by Minerva Howe
“I love it. Can we invite Ty? He could fly down?”
“Yes. I’ll call him.” They needed family time. Bonding time.
He grabbed his phone, dialing his older brother, tapping his foot impatiently.
“’Lo?”
“Get down here.”
He heard Tyson suck in a breath. “Are the vamps back?”
“No, but we need you. Come on. I want us to have supper and be a family. We miss you.” His heart actually ached a little. How had he stood being alone so long?
“Oh. I miss you all. My little niece must be needing some time with me.” Eagan thought Ty sounded as eager as he felt.
“She does. She’s eaten three toys today.” They all needed contact.
“Is she still trying to communicate with the twins?”
“She talks to them all day. Ollie is getting too big to help pack, so Arielle has been babysitting him.”
“I can’t wait to see Oliver too. I can be there in a few hours. I want to discuss moving out here sooner rather than later. I want them safe and the bedrooms and nurseries are perfect.”
“Then we’ll do it. I want us all together. Brand and I both have housekeepers who can help ship things.” That sounded good. To be settled when they had the babies and not have to uproot everyone.
“Tell Brand. We’ll come out tomorrow night, so the little one can sleep through it.”
“Done.” They would celebrate tonight. Then they would go to their new home and settle in.
“Good. See you soon, brother. I can’t wait to see you. I’ve gotten spoiled.”
“Same here. Love you.” He hung up, waiting for Brand to finish with Lyle.
“No, that’s. Yes. Perfect. You’re a wonder, Lyle. Yes, I would like to meet with you in the morning. Good, good. Very well. The kitchen is fine. Night.”
Brand grinned. “We have a feast on the way. Lyle will leave it buffet style in the kitchen.”
“Good man. Ty wants us to move in tomorrow night. I think he’s right.”
“So soon?”
“Yes. We can pack the truck with things, the SUV with people, and go. Anything else can be picked up. The nurseries and bedrooms are ready.”
“Mmm, if you’re ready, so am I.” Brand came to loop an arm around him. We’ll break it to them together?”
“Yes. It’s time. They need to relax and enjoy this.”
“Indeed, and we need to lull Arielle into sleeping through tomorrow night.”
“Tea? Prayers? Drugs?”
“Mmm.” Brand chuckled. “We have no idea what would happen if we drugged her.”
“Right? I can just imagine the drama. She’ll rest her head and watch movies and sleep.” Eagan frowned as he heard Devon screaming and throwing things.
“Uh-oh.”
“Go. If Ollie is with him, call me, but I think he’s hiding in our room, reading to Arielle.”
Brand nodded, racing off. They were all at the breaking point. It was time.
E? Everything okay? I have Danger Mouse.
Devon sounds out of sorts.
Ah. Are you busy? A wave of loneliness hit him.
I’m coming up. There was nothing more important right now than his Oliver.
I’m ready to move, love. I want to adjust to the new house before I explode.
We’re going tomorrow. He skidded to a stop outside the door, not wanting to scare Arielle. He headed into their room, his gaze finding Ollie on the bed.
Arielle was curled around Ollie’s belly, and she opened her eyes, smiled at him, one little hand reaching for him.
He went to join them, stretching out on the bed. “Hello, loves.”
Arielle patted his cheek happily, then patted Ollie.
“That’s right, honey. We’re going to go to a new house with Uncle Tyson and your dads. You’re going to have a whole new place to play and you’ll be able to have a sandpit and a swing set.”
She tilted her head, her eyes bright, the facets clear. Arielle made a happy noise that sounded distinctly like ‘Ty’. Well, more like ‘Dieeeeeeeeeee’.
But he got it.
“Yes, Uncle Ty. He’s coming for supper, and then we’re going to a new house.”
She just closed her eyes and hummed, this great sound.
Ollie smiled at him. “Thank you, love.”
“It just hit me today.” Eagan kissed Ollie gently. “We’re all tired. We need to be together. You need rest.”
“I need you.” Oliver looked at him, seriously. “I know I’m round and not pretty right now, but I need you.”
“You’re so beautiful.” I told Brand I want to make love to you tonight. We can be gentle. Or we can just snuggle, but I want to touch you.
