Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 4-5 Plus Love's Impulse

by L M Lacee

  Joy bounced on her toes. “I know right.” Then she took Harper’s hand and dragged her into what Harper thought was a walk in closet but to her surprise it was a small room. Joy spread her arms out and turned a full circle. “Look at this room, you can get all your clothes and shoes in here and even change your clothes, it is what they call a dressing room that is why there are mirrors.” Of which there were three full length ones. “Axl said in the old days, males and females had these. Ace has one as well.”

  Harper was impressed and tried to work out how she was ever going to fill it. Then she looked at the young girl. “So what is your room like?”

  “Umm we slept in the small lounge last night.” She said shyly. Harper’s mind went, we have a small lounge, meaning we have a large lounge. Oh well okay. What came out of her mouth was, “So you looked in all the rooms, what one did you like?”

  Joy smiled as she said, “The one with the white four poster bed want to see?” Ace came in and squeezed Harper’s shoulder lightly as she agreed. “Definitely then Clint’s room.” She asked Ace before they left their room. “Do you like the room?”

  He nodded. “What is there not to like?”

  “So we leave it.”

  “Yes.”

  Before they got to tour the rest of the apartment Frankie arrived. “Hey, I am here girl, are you all bonded and everything?”

  Harper sighed and said to the two teens “You guys know Frankie right?”

  They nodded eagerly, Harper smiled and said. “She is my friend and pain in my…”

  “Best friend!” Frankie said loudly covering Harper’s last word. Which made them all laugh, even Harper. She swept Harper into a hug and then Ace then proceeded to hug both teens. Clint went red, Joy just soaked it up which none of the adults missed. Frankie kept her hand on Joy’s arm as Harper growled. “Yeah… Yeah female. Do not hug me.”

  “Aww! Harper you know you love it, like you love me?”

  Harper sighed as she asked. “Why are you here?”

  “To look around with you. I took the whole day off.”

  “Why?” Harper whined and she was not ashamed, she did. With Frankie here the quick tour she was thinking of would now be a marathon adventure as they would have to stop at everything that caught her eye, and there would be so many things! “Did I tour your place?”

  Frankie laughed but Harper could see the hurt in her eyes as she said. “Well you would have if you had been home.” Damn it I am a bad friend, oops best friend! Harper thought, she growled out. “So today then. Did I say I wasn’t going too ever look at your place? No I did not think so!”

  Which made Frankie smile and wiggle with pleasure, after that what was there to say, Harper smiled. “We were going to go look at the lounges.”

  “Ooh! I love lounges.” Frankie said and skipped off with Joy, Clint grinned and followed saying “Let us check my room before Joy’s.” They heard Joy’s squeal of indignation. Ace kissed Harper. “You are the ‘bestest’ friend ever.”

  “Shut up. You will be buying me dinner steak, salad and chips, and I mean loads of chips.”

  “That sounds great, we are in.” Ash said as he walked in with Olinda followed by Ark and Axl who both carried babies. There was a quick shuffle as Ace reached for a baby. Harper asked no one in particular. “Does no one work anymore?”

  Olinda said. “Day off. Schools are closed. We have come to look. Frankie said we are all here for lunch.”

  Harper sighed. “Of course she did.”

  Olinda cocked her head to the side as she asked “Are you annoyed?”

  Harper grinned. “Now what would make you think that?”

  Olinda laughed. “Oh not enough sex. Yeah I get that, too bad the whole lot are coming.”

  Harper couldn’t help herself especially when she heard Ace or Ash groan at Olinda’s out spoken comment. She burst out laughing. “I adore you girlfriend, never change.”

  Olinda grinned. “Oh okay.”

  Harper said. “They are this way and took her to where they heard Frankie exclaiming over something. They ended up seeing the whole apartment which as Harper predicted took so much longer than she originally hoped it would. Storm arrived just after they had finished in the kitchen with Kelsey, Kammy, Molly and Cara in tow.

  ”Wow you are busy!” Harper said after she had been hugged and kissed by every little girl.

  “I am the designated baby sitter until three o’clock when their mama’s will relieve me.”

