“I’ve already said I will,” Emerson stalked from the cave and down the tunnel that led to my house.
“Shit,” Caro chimed in, following behind him right as Cade mimicked, “Chit.” Which was met with Caro’s growl, angry with himself. “Is Alex awake?”
“Aye,” Ionus replied, “I’ll take Cade and meet you at Odem’s”
This was not gonna go well. Bombarding an already angry Ronan was a disaster in the making. Caro took off after Emerson, Mattias, Quint, and me following them. Honestly, I’d prefer to be anywhere but here right now. The conversation that was underway when we entered my home I really could’ve done without.
“You have to complete the mating ritual, now,” Emerson demanded of Ronan who lay curled up in my favorite recliner.
“The hell I do. I’m already knocked up, isn’t that enough?” Ronan retorted. This was like watching a tennis match between rogue omegas.
“You don’t understand,” Emerson pleaded. “You. Will. Die.”
If that didn’t shut Ronan up, then the ancient tome that magically appeared in Emerson’s hand did.
“H-how did you do that?” Caro sputtered.
“I-I-don’t know,” Emerson stuttered and gasped. “It’s open to the page which explains all of this.‘If mates do not complete the ritual once mating has commenced, both shall parish along with any eggs the omega carries.’”
“I’m still not doing it,” Ronan stood, preparing to walk away.
“Enough!” I growled. Fire raged in the previously unlit fireplace. The room heated and the house shook. “I have had enough.” All eyes were on me, and the rage would not be stopped.
Brother, don’t burn the house down.Caro spoke through our bond.
I feel your energy draining.
I ignored Ionus. The matter at hand must be dealt with before I’d focus on that.
“Listen to what they say, Ronan.” Out of energy and ready to call it a night. I was done.
“First the eggs, will die, then you Ronan,” Emerson’s use of his name was laced with the anger he felt. “And then Odem. Do you know what that will do to the protectors? They fight as one. They protect as one. These are not normal dragons you see walking through town. They are here with purpose gifted by the Goddess herself, and that is to save humanity and shifters alike. Without them, all will perish.”
“He’s-he’s,” now it was Ronan’s turn to stutter, his shaking hand pointed at me. “A dragon.”
“Yeah, we told you that.”
“Scales,” his eyes stayed glued to me. “Eyes.”
Emerson rolled his. “Yeah, you nitwit, you triggered his ire and he partially shifted.”
Oops. I shifted back. “My bad.”
“There’s the Odem we know and love,” Caro teased while Ronan rubbed his chest.
“Heartburn,” he claimed.
“The hell it is,” Emerson corrected. “Every time you disrespect or hurt your mate the pain will increase. The longer you deny the mate bond, the deeper the pain will resonate and will eventually result in your death. What about this are you not under-fucking-standing?” I’d never seen Emerson this angry before.
Caro wrapped an arm around his waist. “My love, I fear this one is truly soulless and there’s nothing we can do to help.”
“The hell we can’t,” Ionus spat. “Raven is on her way. She can show Ronan what will happen through visions. I only hope he has nightmares of this afterward.”
Do I stick up for Ronan or, how does this work, exactly?
My brothers were right, but Ronan was my mate. Albeit not the brightest bulb in the mate package. The irony in that was not missed by me.
“I’ll um, I’ll forego the nightmare portions of the evening, thank you very much.”