I don’t need gentle. I need a nice, hard fuck and to come so hard I can’t remember my own name. “You flatterer.”
“I love you, is all.” He fought against his urges, because his niece was with them, and dinner would arrive soon. “Later, my love. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.” Ollie laughed as Arielle chirruped and clicked at his stomach. Eagan could see his dragonets rolling and responding. “They’re growing, Danger Mouse. Then, when they come, and Daddy’s new baby comes, you’ll be in charge of protecting them.”
She rumbled, the sound so pleased. She really was making herself clear.
“She’s the eldest. That’s a big responsibility.” Oliver chuckled softly. “She’ll be amazing.”
“She was born for this.” Eagan slid a hand under Arielle’s cheek so he could feel his babies move. “So were you.”
Arielle snuggled into him, begging a hug. Someone was missing her daddies.
Eagan kissed the top of her head. “We’ll all have supper downstairs soon, little one. We’ll all cuddle.” He happened to know Tyson had made them a sunken den that was all couch. They could just lounge for hours.
“Eeg. Eeeeg.”
“Oh, love!” Oliver beamed. “She said your name!”
“She did.” He laughed, delighted. “Do you know how to say Da? That’s your daddy Devon. Da.”
She tilted her head, and then she beamed at him. “Dadadadadadadadada!”
“That’s right!” Oliver was laughing hard.
“DAA! Dadadadada!”
“Yes! Okay, now we need to say it to Daddy.” If he heard her say Ty or Eagan first, Devon might explode.
She nodded, eyes fierce and held her arms out to him. “Da Eeg. Ah DA!”
He lifted her up off Ollie’s belly to kiss her. “Okay. To your Da. Ollie, shall I come back and carry you down?”
“Don’t be silly. I can walk.”
Yes, but he hated the idea of his mate on the stairs.
“Mmm. Here, you hold our girl, and I’ll carry you both.” It was no strain at all. That way he wouldn’t worry. “That way you won’t miss her talking to Dev.”
“Oh, good idea. Come here, Danger Mouse. We’ll go see Daddy.” Ollie held his arms open, and Arielle snuggled in.
“Da, Ol.”
“You know it. Okay, taxi service,” Ollie said. “Hit it.”
He lifted them into his arms, then headed out to take them downstairs. He couldn’t wait to see what Lyle had put in for food.
They found Devon sitting in Brand’s lap, eyes still red from crying. “Hey, guys.”
Arielle looked at Devon and beamed, reaching for him. “DA! Dadada!”
Devon’s eyes went wide, and Brand beamed, leaning Devon so they could take her. “Oh. Oh, yes. Yes, baby.”
“Da. Da. Da. Da.” She was so pleased with herself, singing to her fathers and basking in their attention.
Devon took her, and Eagan eased Ollie into a chair. Dev was just wreathed in smiles now. “That’s right, little beast. Da. My smart girl.”
“Da. Da. Da. Da!” She laughed and hugged Devon hard.
Brand looked at him over Devon’s head, mouthing, “Thank you”.
He winked. Thank goodness she was so willing to do as asked. F
or all that they accused her of being a grumpy puss, Arielle was such a joy.
“Are we all hungry?” He knew they had to wait for both Lyle and Ty, but he was just so pleased to stop packing.
“Always,” Oliver chuckled. “Did you hear, Dev? Did Brand tell you the news?”
“Yes. I’m totally in. I’m just at a frazzle.”
“We’re going to be fine. I’m so excited. So ready.” Yes, his mate wanted to be settled, get ready for the last leg of the pregnancy.
“Me too.” Devon shifted Arielle to one arm, then held out a hand to Ollie. “I love this house, but we all need to be together, and Ty keeps texting me pictures. It looks amazing.”
“Danger Mouse can play in the courtyard. She’ll have friends and cousins and we’ll teach her everything. Together.”
They held hands, and Eagan knew this was right. This was the plan. They needed to go and get settled in, get the nurseries set up, and get their lives in working order.
A soft knock sounded at the door and Arielle growled.
“It’s Lyle, baby girl,” Brand said. “Be nice.”
She tilted her head, then frowned deeply at him, slapping Brand’s chest, making a curious sound.
