by S. E. Smith
“Oh, I justs wrestled with mines. I likes wrestling. My Mommy keeps telling my Daddy that we’re gonna gets hurt and that he better not makes me cry or break nothings or she’s going to wrestles, too. Every times she says that, Daddy grins and they starts kissing and hugging and making weird noises. I thinks that why I gots baby sisters now,” Roam said with a wrinkle of his nose in disgust. “I’s never going to kisses a girl. Girls is yucky.”
Both boys turned when they heard the sound of a snort behind them. Spring was glaring at Roam. Within seconds, she tossed her head and shifted into a small white dragon. Her dragon scratched at the ground before turning and walking away.
“What’s wrongs with Spring?” Roam asked in confusion.
“I don’t knows. Maybe her dragon’s mads because it can’t digs no tunnels down here,” Zohar said, lifting his shoulders up.
“Oh,” Roam muttered, still staring after Spring before he turned his attention back to Zohar. “So’s, what did you and your daddy talks about?”
“The Queens,” Zohar admitted. “I’s needs to talks to everyone.”
Roam’s face lit up. “I’s can gets them,” he said. “I’s learned a new trick. Mommy and Auntie Tina use it alls the time to calls the guys.”
Turning, Zohar watched as Roam stuck his small fingers into his mouth and blew. A high-pitched whistle, loud enough to make Zohar’s dragon wince, echoed through the graveyard. Each of the kids glanced up in surprise. Even Spring stopped and looked around in curiosity.
Zohar watched Roam wave for them to come over. The small group quickly converged on Roam, Amber, Jade, him, and the array of bouncing buckets that were hidden behind the headstone. Roam turned and grinned at him.
“See! It works,” Roam proudly declared with a lift of his chin. “I’s a leader, too.”
Zohar nodded, suddenly realizing that Roam was right. His gaze moved to where Alice stood staring at him with bright, curious eyes. Even though they were still babies, at that moment, a deep instinct rose up that told him this was an important moment. That he needed to understand something.
“You, Roam, and Alice are leaders and friends,” Phoenix whispered in a voice suddenly much older than her age. “You are the next generation and must always remember that together, you can do anything.”
Zohar swallowed when Roam and Alice nodded. “Whats are you, Phoenix?” Zohar suddenly asked, gazing into Phoenix’s eyes that were swirling with a strange color. He swore that he could see the stars in them, like the ones in the night sky when he and his mommy and daddy went outside to look at them. “How do you knows so much?”
Phoenix’s smile turned sad. “I’s different. I can’t tells anyone yet what I’s am, but… I’s different,” she finished in a quiet tone before she blinked and her eyes turned a soft, warm brown. “What do you wants to tell us?” She asked, her voice once again sounding young.
“I’s talked to my Daddy last night,” Zohar admitted.
“What did he say? Did he admits that the Twin Dragons and our daddies are going to fight the Queen?” Bálint asked eagerly.
Zohar shook his head. “No, he tolds me that Uncle Trelon was workings on the Queens and her minions,” he said. “I’s told him that she was going to takes the babies, but he wouldn’t listens to me.”
The group was silent for several long seconds. He looked at the bucket dancing in Jade’s hands. His lips tightened with determination. It was his responsibility to save the babies.
“I’s needs your help,” he said, looking at Roam and Alice. “We’s the leaders of us and we’s gots to works together likes Phoenix said to keeps the babies safe.”
“We’s could make booby-traps,” Roam suggested with a frown. “I’s uses them all the times to catch my daddy.”
“I’s can help, too,” Alice said, stepping forward. “I’s powerful like my mommy and daddy. I’s can protects the babies like Sally protected Jack.”
“We’s gots our army,” Jade and Amber said, holding up the buckets. “They’s good at fighting.”
“I’s can track the Queen and helps Roam sets up the traps,” Bálint added.
“I’s can take the dungeon under the castle while Phoenix takes the top,” Spring suggested.
