“Well, there are currently five homes on our compound, though we have plans to build others for the Drakemyres as they find their mates.” Just went ahead and threw that on out there. “In Ionus and Alex’s home Baird, the leader of the Drakemyres and Alex’s great-grandfather, and Knox, aka Gramps, who is Alex’s grandfather and Baird’s son, live there. Once the four dragonets were born they didn’t want to be far away. A couple Drakemyres live with Mattias and the rest with Quint.” With theway cupid was shooting his arrow through this group, we’d need those new homes built pronto.
“It’s almost like you five had a vision into your futures, building homes of this magnitude.”
“Huh, hadn’t thought about that, but I guess we did.” At the time it was more wishful, now, centuries later, the wishes finally came true.
“Come on, I’ll show you around.” Caro and Emerson bowed out, taking a sleeping Cade home. Baird had already returned to Alex and Ionus’ home and Larkin headed back into town. Quint, Angus and Elgin were back at Quint’s napping, which left me, Mattias, Upalo, Rory and Kes.
“Our homes are connected below through the underground garage. You can also reach the training pitch that way, but this time, we’ll use the front door.” Upalo and Kes laughed, Mattias just rolled his eyes. “As you can see, our homes are built into the mountainside and next to Ionus and Alex’s is the playground for the kiddos.” I couldn’t wait to hear our girls’ giggles as Daddy and Papa pushed them high on the swings. “Over this side of the mountain is the training pitch.”
“Wow, that’s massive,” Upalo said. “Do you have training dummies?”
“You’re looking at them.” Whoa, Mattias made a joke? Who was this and what did you do with my far too serious brother?
“You fight each other?” Kes’s eye widened.
“We do. Ionus wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re dragons, we heal quickly.”
“Not always,” Kes pointed to his eye patch.
“Your just as handsome with one eye as you’d be with two.” Mattias well-meant complement left us all stunned. Well, all but Kes. Guess he bought into it, but smooth Mattias was not. Dude has to work on his game, like now.
“I’m sure Ionus will go easy on you guys the first round,” I grinned. There was no way that was happening. “As I’m sure you’ve seen, there are things that can harm and kill a dragon.”
“Yeah, we’ve seen way too much of that. Daigle was an evil bastard and controlled the entire village. Can’t believe my bro burnt half of it to the ground.”
My gut was telling me there were a few left, hidden deep within the Smoky Mountains. Hopefully, friends, not foe.
Hey, was Raven able to remove the leeches from the prisoners?In our haste to get to know Upalo, Kes and Canyon, I’d forgotten to ask.
One, yes. The other chose to remove his own heart,Ionus replied.
Great.
The remaining prisoner passed out from the pressure caused by removing it. Not sure how long it will take him to recover but Larkin is ready to interrogate him the moment he awakens.
Good to know.
“That’s about it in a nutshell. Let’s head back to my place and chill until we go to Ionus’ later.”
“I’m um,” Mattias nervously fidgeted. “I’m gonna take Kes on a tour of the grounds.”
“Didn’t we just do that?” This was just way too much fun. The smoke pouring out of his nostrils just amped up the playing field.
“Brother, shut it.” He turned, taking Kes with him. My laughter bubbled over as Mattias shot me the finger. “This is so awesome.”
“I’m just gonna,” Rory hooked a finger towards Ionus’ house. “Go check in with Baird and see if they need help with dinner.”
“Should I…” Upalo started to ask.
I slung an arm over his shoulder and led him toward my home. “Let him catch his breath. The Drakemyre clan have waited along time to find their mates too. Not as long as my brothers and I have, but long enough that I understand how overwhelming it is. He’s not going anywhere, trust me.”
“Yeah. Okay. Got it.”
Ah to be young and in love. Haha, or in my case old and in love but I had many, many, many centuries on Upalo.
“Finishing off the eggs?” Found Ronan with his face buried in the fridge. “Have you channeled your inner chipmunk?” I pressed his cheek and out popped a deviled egg. “How many did you shove into your pie hole?”
“Fook ewe.”