“He’s bringing food. The cheese man.”
Arielle sighed at Brand. “Ol!”
“Yes, Danger Mouse?”
She slapped Brand’s chest again.
“That’s your papa.”
“Pop?” she asked.
“Yep.”
Now it was Brand’s turn to make that happy little sound, sort of a gasp and a laugh. “My girl.”
Eagan went to take the food from Lyle, his wife Caroline there too. “Thank you so much.”
“We’re happy to. It’s going to be lonely here for a bit.”
“You know you’re welcome at my brother’s, right?”
“We do.” Lyle smiled. “The goats are settled, and the house needs care. But thank you.”
“I’m sure we’ll be back in shifts. We’re funny that way.”
“Your family has been good to us. Enjoy!”
He balanced the trays, going to load up the table as Lyle left. “Look how tasty!”
Arielle’s eyes lit up, so bright and pretty, wiggling to get to the cheese.
Devon fed her a bit of creamy goat cheese. “Everyone needs to just dig in, huh?”
“Milk, Ollie?” Eagan asked.
“Milk, please.”
Arielle tilted her head. “Ty!”
“Oh, God. Good timing. I was so hungry.” Dev looked shamefaced.
“You’re pregnant!” Ty said, shrugging into clothes as he walked through the door. “That’s enough reason to have an early bite. Hello, loves.”
“Ty!” Arielle slapped Dev’s chest. “Da! DA!”
“She’s very proud,” Ollie said.
Ty bent to kiss his cheek, then pick up Arielle from Dev’s lap. “She should be! Look at you go with the talking. Who’s that?” Ty pointed to Ollie.
“Ol!”
Ty pointed to Eagan.
“Eeg!”
“Very good!” Then he pointed to Brand.
“Pop-pop-pop!”
“So smart.” He winked at Eagan. “She starts talking to yours, and they’ll come out knowing words, you just wait.”
“They will sure love their cousin.” Arielle was fascinated by them.
Ollie rubbed his belly. “They’re ready to talk to her, for sure. Can we eat now? Dev and I might collapse.”
“No collapsing. Eat. Cheddar?” He popped a bite in Oliver’s mouth.
“Mmm.”
Devon laughed when Brand fed him, and Tyson took on the task of keeping Arielle from munching the whole table like a modern-day Ms. Pac Man.
“I did miss you, little girl. I want you to come on to the house. I have your bedroom fixed all up.”
She tilted her head, clearly trying to process that. “Has.”
“Yes. Our house. Yours and mine and Daddy’s and Pop-pop’s and Uncle Ollie and Eagan.” Ty rocked her. “Our house.”
She just reached for more cheese.
Eagan sat back down with Ollie after passing out drinks, nuzzling his neck and rubbing his belly. They were doing the right thing. Even little Arielle agreed.
Oliver sighed softly, lips on Eagan’s temple. I’m ready to settle. Our space is our space, right? We can have emotional ownership.
We can, love. Tyson is so ready to share everything with us. I think he bought that place with the very idea in mind all those years ago. He was learning new things about his brothers every day.
Good. Oliver stretched, back popping. “Another bite, please?”
He fed his lover more, then took a bite himself. That was lovely, and there was meat and fruit and little slices of bread.
Arielle was cracking them all up with her little demands, her soft growls as she asked for bites adorable. She was learning, though. She didn’t cry or scream or hit the table.
“Mmm.” Ty ate a bite of cheese crusted with pistachio. “This was a good idea, brothers. Have I said that? Thank you.”
“We missed you,” Eagan admitted. “I’ve become used to being together, to bounce ideas off and settle in together. It’s time to be together.”
“It is. The house is ready for you to put your touches into, though. You have clean and comfortable.”
“Thank you.” Brand touched Tyson’s arm. “For opening up your house.”
“Bah. It’s ours now. All of us, including my girl here.” Tyson grabbed Arielle and nuzzled her, making her laugh. “I missed you, baby girl!”
“Ty!” She smacked a kiss on his eye, making him grunt.
Ollie chuckled against his skin. “She’s so cute. Promise me ours will be amazing.”
“Of course they will be,” Eagan said immediately. “Just ask them.”
