by L M Lacee
“He is?” She stood stunned looking at him then she said. “You know in all my imagining I never considered either of those two things. That I could be a dragon and I would have a father. Let alone he would be here. I am shocked I think.”
Sharm held her hand. “Dear one, that means we are related, your father is my father’s brother, we are cousins.”
“Oh, now, see that is just ridiculous!” She said softly. Her eyes held confusion and hope. Edith said with a laugh. “It gets better just wait.” She would say no more but changed the subject. “I can tell you, that this little girl is not quite twenty-four hours old and is a full Lion.”
Ocean sucked in her bottom lip. “Well, that could cause problems. Lions don’t give their cubs up lightly.”
Edith sighed. “Not that any shifter does but if they knew about her I would assume you would have seen them on your way here?”
Ocean thought on it. “Yeah, I agree. So I think that this little cub is the product of someone’s bad judgment and my good fortune. She is mine now. Is there a way for that to be recorded or something as well as the girls who are lion also I think? I originally thought they were half, but I think I was wrong.”
Both girls came to where Ocean and Edith were, Edith held her hand over each of the girls and said. “They are more lion than not, there is a little human in the mix but remote like a generation back.”
“I am guessing their grandfather.” Ocean said thinking of what the girls told her of their family. Paige agreed. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
“So do you think they will shift?” Ocean asked.
Sharm asked both girls. “Have either of you shifted yet?”
Kadee shook her head. “Never, are we meant too?”
“Paige?” Ocean asked noticing she was frowning. “No, I haven’t either.”
“Why are you frowning, is something wrong? It means nothing if you have not shifted. It is okay!” Ocean told her hoping to dispel any concerns she had.
“No, it is not that I just… Well, I am wondering if the medicine grandpa gave us to take…”
“What medicine?” Ocean asked concerned now.
Paige took out a bottle of tablets from her pocket and passed them to Sharm who had his hand out. He looked at the clear bottle which had no label. He shook one out onto his palm.
Paige told him. “We have to take one every day.”
He sighed. “A witch’s potion. Your grandfather knew some powerful people. I have not seen this for many years.”
“Okay, so what does it do?” Ocean demanded to know.
“It has the ability to stop the shift happening.” He asked the girls. “Have you been taking these for many years?”
Paige nodded. “Yep since we turned eight.”
He said. “Well okay, so we have a choice. We can wean them off the medicine slowly over the next few months or stop them all at once.”
Ocean asked. “Why the two options?”
He smiled, and Ocean was amused to see both girls flutter their eyelashes at the handsome male. Although it seemed he did not notice. However, Edith did and she rolled her eyes making Ocean smile wider.
Sharm oblivious to the byplay said. “Option one, just as I said will be a slow withdrawal over weeks but they are both in their puberty years, so we have to take that into consideration. Option two, we stop the medicine and they shift within days to a week. ”
Ocean looked at both girls. She wanted to say stop the medicine now but they had nowhere to live. Things were a little uncertain, the information she had a parent alive and here sort of threw her through a loop. She needed to think about how that impacted her life as well as the girls. It was not the right time to cope with two girls shifting to their lion when she had no idea about shifting herself. She needed to get them settled, so she said. “I see, well we will decide after we have a place to live. Alright girls?”
“Yes Ocean whatever you decide.” Paige agreed as Kadee nodded her agreement.
“Good.” She smiled at the girls. “Thank you!”
They could have made this so much harder. Edith said. “I think that is for the best. You are safe here, this is the ideal place to shift for the first time.”
Sharm bent over the baby examining her and said. “My soul call Reighn. Have him come and declare the family citizens of Dragon’s Gap. That will ensure there is no way they can be claimed by anyone else.”
He turned to look at Ocean and then asked the girls. “Is that what you wish? To stay here, to be a family?”
