Saving Cinder

by Maggie Hemlock

  Friday morning Cinder slept in. Since he hadn’t slept more than two hours at a time since his heat set in, I took it was a sign that it would soon come to an end. I let him sleep in and headed for a shower. As fun as the week was my muscles were exhausted from the constant bouts of mating. It was a small price to pay for the time spent with Cinder. Somehow, seeing him through a heat made our relationship feel more real. Besides, he’d be a lot sorer than me when he woke up.

  I ordered in breakfast and left it in the kitchen for him. Beside the delivery containers I left a quick note to let him know I was off to retrieve our adoptive daughter and yes, I took some of the good roast beef to bribe her home with.

  “Cinder chase you out of the house after his heat was over?” Rhett called out from the fountain in Cookie’s courtyard.

  “He’s out cold. Figured he needed the sleep more than breakfast.”

  Cookie raced across the courtyard and leapt into my arms. I took out the wrapped roast beef and let her gobble it up while Rhett and I talked.

  “I figure you know this by now, but things between Cinder and I have shifted. It’s not a scheme anymore.”

  “I don’t think it ever was. You enjoy a thrill, but lying’s never been your forte.”

  “Maybe not.” I shrugged. “When Cinder feels up to it, we’re going to have a feast to let Clarence and Medwin know.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  “How did you handle having hatchlings instead of pups?” I asked Rhett.

  “Cinder’s pregnant?” Rhett arched a brow.

  “I’d guess so.” I laughed.

  “I think it’s more nerve rattling to have eggs in the house. Newborns are hard to care for, but eggs come out fragile and it’s like a second pregnancy. Once Stacy and Elwin hatched it didn’t matter to me that they were dragons instead of wolves. I mean, Brendan’s a dragon and if both of you were lost at sea, I’d look for him first.”

  “Don’t worry, the same if you and Brendan were lost at sea.”

  Rhett laughed.

  “It’s like the world flipped upside down. Can you imagine me as a father?”

  “Actually, I’d never have put you in charge of anything less independent than a cat.”

  “Fuck you,” I laughed. “Nice to know what you really think of me.”

  “You proved me wrong and I’m a college professor. That doesn’t happen often.”

  “Baby brother, your head has grown since you married that dragon.”

  “Brendan ate the filter that stops things I shouldn’t say from coming out of my mouth. Are you going to take Cookie home?” Rhett asked.

  “Yeah. Can’t have her irritating Baby Stacy too much.”

  “She likes to sit in the window and shout at the monster to stay out of the house.”

  “You really need to help her get over that if she doesn’t grow out of it. Being afraid of the world is no way for a dragon to live,” I said.

  “I’m sure she’ll grow out of it. Besides, I think she’s more of a cat person.”

  “Has she met a cat yet?” I asked him.

  “No. It’s just a hunch.”

  ***

  I arrived home to Cinder cooking a mini feast of a breakfast. Delicious aromas of meats, fruits, and coffee filled the house. Lost somewhere in the scent bundle I swore I smelled blueberry muffins but couldn’t be sure.

  “In here!” Cinder called from the kitchen.

  “Hey. You want some help? I ordered in.” I looked around to ensure he’d found the breakfast I left for him.

  “I ate it all. Sorry. I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten all week. I need a shower too, but food first.”

  I leaned in for a kiss, but he stopped me with a hand in front of his mouth.

  “I think my heat is coming to an end, but if you kiss me, you’ll just rile my hormones up again. I need a break. I’m achy from head to toe.”

  “Sorry,” I flashed him a sheepish grin. “Want me to run you a warm bath? I’ll drop a couple of those chocolate and rose scented bath bombs in.”

  “Make it a cold bath and you have a deal.”

  “Are you feeling okay? You look a little out of sorts.”

  “I woke up and remembered we have to tell Clarence and everyone the truth. You told Rhett while you were over there, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s one thing off the list then. I’m sorry.” He hugged me. “I think the heat just jumbled up my thoughts. I’ll feel better after I eat, clean up, and grab some more sleep.”