Zohar turned to look at Jabir who had remained quiet. The small, chubby dragonling looked at the others with an uncertain expression. Jabir frowned and reached into his pocket to pull out a small, fluffy creature that unrolled and stretched before blinking sleepily.
“I’s can talks to my furry friends,” Jabir said, looking up. “They will helps us.”
“What cans they do?” Roam asked with a skeptical expression at the tiny, dark green and red furry creature. “It don’t looks like it can fights much.”
A wicked grin curved Jabir’s lips. “This is a Tickle Bug,” he said, lifting it up and holding it toward Roam. “Get him,” Jabir whispered to the small creature before making a series of low clicks and humming sounds.
Zohar’s eyes weren’t the only ones that widened when a set of coppery wings unfolded from the creature and it shot out of Jabir’s palm toward Roam. The small tiger cub hissed in fear before he froze when the creature coming toward him suddenly broke apart into thousands of smaller specs of flying fur.
A low snarl escaped him before he crumbled to the ground, writhing in laughter as the tiny bugs swarmed over his skin like feathers. Goosebumps rose over his skin and he twisted and turned trying to get away from them.
“They’s going downs my pants,” he gasped. “Oh, they’s in my ears, too. Makes them stop….” Roam giggled, rolling and grabbing at his pants while trying to rub his ears. “Makes them stops!”
Jabir grinned and opened his mouth. He made another series of clicks with his tongue and held out his hand. Almost immediately, the swarm rose and merged back into a single form. It flew the small distance between them and landed back in Jabir’s hand. He whispered to the creature as it settled back down and stroked it before cuddling it to his chest.
“Aw, you’s should have left them,” Spring complained. “I’s was having funs watching Roam. He was rolling on the ground likes a fluffy kitty.”
“I’s not a fluffy kitty,” Roam snapped, rising to his feet. “I’s a tiger.”
“Well, you’s looked like a kitty to me,” Spring retorted with a lift of her shoulders.
“I’s show you whats a kitty I’s am,” Roam started to say, taking a step closer.
Spring snarled at him and shifted back into her dragon and flicked her tail in warning. Zohar quickly turned his attention back to Jabir. They had more of an army now.
“Roam, you and Bálint starts making your booby-traps… Please,” Zohar ordered. “Jabir, you, Spring, and Phoenix tries to gets somes of your animals. Jade and Amber, you and I will gets our minions ready.”
“What’s about me? What’s should I do?” Alice asked.
“We’s going to needs you to makes some traps, too,” Zohar said, turning to look at Alice. “Somes big traps for the monsters.”
“When do you thinks the Queen’s coming, Zohar?” Roam asked, distracted from attacking Spring.
“Tonight,” Zohar replied in a grave tone. “I’s heard my daddy tells my mommy that the Queen’s coming tonight. He says that they were goings to comes down to see her.”
“Then, we’s better be ready,” Alice said with a wave of her hand. Once again, she was dressed in the knee-length brown boots, brown pants, dark green top with matching cape, and the bow and arrow of the Huntress. “I’s ready to fights for the babies.”
“Dragonlings…,” Zohar started to say before he paused and looked at Roam and Alice. “Valdier, Sarafin, and Curizan, togethers forevers,” he said proudly, holding out his hand.
One by one, each of the younglings placed their hand on top of his like they had seen their fathers do before. It had been during some of their games, but he remembered that it seemed to make them stronger. At the moment, he needed all the strength he could get, because he was very, very scared.
<
br /> “Togethers forever,” the voices of the children said solemnly as they stood in the small circle.
12
“Trelon,” Cara started to say before she blew out an exasperated breath. “Alright, I’ll man the controls while you go through the ride.”
“Thank you, mi elila,” Trelon murmured, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I just want to see how the programming works.”
“You’re just worried it won’t,” Cara teased, leaning into him and sliding her hands up to his shoulders.
“One of Trelon’s programs not work? Only in a Curizan’s dream,” A deep voice replied dryly, startling Trelon. “They always were envious of your weapons systems, Trelon.”