  “So you brought them all here?”

  He looked at her as if she made no sense. “There is to be lunch, they are young, they eat.”

  “Huh! I get that, well then you and the brothers are volunteered to go get it.”

  Storm eyed her suspiciously. “And you will watch them?”

  Harper said. “Uh huh!”

  Storm nodded in agreement and rounded up the Battle brothers, all four of them. Harper saw them leave as soon as Storm was gone, she yelled. “Frankie the girls have come to see you. Girls go find Frankie.”

  “Is it a game?” asked Kelsey.

  “Yep you bet it is, but Frankie is bad at it.”

  “Yea!” They all yelled and ran. Harper grinned pleased with herself until she turned around and came face to face with Grace and Verity who asked,

  “Was that wise?”

  “It wasn’t unwise.” Harper replied.

  “And do you know where they are?” Grace asked with a glint of laughter in her eyes.

  “Yep sure do!”

  “And where is that?” Verity asked in her lady of the castle voice.

  “With Frankie, Clint, Olinda and Joy.”

  “I see and this is what you agreed to with Storm?”

  “Yep they are being watched.”

  “Slippery!” Grace said to Verity.

  “Very.” answered Verity as they moved around Harper and started talking about the apartment.

  Harper breathed sigh of relief and grinned wide when she realized she had out thought the two Ladies.

  They all ended up in the lounge, the large one that came with a fireplace which she knew she was going to love. Joy and Clint picked out their bedrooms. Joy was in heaven Frankie told her when she found her on the floor. “Sorry for barging in.” said Frankie.

  Harper grinned. “Nah it’s all good, it’s fun and sorry about your place. I should have been there.”

  “Nah all good we will do it tomorrow when it is just us.”

  Harper sighed and held Frankie’s hand. “I would like that best friend.” Frankie laughed. “Good.”

  “I called Edith and said I would take Joy shopping this afternoon.” Frankie told her.

  Verity and Grace stepped into the lounge and found seats. “We will accompany you, she needs school clothes and shoes” Verity told Grace. “As well as school supplies.” Grace said.

  Joy told Harper as she entered and sat on the floor beside her. “I am to go to school.”

  Kelsey said. “Not mine, she is too big.”

  Harper said to Joy. “I am happy you are going.” She smiled at Kelsey. “Isn’t your school attached to Joy’s? So you can go with her.”

  “Oh yeah that would be good, you want to do that Joy?”

  “Yes please.”

  The guys came back loaded down with food from the famous hamburger place, they had brought Edith with them who the young girls were thrilled to see almost as much as the food.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

  H arper was sprawled on the floor of the lounge with all the young ones and teens around her. Verity, Grace, Frankie and Edith were on the crouches. All the males were either on couches or the floor it was hard to move as Harper had eaten so much. She remembered Joy mentioned to her about school just before the food came. She said. “Joy, did Rene` enrol you in school alright?”

  “Yes he put you and Ace down as parents was that alright?”

  “Well as we claimed or adopted you. I guess that was a good idea.” Harper said, Joy looked quietl
y satisfied with the answer. Ace smiled at Harper as Joy’s happiness spilled over, it was like sunshine glowed from her as she left to go see her room again still not believing the beautiful room with the white four poster bed that came with her own bathroom, was hers. Verity said. “She shines like her name.”

  Storm told all four Battle brothers. “Males are going to be panting after that one soon. You will have to be on your guard.”

  Four growls erupted and Ace said. “No she is a baby still.”

  Harper rolled over and did an eye roll towards Frankie and Edith saying. “Wolves mature faster than dragons, you are going to have to be prepared for that.”

  Ace’s voice became adamant. “No…No males she is a baby end of discussion!” He pointed at Harper. “You make sure she knows, no males.” Harper looked at Edith who rolled her eyes this time. Frankie asked. “Ever! That is kinda harsh, what if some guy, like a dragon you know claims her as his shadow what then?”

  Axl said. “He will not!”