  “I’ll go run your bath.” I kissed the top of his head.

  “There’s something he’s not telling us.” My wolf pointed out the obvious.

  Everything comes out in the wash eventually.

  My heart dropped into my stomach, because he was right. Cinder was holding something back from me. So much for feeling like actual mates.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Cinder

  I hadn’t hosted a dinner party since before Sivan’s death. China had to be ordered and delivered by drone to our island home. The beef needed three days to marinade and I needed at least four different dragon-sized desserts to ensure everyone had something they liked. Brendan offered to lend me some of his kitchen staff, but I wasn’t ready to admit marrying Seth made me a royal by marriage.

  “Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Look at how Clarence is running around after old artifacts,” my dragon chuckled.

  Brendan and Rhett aren’t corrupt.

  “Their power isn’t absolute. Moonscale Island moves wherever it wants to.”

  Most land does that. They’re called tectonic plates.

  “Moonscale Island isn’t on a plate. I believe it’s a chunk of a magical world or realm that somehow fell into our own. Maybe from the Starscales.”

  Bet Clarence would love to hear that theory.

  “Clarence can sit on a volcano.”

  You’re in a bad mood.

  “It’s hard to talk to the wolf now that our heat has passed. During we didn’t speak much, but now I feel like I’m keeping a huge secret. Why haven’t you told Seth what you discovered online?”

  Because I need to be sure first. Why get his hopes up just to dash them? I mean, if the professor was just a delusional old man we still have enough. We have a happy home, each other’s company, and most likely an egg or two.

  “When will you have the proof? The claiming marks have changed. Your gland is refilling. Isn’t that the proof the professor spoke of?” He asked.

  Okay. I have the proof I need. I think I do anyway. I just need time to figure out how I feel about Sivan and Stacy playing matchmaker from the Other World.

  “They aren’t playing matchmaker. They’re saying it’s okay for us to be happy.”

  What happens in the next life if things get crossed?

  “That won’t happen. Look, I’m not a very spiritual dragon. I’m not as deep as some of my contemporaries. I say that if it makes us happy and doesn’t hurt anyone in this lifetime, we’ve done the best we could by ourselves and everyone else. Besides, either way we’re getting married again. Don’t you want a real connection with Seth?”

  You know I do.

  “Then say thank you and move on with life. I know what I want. I want that wolf. He’s the best company I’ve had in I don’t remember how long. I love him. I want to raise my hatchlings with him. We usually agree on these things. You know my heart as I know yours. What are you afraid of?”

  Losing that connection again.

  “I lost a scale the other day at the beach. I don’t even know where it went. That’s how life is. One day all your scales are shiny and where they’re supposed to be. The next one of them are gone. You have to take it as it comes. Seth’s not going anywhere. If he talks about going to the Alps again, we’ll tie him to the bed and ride his dick until it’s too raw for him to walk. If that doesn’t work, I’ll sit on him. I’m through with being afraid and I think you are too. You just don’t know it yet. Afterall
, you’re the one who proposed.”

  Fine. I’ll tell Seth about everything after the dinner party.

  For the next three days I stayed as busy as I could manage preparing for the dinner party. Seth was happy to run back and forth to and from the market each time I remembered something else I needed. Cookie followed in around and begged for scraps anytime we were all in the kitchen. Most of the time I gave in and let her taste what I was cooking.

  “You’re spoiled rotten. Do you know that?” I asked her.

  She wagged her tail and gave me that ‘but I’m a poor defenseless baby’ look and ran over to jump onto Seth’s lap. He was quieter than usual. I wanted to say something or anything that would bridge the gap, but I couldn’t. With true-mates both parties usually found out at the same time. Only I suspected that we were second chance mates. I wasn’t even sure Seth knew the term. Now wasn’t the time for a conversation, but it had to happen. This evening we’d be surrounded by family and children to announce that our relationship was a scheme in the beginning, but now it wasn’t. If things went badly, we needed to present a united front.

