“What’s for dinner?” Lucien asked, his voice carrying its normal no-nonsense authoritative tone. “My Quinn and I need to eat.”
Quinn had yet to sit down beside Lucien before the table erupted with cheers and clapping. Congratulations and cheers of joy from deep masculine voices filled the large area. Quinn didn’t know if she wanted to blush again or tell them to settle down and eat. It was hard to believe, but she felt part of this Clan, and family.
Lucien was beyond gentlemanly, fixing her a plate of food and bringing it to her at the table. She could get used to being treated like a queen. Looking down the table, she noticed Lucien’s quiet brother, Blaise, smiling and clapping for them. There was a complicated look riding his expression, though. It was as if he was happy, lonely and… conflicted about something all at once. Quinn itched to make her way down to where he sat off to himself, but Lucien had a hand locked on her thigh under the table. That man loved touching her and being connected all the time. Then the knowledge that he hadn’t had the touch of a woman he cared about for most of his adult life convicted her of insensitivity to her mate’s needs. Quinn placed a hand on top of his.
Greg made his way down to where they sat. When he and Lucien started to talk, she attempted to inch away. Lucien’s hand on her thigh stayed her. Quinn could have sworn she heard him say in her head, “don’t go.” Shaking it off, she looked down at the spot where Blaise had been. The quiet man had left the area.
“Quinn, may I speak with you for a moment?”
Quinn swiveled around to see Hildy standing a few feet behind her chair. The look the woman wore was a mix of trepidation and courage. Quinn immediately softened doing her best to give her new friend a warm and inviting smile.
“Sure, Hildy, what’s up?” she said, offering her the empty seat next to her.
Quinn felt more than saw the intense attention Ajax gave them from his spot at the other end of the table.
“I won’t keep you from eating too long. Wanted to clear the air between us.”
“Hildy, there’s nothing you need to do. We’re good, promise.”
“No, if we’re going to live here together, I want you to understand what I am and not be afraid of me. I would never do anything to harm Ajax, any of them or you. This is my family, and I want you to hear it from me that I mean you no harm.”
“I know that now. I seem to know a lot more than this morning.” Quinn put down her fork and turned toward Hildy to show her interest in this conversation. “Hildy, I freaked out and made a fool out of myself earlier. It’s me who should be asking you to forgive me.”
“Nah, we’re all good. This is new territory for me. All my life I hid what I was. The guys were the only ones to accept and help me understand what and who I am.” Hildy reached out a timid hand that Quinn quickly took. “Quinn, for the first time I know that I’m not a monster and that it’s okay not to be fully human. And before you have to ask, I’m a Siren. I’m able to fly and fight. Ajax and I are training to be able to go into the field soon. Now that you’re a part of the Dragofin Clan, I have to let you know that you’ll be seeing us do drills and grow as a fighting team. It might look like we’re doing things to cause each other harm, especially when I have to kick Ajax’s ass—”
“Hey! I can hear you!” Ajax yelled from the other end of the table.
Hildy waved him off and continued, “We do some sparring and train hard, but it’s done so that we’ll be a well-tuned fighting unit soon. I hope that answers your question from earlier about what I am.” Hildy paused and took a breath. Then she said, “I have to get one more thing off my chest. When you called me a beast earlier, it hurt my feelings. No, I’m not fully human like you, but I do have feelings and have worked hard to embrace who I am.”
Moisture clung to Quinn’s waterline as she considered how much damage her earlier tirade had caused. “Wow, you’re a real life Siren, like from mythology?”
“Something like that, but not entirely. I’m still adjusting to it and learning all my abilities. That’s another reason why Ajax and I are training.”
“I’m impressed.” Quinn looked into the woman’s beautiful face and noted an awkwardness that she hadn’t seen before. Hildy could use friends, and she planned to be a great one to her. “Hildy, I’m so sorry for before. With all my heart I apologize for that and plan to make it up to you. You’re my friend, and I should have listened instead of judging. People like me can’t throw stones. I too found out that I’m not all the way human either.”
