Page 41 of The Ruby Dragon Prince
Suddenly, it hit me. I knew what I was missing. I knew why I felt so empty. I nearly moaned aloud with longing as I thought about my eggs, my babies, waiting for me in Rufus’s lair. My concerns had been with the people of my father’s kingdom, and it was as if the eggs knew that and were keeping their own needs quiet so that I could help where I was needed.
My help was no longer needed in my father’s kingdom and my babies knew it. Their silent cries for me nearly had me weeping.
“I will go to them,” Rufus said gently, touching me through our bond, though in actuality, he took a few more steps back. “I will comfort them and tell them their papa is on his way.”
“Thank you,” I said, nearly sobbing the words.
“Thank you?” Father barked, sneering at me. “Thank you for what? For not having you thrown into the dungeon along with that fool, Groswick?”
I pinched my mouth shut and tried to focus on Father so that Rufus could slip away.
“Tovey was trying to help the people of our kingdom,” Leo said, bravely standing up to Father for me. “He cares about our people.”
“We all do,” Selle said. “So should you.”
“How dare you tell me what to do, whelp?” Father snapped. “It was a mistake for me to allow you out of the castle for the festival. I do not know what I was thinking. Guards! Escort the princes back to the castle and lock them in their room! And keep them there without even bread and water to sustain them! That’ll teach you to defy my wishes.”
Half of the guards who had come with Father to confront us were off looking for Rufus in vain. The two that remained looked doubtful as to whether they would be able to force six omegas back to the castle and then to lock them in their room.
Fortunately for them, we were all more than willing to go. We made a show of acting like we were forced, like we wanted to stay and enjoy the festival, but it was make-believe. In truth, the six of us couldn’t get back to the castle and our bedchamber fast enough.
“And stay there!” one of the guards who had escorted us and shoved us into our room said once we were all back where we wanted to be. Like a child, he humphed and jerked his head, then slammed our bedroom door.
“Quick!” Leo said, taking charge. “Bar the door just in case, then let’s go!”
Obi and Misha hurried to help Leo push chairs up against the door so that anyone trying to enter from the outside would run into obstacles at the very least. While they did that, Rumi, Selle, and I ran to Rumi’s bed and pushed it aside to reveal the magic door.
“Hurry!” I said, starting to tremble with my need to be back in the place where I’d left my heart. “They all feel so far away. I need to be with them.”
“Them?” Selle asked as we moved the bed far to the side.
I reached for the door’s handle and pulled it open. “Rufus and my babies,” I gasped.
It was such a relief when the first, fragrant waft of scent from the magical world filled my nose. I breathed it in, the feeling of being somewhere that I didn’t belong easing. One breath wasn’t enough, though. Only barely checking to make certain my brothers would follow, I hurried down the golden staircase and into the magical forest.
I heard my brothers murmur and exclaim behind me as they descended into the forest with me. They’d never been there during the daylight, and to them, the sparkle of the jewels in the trees along with the vibrant sun above must have seemed like discovering something they’d once thought was pretty was, in fact, astoundingly beautiful.
“So there is day and night in the magical kingdom as well,” Selle said, adjusting his glasses once we were all standing on the forest floor.
“Of course there is day and night,” Obi laughed at him as I glanced around, trying to get my bearings. “Did you think it was only ever night here?”
I could feel which direction Rufus and my babies were in, and as soon as I was confident, I started forward at a fast walk.
“You never know with magical kingdoms,” Selle said as my brothers all followed me.
“How would everything grow if there was no sun to help it along?” Obi asked.
“Magic?” Misha suggested.
Their conversation was amusing and I could tell my brothers were happy, but they faded into the background of my senses as I strode on. Whether by luck or by magic, I knew Rufus’s lair was close and I couldn’t get there fast enough.
We broke through the trees a few minutes later and I spotted the ruby path that led to the place that felt in my heart like home. As soon as I saw the vast, timbered house on the hill in the distance, I broke into a run.
“Rufus!” I called out as my brothers picked up their pace to keep up with me. “Babies! I’m home!”
As soon as I neared the house’s huge front door, it opened to reveal Rufus standing there. My gorgeous mate was no longer dressed as an ordinary townsperson from my father’s kingdom. He was dressed resplendently in red velvet with black breechesand boots. His face shone with joy, and his red beard seemed fuller than ever.
“Tovey, my love!” he greeted me with open arms.