Ocean held her breath. She had already accepted that the girls were hers but to actually ask the girls was something she was going to deal with in the future. It was such a big decision for them. Kadee and Paige held each of Ocean’s hands. “Does that mean we get to stay with Ocean and the baby and be a family?” Kadee asked.
Sharm nodded, looked them in their eyes and said. “Yes, that is exactly what it means but if you wish, I can and will find you another family. There are plenty of couples here who would love to see if you are a fit with them.”
Both girls shook their heads and said together. “No!”
Paige explained. “We are happy, our grandfather said Ocean was the one for us, we would be safe with her and she would become our guardian.”
Ocean laughed a little. “You never told me that Paige?”
She ducked her head as did Kadee. Paige said. “I know, me and Kadee decided to see if you wanted us first. Grandpa said the Goddess told him to send us to you, and you would be our new mom. We wanted to make sure.”
Kadee sadly said. “If you don’t want us, we can go somewhere else.”
Ocean pulled both girls into a hug. “Nope! Not happening, you are mine and I am yours. We will become a family like your Grandpa hoped we would. I already knew when I saw you at the diner you were mine.”
Paige stared at Ocean. So that was the reason for that look in her eyes, she already knew we were hers. She grinned a feeling of rightness flowed over and around her. The worry each of the girls had carried in their hearts left with a rush. Ocean was positive she could see it coming off of them in waves.
Kadee said. “Do we get to call you mama, mother, mom, old lady or what?”
“Cheeky! Ocean or mom will do. You are too old to be calling me mama, and I am too young to be called mother or old lady.”
They grinned, then Paige said. “Okay can we have your last name?”
Ocean felt happy and sad at the question and asked. “What of your parents?”
Paige said. “We really don’t remember them. Grandpa brought us up, but we are starting a whole new life. Kadee and I talked and we have our photos and memories but we want to be a family to belong to you and the baby. So, can we?”
“I want nothing else, to have you as mine fills my heart with happiness. Just promise me you will always remember your parents and your grandparents. They were special people to have raised you both to be who you are. So I do not want you to forget them, ever!”
“We won’t, we swear!” Promised Paige and Kadee.
Sharm said. “Hold on, that maybe premature. Ocean may want to change her last name to her fathers?”
Paige gave her a concerned look. “Oh yeah, will you?”
Ocean smiled. “I have lived this long with the name I have. So probably not. Let us just go with what we have now and figure the other stuff out later.”
The girls nodded as Ocean refused to acknowledge Sharm and his shadow’s concerned look, to change the subject, Ocean asked the girls. “Now what was your grandfather’s name?”
Kadee answered. “Parker! His name was Parker Collins.”
“Why?” Paige asked quietly. Ocean grinned as she gave each of the girls a finally hug. Then she reached out and accepted the dressed baby from Sharm. Looking down into the small angelic face with a head of golden fuzz, she said. “Because, I would like you both to meet your sister. Parker Colleen Walker.”
They both clung to her, and she heard Kadee say. “Yeah, t
hat is so cool!”
Paige murmured. “He would have liked that.”
Edith said with a tear in her eye. “That is so lovely. Sharm is the baby well?”
“Yes, Ocean your daughter is in good health, she is exactly how she should be for an almost day old baby cub.”
Ocean grinned. “Thank goodness for that. I have no clue what I am doing. Everything I learnt. I have got from my tablet.”
Edith gasped. “Ocean that is terrible, look Sharm. Reighn and Sage will be here in a moment. I will take these monsters to their parents, and we will meet up...”
Just then Reighn and Sage entered. “Did I hear someone mention my name?” A deep male voice asked as a huge male walked in with a small woman beside him.
“Eeep!” Squealed the girls as they dived behind Ocean, then they both yelled. “Ocean!”
The cubs shifted into two little boys and then started squealing as well. The baby came awake and proceeded to cry or at least mew like a new born. Sharm laughed when Ocean asked. “Does that happen a lot around him?”
