Page 53 of Emerald Waves
Emerson
Caro wasn’t kidding when he said he’d carve another desk in the cave so we could work together. Every day for the last two weeks he’d spent getting the horde just right while I documented everything I could remember from the Merdragon encounter. I couldn’t wait for our next visit with them. I still had a million questions left to ask.
“There, just right.” Caro smiled at me across the desktop, which as he promised, ours now sat face to face in the middle of our horde. I loved being surrounded by the rehabilitated sea life. My mate truly had a huge heart even if he’d hidden it from others for centuries.
“Are the landscapers done?” Talk about embarrassing. Not only did the entire family witness Caro claiming me in our dragon forms, but we wrecked the side of the pitch closest to Ionus’ home, an area his dragonets frequently played on, mindyou. Of course, to prove a point, Alex and Ionus decided they wanted the area completely rebuilt into a playground for their children. So, the simple task of replacing the terrain we’d ruined turned into a full-blown redesign and new build. Caro was far too proud of himself for the cause of the construction whereas I was beyond embarrassed and stayed locked away for days.
Make that for two weeks. Today. The very two weeks I’d been holed up in our horde under the guise of documenting all my finds with the Merdragons. Not a total lie, I did have a lot to add to the archives, but I also finished unpacking and organizing and really just…hiding.
Was it possible to die of embarrassment?
“Ionus called a meeting with all of us today.”
“When is it?”
“We need to be there in a few minutes.”
“We? No, no, no. I’m an archivist not a protector.”
“Kai reached out to him and he’s insistent you be there.”
“Why-why do I need to be there?”
“Emerson,” Caro sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Ionus doesn’t throw requests around lightly. If he’s asked for something, or in this case someone, then that someone needs to be there. What is the issue here? Why are you so damn grouchy?”
I’m terrified of your brother. Everyone saw us doing it. Not wanting to be around others and totally feeling like shit.
All of the above.
Not sure any of those excuses were good enough though one of the issues came through loud and…I bolted up the stairs and into the bathroom, barely making it before everything I’d eaten throughout my entire life came rushing out.
“Emerson, you’ve spent plenty of time with Ionus now. I understand the fear you once harbored for him but now you seehow misguided it was. Ionus loves you like a brother.” When I didn’t respond he knocked on the bathroom door. “Emerson?”
And more of my stomach found its way into the toilet.
“Are you okay?”
“Do I sound…” Talking was futile and blocked by whatever this was. “Okay.” I flushed the toilet just in time for the bagel I ate two years ago to re-emerge.
“Emerson, you’re scaring me. Open the door. Now.”
“Can’t.” Wow don’t remember eating that. “Stop.” My dragon was even hiding. He was likely afraid a violent purge would expel him from my body. Exhausted, I laid down on the cool tile floor, hoping the worst was over. Drenched in sweat and exhausted, it felt so wonderful against my clammy skin as the coolness lulled me to sleep.
“Caro?” I blinked awake, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dark room. “How did I get in bed?” Last thing I remembered was the cool floor against my skin.
“I carried you. You scared the life out of me.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a semi-truck and dragged for several miles. What happened?”
“Great question. Raven?”
When did Raven get here? “How long have I been out?”
“A couple of hours,” Raven sat beside me on the bed and took my hand in hers. “How do you feel now?”
“Hungry, but afraid to eat.”
She smiled. “I’d imagine so, but it’s important we get you fed.”
