“It’s an honor to meet you, Kes,” Kaelith rose and gripped his forearm. “One of your mates?”
“Aye,” Mattias grinned. “The Goddess has blessed us with another, though we have yet to find them.”
“Mattias controls the seas. His knowledge will be of great assistance in the quest to locate your mate.” If anyone could find her it would be him.
“Yes, please, sit,” Mattias gestured toward the nest. “Let us break bread and get to know one another. The more you can tell me about her and her clan the better chance we have of finding her.”
The Goddess did our family proud, did she not?
She did, Odem, and hopefully Kes and I will have our missing mate soon.
Speaking of mates… “Knock-knock,” Rory peeked around the door frame and Upalo ran right over and hugged him.
“I believe my eldest son has found his mate as well?” Kaelith smiled. “Please, join us?”
“Rory. Sorry. Rory, this is our father, Kaelith. Dad, my mate, well, we believe we are, but haven’t had time to, you know,” Upalo’s cheeks matched his dragon’s scales.
Kaelith’s laughter rumbled through the room. “I will assist in finding your mother. You and your brother need time with your mates, fulfilling your bonds. It’ll strengthen your dragons.”
How lovely is this? A picnic with our girls and our growing family. I can’t wait for them to officially meet everyone.Ronan was the happiest I’d ever seen him.
It’s beyond words, my love, and soon you’ll have your mother here too. I hope your parents plan to stay on with us as Gramps and Baird have done with Ionus and Alex.
Me too. I want them to be here for all the firsts with the girls.
I’ll settle this now. “Kaelith, Ronan and I would love for you and your mate to stay with us—permanently. You and Rory as well, Upalo. Family is everything to my brothers and I.”
If I’m not mistaken, Kaelith’s eyes lit up. “We wouldn’t want to impose.”
“It will only be an imposition if you decline.”
“We wouldn’t dear dream of disappointing a protector and son-in-law, but how far are you from the water? My dear Cynda will need to be close.”
I glanced at Mattias. “That’s not an issue. We still need to give you the full tour, then you’ll see what we mean. Being of water dragon myself, my home leads down to the water where you’ll frequently find me, plus there are natural springs throughout our intricate tunnel system.”
“What do you say?” How was it I’d suddenly become as excited as my mate was?
“I say it sounds like we found our new home.”
I’ve never loved you more than I do right now.
Really? Not even the other night with your legs in the air while I…Ronan cut me off.
Are you trying to kill me? My family is here.
Yes, yes they are.
Pretty damn proud of yourself, aren’t you, dragon?
And then some,adding to my own personal brand of snark, I winked at him.
Mattias and Kaelith made plans to visit the ocean after our morning practice. Our group of five had increased to close to two dozen. The new dragons requested to join the fight, and we couldn’t be happier to have them. Too many had lost their friends and even more, their lives. It was time to take back what was rightfully theirs and end this maniacal tirade.
“Ronan, why don’t you show your dad around the house. I’ll stay with the girls.” Papa needed girl time. Perfect way to end a long day. Well, that and being buried deep inside my mate, but that’ll have to wait for another night.
He kissed the tip of each egg, then me before he left. The girls snoozed away in their cozy cocoons while my dragon and I curled around them, offering our warmth. Visions of braiding their hair, while they dressed Papa up, haphazard makeup applied to my face, looking much like a clown, my hair in the strangest braided pigtails, courtesy of Papa’s angels, of course. Giggles filling my once far too empty house, solidifying that it was now truly a home. An oddly decorated Christmas tree beside the hearth. Ronan and the girls merrily singing to carols.
Goddess, I was well and truly blessed.