Trelon turned, pushing Cara protectively behind him and clenched his fists. “Viper! I swear one of these days I’m going to take your head off,” he growled with a shake of his head before he straightened and relaxed. “We weren’t sure you were going to make it. Is your mate with you?”
“Yes, she is talking with Riley and the other women,” Viper replied with a grimace of distaste. “I left when Melina started sharing what happened to Cree and Calo earlier. Tina assured me it was only a matter of time before I experienced the green leak. As it is, Leo has already proven to have a very good aim,” he added, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if trying to erase an unpleasant memory.
“Thank goodness for little girls,” Trelon replied with a sympathetic slap on Viper’s shoulder and a chuckle. “Kelan and Zoran have said the same thing about their boys.”
“Well, don’t feel too smug, darling,” Cara retorted, patting Trelon on the chest. “Your day is coming sooner than you think,” she said with a wink before turning to walk back toward the group of women.
Cara didn’t need to glance over her shoulder to know that Trelon’s mouth was hanging open. Her dragon had shared the secret earlier. She had to hand it to her dragon. Normally, a male dragon knew when his seed took in a female.
I want surprise our mates, her dragon sniffed.
Well, Cara responded with a gentle mental pat on the head, unable to resist the glance after all. Yep, his mouth was hanging open and he looked a little pale. I think you did that.
*.*.*
“So, what’s the plan?” Riley asked the moment Cara walked up to join the other women and her. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “Did you get the cameras installed?”
“That doesn’t sound good. What are you so excited about?” Tina asked suspiciously.
“Hi, Tina,” Cara greeted with an infectious grin, nodding her answer to Riley.
“Yes! Thank you, Cara. Tina, why do you always think I’m up to something?” Riley asked, turning to glare at her sister in mock exasperation. “I’m just asking if Cara was able to install the cameras.”
“Why would you care about cameras unless you are up to something? And don’t give me that old excuse of old habits from work die hard,” Tina pointed out with a raised eyebrow. “I grew up with you. You don’t get excited about anything unless it means you’re about to do something you shouldn’t.”
“That is so not true! I have been very good since I was abducted by aliens. Well, except for blowing up the mining asteroid I was on… and maybe the freighter that we escaped on… and almost dying,” Riley retorted with a wave of her hands. “You can hardly blame me for getting kidnapped, though. It isn’t like I was wearing an alien abduction beacon or anything.”
“No, you saved that for Pearl and me,” Tina reminded her sister before she sighed when Riley’s lips drooped. “Okay, so that wasn’t such a bad thing either.” Tina rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Okay, it was an awesome idea because I never would have met Viper or had Leo or found you or a host of other wonderful, fabulous, marvelous, stupendous things.”
Riley’s lips twitched when Tina finally finished. “Vox owes me a full day of shopping,” she laughed with a clap. “He said I’d never, ever get you to admit that you love it here in a million years! You girls are my witnesses.”
“We’ve got you covered, Riley,” Trisha promised with a grin.
“I can’t believe you tricked me! You made a bet? With Vox?” Tina groaned. “Argh! I’m going to neuter your hubby – mate – whatever. Was Viper in on this?”
“I love it when they get together,” Ariel murmured, leaning closer to Melina. “It’s better than any comedy show.”
“I’ve never gone to a comedy show before, but I have to admit this is funny,” Melina whispered back, watching the exchange. “Tina is good. She can keep up with Riley. I would still be trying to think of something to say.”
Riley’s delighted laughter echoed through the air. She tossed her curly mane of blonde hair and glanced around her at the other women with sparkling blue eyes.
“Yes, but it was a win-win,” she promised with glee. “Viper said you’d never admit it and if you did, you could join me on a complete shopping and spa afternoon sans kids.”
“No kids? But, who is going to watch them?” Tina asked in shock before her expression changed to a wary one. “Shopping and Spa? On the same day? Do you have any idea how long that will take?”
“Hours!” Riley replied, wrapping her arm through Tina’s and throwing out her hand as if showing off the universe. “You, me, and the unlimited credits. Just imagine it!”
