Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 6-7 Plus A Christmas Surprise

by L M Lacee

  “You really are!” Frankie chipped in.

  With raised eyebrows Ocean asked. “Am I?”

  Claire smiled. “Yes, otherwise those three young girls and that male who has declared himself to be yours and his brother. Oh and let us not forget the five lionesses you will be taking on today are all wrong and you are a selfish, hard, bitter nasty female!”

  Ocean laughed. “Lay it out there my friend.” She held her hand up. “No I am not like that. I will not be like that and you are both right. My family, all my family deserves much more, so much more than an angry Ocean. They deserve aunties and uncles and grandparents.”

  “Oh, they will have heaps of them. But you are still angry right?” Frankie asked hesitantly.

  Ocean shrugged feeling uncomfortable. “Yeah, I am, but I will deal with it somehow.”

  “Good, so can I have a cuddle?” She held her hands out for the baby as Ocean grinned and passed Parker to her saying. “Thank you Frankie.”

  Frankie smiled and said. “It is what I do.”

  Ocean whispered. “You need to find out who you are sweet Frankie, time is running out. Soon it will not be possible for you to hide anymore.”

  Frankie looked a little awed as she said. “I was unaware I was hiding!”

  “Which is why you are hiding.” Ocean softly told her. Frankie stilled as did Claire who looked at Frankie “What do you see when you look at her?” Claire asked Ocean.

  “Frankie surrounded by stars. Do you not see the same? Seer?”

  Claire said quietly. “No, I never see anything around Frankie.”

  “You need to see the seeker.” Ocean advised Frankie who nodded and whispered. “Oh…oh alright, I will do that.”

  “Soon Frankie.” Ocean told her as she got up and left the room. Frankie looked after her. “I did not know she was a seer, did you?”

  Claire shook her head. “Maybe she is, maybe she is not. She is a dragon with abilities just coming to light.”

  “She sure is spookier than you all together!”

  Claire cleared her throat. “Yes, she is. Will you do it?”

  Frankie nodded. “I will go talk to Harper as soon as she returns.”

  “Okay good.”

  “Yeah good.” Frankie replied and to Claire’s ears she sounded scared.

  CHAPTER TEN:

  L ater after a huge lunch at the hamburger place the girls and Conor begged to go to. Claire and Frankie seeing Conor wanted to talk to Ocean alone, took the girls to start on their shopping. Ocean handed Claire her credit card, and smiling at Joy said. “Please buy all three of them something special to remember today by.”

  Joy beamed. “Really, me too?”

  Ocean hugged the skinny teenage. “Definitely and if your dad says it is okay you can spend the night. Only...” As she and Kadee started to squeal with delight. “If your dad says it is okay.”

  “That is so cool.” Joy and Kadee said together.

  “Great.” Paige mumbled. Ocean told her. “Buy a book you want to read or a movie.”

  Conor told her. “I will be bringing my game console. We can do that, I mean we have the theater.”

  “Serious I can play with you?”

  He grinned at her eagerness. “Always, you have to be better than Saul?”

  “Can I buy my own game?” She asked Ocean.

  “Of course.”

  “Thanks, let’s go.” She ordered the two younger girls as Frankie slung an arm around her shoulders.

  “So I like to play…. they were quickly down the street and Ocean missed what Frankie liked to play. Claire grinned at the trio and Frankie. “You made them happy, and I included Frankie in that.”

  Ocean shrugged. “That is my job. Maybe not so much with Frankie.”

  “Well, I will see you later. I have to see some lionesses when I leave the girls. I will give the card to Frankie if you have not caught up with us.”

  “Okay and thanks Claire for everything.” Ocean stood and hugged Claire who returned the hug.

  “You are welcome.” With a wave to Conor, she left.

  Sitting again she asked. “So Mr Towers what do you need to discuss with me?”

  Conor ordered more coffee and then told her in a very quiet voice as he picked her hand up and held it. “I need to take Paige to the Dragon Lord.”

