Twin feelings, foreign yet familiar, wrapped themselves around Matthieu’s soul protectively, and a slew of emotions flooded Matthieu that hadn’t been there before. Worry, sympathy, reassurance, and unrelenting love filled the gaps between Matthieu’s ribs and made him more solid than ever. For a moment, Matthieu closed his eyes and relished them, tracing each of them with his mind while he unraveled their origins.
The first belonged to Geoffrey. Organized, efficient, detail-oriented, and bordering on neurotic, it was as intense as it was strangely vulnerable. On the flight from California, the heartbreak it had carried had made Matthieu physically ill. As an individual, Geoffrey was fiercely private and reclusive, but behind the towering walls where he hid his most private self was a man who loved fiercely with everything he had. The weight of his love reached Matthieu now, and it made it known that no matter what the future held, Geoffrey would keep Matthieu safe.
Matthieu traced the second thread of emotion with his mind, discovering its quirks along the way. Before he made it back to the source, he knew without a doubt that it originated from Ian. Powerful, steadfast, and self-assured, it had all the hallmarks of a Topaz dragon, yet all the warmth and gentle devotion that Matthieu had come to know from his scaly lover. If there had ever been a doubt that both dragons were his true mates, it was now quashed. Ian’s bond propped Matthieu up in all the ways that Geoffrey’s didn’t, and with them combined inside him, he was invincible.
“More so,” Matthieu continued, inspired by his lovers’ support to speak with greater confidence, “I am aware of what will happen when this news reaches the heads of the Amethyst and Topaz clans, and what that will mean for Geoffrey and Ian. We have come here not to be flirted with,” Matthieu glared at Snorre, “or talked over, or told that the love we have found with each other will work out in the end. No. That is far toonébuleux.”
“Nebulous,” Ian translated. The warmth of his bond wrapped around Matthieu a little tighter and comforted him, much like a blanket fresh out of the dryer might.
“We have come here to fight for our right to exist,” Matthieu continued. “We have come here seeking resources and allies. There is little time left. Every new second is perilous—the more we cross paths with others, the more likely our secret will be revealed. I cannot sit here idly and listen while we are dismissed as an afterthought.”
From Geoffrey came a surge of pride and adoration. Matthieu’s cheeks heated, but he refused to allow his attraction to cloud his mind or diminish his presence. All his life, he’d dreamed of aspiring to greatness beyond the Pedigree. Those dreams were not lost—they had simply evolved.
“So I will ask you now.” Matthieu paused for effect, searching the faces of those present at the table, omega, dragon, whelp, child, and lizard. “Are you here to help us, or to hinder us? Will you stand with us as we fight to survive, or will you fade into the distance as we march into the future?”
For a long and difficult moment, there was silence, but Matthieu did not let it deter him. He remained committed to his cause, and he would whether those in the room sided with him or against him. No matter their choice, it was his fight, and he would see it through.
Like the others dodging his gaze, Snorre studied the bottom of his mug as he tipped it back and forth. Then, with finality, he set it down and looked Matthieu in the eyes, grinning. “It’s been a while since I last pissed off those uptight, puritanical whelps—I think it’s time I changed that. I’m with you, you feisty little Ruby beauty.”
“As am I,” Erik said rigidly and reluctantly. He crossed his arms and sat back in his chair, stealing a glance at Snorre.
“I, of course, will provide whatever assistance you may need,” Everard announced, lifting his chin a small degree to study Matthieu from down the length of his nose. “While my brother’s situation is unusual, to say the least, he is still my brother, and while you do stink like manhandled copper, you also smell of family. I will not leave you to face the council alone.”
“Darwin and I will assist as well,” Harry volunteered.
“You and Chuck will certainly not,” Everard countered.
Harry frowned. He petted Darwin’s head, seemingly to comfort him. “Who else is going to present all the findings?”
Everard opened his mouth, then closed it again. At last, he said, “Darwin is pre-vocal, parsnip. I won’t object to you helping, but perhaps we should leave him with a nanny.”
“Steve is pre-vocal, too.”
“I…” Everard looked at Steve and seemed to deflate. “Iguanas are never vocal, Brussels sprout.”
Harry shifted his attention from Darwin to Steve, the iguana on his shoulder. As best he could, he covered Steve’s ear holes. “Ev! Steve isSteve. He’s no mereiguana.” The omega sounded scandalized. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
“I apologize,” Everard said with a resigned sigh. “You’re right—Steve is pre-vocal, and we should probably leave him with a nanny, too.”
Around the room, one at a time, the others pledged their support. Vadim, cradling his sons to his chest, settled on Erik’s lap and stated that not even the most frigid council member would be enough to deter him from their goal. Aruna, who had tucked Madhav beneath the front flap of her sari so he rested against her chest, smiled and promised fealty. Yinju and Ingrid, timelessly beautiful not only in appearance, but in spirit, swore to fight as well.
“Then it’s decided.” Filled with encouragement from his mates and inspired by hopes for the future, Matthieu took control. “When the time comes, I will be counting on all of you for support. Until then, we will take our leave of you. There are allies still to be recruited, and until we are forced into confrontation, I will go forth and seek them out.”
“Oh,” Harry said brightly, “you are like Iggy, aren’t you?”
“Excuse-moi?” Matthieu had no idea what the very strange omega was going on about, and he felt a bit dazed from the abrupt subject change.
“He was like you during his gestation period. That is to say, walking all over campus and staying up all hours of the night. True, he didn’t realize he was gestating until he’d laid his first egg, but still. Despite this evidence that activity does not harm, Ev wouldn’t let me do anything at all.” Harry frowned at the very attractive but still annoying dragon by his side.
“I’ve only been a physician for eight centuries. What would I possibly know about gestation?” Everard replied with heavy sarcasm.
“You didn’t figure out how dragon genetics worked,” Harry countered.
“Entirely different matter, cream puff. Trust me when I say I know what’s best for gestating omegas.”
“But—”
“Arrêtez! Enough! Explain what you meant,s'il vous plaît. Why am I like my gestating cousin?”
