I heard something hit the ground. I looked up and saw Kingsley’s dragon, Kayda. That’s what was vibrating the ground, Kayda flew to find me. I smiled weakly and wiped my tears.
I whispered, “Hi, Kayda.” She really was a beautiful Dragon. Kayda was purple with a white belly. She had two main horns, but she had four smaller ones on the side of her face. Kayda rubbed her face against mine.
I cried, “It’s not fair… I had all these plans for my first Christmas back. I was going to be normal with my family… it was a whole moment… and it’s just gone.” I felt arms around me. Kingsley consoled, “It’s ok, Mel.”
I asked, “Why can’t the Moon Goddess just let me have something? Why does everything have to be going well, then she just rips it from me? Why can’t I be normal? Why can’t I have one normal thing? It’s my favorite holiday.”
“Celebrating Christmas with everyone isn’t even a big ask. It’s a little thing. I’m not asking for the world. Just one freaking holiday… and it’s my favorite one. Everything was taken from me… but we always got a tree…. and had a normal moment.”
Kingsley rubbed my back and whispered, “I know, sweetie. It’s not fair at all. The Moon Goddess is a vapid bitch.” I cried, “Normal she wolves would’ve gone through their heats soon after being marked but not me. Nope I have to wait and then I go into heat on Christmas Eve…. We didn’t get a tree together this year… and it’s our thing. Did you guys go?”
I heard a pop. Xander asked, “Mel, what’s wrong?” Kingsley let me go and I sagged into Xander crying my heart out. It was our first Christmas together and we’d missed it. I knew Hasteinwas here too. I could hear them talking but everything felt too much.
Freya gently said, “Our emotions will be a little all over for a day. Then we will regulate back out.” Xander rubbed my back, “Mel, we can go get a tree. It’s ok.” I shook my head saying, “It’s silly. We can’t get a tree now. All the tree farms are closed now… Christmas is over.” That brought on a fresh batch of tears.
Xander snorted, “Lovebug, I will snap you a Christmas tree farm and bring Caine, Dax, Judy, and Rena back from Nashville to get one together. You can pick out and decorate whatever tree you want with whoever you want there. They will all come if I say so.”
Freya purred, “Oden said he means that.” Of course he did. I asked, “Everyone else celebrated Christmas already, didn’t they? Dylan has his… protocol.” Xander winced, “Yes, they would’ve. As you clearly know, somehow, Dylan made sure that Christmas would always happen.” I sniffled into his chest.
Xander continued, “That happened because one year cousin Emmaline went into heat around Christmas. He made everyone promise to celebrate on the appropriate day after that.” Kingsley replied, “Trust me, we know that.”
Xander replied, “I see. Well, I doubt the McAlister’s celebrated. They won’t care about that, and they aren’t Fairies. They are probably waiting for us.” I whispered, “It was going to be a normal moment… and Selene took it from me. We were going to have our first Christmas together… and it’s gone.”
Kingsley said, “Mel, your Xander is right though. Your family wanted to have Christmas with you guys. They haven’t done anything for it.” I wiped my eyes, but more tears fell. I asked, “Was it just too much to ask for that we all have Christmas together?”
Xander replied, “Of course not, but we can still celebrate.” I hiccupped, “It’s the twenty-ninth now. I just… I wantedChristmas… on Christmas.” Kingsley rubbed my arms. I could feel Xander was baffled in the bond.
Kingsley told me, “Christmas is just a date on a calendar. It’s really about who you’re with. H and I will come and celebrate with you guys. We will all go get a tree at the tree farm your mate snaps. We will decorate, drink and talk about boys. Just like we always did.”
Hastein cleared his throat, “I’m a man but you just continue.” I hiccupped a laugh. Kingsley rolled her eyes teasing him, “Fine. We will talk about our men and pretend they can’t hear us.” My friend walked over and kissed Hastein on the cheek.
He instantly wrapped Kingsley up in his arms. Hastein was really everything she’d always deserved to have. Xander told me, “I won’t let Selene ruin this for you, Mel. Kingsley’s right. Christmas is just a date on the calendar. Everyone will celebrate with us and go get a tree. It’s ok.”
I asked, “Did you find the sandwiches I made you?” Xander smiled saying, “I did. How did you know I like ham?” I blushed, “Umm… well… Jase said you always ate ham sandwiches after an intense workout.” My mate kissed my forehead.
I added, “Plus, I ate all the turkey… and pepperoni….ok…and provolone cheese.” Kingsley snorted, “How about the mayonnaise?” I smiled proudly saying, “I did not eat all that… there’s some left… not much… but some.” Kingsley laughed.
I asked, “Where are we?” Xander said, “My island in the Hackura realm. Hastein’s isn’t far from mine. I am curious how Kingsley found you.” I smiled knowing exactly how she did. Kingsley teased, “Would you like to know just how I got here and found her, Melanie’s Xander?” Hastein smirked.
I laughed and happiness bubbled up in me. Kingsley was going to show someone what she was. Hastein really was amazing at getting her to open up. Not that I didn’t understand why she didn’t. That was understandable since… ya know…showing people you were a Dragon would result in people talking.
Xander answered, “God, yes. I’ll even promise to keep it a secret until you’re ready to tell everyone.” Kingsley stepped back from Hastein and let her eyes go purple. Xander gasped, “She has purple eyes too? How have I never seen that her eyes can go purple?”
I told him, “Because K wears the contacts I developed. They are her real eye color, but they don’t show when her eyes go purple.” Kingsley shifted into Kayda, and Xander actually fell over. I walked over to Kayda and kissed her face.
Xander’s surprise overtook our bond. I cooed, “Hello again, Kayda!” She knelt down on the ground. I smiled and climbed onto her back. I knew that Kayda was trying to cheer me up because she always did. Kayda took off running and flew into the air.
I put my arms out as Kayda flew around the two islands I know knew to be Hastein and Xander’s. I squealed in delight and let happiness fill me again. Everything was going to be ok. Kayda flew back down to where we’d left the guys. When she landed and knelt down, I slid off her tail.
Freya linked, “Let’s shift. I want to meet Kayda.” I let her come forward. Kayda purred at Freya who jumped excitedly around her. They ran together for a bit before I shifted back, and Kingsley did too. My gaze found Xander.
Our bond told me his emotions were still in overload from what he’d seen. I told Kingsley, “He’s in shock…but not the dangerous kind to a Fairy.” Hastein laughed, “He is.” Xander had an empty glass of whiskey in his hand. My mate looked at me saying, “You really do know a Dragon. I mean you said you did, and you do. Of course it’s my cousin's mate.”
“Oh god, Dylan will DIE. He will never let my dad live this one down. He will find another Dragon. He’s going to stalk ALL of Hand K’s pups hoping one is mated to his grandpups. Or he will literally paint himself and dance around a fire to convince Lacy now is the time for them to have more pups.”
I laughed and Kingsley snorted. I said, “I actually think Dylan’s soul might briefly leave his body and come back.” Hastein added, “For what it’s worth, I think that will happen too.” I asked Kingsley, “Does Kayda like flying here in the open?” I knew being in the skies had to mean the world to her.
Kingsley grinned, “She loves it. We’ve taken H for a few rides.” Xander snorted, “Oh god. Dylan is going to talk about H riding you into battle.” Kingsley purred and kissed Hastein hard on the mouth. She winked at him and offered, “That could be fun.”