Reighn held his daughter Molly in his arms, whose bottom lip started to tremble as the younger baby the woman carried watched the people in the room. When she saw Edith, she squealed and reached for her, as Edith took her, it was obvious to see the new woman was pregnant.
The male tried to quieten the little girl in his arms. “Molly, do not cry, my sweet one.”
The male turned slightly to the woman beside him and asked. “What did I do?”
Sage shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing my love. It is just your commanding presence that startles everyone.”
Reighn huffed as he cuddled Molly and tried to cajole her into a happier frame of mind. “My daughter if you stop crying for Papa. I will take you flying later.”
Molly looked up at her father, and Reighn was positive he saw a calculating gleam in her eyes for a second, then as he looked a little harder, he realized he must have been mistaken. His darling princess was as innocent as the pure snow.
“Kay dada.” She said and lent her head on his chest. Sage saw the small smile through the sniffles and huffed at him. “Seriously you are wrapped around her fingers.”
Reighn smiled as he felt the warm weight of his daughter in his arms, he probably was but no more than his shadow had him wrapped around her fingers. He was a dragon in love, who loved and was happy, there was never a better time to be him. His dragon pranced in his mind contented with his life.
Sharm and Edith drew the girls and Ocean towards the huge male and woman. Sharm said. “Reighn and Sage this is Ocean Walker, Andre’s daughter and her daughters Paige, Kadee and Parker. They have just arrived.”
Reighn said. “Hello ladies, welcome to Dragon’s Gap.”
They all said hello back. Reighn told Ocean. “We need to talk Ocean. I feel there are things you should know.”
Ocean dipped her head. “I should imagine there are many things I need to know. Right now I would like to get myself and the girls settled into our hotel and then get dinner.”
Paige said. “Me and Kadee can look after Parker if you need to go out tonight. It might be better without us asking questions and everything.”
Ocean looked at the young girl who was trying to be so helpful and smiled. “Thank you, you are very sweet.”
She looked at Reighn and Sage recognizing the power of the couple. “If it is alright with everyone, may we do that? The sooner it is settled the better.”
Kadee asked Sharm. “You have TV here right?”
He smiled as he assured her they did and it had normal shows as well as movies.
Reighn said. “You are welcome to stay at the castle. We will make an apartment ready for you.”
Ocean took a breath and declined. “Thank you, but I have made arrangements already. We will just follow through with them.”
“I do not think Andre’ will want that!” Stated Reighn in his deep voice. Ocean shrugged one shoulder. “Where is he to object?”
Reighn immediately looked uncomfortable, Ocean guessed the male who was supposed to be her father was not here. Which was proved when Reighn said. “Ahh! He is away at the moment.”
“Oh so he is out looking for Ocean. You should call him to say we are here.” Said an innocent Kadee.
Ocean could have told her he was not, just by the uncomfortable looks on all the adults’ faces but she did not. Anger reared its ugly head causing the words to die on her tongue. Reighn cleared his throat and said again. “Ahh no! He was not able to hunt for Ocean.”
Sage said. “It was a decision not of his choosing.”
“So where is he then?” Paige asked, she could see they were hiding something. Kadee eyed the four adults. “If he is Ocean’s dad, why is he not here?”
“He could not be.” Edith said soothingly. “It was not his fault something else took him away from Dragon’s Gap for a few days.”
“But what? He must have known she was coming. You all knew who she was?” Asked a frowning Paige. Ocean decided to end the questioning. She could see the adults were uncomfortable and knew the girls were becoming belligerent on her behalf.
“Well as I said I have made arrangements.” Ocean reiterated as she made to leave. Reighn went to object once more when Sage placed her hand on his arm saying. “Let us not disrupt Ocean’s plans. I will send someone for you at around six o’clock. Will that be alright?”
Ocean’s face was impassive as she said. “Yes, I will be ready by then.” She looked at Sharm. “Thank you healer Sharm for looking at Parker and for the information about the girls, and you too Edith for your help. Please have the recording of the girls as my family completed.”