Oliver sat up, rolling over his belly. “Helloo, babies!!” he called out, cracking up and they began to go wild.
Eagan rumbled at Ollie’s belly, and a flurry of feet and elbows moved.
“No encouraging them to come early.” Tyson glared. “They have to wait until after tomorrow.”
“They’re not due for two months, Ty! Way after tomorrow!” Eagan wasn’t ready. At all. Nope.
Oliver cackled, holding his belly tight.
“Uh-huh.” Ty gave them a sweeping, arch look. “We’ve all seen how supposed to works in this family.”
That set them all off again, and they got laughing, finally realizing that Arielle was shoveling in cheese while they were distracted. Also little meatballs.
“Slow down or your tummy’s going to look like Uncle Ollie’s!”
Her eyes got wide and she stopped, obviously confused.
“So I think we can supplement with a bottle or some puree now and then,” Brand said. “But she’s clearly on solid food. Lots of it. Like the rest of us.”
“Well, shows how you’ve been paying attention,” Devon said. “I’ve been giving her milk or juice in a bottle, but that’s it.”
Brand blinked. “Really? I thought I was sneaking her meat and you would yell at me.”
Devon snorted. “She’s ready to be a big sister. Right, baby?”
“Ba-bee!” She ran to Devon, kissed his belly, then to Ollie, and kissed his. “Ba-bee!”
“Yes!” Ollie laughed, petting her hair. “So smart. I swear, she’s grown an inch today. Have you guys noticed?”
Tyson nodded. “We have an odd growth rate. We grow incredibly fast until just before adolescence, then we slow for a few decades.”
Oliver nodded. “That makes sense, really. They grow fast to protect themselves in the wild. Then they have to mature, learn their magic, before they leave the nest, so to speak.”
“Yes. That’s…” Devon pushed off Brand’s lap and ran to a kitchen drawer to get a pen and a notebook. “You and me, Ollie. We need to start writing this stuff down. The modern history of the dragon.”
“The modern—” Oliver blinked
at Devon but nodded eventually. “Yes, the babies will need this. They’ll need information.”
“I think that’s a grand idea,” Ty said. “Nothing has been written since what? The seventeenth century? All this mystification.”
He and Brand exchanged glances. “We can make sure it’s kept safe for them.”
“Of course we can. They deserve notes, in case.” Oliver glanced at Arielle. “She deserves it.”
“So do yours, love.” Eagan kissed Ollie’s cheek. “I’ve seen nothing about twins in the record.”
“We all know I’m not really a dragon,” Ollie teased. “Maybe they’ll come out phoenixes. Phoenices? Phenexes?”
“Stop it.” Eagan tried to sound stern, but he couldn’t manage it. “I’ve seen your dragon.”
“Maybe they’re minotaurs,” Dev offered, and Arielle roared her displeasure.
“BA-BEE!”
“Your cousins,” Ollie said mildly. “Come sing to them, Danger Mouse. Then we’ll go watch a movie.”
Eagan nodded. Then loving.
God, yes. Please.
Arielle cuddled against Ollie’s belly, her little voice calling to her cousin.
It was either terrifying or amazing.
14
They drove for hours, and Oliver mourned not seeing their house, but then they cleared the mountain peak to a huge set of gates, and they drove around and…
“It’s a castle.”
“It is.” Eagan seemed so tickled, which he got. The place was like a storybook.
“Eagan. Tyson has a castle.” He couldn’t believe this. Devon had said something about it, but he figured it was like a Victorian monstrosity, not a castle.
“He does. His predecessor had it brought over from Europe. I understand he occasionally goes all dragon and hangs off the main turret.”
“This is sort of incredibly cool.” He’d been bummed out, but now…this whole thing was fascinating. He wanted to explore.
“Mmm. It is. He really is going to build us an indoor pool, too.” Eagan glanced at him, those eyes wheeling with color.
“Oh yes… I bet they’re swimmers like us.” He stroked his swollen belly. “We’re home, little ones. With Uncle Brand and Tyson.”
There was a kicking and moving, and he thought they got it. Maybe they were just reacting to his happiness, his sudden relaxation. Who knew?
“Better, love?” Eagan asked as they pulled up in the huge circular drive cut into the rock.