  Ocean replied in a voice just as quiet as his. “I see would this have to do with her being a ‘First’ and I am guessing you do not need me there, as you said I instead of we?”

  “Yes to both.”

  “Why does he have to know?”

  “She is in his territory. He needs to know and keep her safe. She will be very important as she matures, as we mature and our race evolves into what we are to become.”

  “Why would she not be safe? We are at the epicenter of dragon civilization, who would dare to hurt her?”

  Conor grimaced as though his coffee tasted bad and told her about the attacks on the people of Dragon’s Gap, the poisonings, the attempts of kidnapping. When he was finished she asked. “So this is where Andre` and Ciana are now?”

  “Yes after the rescue, they left to bring Thorn’s people here.”

  “Amazing Elves, the girls are going to flip.”

  He grinned. “Speaking of the girls, have they shifted?” Ocean explained about the pills, Conor sighed and swore softly. “Okay, we need them off them as soon as possible. Sharm needs to check them both over first some of that stuff can change them at the DNA level.”

  “Oh my Goddess seriously?”

  “Yes it is okay, we will sort it out.”

  Ocean asked. “Can you manage two teenage lionesses because you know I am going to be useless here? You daddy will have your hands full.”

  Conor smiled widely as he heard her call him daddy, even though it was in jest it sounded great.

  “I will manage, and you should know they may not be teenage lionesses it depends on what the pills did to them.”

  “Well okay we will find out I am sure. Now about Paige. Take her, in fact take all three. Maybe you can persuade Frankie to give them a tour this afternoon and if Joy can stay over, they can come home with pizza for dinner?”

  “You know?” He kissed her. “The pizza place only started three weeks ago and already it is busy.”

  “I am shocked, no pizza how did you survive?”

  Conor’s face pulled into sorrow as his eyes laughed at her playful tone. “It was hard, so very hard.”

  “Funny lion let’s go before they break my bank.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN:

  C onor sat in Reighn’s office with a nervous Paige. “Why are you nervous kitten? Reighn is your relation and one of the kindest, nicest males I have ever met.” Paige winced. “He may make me leave.”

  Startled Conor asked. “Why would he do that?” “Because I will bring trouble here?”

  “Who told you that?”

  Paige could hear his lion in his voice. She swallowed and whispered. “You kicked Neila out.”

  Conor nodded. “I did, but she was nothing like you. Neila was just wrong, wrong for the pride, wrong for Dragon’s Gap. You saw that in the short time you were in her company. Can you honestly say you are anything like her?”

  “No, she thought more of herself than she did the pride or the Gap.”

  “Exactly you, my young kitten are not wrong.”

  Paige looked at him with fear in her eyes and whispered. “How do you know, was that why those people wanted me and Kadee and why we had to leave?”

  Conor pulled her gently onto his lap. “Sweetheart, one, your grandfather was a very intelligent, resourceful male who knew when he needed to protect his young. Which he did by sending them to Ocean and me. I believe those people did not know what or who you were, but I believe your grandfather and whoever was watching out for you did.”

  Paige laid her head on his chest as she said. “Like the Goddess, that is what Mom thinks.”

  “Yes something like that.” Conor rumbled. The
y were quiet for a minute or two and then Paige asked. “Conor, can we call you dad? We don’t remember our birth father. Kadee and I were really young when he died, and Parker’s birth parents did not want her. There is no one to be upset if we do. It is just the three of us and Kadee. I think Parker will grow up calling you dad, so Kadee and I want to as well. Then we will be a family.”

  Conor felt his heart expand. As he cleared his throat. “We don’t know each other really well. But as I am sticking around, I would really like it if you and Kadee considered me your dad.”

  “Because you and mom are mates?” He could hear the uncertainty in her young voice, and he hugged her to him. “Not just because of that I would be proud to claim all of you as mine.”

  “So you can claim all three of us like mom did?”

  “I will as soon as we see the Dragon Lord.”

  She heaved out a large sigh. “Good, we were worried you would not want us.”

