Milo: Xavier’s Hatchlings ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

“We have contacts all over the world. Mostly it’s through one channel or another that leads us to them, but we do have some pretty important people on our list. They can move things around so we don’t have to go through as much red tape as it normally would take.” She asked if the hospital was one of them. “In a way. We don’t do things that would cause harm to anyone else, but this was something that was greatly needed, and moving through the red tape would have cost more time than we thought was necessary. So, they just hurried things along for us.”

  “I’m glad. I’ve heard that we’re getting applicants out the ass for this. A lot of them knew that if the Mannings were involved, it would be a good project, or job in this case, to be a part of. It must be nice to have that much goodwill from people.” Cindi pointed out that she, too, had that sort of goodwill. “I do, I guess. But I’m just happy to be Milo’s wife.”

  With another hug, Cindi laughed. “We’re happy to have you as Milo’s wife as well, my dear. You’re good for him. And the rest of them. When I saw what the other two did to him at the ceremony, I nearly laughed out loud. My goodness, you’ve gotten close to all of us in a very short amount of time.”

  “Pem and I have been friends since our days in the service. But Rachel seemed to fit right in with us too.” They were walking around the backyard now—the house was quite full, it seemed. “We’re going to have someone come out and find the graves at the end of the property. I guess there are a lot of places around here that have graves from big houses. We’re going to see what we can find out about them.” Cindi told her that Milo had told her that. “He’s going to write a book about this house. Not that he cares if it’s a bestseller or not, but he’s getting insider information that will really make it true.”

  “He’d not mentioned that to me. I think that’s a wonderful idea. Milo and the boys have done just about everything, but Milo seemed to excel at writing. There was a time when I think he wrote several children’s books and illustrated them. I’ll have to look for them for you. I have the originals for each of them.” Jamie asked if she wanted to keep them. “No. I’m handing them off to a person I know will take care of them. And you’ll enjoy reading them to your children, I believe.”

  “We’re going to have children if we can. I guess we’re still trying to figure things like that out.” Cindi said it was mostly trial and error on things they were able to do. “That’s what Rachel told me. She said she and Finn wouldn’t be able to have children, they didn’t think. That’s so sad for them. But they’re going to try and adopt as many children as they can.”

  “If you’re worried that we won’t love them as much as we would biological grandchildren, I want to point out that neither Milo nor George is ours.” Jamie told her it never entered her mind. “Good. I didn’t want you to think I was going to be a terrible grandmother.”

  “Never. I know you and Xavier will be the best grandparents. I’m hoping you’ll spoil them and love them as much as you possibly can.” Jamie looked at her mother-in-law. “In order to do that, however, I’m thinking you’ll need to purchase a home here and live near your children. I know for a fact that is what Milo is hoping you’ll do.”

  “We thought about it a great deal, to be honest with you. While we do have businesses at home, they’re not as fun as helping my boys with their projects.” Jamie asked her if they were moving. “Yes. We’ve already found a house to live in. We’re going to live in the one Milo gave up to live here, which, I’m telling you right now, I’m sorely jealous about. This is a home that will have memories forever, I’m thinking.”

  “Not all of them good ones, but the bad ones are fading quickly now. I want to see my children playing in the backyard with the animals and faeries. Having them have sleepovers.” Cindi asked her if those were the things she’d done. “No. I wasn’t really a kid that had much in the way of friends. Mostly because of my parents. I know that now. I thought it was just me being the odd kid out, but I’ve come to realize it was because they were so odd. They never went to school functions. They didn’t even go to my graduation, citing that they had more important things to do. Which is exactly what they told me. After a while, I just didn’t mention anything to them and moved out as soon as I was able. I think they wouldn’t have put up a fuss if I’d moved out even earlier, so long as I wasn’t bothering them.”

  “I would like to say that wasn’t true, but I’ve spoken to them on several occasions. They wish to speak to you. Mostly I think it’s to tell you how disappointed they are in what you’ve done. But then, I do believe you’re strong enough to know what you’ve accomplished is well beyond anything they did with their lives, and they should move on.” She asked her if she’d send them to the white room. “No. Not yet, at any rate. They’re only annoying to me, and I think that is because of the relationship you and I have. I want to smack them around, to be honest with you.”

  “Can you do that?”

  Cindi laughed as they entered the house again. Jamie loved this woman and thought she’d have been a wonderful mother to her. But then, she’d not have been able to marry Milo, and that was much more important than having a good mom. Besides, she thought to herself, her parents had made her what she was today, and that was what she needed right now.

  Winnie found them once things started to die down around the house. Most of the guests had left, but her new family had stuck around. They were going to clean up after they left for the island. It never occurred to her to ask Winnie how she was going to take them both, and when she took their hands, and they were suddenly there, Jamie squealed in delight. It was much nicer than she could have imagined.

  Then they were alone. In the middle of a large sea with nothing more than their wits to entertain themselves. She was going to entertain the fuck out of Milo.

