“It’s not that, Sawyer.”
“Oh.”
Dalinda leaned forward and Draco’s breath caught. “I’m afraid you went and mated my son.”
“Oh!” Sawyer looked his way and grinned. “Yeah, I totally did. I’ve sort of been in love with him since the moment I met him.”
“He is wonderful. Of course, I raised him so….”
Sawyer laughed and looked at her. “You should be very proud.”
“I am. It is every mother’s deepest wish that her children find happiness. My son is happy with you. But he is also tasked with another sacred duty, one that also honors our family.”
“The guardian thing,” Sawyer said.
“Precisely. Now, I did not anticipate that my son’s mate and the Chosen One would be one and the same, but I knew the time would come when he would be called to your side. That you are also his mate, well, that makes this even more special.”
“Ma’am?”
Joash withdrew a small box from the bag, not much bigger than one of the shirt boxes Eduard constantly had arriving in the mail. But this…
“Mom.”
“Be quiet, Draco. I’m having a moment here.”
His father squeezed him again and Volos moved to his side. He stood pressed between them, barely able to stand. Joash stood behind his mother’s chair, and his smile was filled with so much pride.
“What’s… Draco? Are you okay?”
He managed a nod, but barely.
“Open it, Sawyer.” Dalinda gestured to the box and Sawyer looked to him once more.
“Go ahead.”
Sawyer lifted the lid cautiously and stared inside. It took him a second. Then he looked up with wide eyes. “Mrs. Volsunga,” he gasped.
“Sweetheart, I think you can call me Dalinda now. You’re family, after all.”
“Is this… is this….”
His mother reached forward and removed the lid. It exposed exactly what Draco thought was inside. Shimmering scales, expertly woven together to form a vest of sorts. The outer layer was so familiar to him, his mother’s shimmering red scales mixed with those of his fathers. He knew them all, would recognize their distinctive colors anywhere.
“This is for your upcoming battle, Sawyer. Wear it with pride, as this is a gift rarely given by dragons. We protect our scales at all cost, as they are so very dangerous when used against us.”
“Dragon scales are… this is too much,” Sawyer said. He looked at Draco, and Draco was finally able to move. Sawyer needed him. He knelt by Sawyer’s chair and moved the vest slightly, revealing the inner layer, the one which would lie directly against Sawyer’s skin.
Sawyer gasped once more. “Draco.”
“My mother has saved every scale I’ve ever shed. And when I got older and understood what the mark meant, I knew she had a plan. I’m closest to your heart, so in order to get to you, anything would have to get through me. And in order to get to me, it has to get through my parents.”
Sawyer seemed to understand then. “This is… these are yours?” He touched the scales reverently.
“Yes, Sawyer,” Dalinda said.
“I’m… I don’t know what to say. This is… this is the most…”
Sawyer pushed the box into Draco’s arms and flung himself at Dalinda. She was stunned for only a moment before she returned his hug.