“You know, if you had told me sooner, I would have recorded the damn thing months ago. The only reason I refused to admit anything was because the other guys were being such pains in the ass,” Tina complained.
“Zoran and the others?” Abby asked in surprise. “Why would they give you a hard time?”
“Not them,” Tina and Riley said with matching laughter. “Vox’s and Viper’s pain-in-the-ass brothers.”
“They are currently trying to help babysit the twins,” Riley replied with a sigh. “They are one reason we are leaving tomorrow night right after the festival. His brothers have been teasing Vox about the twins misbehaving ever since we’ve been gone. It doesn’t really matter, though, four days away from the girls are enough to drive Vox crazy. I just thought it was important to spend some quality time with Roam. He really loves being here with the kids and he would have been heartbroken if he had to miss the Halloween festival with Bálint and the others this year.”
“Don’t be fooled, Riley. Vox would have been just as disappointed,” Tina snorted. “Sometimes I don’t know who is the biggest kid. Oh, wait, yes I do.”
“Ha-ha,” Riley replied dryly. “See if I try to get you a coveted shop and spa day again.”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a break. How about we go check out the city here? We can show you some amazing shops along the market and there is this little restaurant where I installed a coffee machine in and they have the best pastries,” Cara suggested.
“What about the kids?” Riley said with a worried frown.
“The men can watch the younglings for a few hours,” Morian said, surprising the other women. They turned to gaze at her with a skeptical expression, but Morian brushed their concerns aside with a wave of her hand. “They’ll have plenty of help from the symbiots. I’m sure they can handle the younglings for just a couple of hours without the palace falling apart,” Moran said with a laugh. “Paul will also be here and the symbiots are excellent babysitters. I would love a few hours out with you girls.”
“Then, what are we waiting for?” Abby laughed. “Tina do you have an outfit for tomorrow? If not, there is this marvelous shop with all kinds of beautiful costumes. We can go there after lunch.”
“No, I don’t,” Tina said with excitement at the idea. “This is going to be so much fun!”
“Maybe we should have found us a couple of dragon-shifters,” Riley sighed before her gaze caught on Vox and a soft purr escaped her. “Or maybe not,” she muttered, covering her mouth. “My damn cat is a horny little fur-ball.”
“There is something about the way they move,” Tina agreed with a sigh. “Fortunately, Leo st
ill sleeps a lot at the moment.”
Laughter echoed as the small group moved toward the wary men who could sense that their mates were on a mission. Twenty minutes later, the women were exiting the palace flushed with excitement while the men, with the exception of Paul, were looking decidedly panicky. Cree and Calo glanced down at the tiny figure of their daughter and swallowed. This was the first time they had been left completely alone with her since her birth. Before, Melina had always been within easy calling distance.
“What do we do?” Cree asked Paul.
Paul grinned as he adjusted Morah on his hip. “Hope that she takes a very long nap,” he responded with a chuckle.
“I think we are going to take the kids to the Paint House to play. They seem to love it there,” Trelon said with a glance at the group. “They won’t be able to get into mischief there.”
“Let’s hope not,” Mandra muttered under his breath, glancing over at Jade and Amber where they were talking excitedly to one another. “Something tells me the kids are up to something. I can just feel it.”
All the men turned to stare at the small group of kids. The feeling grew when he studied the serious expression on Jabir’s face. His small son had that same fierce, determined look on his face that he got when he wanted to rescue some poor unsuspecting animal from whatever threat that Jabir was sure existed out there. He was just like his mother when it came to animals – unstoppable.
“Trelon, I think that’s an excellent suggestion,” Mandra added. “I think sooner would be better than later.”
*.*.*
Ten minutes later, the men all released a sigh of relief. The nine older younglings were inside the Paint House playing, Paul was taking Morah through the different houses, while Viper, Cree, and Calo had Leo and Hope down for what they hoped would be a very, very long nap.
“This isn’t so bad,” Trelon boasted, lifting a cold drink to his lips. “I love this place.”
“You love it because you don’t have to clean up after the girls,” Creon snorted.