  He tipped her face up to his. “Never ever worry about that. You are mine, all of you. Now, I have something serious to discuss with you.”

  Paige frowned. “What?”

  “Your mom told me about the pills you take. I would like for you to stop taking them.”

  “Okay, they make us feel funny, so it will be good not to take them anymore. But then we will shift to our lion skin right?”

  “Yes, Sharm will have to check you both out to make sure you are okay. But if you stop taking the pills it will not be long before you can shift.”

  “It will be fun, I think.”

  Just then Sage and Reighn walked into the office Conor felt Paige tremble. Slowly as he did most things Conor stood as Paige lowered her feet to the floor. “Paige this is the Dragon Lord Reighn Kingsley and his shadow Lady Sage.”

  “Welcome to Dragon’s Gap again.” Reighn said as he showed Sage to a seat. Paige looked up at Conor who nodded for her to take her seat. Sage also said “Welcome Paige it is very nice to meet you again.”

  “You too Lady Sage and Lord Reighn. I am sorry if I was rude to you yesterday and we love our home, thank you for selling it to us. It is fabulous.”

  Sage said. “Paige honey you were not rude. Standing up for your family is never wrong or rude.”

  Paige let out a relieved breath. Reighn beamed a smile at her. “I am glad you like the home, did you find the entertainment theater?”

  Paige almost bounced out of her chair as she replied. “Yes, dad and I are going to break it in later tonight, while Joy and Kadee have a sleep over.”

  “A sleep over already?” Sage asked Conor who smiling shrugged. “They are like-minded apparently.” “What does Harper and Ace think?” Reighn asked.

  “I have no idea, now we are here because my Lord it has come to my attention that my Paige is a ‘First.’ and we wished for you to know.”

  Reighn looked at the scared teenager and softened his tone as he asked her. “Paige, do you know what that means?”

  “Dad and I talked about it, he said we will have to have more talks later he just wanted me to know.”

  Sage asked. “You did not know before.”

  Paige shook her head. “Not really I kinda always knew I was different but I thought it was because we took the pills all the time, you know?”

  “I do, yes.” Sage smiled at her, easing the tension in her shoulders immediately. “You know it is okay to be different. Everyone here is different, we are all weird in some way.”

  Reighn snorted. “Sage, she did not say weird!”

  Sage looked at Reighn. “She is a girl, she means weird.”

  Paige tried not to laugh as the two exchanged words. Conor grinned at her, “Your cousins are slightly bent, but you will get used to it in time.”

  Paige’s eyes widened as a male and female entered.

  Reighn introduced Paige to the couple. “Paige, these are my parents Lord Rene` and Lady Verity, my father is your grandfather’s brother.”

  “Oh hello.” Paige tried not to be cool towards them but it was really hard. She wanted to yell at them that her mom was hurting and her mom’s dad needed to be here to talk to her. But she did not because she was scared she would cry. Verity sat beside her. “I am sorry you think we are your enemy.”

  Paige shrugged. I don’t, not really, it is just I think my mom is hurting and you don’t care.”

  Verity took her hand in hers. “Now you know that is not true sweetheart, you are old enough to understand that adults have issues that are not easily fixed with a few words.”

  Paige looked at Conor’s face but he did not look mad or anything really. He was staring at Lady Verity, then she looked at Lady Verity too and saw anger, and fear and sadness in her eyes. “I know that, but her dad was not even here, he should have been here to meet her to hug her. She has an ache in her heart, and I think he is the only one to fix that.”

  Verity nodded. “Maybe you are right, maybe Andre` has the same hole and your mom is the only one that can fix that too.”

  “Oh, I never thought of that.”

  “No, I am sure you did not. Now Andre` could not be here because his other daughter, your mom’s sister needed him with her and her babies. But I will tell you something, he will be here by the morning and I want you to help us…”

  “No!” Conor rumbled out startling not only Verity but Paige as well. “We will not put that on her. She is only a child and as you said earlier these are adult issues.”