Hildy squeezed her hand, and it seemed as if the entire room grew quiet. “No? What are you then, if I may ask?”
Quinn twisted to look back at Lucien who was still talking with Greg and asked, “Babe, you said I’m a… it’s a woman’s name…” Lucien looked at her with a hint of caution. She shook it off and dug a little deeper to remember since it seemed he would be no help. Men—outside the bedroom they had the memory of a puff of air. “Ooh, I remember. I’m a Sibyl. Yeah, stuff keeps coming to me and I’m so excited to be a part of everything happening. I told Lucien when I go with him on the—”
Lucien spoke up, drowning her out. “My Quinn, we’ll have plenty of time to fill everyone in on the new things happening when the guys and I get back. Greg was reminding me that it’s time for us to go.”
The room still held her in its focus as everyone, including Wren, stared at her. Did she have antennae coming out of the top of her head?
“What?” she asked, not understanding what she’d done to get such a reaction.
Greg looked at her and then back to Lucien. “She’s a Sibyl? Are, are you certain? She’s…” he looked at Quinn, sQuinnting and twisting his face up. “Luc, oh my Goddess—she is! Do you know what this means?”
Quinn sat in silence as her mate nodded his head and the other men who were still in the room got up to come closer. Her sensory perception had increased to a sensitivity that bordered on bothersome. Breathing, more smells, sounds, the taste of the air, the feeling of the transfer of non-verbal communication between her and Lucien as he continued to hold onto her leg and too many other stimuli crowded in.
As if knowing what she needed, Lucien said to the room, “Back up and give my mate some space. This is new for her. Like I said, we’ll have plenty of time to explore this once we get back from this quick assignment. Ivan, the Twins, Drew and Sasha are still at the other location, so it’ll be us here this time.” Looking over to Ajax, he said, “Jax, you’re in charge while we’re gone. I’m trusting you to watch over the ladies until we return. I’m going to say this again, no visitors—period—any of you,” he said looking at the women in the room. “Greg’s gotten me up to speed and this is more of a routine maintenance run than anything else. We should be back in a few days.” When he looked over to Quinn, her heart caught in her throat. He didn’t want to leave her and she didn’t want to be separated from him. As if in a whisper of promise, she knew he sent her a secret assurance that the team would be back as soon as possible. To everyone, he said, “We leave in fifteen minutes. Finish up your meal and meet me at the wall.”
Quinn looked away and at the crowd in time to see Matt’s longing look at Wren. Her friend stared down at her food, pushing it around her plate. Quinn sent out a mental nudge to Wren, hoping the woman would look up and say something, anything, to Matt before he left. To her astonished amazement, Wren looked over at her with an odd expression and then to Matt. Quinn held her breath watching as Wren stood, walked around the table to stand before Matt and extended her arms for him to give her a hug.
“Good girl,” Quinn whispered, seeing how much this gesture meant to Matt.
He rose and bent down to swallow her short friend up in a bear hug. The exchange was sweet, innocent, and respectful. Quinn could still see the sparks that ignited around them as they clung to each other. Would this be how her life was now? Would she continue to see between the air to behold the formally unseen? Or, was this a mating high that would wear off soon? Either way, her lif
e was new and beginning, that she knew for certain.
She could make out what Matt said to Wren, asking her to stay until he returned. To Quinn’s relief, Wren agreed to stay and gave him a kiss on the cheek. When Matt released her, he stuck out his chest and strutted to another room, close to the entrance of the building. Wren stared after him, nibbling at the tip of her thumb as she did. Quinn loved seeing the blossoming of love and courtship. It wasn’t clear how she did, but Quinn knew Matt was taking it slow and courting her friend, like Wren needed. For that, Quinn vowed to accept Matt and give him the chance Lucien said he deserved.
Speaking of the man of her dreams, Lucien squeezed her hand as he stood. She followed suit and gave him a hug and kiss so passionate, heat rushed to her lady bits.
“I’ve got to go, but Greg said they brought your things over from Wren’s. Ajax will take them up to the fifth floor for you to have them.”