  “Let me see your phone.” I held out my hand to Seth.

  He dug it out of his back pocket and dislodged the comfy Cookie from his lap in the process. I did the same search as the morning I discovered the truth and loaded the video.

  “Watch this, please. I want to know what you think. I watched it the morning my heat happened. I’ve been wanting to talk about it but didn’t know how to bring it up. I’m starting to know how you must’ve felt when you knew who Carter was before I did.”

  “I still feel like shit I kept that from you.”

  “Don’t. Not knowing how to deliver big news tactfully is just another thing we have in common.” I said and stole a kiss. “Now, I’m going to cook while you watch this. Then when you’re finished, we can talk about it if you want to.”

  “Alright,” Seth nodded.

  I went to turn away, but he grabbed my hand.

  “Are we okay, Cinder? You’ve been distant and I can’t imagine a video made you that way.”

  “We’re okay. Watch it. It’s a mind fuck. You’ll see.”

  “Okay.” He said and tugged my arm, so I bent down for another kiss.

  “I love you, Seth. We’re okay, really.”

  “Love you too, Cinder.”

  I held my breath and hurried back to the stove where my raspberry coulis needed my attention. Seth watched the video three times before setting his phone aside.

  “Can I have some time to think about this before we discuss it?” He asked.

  My heart sank into my stomach.

  “Stop it. It’s big news. Needing time to think doesn’t mean he’s not happy. You’re still shaky on the subject,” my dragon told me before I said anything.

  “It’s a lot to take in,” I nodded. “I’ll be around when you’re ready to talk.”

  “I’m going to take Cookie for a walk. Do you need anything else from the market?”

  “I’m good. I’ll text you if anything comes up.” I managed a smile for him.

  He grabbed Cookie’s leash and set her up for their walk. They were about to head out through the back door with Seth stopped.

  “This is a good thing. I mean, if it’s true. I just need some time to figure stuff out on my own. Well, with Stacy, but that’s a long shot.” He laughed.

  “I love you and I love Stacy. I’ve heard so much about her and seen so much of your life through photos and stories. I love her. If we met while she was alive, we’d be friends. The idea of her keeping Sivan in line in the Other World makes me happy.”

  “Me too. I’m glad she’s not alone if this professor guy is right.”

  “Everything’s ready for dinner,” I pulled the coulis off the stove to cool, “and I have a crazy idea. Why don’t we take some time to ourselves separately and just talk to them? I mean, even if they can’t hear us, we can hear ourselves. Neither of us really got any closure.”

  “Do what you need to. Then when we’re ready we can celebrate.”

  “That’s one of my favorite things about you. You like to celebrate almost as much as a dragon.” I pulled him in for a kiss. “I love you, Seth.”

  “I love you too, Cinder.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Seth

  My feet took me where they always did when I was deep in thought: the sea. Cookie sniffed along the path but didn’t run in her normal excited circles as we neared the beach and the gulls. She knew something big was up and stayed close to me.

  I didn’t head to the boat. Instead, I stopped in the sand and took my shirt, boots, and socks off. Stretching out on my back I closed my eyes and let memories of Stacy flood my brain. They didn’t jab and gouge at my gut as they once did. Instead, her smile and wit made me laugh.

  “I like the idea of her hanging out with a dragon in the afterlife. He might have been a lover and not a fighter, but every adventurer is a fighter whether he likes it or not.”

  There’s no war in the Other World.

  “Maybe not, but if war makes its way there at least she’s not alone.”

  Alone. I never knew the impact of the small five letter word until Stacy died. Then I chased her ghost everywhere I went. Benders, fighting, and treasure hunting. Each brush against death’s cheek let me see her. I hadn’t chased those glimpses since meeting Cinder. Did that make me a bad mate?

  “It makes you a man in love.”

  Shut up.

  “What? It’s the law of the wild. We fall in love. We fight each other and then we fight for each other. Then if we’re lucky love creates a baby or a dozen.”