  “Conor, I think…”

  “Lady Verity, I admire and respect you very much. I count you along with your family as my friends but your fear is driving your decisions here.”

  Verity raised both eyebrows as she asked in a voice devoid of warmth. “I beg your pardon Conor?”

  “Your fear of what may or may not happen with Ocean. And what she may or not be to the females of dragon kind are asking you to go against your instincts. What I am sure is telling you that involving Paige in your quest to secure your future is wrong. She is a day away from arriving here and you wish to burden her with dragon kind concerns?”

  Verity looked at the calm male and the teenager sitting quietly beside her who was pale and trembling her hand held securely in the Lions and shook her head. “Please forgive me. You are right. I am over wrought with worry forgive me Conor, Paige.” She stood abruptly and left by the side door. Rene` looked after her and sighed. “I too apologize I should have never allowed her to come here. Paige your grandfather is a good male. If you give him a chance, he will love you and your sister and especially your mother with everything he has. As will everyone in our family” With that, he too left following his shadow. Reighn stood. “Thank you my friend for being gentle with her.”

  Conor smiled slowly. “She is a lovely female who has been nothing but kindness to me and Dragon’s Gap how could I not.”

  Reighn leaned over and swept Paige into his large arms she squeaked as he did, “You my lovely little cousin are adorable. Welcome to our large, ever growing family. We are very thankful you are here.” He kissed her forehead as she smiled and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. “Thank you Uncle Reighn. I hope your mom is not too unhappy?”

  “She will be for a while, but it is not your job to make her happy that is my fathers. Now when did I become uncle Reighn?”

  “I have never had uncles and aunties before.” She shyly told him. Is it okay we call you that?”

  “Yes my little one it is most appropriate. Now do you have any questions?”

  “Yes, what did your mom mean?”

  “As your dad said it is dragon business, she should not have spoken about. I would like for you not to think on it for now. All will be clear when your grandfather and aunt arrive back. Can you do that?”

  “I can and thanks, now what is my job?”

  He placed her back on her feet and told her. “Your job is to grow, learn and enjoy being young and a lion to love your parents and to be loved by them.”

  “But I am a, ‘First!”

  “Yes,
and when that time comes for you to learn what that means. I, your father and anyone else we can find will help you with that. Until then, be Paige. That is all you need to be.”

  She smiled as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Okay, dad has a question too!’

  They all looked at Conor who nodded and said seriously. “I do. I would like it recorded that I have claimed Paige, Kadee and Parker Walker as mine along with their mother.”

  Reighn grinned. “It will be so recorded.”

  Paige stepped from one foot to the other. “May I go, Frankie said she will take us on a tour of the castle? Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Our home is a castle too. It is so cool. We are going to name it.”

  Reighn grinned, “I am pleased you like it. Well, I am finished with you, so if your father does not mind, go find Frankie.”

  Paige turned to Conor. “Dad?”

  “I am good, Frankie said she will bring you home. Paige do not wander off without an adult.” He told her seriously “You have not been here long enough for people to recognize you. I would rather you were with an adult for a while until the pride and the people of Dragon’s Gap know who you both are. And who you belong to. Your mother, I feel will be terrifying if anything was to happen to you.”

  Paige nodded seriously as she said. “Yeah, I think she would rival you for fierceness. I swear we will not go anywhere without an adult.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sage closed her phone. “Frankie is on her way here now.” Paige smiled and said thank you, then slipped from the room just as Frankie and Kadee arrived she asked, surprised to not see Joy. “Where is Joy?”

  Kadee said. “Her dad wanted to talk to her, she has done the tour already she will meet us later.”

  “Oh okay, `cause we are having pizza for dinner.”

  Frankie sighed. “Ohh! Yum pizza. I wonder if Johner will like that.”

  “You could have it with us.” Paige shyly invited her. Frankie smiled and hugged the girl. “Thank you and then you would get to meet my shadow Johner. That is a great idea. I accept.”