Quinn heard Ajax off in the distance say, “I’m not the damn bellboy around here!”
To that, Lucien said, “I know but if anything happens to my mate or these ladies while I’m gone, you might as well move to another galaxy because there’ll be no place to hide here. Understand me, Jax?”
Ajax’s reply of “Yeah” and some mumbling brought a grin to Quinn.
“Yeah is what I thought,” Lucien said to the retreating man.
Quinn asked him, “Why do you all give him such a hard time. He’s grown but you all treat him like he’s still a teenager?”
“That’s because in our culture he’s still young. Jax will join with his Dragon, a symbol of full maturity and manhood, on his thirtieth birthday in April. He’s been here on Earth with us since he was a hatchling, and so we’ve raised him here through his formative years. I guess we’re giving him a hard time because we know he’s a man now. Its hard to see our little brother turn into the man he’s destined to become.
“Did you say he was a hatchling? Lucien, are you all hatched from an egg instead of a human-like birth?” Quinn hadn’t thought about that. There was no way she’d be able to get her mind around having kids that would be hatched instead of born.
“Settle down Quinn, no we’re not literally hatched from an egg. My mother gave birth to each of us the way humans do. We use different terminology. Trust me, my Quinn I would have mentioned something as important as you having to incubate eggs if that had been the case. We are humanoid, not humans from this planet is all.”
“Whew! Not gonna lie, that one had my heart pumping there.” Quinn looked over to where Ajax was laughing at something Hildy said and marveled at how human he was. Outside of the ability to become a Dragon in a few months, the only thing unusual about him would be his jaw-dropping good looks and physique.
“He’s already beaten us in some ways. He was the first to join with his mate. Plus, he does a lot on the surface that demonstrates he’s grown up.”
Quinn looked over at Ajax, as he helped lug the large duffels the men used down a darkened hallway. Then she asked Lucien, “Is his age the reason why he’s staying here and not going with you all on this assignment?”
“In a way. A Dragon Guardian must have joined with his Dragon before taking any assignments. There are certain duties we perform that can only be done as full Dragons. That’s why he and Hildy are practicing together. She’s a Warrior Siren, accustomed to battle, fighting and killing. They’ll need to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, plus learn how to work together before I’ll allow them to go to the portal.”
“I see. So that means I’ll start my battle training when you get back as well? I’ll have to work on the height issue but with some help, I’m certain I can overcome it and fly with you when you’re in your gorgeous Dragon form.”
His eyes narrowed and he said low enough for only her ears, “No you won’t be doing any battle training, but it turns me on that you find my Dragon form sexy.”
“We’ll see about that. Go,” she said giving his wide chest a push, “so you can hurry up and get back to me.”
He kissed her again, long and hard before leaving down the darkened hallway with the others. When Quinn started to walk after him in that direction, Ajax stopped her with a gentle hand and shake of his head.
“No, you haven’t been taught how to enter the maze. That hallway leads to a junction to the portal. As part of the Lair’s wards of protection, it’s also a maze that could put you in some far away galaxy. I don’t want Luc killing me because I lost his mate somewhere over countless worlds as soon as he left.”
Nothing Ajax said made complete sense, but she didn’t push the issue. Instead, she put on a smile and sought to lighten the mood.
“Now that the guys are gone, do y’all want to do something cool? I don’t know, maybe we could rent some movies or something and hang out?”
Wren spoke up, excitement lacing her voice. “Ooh I know! I could make some popcorn and fun little cupcakes that we could munch on. What do you think?”
Ajax’s eyes grew wide. “You can cook?” he asked Wren.
“Well, yeah. I’m also a pastry chef when I’m not hanging out in a cross-dimensional space that defies even theoretical quantum physics.”
His eyes glazed over when Wren announced she could cook. “You cook—you’re so pretty,” he said looking at her dreamily. That managed to get a swift slap on the back of the head from Hildy.
“Hello mate? I said I’d learn. Stop drooling over Wren before you catch a case from me and the Gryphon. I’m standing right here.”