Sharm nodded. “It will be seen to right away.”
“Thank you.” She looked at the adults in the room who in one way or another may be related to her and said. “It was nice to have met you all. Come on girls’ time to say goodbye.”
Subdued the girls said their own goodbyes and followed Ocean from the room both of them angry at the adults that had made Ocean upset. Sharm watched them get into their car from his window and said. “She is angry.”
“She is furious!” Edith countered.
“Oh, was that why you told me to hush?” Reighn asked Sage.
“I never actually said hush.”
“It was close.” He grumbled as he put Molly down to play with the small boys.
Sage said. “What are we going to tell her? I gather you never mentioned Ciana?”
“She had no idea she had a father or he was here. So no!” Edith replied.
Sage rubbed her forehead. “Shoot Edee, what do we do?”
Claire said from the doorway. “You tell her the truth.”
“Claire how are you?” Sage asked as Reighn hugged her. Then passed the small female to Sharm who hugged her as well. Claire over the months had become accustomed to the hugging. It was the holding her feet off the floor she had trouble with. “Down… down now!” She growled. Sharm laughed as Edith said. “Really again!” Once he placed her back on her feet, Claire straightened her new shirt and asked. “Hey, how are you mummies to be?”
“We are fine.” Edith told her. “Over morning sickness thanks to Ella.”
Molly asked. “Auntee Claire. Where Kammy?”
“Oh sweetie she is with her dada and Karl.”
“Kay, me see soon.”
“Tomorrow at story time.” Claire promised.
Reighn asked. “Claire, you have seen Ocean.”
Claire sighed and rubbed her heart. “I have seen angry thunderclouds and tempests around her. She has been ignored to one degree or another since birth, for her to take on those girls is her way of gathering a family.”
“Sad!” Sage murmured.
“So we know Ciana was brought up by loving grandparents and she and Andre’ have bonded already.” Sharm told them.
Sage sighed. “No matter what they say, she is never going to believe she is wanted or part of his family. She will see a unit with her
excluded.”
Edith looked out the window where Ocean’s car had been. “Add to that, the fact he is not out looking for her. She will see it as another slight against her, another reason she is not really wanted.”
“Plus he cannot be here tonight, this is not going to be easily made right.” Reighn told them with a sigh.
“You could be right, or maybe the magic of Dragon’s Gap and three lovely girls will soften a shattered heart.” Claire hoped. “Either way it is fraught with crossroads.”
“I want to do something!” Sharm said.
“What can we do?” Edith asked as she snuggled into his embrace feeling cold.
“Unfortunately nothing at the moment.” Sage told them.
“What if I offer for her to live at the castle?”
Reighn suggested. Claire shook her head. “She will not accept, she will think it is because of Andre’ and Ciana. Which it would be!”
“That would not be all of it!” He said defensively.
“We know that my love, she will not. So what can we offer her as an alternative?” Sage asked them all.
Edith said. “She has three lions to raise.”
Claire smiled. “Oh Edee of course. I can make a good case for an estate.”
Reighn grinned. “My old estate, it is large and empty. It is not modern and will need work, so she will not see it as charity. You my dear Claire can sell it to her cheap.”
They all looked at him. “What, I know how to be subtle!”
“Yes of course you do dear.” Sage agreed with the scowling male. Sharm snorted his disbelief and did not miss the narrowed eyes of his brother.
“Okay so can they move in right away?” Edith asked Reighn, who nodded, then seemed to come to a stop.
He remained still for several moments just when they were starting to get concerned he shook himself saying. “It is ready, cleaned, with new mattresses and linen on the beds. Claire explained it is a packaged deal, furniture and household goods. Everything goes with it, lands and house.”
“You are acting sneaky. What did you do?” Asked suspicious Sage.
He grinned. “Let me just say it will be hard to turn those two girls away from their bedrooms and Entertainment Theater.”