Page 38 of The Dragon's Stormwoven Bond

Pep

Six adults and four eggs traveling together was a recipe for disaster. Yet we were doing it. I wanted to be with my mate, and it was competition time. His team needed him. If we stayed home, his mind would be with me and the dragonets. This was our best plan.

Valen’s team had their first competition of the season, and I wasn’t going to miss it. He had told me several times that I could stay home with the nest and watch the competition live. I didn’tknow if he believed his words or not. I needed to be here just as much as he needed me here.

Leaving my eggs was not an option, so we improvised. Improvised with some help from our neighbors. They’d done the same thing last year and had a whole lot of advice, including bringing help, which was why my family was in tow.

We used a travel nest, which was just a smaller version of our actual nest but large enough for the entire clutch. It fit into the back of the van, barely. We were staying in a hotel, one owned by dragons, which was the best-case scenario. It meant they had a room that could accommodate our nest.

Once we were there, it was quite the orchestration to get all four eggs safely from the van to the room, but we managed. There wasn’t a big enough tip to give the staff for all the help they gave us or for managing to get our family all adjoining rooms. It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a whole flight to attend the flight games with your clutch.

We used a contraption called a ring sling to carry the eggs safely against us. Any humans who saw them would just assume we had babies in them. Not that there would be many humans around, and those that were had connections to the dragon world. You didn’t accidentally stumble across these games. The organizers were great about making sure of that.

We were staying at a hotel owned by the clan that was hosting the competition. No one batted an eye when Valen carried our nest through the lobby and to the elevator, no one asked to see the baby as we transported them in the baby carrier, and no oneflinched when my father barked for people to get out of our way, his scent of fire strong.

It was embarrassing, but much better he be all ashy and strong about this than about my mate.

Once the eggs were settled in the room, I let out a long breath. I hadn’t realized just how on edge I’d been while traveling. Every bump on the road had me wince, and transporting them from the van to here? Terrifying.

My mom brushed the hair from my forehead. “Why don’t you get some rest, Pep? The welcoming ceremony is in a few hours, and Valen has paperwork to handle. You can nap with the eggs.”

I looked to Valen, and he nodded. “I’ll be with the team for a while, so we can sort out our registration and anything else we might need for the weekend. You should rest so you can come to the dinner tonight.”

The nap sounded magnificent. Leaving the nest to go out to eat? Not so much.

“Who will stay with the eggs?” I asked

“I can,” Rhythe volunteered.

I loved my parents. I did, but when Valen said Rhythe was the only one I trusted more than him, he hadn’t been completely off base. I wouldn’t say more than, but equally as much. We’dshared an egg, how could I not. If I was going to leave my eggs with anyone, it would be him. But it was a huge ask.

“Don’t you want to go to the opening ceremony? It’s your chance to meet all your heroes.”

Rhythe’s whole face went white. “No, I’m good. I’ll watch the competition tomorrow.”

I wanted to ask more, but there were too many people around. Something wasn’t right with my twin. Come to think of it, something had changed since before we had our clutch. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he’d been increasing odd since the family picnic. And worse than that, he wasn’t opening up to me like he normally would. He’d said he didn’t want to burden me with any of his worries since I had a family now. Anytime I tried to bring it up again, he changed the subject. Some way or another I’d get to the bottom of what was going on. But not now. He deserved his privacy.

A half-hour later, everyone but my brother had left, finally. I needed the break from all the people. I glanced at the travel nest where our four eggs were nestled. Rhythe was sitting in the chair next to the nest. He had placed a hand on each of the eggs before taking a seat. It was so sweet.

“Go rest, Pep.”

“Bossy much?” I stuck out my tongue at him and then laid in the bed, exhaustion washing over me, yet my mind wouldn’t shut down. If anything, it was working overtime.

The gentle hum of the air conditioner was a stark contrast to the chaos that had been the van ride. I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. I worried about the competition, about Rhythe, about my eggs, about dinner. My head was worry central, and I wasn’t a fan.

With a sigh, I rolled to my side and re-fluffed my pillow. A short nap was what I needed. If only I could actually sleep. And I must have, because it felt like I had just closed my eyes when the door clicked open and the scent of my mate had me opening my eyes.

“Valen?”

“Did I wake you? I’m sorry, baby.” He squatted down beside the nest.

“Did you forget something?” I sat up and looked around. The room was considerably darker than when I had first laid down.

Valen chuckled. “I’ve been gone two hours, love.”

“What? Did I sleep the whole time?” I didn’t feel like I slept a wink.

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