  “Well there maybe someone out there for her, you cannot know there won’t be. Maybe another wolf or cat or someone.” Frankie thoughtfully said. Axl once again said. “There is not.” By now everyone was listening to the conversation and watching Axl become annoyed. Edith placed her hand on Frankie’s arm when she went to disagree with him. “Axl is Joy yours?”

  His eyes elongated and brown scales covered his arms and neck. MINE! His dragon hissed.

  Rene` coming into the room frowned. “She is too young you know this. Come with me and we will talk.” He looked at Ace and Harper. “Will you allow him to be near and protect her?” Ace nodded his eyes a little stunned. Harper frowned as she stood and everyone held their breaths as she said. “Rules! You will never be alone with her. She will go to school until she decides she is finished. She will train in whatever she wants to do and we for all intents and purposes are her parents. We will always have the last say. In saying that you may court her when she turns eighteen.”

  Axl nodded beyond speech as he turned to go with Rene`, he came face to face with Joy. She smiled shyly at him and said. “We agree to Harper’s terms?”

  He nodded stiffly and left. Harper asked. “You do not seem surprised?”

  Joy looked after Axl and then slowly turned to Harper. “Yeah my wolf has been antsy since yesterday when he brought the sandwich to me. She decided he brought food, he was worthy.”

  Ace asked. “So you are talking to her?”

  “Yes since yesterday.”

  “We will find a wolf to guide you.” He told her.

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  Harper grinned at Ace as she said. “Who? He will kill a male!”

  Ace looked at Frankie who said. “Oh yeah, I will handle that with Claire no problems.”

  Joy hugged Harper. “You okay with this?”

  “Yeah…Yeah, no hugging, now go away all of you. I need a nap.”

  She means S.E.X.Y times with Ace!” Frankie told them. “Frankie!” Harper yelled, as everyone laughed. “What it is true,”

  “Yep! Maybe. Leave my home.” Frankie grabbed Joy and left to shop with Grace and Verity who waved Ace away as he tried to give them money. Everyone else left. Clint shook his head and said. “Axl who knew, I am on duty until four. See you for dinner.”

  Harper groaned. “I forgot they will all be back.”

  “More of them probably.” Clint said as he left.

  “Is he necessary?” She asked Ace just before Clint left the room he laughed as Reighn entered and said.

  “Are you going to turn the smaller lounge into an entertainment theater that would be awesome?”

  When Harper groaned loudly Ace said. “My love it is a home theater.” Which put paid to her alone time with Ace as she sighed resignedly while she returned to lying on the floor with the young girls around her! Storm, Reighn, Ace and Ark fell to discussing the merits of a home theater, Harper asked Kelsey if Dragon Lords were allowed to say Awesome! She giggled. Sometime later Charlie arrived with two Faeries. “Hey your people are here!” She called out as she came into the lounge. “We have people now?” Harper asked Ace.

  Sage walked in. Harper asked Ace again. “Does no one knock?”

  “Apparently not.” He answered as he stood to shake hands with the Faeries.

  “So grumpy and newly bonded, sad not enough S.E.X.?” Sage sang with a smirk.

  “Huh so speaks the lady with puffy ankles.” Harper snarked back. Charlie laughed as Ace helped Harper up off the floor. Sage snarled. “They are not swollen!”

  Harper just raised her eyebrows. Charlie said to Harper, forestalling a battle. “Let me introduce you, these are both former guards to the Queen of Sands Grove they have been trained in combat and housekeeping also, Echo is a chef and this is Selby she will be your housekeeper, organizer and general girl Friday.”

  “Yeah but can she wrangle a teenage boy and girl?”

  Selby looked at Harper with serious eyes. “Yes.”

  “Well okay.” Harper stated as she looked at Ace who asked. “Please come tomorrow and you can meet Clint and Joy, also we will sit down and decide on meals and duties.”

  After the faeries had gone Sage inquired. “So did Reighn tell you?”

  “Tell me what he came in and home entertainment sprang up.”

  “Seriously!” Sage looked at her shadow who stared back at her then mumbled. “It is fairly important my love to arrange it now.”

  Harper told Sage. “And he said, awesome! Kelsey and I are not sure he is allowed to say that, are we Kelsey?”

