Page 68 of Brandt's Rule

“Thank you for allowing me to visit,” Tempest told Delilah and smiled politely. But when the Dragon crouching inside the woman reached out, feeling for Tempest’s Dragon, challenging Tempest’s strength, Tempest couldn’t help but push back just a little. Tempest dropped just enough of her walls to let the woman’s Dragon feel a sample of what she kept hidden there.

The force was felt by all in the room, some hunching their shoulders, some calling out in surprise, but none felt it as strongly as the woman standing in front of Tempest. It was she after all that had poked the Dragon, Tempest’s Dragon, so to speak.

Kaid stepped up to try to stand in front of Delilah, but Delilah, unable to speak, tapped him on the shoulder to make him move aside.

“Monster,” Kaid said, his concern clear, but when he turned to look at Delilah to be sure she was alright, he found her out of breath, one arm crossed over her stomach as she tried to control herself.

“Delilah?” he asked again, more concerned.

Delilah looked up at Kaid, and it was only then that he realized she was laughing. She was laughing so hard there were tears pooling in her eyes.

Kaid started chuckling.

Then everyone else did, too.

“You okay?” Kaid finally managed to get out around his laughter.

Delilah was still laughing, but recovering. “I’m fine! Oh, my goodness! I’m just fine.” She let go of Kaid’s shoulder and stepped closer to Tempest, pulling her close so she could embrace the girl. “Welcome, Tempest,” Delilah said, her voice warm and still full of mirth from her extended laughter. “I’m so happy you’re here. You are always welcome here. That most certainly was not a Dragon, though!”

Tempest smiled, her own amusement clear. “Well, it was, but with a lot of my mother’s magic mixed in. My father has a lot of admirable traits I inherited from him, but most of my abilities, if you will, I got from my mother.”

“In case you didn’t already know, my Dragon is an Ice Dragon,” Delilah said.

“She’s a queen,” Kaid said proudly.

Tempest performed a small curtsy.

“Kaid is a Grizzly.”

“Which explains why Barron is a Grizzly, but has Dragon magics,” Tempest said, with a nod.

“Exactly.”

“I’m very fond of Barron. He’s a sweetheart,” Tempest said.

A rumble sounded just to her left and she turned to find Brandt scowling at her.

“I’m fond of you, too. But in a completely different way,” Tempest assured him.

“Daniel is a Fire Dragon. As is Remi. Bane and Bam are Black/Grizzly hybrids. Everly is a Fox. Maverik, you know is a Wolf, and Valerie is a Lion. Goldy, who you’ve not met yet, is Lion. Vince is Lion as well. Everyone of our generation is mated. Any mates I didn’t mention are human,” Delilah said. “I think you’ve met all the kids, and are aware of their beasts,” Delilah said.

“We’re not kids, Aunt Delilah,” Brandt complained.

“You will always be our kids. Deal with it, Brandt,” Delilah answered.

Shaking his head Brandt stepped a little closer to Tempest and placed an arm around her waist as he waited to see what she’d confess, if anything, about her blood line. Delilah taking the time to bring Tempest into the fold and reveal all their personal information was expected to be replicated by Tempest revealing all her personal information. It was a matter of trust, of revelation, of acceptance, bearing all you are to another.

Tempest looked around at everyone, obviously waiting for the same disclosure and trust she’d just been granted. “After I met all of your sons and daughters last night, or most of them anyway, I was more or less aware of what your lineages are. Thank you for taking the time and having enough trust in me to clarify and share that information with me.”

Tempest looked completely at ease, though Brandt could feel her nervousness through their connection.

If you’re not comfortable sharing, don’t, Brandt said in his head voice, tugging her a little closer.

Tempest nudged a feeling of warmth toward him, but didn’t reply to him. Instead she replied to Delilah. “My lineage is a little convoluted. My grandfather is Gargoyle. His name is Carnage and he is legendary,” she said with a grin and no small amount of pride. “My grandmother is human. My mother has gifts from both of them, calm and kindness from my grandmother, her stubbornness and sheer will from her father, but her magic is elemental. She’s not a witch, she carries the magics of the original four ancients, gifted to her from them directly. She’s descended directly from them.”

“Water, air, earth, and fire,” Daisy said in a reverent tone.

Tempest met Daisy’s gaze and nodded. “Her spirit was created by Lore, who is one of the four Ancients. Lore still exists, as do his siblings, well, two of them do. My mother now holds the magics of the fourth. Since I’m born of my mother, I, too, carry a great deal of the elemental magics. Though my father doesn’t hold many of his own magics, he’s got the ability to heal, and to shift and somehow, when coupled with my mother’s magic, his powers seem to bolster mine. I keep it on lock down most of the time unless I’m protecting those I love, or defending myself. Please know,” Tempest said, stepping forward, and lifting her hands palm up to signify submission, “I’m no threat to you or yours, no matter the situation. Even if I leave here one day, the trust you placed in me will be honored and never broken.”

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