  ~*~

  Milo watched Jamie sleep. She’d worn the two of them out so much last night after they’d had supper that he was sure they’d sleep the day away. Today they were going to go swimming, and then try and catch their food. If that didn’t work out for them, Winnie had told them there was a faerie on the island just for them, and all they had to do was call for him. Benji was enjoying the fruits of the island while he was there as well.

  “You should know I can tell when you’re awake. While you don’t snore all that loudly, you do it on occasion.” Jamie turned toward him and smiled. “Good morning, husband of mine.”

  “I do not snore, and hello, my wife.” He felt sappy when he said that, knowing full well he did indeed snore. But kissing Jamie on her back, he watched her stretch. “Are you hungry? Benji was by earlier and told me he brought us some fruit to have with our breakfast. I’m not sure what he considers fruit here, but there are some very pretty shells on the platter as well. Want to get up or eat later?”

  “Now. I’m starving. I only just realized.” When she stood up and stretched again, he had to bite his tongue rather than beg her to come back to bed with him. “I can feel your hard-on all the way over here. How about we have a shower together and— I wasn’t finished, Milo.”

  He’d leapt from the bed so quickly she laughed at him. “I know, but you’re pushing all the right buttons for me to take you again. By the way, I’ve been warned that making love on the beach isn’t all that romantic. There is just too much sand getting into places it shouldn’t be.”

  When she laughed, heading to the shower, he followed her. Since he’d had one earlier, he sat on the toilet and talked to her. There was plenty enough going on without him trying to make love to her while she was showering. When the water was turned off, he headed to the kitchen to make them something to eat. Aunt Winnie was standing in the kitchen.

  Don’t speak. He nodded and looked around. I want you to go to the water’s edge and wait for Hudson. He’s going to take you—

  Not without Jamie. She looked pissed but then nodded at him. Can you tell me what’s going on? What is coming for us?

&nb
sp; Not you, but Jamie. And it’s too complicated right now. Please, do just what I tell you. He promised her he would so long as Jamie was safe. I’m going to go and get her. You don’t move, Milo. Not that you can die, but they’ll harm you in a way that you’ll regret being alive. All right?

  When he nodded, his aunt disappeared. As soon as she was gone, he could hear the sound of people moving along the outside of the house. There were sounds he didn’t know as well. When something broke just behind him, Uncle Hudson appeared and wrapped him in his arm. He was at his home just as Winnie appeared with Jamie in her arms. Then both his aunt and uncle disappeared, and they were left standing in their living room. Mom came out of the kitchen and hugged them both. Milo asked her what was going on.

  “It’s terrible. Jamie, your parents have taken out a contract on you and Milo. They’ve been able to tell someone where you are and that you’re worth a great deal of money. They were to take you out to the middle of the ocean and drop you in it. Both of you. While you’d live forever, you’d not be found for perhaps centuries. The waters are too vast, and finding you the way they were to drop you would have not had you touching the earth.” He asked his mom how they were to do that. “Tie you both to blocks of concrete with ropes, and drop you over the boat they came in. I’m sorry. So sorry about this.”

  “I know what we are to you.” Mom nodded at Jamie. “We’re to assist you with the dead. We’re going to end them. All manner of the dead that causes trouble.”

  He didn’t understand. Milo wanted to ask what Jamie meant, but Uncle Hudson returned and smiled at them both. Not sure how to understand the smile, he asked him if his aunt was all right.

  “Yes. The men are being brought before Cooper. He’s taking care that they have a good understanding of how not to treat a dragon when he’s a nephew of the king. I don’t think they’ll be long for this world.” Milo started to point out he wasn’t a dragon when his uncle put up his hand. “You are. You’re the son of a dragon, which carries as much weight as any one of us would. Cooper is about as pissed off as I’ve ever seen him. And Christ, don’t get me started on Carson. She was ready to have them all burnt without a trial.”

  They waited on Winnie to return. When she did, she sat down and asked for a glass of juice and smiled at them both. She didn’t look the least bit happy or cheerful, and he was sure she knew that. Instead of explaining what was going on, she looked at Jamie.

  “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?” Jamie said she had, but not all of it. “I’ll help where I can, but I think once you start thinking about it, you’ll see that the two of you are the perfect choice in this. Milo is strong-willed, and you’re both smart. I never thought of the need for the dead to be destroyed, but now that I’ve done some research on it, I can see where it would be very helpful to both worlds.”

  “How do you kill the dead? That seems redundant if you ask me.” Jamie said it was destroy, not kill. “I don’t understand the difference. How do you destroy someone that isn’t living in the first place?”

  “Do you remember Stanley and David? Nephews of Pem?” Milo said he did, but Jamie had to be filled in on the story. Mom explained the way they were sent to the white room.

  “So they’re there. In their own section of the rooms. Are you telling me that it’s not enough?”

  “No. Not just them, but Caroline, their mother too. They’re poison, you see. Their anger is seeping through the walls and into the world there. Not that they can reach one another, but it’s still being poisoned with their anger—their evilness, I guess you could call it. They need to be erased, I guess, is a better word for them. The same with Jamie’s parents. What they did with trying to have you killed is against all laws. And while I can send them away, with the poison that is already there, I fear it will be only a matter of time until it’s no longer going to hold them. There isn’t any telling what sort of monstrous creatures will be able to come through once they figure out that the rooms are nothing more than a place in their mind. They’re all there together, in this place, without the ability to see or speak to one another. Because they simply do not have any idea where they are.”