  Kelsey solemnly said. “We are not!” Which ended when Reighn picked her up and hung her upside down, causing her to giggle uncontrollably. Sage shook her head. “Sad my love. Sad!”

  “So he was meant to tell us what?” Harper asked as she watched Kelsey dangling from Reighn’s hand.

  Sage told her. “He arranged the meeting for ten tomorrow morning, is that okay?” Ace asked. “What meeting?”

  Harper with her eyes on Charlie replied. “With Queen Scarlett and King Elijah.”

  “Ahh! I see.”

  Charlie’s head whipped around from her giggling daughter. “You are just going to talk to them?”

  “What is with that? Just talk!”

  “Well you know?”

  “No not really, do you want to explain it?”

  “My Goddess you are so touchy did you not get enough S.E.X last night?”

  “Why is everyone saying that?”

  Ace smiled. “Because you are bonded my heart and they are nosy.”

  “Huh that makes sense.” She gave Charlie a hard look and said to Sage. “Tomorrow at ten is good. So you Reighn, me and Ace. Charlie and Storm right.”

  “That was what we told them.”

  “Well okay, should be fun.” The room went quiet.

  “What…What! I can have fun without mayhem.”

  “Well of course you can. I have seen it!” Reighn agreed solemnly, somehow no one believed him. Harper sighed loudly at the idiots!

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:

  N ext morning Ace rolled Harper out of bed early. It was Joy’s first day of school, she was nervous. “What if they don’t like me?”

  “They will, what is not to like?” Ace quietly assured her.

  “My hair, my clothes?”

  “Frankie and Verity and Grace would not have dressed you in something horrible.” Harper said trying to calm the teenager. “You look good.”

  “Maybe, I should change again?”

  “How many outfits so far?” Ace asked before Harper could say what she was working up too which he knew would be along the lines of, I will kill you if you don’t shut up. “Eight!” She answered Ace.

  “You look great.” He told her again.

  “What if they make fun of me?”

  “I will come and kill every one of them.” Harper told her straight faced. Joy gulped and said. “Oh! Well what if…”

  “Jeez shut up, they will like you. You a
re nice and likable, now eat your food.” Snarled Clint.

  Joy grinned. “Oh okay then.” And applied herself to the eggs Ace had cooked. Clint rolled his eyes. “Girls!” He muttered. Harper took a step towards Joy with a snarl on her face. Ace moved in front of her and gave her a cup of coffee saying. “Kill? You cannot kill anyone who upsets her. Or her!”

  “I beg to differ on both counts.”

  He sighed. “My shadow you must promise you will not.”

  She sighed as she looked at their faces, Clint looked amused which she was coming to see was his normal look, at least around her. Ace looked expectant and Joy had a look that wavered between horrified and disbelief. “Fine! No killing, happy now?”

  “Immensely!” Ace told her.

  Things went smoothly after that Ace and Harper finally said goodbye to Joy and Clint when Tansy and Molly arrived to go to school. The last they saw of a nervously excited Joy was her hand holding Molly’s as she told Joy all about the playground they could play on.

  A little before ten o’clock Ace and Harper called the lift to their floor. The meeting was being held in Reighn’s conference room on the main level.

  Scarlett was nervous. “Will she be very angry?” She asked Charlie who with Sage, Reighn and Storm had entered only moments ago. Charlie shrugged. “I don’t know she wasn’t yesterday, in fact she was happy.”

  Reighn reminded them all. “Remember she was the one to ask for this meeting.”

  “Oh well maybe she has forgiven us.” Scarlett said hopefully.

  “Let’s not ask for miracles too early.” Sage muttered.

  “Well aren’t you just cheerful.” Charlie snarked as Sage shot back. “It is Harper!” Just then the door opened and Frankie walked in. “Why are you here. Is she not coming?” Sage asked worried they had all come here for nothing.

  “No… I mean yes, she is coming.” She hurriedly said as Scarlett gasped.

  “Harper asked me to come at dinner last night, she said I would keep you all calm. Are you all calmed?”

  Scarlett and Elijah along with Sage laughed at the outrageous female. Charlie grinned. “You are crazy.”