I nodded. I'd let it go for now, but I'd keep my eyes on him. My thoughts turned to us going to Scotland and meeting his parents. Would they like me? Would his father be a dick? I’d never done the meet the parents' thing. I’d never had a relationship, never wanted one, especially after seeing how my parents acted and what had happened to my sister.
Then my thoughts turned to my position within the coven. I had been with the coven since Master Stephen had first formed it, nearly three hundred years ago. Stephen and I had grown up together and were best friends, inseparable, like brothers. When our birth coven had found out we were gay, we’d been banished. At least that was the excuse they’d given. I think they feared Stephen's growing power more than our sexuality.
I loved my position as second. I loved helping the coven and protecting it. I wasn't being fair to them. I had already been gone for five weeks, and now, I was going to have my hands full with twin dragons. They were my priority, the babies and Roarke. I needed to focus on them and give up my position. Mind made up, I turned to Roarke, who was putting his shirt on.
"I was thinking we need to make a stop at the coven," I said.
Roarke looked up. "Why?" he asked.
"I need to have a talk with Master Stephen about my position there. I've been putting it off, but that's not fair to the coven. They need a second who will be there fulltime. That's not going to be me, especially with having twins," I responded.
Roarke said nothing for a minute; he just simply looked at me. Finally, he said, "I know this isn't easy for you. You love your coven and position. If you want, we can go there. I'll leave Krispin and Ben. I want you to be happy."
I shook my head. "Yes, it's difficult for me; change always is. I do love my coven and position, but priorities change, Roarke. I have a beloved I adore and I'm going to be a father. I want those things more than my position." I smiled at him. "I hope with time I can carve a place out here, alongside my Dragon Duke and my sons. Perhaps even a spot in the little circle Krispin is forming."
"I know you can, and I'll support you in all you that you do. I may be your Dragon Duke, but you're my Vampire Second. I love you, Devin," Roarke said, his voice full of emotion.
"I love you too, Roarke," I said sincerely.
We sat there looking into each other’s eyes for a moment, opening our bond and sharing our love.
"Come on, let's get downstairs before we end up in bed again," I said with a laugh.
He chuckled. I grabbed his arm and pulled him to me and kissed him firmly, then we turned to head out. I pulled away, thenmade my way to the stairs. On our way, I noted Krispin and Ben snuggling on the couch with little Callum settled between them. They were watching something on TV.
"Hey, you guys. How are you feeling?" Ben asked, muting the TV, and fully giving us his attention.
"We're doing okay. We had a little nap. Now we're all refreshed," I responded.
"Where are my brothers?" Roarke asked with trepidation. I wondered if they’d actually left.
"They asked if it was okay if they shifted and went to fly for a bit. I think they were stressed by how things ended this morning," Krispin replied.
I felt Roarke relax. "That's good. I'm glad they didn't leave. I need to talk to them," he said.
Roarke and I sat down on the couch and looked at Krispin and Ben.
"We have some news, and I want to share it with you before my brothers' return," Roarke said.
"Devin is pregnant with twins."
"Whoa, congratulations!" Ben said, jumping up and hugging me.
"Fantastic news," Krispin said, also standing up and patting Roarke on the shoulder.
"Why don't you want your brothers to know? Speaking of which, how do you know?" Ben asked, sitting down again next to me but looking at Roarke.
"We know because there are two caste marks," Roarke said, pausing. "I don't want my brothers to know yet because while one mark is Red, the other is Gold."
Krispin's face showed surprise, and Ben's jaw dropped.
"Gold," Krispin whispered. His voice filled with awe. "I'm so thrilled, another Golden dragon added to my caste. Callum made it so I was no longer the last. Your son will increase our small number."
"This also proves my lineage has been changed. Golden dragons are exclusive to the royal line. I don't know how my father is going to take it," Roarke said frankly.
Dragons rarely gave up their scales; it would be like giving up a piece of their hoard. Additionally, the giving of more than one scale changed the dragon's lineage, and dragons, being honorable creatures, took pride in their lineage. Roarke's family could take offense at the change. Before Roarke could continue, the sliding glass door opened, and one of his brothers walked in with a tentative smile.
"Is it all right to come in?" he asked. I wasn't sure which brother this was. They all looked the same to me, but I thought it was Angus who wore the black shirt.