Both Quinn and Wren couldn’t help but laugh. These two were hilarious. The part about the Gryphon had been said so quickly, she wasn’t sure Wren had honed in on what Hildy meant. She wouldn’t put it past Matt to be protective of Wren from anyone, including his family.
“So are we going to do this or what?” Quinn asked, not wanting to give up a chance to eat some of Wren’s to-die-for cupcakes.
“Yeah, we can make that happen, need to go to the store to pick up the ingredients,” Ajax said.
“And you have a kitchen for her to cook in?” Quinn asked.
“Of course we have a kitchen—fully equipped too—no food in it. It’s mostly unused but would love to finally see some experienced cooking action. We’re not barbarians around here,” Ajax said, giving them a smile that reminded her of her Lucien.
“All right then. Let’s get going. I’ll make my list on the way. The faster we get back, the sooner I can have the cupcakes ready. I’m thinking about making caramel corn too.”
“Ooh yes! I love your caramel corn,” Quinn said. “Let’s go!”
Wren looked at the group. “It won’t take all us going will it? I mean, Ajax may we borrow your car? Quinn can drive me and we’ll be right back. You and Hildy can get the movies ready. I’m down for anything that isn’t scary.”
Ajax screwed up his face that way he did when he didn’t like what was being said. “I have a better idea. How about I drive you to the store? You go in, get what you need while I wait in the car and then we come back. I don’t do too well with being in grocery stores these days.” Hildy rolled her eyes at the obviously secret running joke between them. He added, “Hildy can order the movies and Quinn can relax a bit. If I know my brother, he was all intense and had you talking forever.”
“Yeah, something like that,” Quinn said, inwardly smiling at all the other stuff they did besides talking. “If Hildy’s okay with Wren going with you, then I’m cool.”
Hildy had already started clearing the table of food. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good with it. Nobody wants him but me anyway. Hurry back, it’s getting dark, and I don’t want to be waiting all night to eat cupcakes.”
Ajax went over and gave her a kiss. Turning around to look at Wren, he said, “Grab whatever you need except money—I’ve got that, and I’ll meet you at the door. There’s a grocery store Hildy, and I haven’t managed to get banned from not far from here.”
When Hildy laughed, Quinn joined in not quite sure what that joke was abou
t. Wren and Ajax left, leaving them to straighten up. When they were finished and climbing stairs to Hildy and Ajax’s room on the third floor, Quinn realized how tired she was. It was amazing how much energy went into a phenomenal lovemaking session. Her grin surely rivaled the Cheshire Cat as she stifled a yawn and prepared to settle down for the evening with friends who had now become family.
27
Lucien… 3rd Division Station of the Southwestern Quadrant—Internal Earth
“It’s not necessary, we’re fine,” Matt said. “I’m stronger from being around Wren. Plus, there’s no way I can go near a priestess now, you know that, Luc.”
Lucien did know all too well what Matt referred to. Being with his mate made any other woman a repellant. Looking over at the others, he asked, “Are you sure about this? I still think you should consider doing a ritual cleansing before we go out. It’s only been a few days since we were here. You haven’t had enough time to enter a deep sleep. I know how tired you all are. Last call for reasons why I shouldn’t make you go to the temple.”
Blaise spoke up, “I’m sure. Got no desire to be with anyone but my mate. I can feel her coming soon. I’m good. Let’s do this and get back. The faster we do, the faster my mate will show up. Or did you forget yours and Matt’s were standing in the Lair waiting for you when we got back last time?”
Lucien had to admit this was new. Blaise usually didn’t have too much to say. Now, he was a convincing orator, speaking up for the group.
Greg chimed in, “I too agree with our brother, Blaise. The momentum of excitement that burns within me is for the impending arrival of my mate. I have no desire to sully or dampen that with another visit to the temple. Lucien, you’re the poster boy for why we’re going to forgo the ritual this time. Seeing is believing. Your energy level is higher than we’ve seen in many years. This all from spending a few days with your mate. It’s miraculous in its wonder.”
Lucien: Dragofin Mated: Book 2 (Dragonfin Clan Mated) Page 21
