Page 72 of Emerald Waves
The brothers and Larkin cheered around us. I’d never smiled as much as I had since mating with Caro.
“Cade,” the name came to me. “With a C not a K, so he’s like his Papa.”
“Cade with a C it is!” Caro peppered my face with kisses until our little one growled again. “My bad, my boy. Papa will feed you now.” My mate whistled a silly toon as he, wait, was he skipping? I shook my head at his silly antics, but he was one happy dragon.
And we made him that way, Cade.
“You’ve breathed new life into my brother.” Ionus voice startled me. “Sorry, thought you heard me walk up. Thank you, Emerson, for bringing our brother back to us. He’d been lost for some time.”
How does one reply to that? Certainly not with the tears that filled my eyes.
“Damn hormones,” I complained as I wiped away the tears. “Thank you, Ionus.” The fear I once felt in his presence was no longer there, though I’d still do my best to never get on his bad side.
“Yes, Alex had uncontrollable hormones during his pregnancy as well,” he smiled fondly as he recalled my besties pregnancy. “But, back to today’s findings. If we start going one by one through the humans, some of which are mated to dragons as well, it will raise too many questions. What are your thoughts on this?”
All eyes were on me like we’d just solved world peace. Being the center of attention was not, nor will it ever be, on my Bingo card.
“My first thought was it had to be someone who either came to town when I did or shortly after. Someone who knew who I was and had possibly been sent to keep a watchful eye over me. With no data kept on the humans, it will be tough to maneuver through this. Over the years the resident count in Dragon City has quadrupled.”
“True,” Larkin chimed in. “And the entire town knows you’re not only mated to a protector, but that you carry his egg.”
There was no need to repeat any of this to Caro. Dragon hearing meant he’d heard the words loud and clear, being just down the hall from the library, in the kitchen.
He placed a rather large bowl of pasta in front of me. “How am I expected to eat all of that?”
“You’re not. Consider it a picnic for two, oops, three, in the library.” He rolled out the silverware and placed a napkin on my lap. “I’ll be right back.” A few moments later, in came a bowl of salad and two beverages. “Juice for my love.”
As of late, Cade had been the cause of my grape juice obsession. The boy and I had at least two gallons a day, I swear.
“Thank you.”
“I agree with Emerson,” Caro said as I shoveled food in. Guess I was hungrier than I’d thought. “First off, how would they know he even landed here when he’d wandered aimlessly for days before you found him, Larkin? They either had a spy following him then, which is highly unlikely, or they found another they’d cast out who’d shifted after expelled and decided to send scouts out to hunt down the others. Starting with dear old dad’s boy.”
“That makes complete sense,” Mattias agreed, “and leads me to believe there might possibly be a mole in most, if not all, clans.”
“Proceed with caution,” Odem mumbled, and the brothers readily agreed.
“Aye,” Ionus nodded.
“What if we start by accessing the driver’s license records. Dragons don’t require licensing, but humans do. Sort it by date and work forward from when you brought Emerson home.” I appreciated that Odem used the word home. Living with Larkin truly was my first home.
“In the meantime, keep all eyes and ears open,” Larkin addressed the group. “Emerson, I’m sure you’re already thinking it, and I know Caro is as well, but if you could stay put and not venture into town, that would be a huge weight off us.”
“Consider it done. I’ll not do anything to put myself or Cade in harm’s way.”
I swear, a collective sigh of relief rumbled through the room.
“I’ll show myself out. Keep an eye out for the emails,” Larkin said as he left.
“Well, we know it’s no one in Raven’s family. Their bloodline has been with us for centuries. Those who aren’t mage live at the base of the mountain and have served us well for years.” Ionus was right, I didn’t suspect them for a moment. Which in hindsight might not be wise, but I had to believe the brothers knew everything about them.
“We have their bloodline documented as well, even though they’re not one-hundred-percent human nor dragon.” I wasn’t aware of that until Quint said it. My initial hindsight thought, now erased. I must learn to trust my guts more.
“True. Larkin will inform his dragon officers to keep their eyes and ears open. In the meantime, the unmated brothers may want to work their way around town?” Ionus stared them down. It took a few moments before his words sunk in. Odem grinned and Quint nodded.
“I’ll reach out to the Merdragons now,” Mattias said as he made a quick exit. He disappeared quite often, but since the brothers never questioned where he’d gone, neither would I. He was likely off for swims, enjoying the perks of his element.
“Caro and I will stay here and help you sift through the documents Larkin sends. Plus, I have a few tricks up the old sleeve, so I’ll do a little recon myself. Enjoy your lunch and congrats on Cade.” Ionus smiled, a rare occurrence but one I was happy to see. I’m sure my bestie will be over later to congratulate us as well.
