with each of our birthstones arranged in a pattern that represents our unbreakable bonds. The magic woven into the metal will allow it to shift with her dragon form without breaking or causing her pain—a practical consideration born of deep love and understanding of her dual nature.
But that’s not the only gift we have planned for our extraordinary woman. There’s a second, more elaborate surprise that we’re working on now that all the babies have safely arrived in the world. We’re commissioning a painting of all our children surrounding Mina, a masterpiece that will capture this perfect moment in our family’s history for all eternity. We’ve already taken several photographs of Mina sitting gracefully by the fountain in our garden—the perfect backdrop for such an important piece.
My heart races with anticipation as I think about our secret mission. Starting tomorrow, we need to carefully sneak the three newest babies to the artist so they can be added to the composition. The logistics will require careful coordination and probably several of my displacement abilities. The look on Mina’s face when she discovers it will be worth any amount of effort.
We plan to place the finished painting in our private living room and then wait with barely contained excitement to see how longit takes our perceptive dragoness to notice the new addition. Knowing Mina, she’ll spot it within minutes of entering the room, and her reaction will be something to treasure forever.
As I watch our children tear into their presents with unbridled joy, their faces glowing with wonder and delight, I’m struck once again by how perfectly our chaotic, unconventional family works. Every challenge we’ve faced, every obstacle we’ve overcome, has led us to this moment of pure happiness. My bonds with the guys have grown stronger through shared trials and triumphs, evolving into something deeper than friendship. We’ve become true brothers, united in our devotion to Mina and our commitment to protecting this beautiful life we’ve built together.
The sound of tearing paper and delighted squeals fills the air, creating a symphony of childhood joy that makes my heart feel like it might burst from sheer happiness. This is what love looks like in its purest and uncomplicated form—family gathered together, sharing in each other’s joy, creating memories that will last lifetimes.
My eyes sweep across the scene, taking in every precious detail, knowing that years from now I’ll want to remember exactly how the light caught Mina’s hair, exactly how Conor’s face lit up when he saw his first present, exactly how Salem tried to eat the wrapping paper before anyone could stop him. These are the moments that make everything else worthwhile—the quiet, perfect instances when love exists in its most tangible form, surrounding us like the warmth from a fire on a cold winter night.
Chapter
Seventeen
We headout to the upper courtyard, our family moving with the practiced coordination that comes from years of managing such a large, family. The children who can fly have already shifted to their magnificent beast forms, their scales catching the evening light like living jewels. The newest additions remain in their vulnerable baby forms, cradled protectively in their fathers’ arms with the tender care that makes my heart swell with pride for these incredible men who have become my brothers in every way that matters.
According to Vaughn, his son Salem is already strong enough to glide down with him—a testament to the robust gargoyle genetics flowing through the little one’s veins. That leaves only my daughters and me, along with Balor and his son, and Leander with his precious daughter, requiring our displacer beast abilities to safely transport them to the celebration below.
“Azalea, please take Orpheus down to the ground level with the others,” I request, my voice warm with paternal affection. My daughter looks up at me with those intelligent eyes that remind me so much of her mother, nodding with the quietconfidence that makes me burst with pride. She moves over to her brother with fluid grace, and Orpheus coils around her body with complete trust while she wraps her tentacles around him protectively. Within seconds, they phase out of sight, my daughter’s natural mastery of displacement magic making my chest tight with emotion.
Balor walks to the edge of the courtyard and peers down, his scarred face breaking into a smile that transforms his entire demeanor. “They’re good,” he announces proudly, then turns to pat my shoulder with the easy camaraderie of deep friendship. “Your daughter is a chip off the old block, Zig.” The genuine admiration in his voice makes my green eyes glow brighter with paternal pride.
Bella approaches Isolde with the same careful precision her sister displayed, and Leander watches with the intense focus of a protective father as my daughter coils her tentacles around the small foal. When she’s certain her little sister is completely secure, Bella phases them both down below. Lee rushes to the edge immediately, his face lighting up with relief and joy as he spots them romping around safely in the courtyard below.
“Let’s join the others,” Lee says with barely contained excitement, reaching out to grasp my hand with the trust that speaks to the unbreakable bonds we’ve forged through shared trials and triumphs.
I take both Balor and Leander by the arm, feeling the familiar anticipation that always precedes using my displacement abilities. Phasing from place to place feels like slipping through the finest silk sheets to me—a sensation so intimate and pleasurable that it never loses its appeal. The gentle caress of time and space as reality blurs past me is like being embraced by the welcoming arms of a lover, warm and encompassing andutterly right. We manifest in the lower courtyard within feet of their hatchlings, and both men immediately break into wide smiles as they rush to join their children.
My daughters walk over and shift back to their human forms with the fluid grace that marks them as truly extraordinary young women. “Come on, Dad, everyone is waiting!” Azalea says with infectious enthusiasm, grabbing my hand with eager fingers. Bella captures my other hand, and together they pull me toward the massive bonfire that Klauth has just ignited for the entire flight, the flames dancing against the darkening sky like living poetry.
All the children belonging to our flight gather in the expansive open field where Mina usually soars overhead, directing Abraxis and Leander to drop their precious cargo of candy and toys. I notice with a flutter of anticipation that my beloved mate and bond brothers are conspicuously absent, and I prepare myself for the traditional candy drop that has become one of our most cherished holiday rituals.
The familiar rumble of thunder in the distance heralds Mina’s arrival, and my heart immediately begins racing with excitement and love. Dozens of children born to our flight cheer and crane their necks skyward, their faces glowing with anticipation. They know that distinctive sound means their beloved flight mother is approaching. Instead of showing the fear that thunder typically inspires, these precious little ones cheer for the storm she brings—a testament to the trust and adoration she’s earned through years of devoted care.
Lightning illuminates the darkening sky in brilliant flashes, creating a dramatic backdrop for Mina’s magnificent entrance. Her roar shakes the very air around us and reverberates through my chest like a physical caress, stirring something primal andprofound within my displacer beast soul. Within moments, she glides overhead with breathtaking grace, her massive form silhouetted against the storm clouds as candy and stuffed animals rain down upon us like colorful hail.
The children erupt into joyful chaos, running in every direction to catch what they can before gathering their treasures in one central collection area. I discovered earlier that the older children made a heartwarming agreement last year to pool everything together and allow the newest additions to choose first. Whatever remains, the older children divide among themselves with surprising fairness and maturity. That Raven was the one who suggested this arrangement fills me with such pride that my eyes burn with happy tears.
The children naturally follow her directions without complaint or fighting—a testament to the natural leadership qualities she’s inherited from both her remarkable parents. Watching her coordinate the younger ones with gentle authority makes my heart swell with love for this extraordinary little dragoness, who carries so much of Mina’s grace and wisdom.
“Father...” Allister calls out as he approaches Klauth with the imperious tone that never fails to set my teeth on edge.
“Yes?” Klauth already looks thoroughly exasperated with his son, and I don’t blame him one bit.
“Raven stole the toy I chose. She needs to return it now,” Allister declares with the entitled arrogance that makes my protective instincts flare to life. He puts his small fists on his hips and lifts his chin defiantly at his father, every line of his young body radiating privileged indignation.