  “Stacy,” I said aloud like a fool. “I might be just talking to the wind, but here goes everything. You gave me the happiest years of my life. I’m so glad that if you had to go out you went out exactly like you’d want to. Maybe you are over in the Other World scheming with Sivan. If you are, he better take care of you or I’ll kick his ass when I get over there. Things here have been crazy if you haven’t noticed. In the last few months I fought a dragon. The boat got snatched up by a dragon. I also moved to the island. You’d like it here. Yeah, I know. That’s not what I wanted to talk about, but things have been crazy. Reggie’s finally in jail. I’d rather have his scales on pikes, but it’s something. Maybe they’ll vote to execute them both. I hope they do. Assholes like that have no place here. I’m sure Frost and the others have a thing or two to say to them.

  I know it’s probably hard to give signs from the Other World and I don’t want to cause you any trouble. So, if it’s too hard don’t put yourself out giving me a sign that you’re okay with this. My gland is refilling, and your adorable little bite is a bit lower than it used to be. Maybe that’s all the signs I need, but if you don’t want this to happen you’ve got to let me know, girl. If you’re going to change your mind now’s the time to do it. Cinder and I jumped headfirst into all of this and I’m happy, but I’m still your mate. If this is going to disturb your peace in the afterlife, I won’t do it.

  I love you. I always will, but I think I already know what you’re thinking. Why would you have gone through all the trouble of doing whatever you had to do to make this happen,” I pointed to my shoulder, “if you weren’t happy for me? I don’t know that there’s much you could need in the Other World or if there’s anything I could do about it. But if you need me you find a way to let me know and I’ll move Juda’s Grove and Frost’s Pit to make it happen. That doesn’t change. But I think I’m in love with him, Stacy. Okay, not think. I’m in love with him. Is that okay with you? With Sivan?”

  Cookie jumped on my stomach and licked my face. Her tail wagged ninety miles an hour. I rose up on my elbows and looked around. Rhett and Brendan walked down the beach each bearing a kid on their shoulders.

  “What you up to, brother?” Rhett called out.

  Baby Stacy squinted on his shoulders and sprouted her little wings. She shook her fingers in Cookie’s direction.

/>   “She’s not a monster, baby,” I said as they walked closer. “She’s just a little puppy. The worst thing she’ll do is lick you to death.”

  Cookie raced across the sand to say hi to the new arrivals. Baby Stacy didn’t shriek. She held tight to Rhett’s forehead and looked down at the dog. Then she let go and flew over to me. She landed on the sand and plopped on my belly.

  “Monster.” She pointed at Cookie.

  “No, baby. Puppy dog.”

  “Monster dog.”

  Cookie raced over to us, but Stacy held her ground. She snarled her lip and growled at Cookie. The dog stopped dead in her tracks and tilted her head. Then Baby Stacy tilted hers. Cookie inched closer. Then Baby Stacy moved a bit closer. Soon they were nose to nose. Brendan held his breath as they examined each other in the cutest staring contest I ever witnessed. Then Cookie licked the baby’s nose. Stacy crossed her eyes. Then she licked Cookie’s nose and fell over laughing.

  Rhett joined me in the sand and Brendan took the babies to play in the waves. Cookie followed along happy to no longer be the monster.

  “Why are you out here sunbathing?” Rhett asked.

  “Just thinking. Have you ever heard of second chance mates?”

  “Only once in the lore. It happened before Brendan’s time.”

  “Tell me what you know.”

  “Basically, two people in the Other World decided their mates were better off together than alone. So, they concocted a ritual that allowed them to have a second mate just for their current lifetime.”

  “Do you believe it’s real?” I asked him.

  “Brother, a bear in the Other World told me to look for Brendan. Now we have twins.”

  “Fair enough.” I laughed.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out to find a new text message.

  CLARENCE: IN ROUTE. REGGIE AND AUGUSTUS ESCAPED FROM PRISON. POSSIBALY HEADED YOUR WAY.

  “Fuck!” I growled under my breath and tossed the phone to Rhett.