  “So what you’re telling me is this white room, it’s nothing more than something that you’ve planted into their minds that makes them think they’re alone and without sound.” His mom nodded at Milo. “I thought for sure it was a place, but I did wonder when you filled it, where you were to put ghosts after that.”

  “To be honest with you, son, we both thought it was a place. As part of the magic we got, nowhere was it explained until we realized that there was trouble brewing. Then when we got more information on it, we realized the problem was part of us sending them along. The magic we give them when they’re not for this world.” Milo asked his dad what they were going to do now. “I’m not entirely sure how it works, but you and Jamie will destroy the people that are even now causing us trouble. Such as Stanley and David and your parents, Jamie.”

  “All right. We’ll do it. But I want to talk to them first. Will that be all right?” Milo looked at Jamie and asked her if she’d heard them about her parents. “I did. I know them well enough to know they’re nothing but troublemakers. When I think about growing up, they were forever doing things to stir shit up until there were fights all over the town. Once, when I was about eight, they got into it with the paperboy. While that sounds harmless enough, they got the boy fired, and his parents lost their jobs as well. Not only that, but the people had to move away without a forwarding address because they had been blamed for things that were not their doing. My parents thought it was funny.”

  They were to call them forth, but Jamie asked for time to gather some information. Milo asked to help her, and she agreed. He had no idea what sort of information she’d need to settle up with the dead, much less her parents, but he was willing to help in any way he could.

  “By the way, we’re moving into your old house, Milo.” He stared at his parents for several seconds before he got up and pulled them into his arms. “We weren’t sure you’d want us to. Not with you being newly married, and the other two practically newlyweds as well. But we want to be close for grandchildren. You six are the first to move away, and we wanted to be with you through this time in your life. We’ll not be a bother.”

  “Yes, you will, and I will love every second of it.” They laughed with Jamie as she continued. “I need to be a good mom, and I can’t think of better people than the two of you to help me with that. Even if we’re only to have human children, they still will need the very best in the way of grandparents.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  As they parted ways, Milo had to think that he was getting off easy here. He didn’t know what was in store for them as destroyers of the dead, but he was sure it wouldn’t be as easy as he could think it would be.

  Just as he was sitting down to begin working on the foundation paperwork, Nelly joined him.

  “Is it true that you’re going to be writing a book, young man?” He asked her if that would be all right with her. “So long as you don’t try and make us out to be more than we are. You will need to write the truth, not some trumped-up version of what you think will sell. Does that matter to you? That it sells?”

  “No. Like you said, I want the truth out there. I can’t think of a better way of getting it out there than with you and the others telling it to me. I think a great many people will be entertained with just the name of Darkhouse and how it came about. Not to mention all the treasures we’re hoping to unearth in the sublevels here. We never did get back to that.”

  “You will. I’m not sure when, but I have no doubt you will. There are a great many treasures, as you call them, down there. Not like money, but some things that will be of great value all the same.” He asked her if any of it would be show worthy, as in putting it in a museum. “Oh, I would think so. Especially since the Darks were the first family here. Did you kno
w that? We traveled very far to come here and settle. It was a good place for the first family to come. I think you would be well served to talk to all of them, the generations from the start. While a lot of them didn’t live in the house back then, there were lean-tos that they used as their makeshift homes until this house was finished.”

  “I’d like that. Very much so. Do you know them?” She said she did and that their names were in the big Bible that he’d find too. “That would be a treasure, I think. To be able to show it off. Much like the book that Dawn cares for. I think people would be interested in something like that.”

  “I do believe there are records that you can find. We would hide away things like the Bible and other things that meant a great deal to us so they’d not be stolen. Sometimes they’d be gotten by varmints, but we learned ways of keeping them away over the decades. I have noticed that there are no such creatures around now that you’re living here. I think it has to do with all the magic you have, as well as having dragons around a great deal. You’re good for such things.”

  He wasn’t sure if she was insulting him or not, so he didn’t comment. When her laughter rang through the room he was in, Milo had to smile. He was going to write this book for her. And when it was finished, he was going to dedicate it to her laughter. The sound of it should be bottled, he thought, for all the sadness in the world. It was, he thought, as contagious as a child’s laughter or even that of a baby. He found it impossible to feel bad after hearing any of them.

  Finding all the pictures that Nelly had told them about made things easier to date. While there were not a lot of names on the back of some of them, Nelly and a couple of other ghosts were able to help with that. Some of them even remembered years that they’d been born and died, but nothing more about their lives. He was able to put together a good line of their tree by the time supper was called. When Jamie joined him, he asked her how her research was going.

  “Remind me never to try and hide anything from your family. They have an ability to find things that are scary.” He laughed when she did. “I’ve been able to get everything I need, and then some. I’m pleased with the information, don’t get me wrong, but my parents were not nice people. Nor were those kids. I’m thinking they should have been in some sort of special place since the day they learned to walk. They were just plain evil.”