Chapter 21

MADELINE

I wake up feeling refreshed, the best sleep I’ve had in a while. The late afternoon greets me with a hot stew and bread, which I eagerly devour.

Hael is engrossed in a book about magical pregnancies, sitting on a stone bench, while Lochness is out flying solo. I finish my meal and let out a hearty belch, quickly covering my mouth when Hael looks up.

“You need to walk alone tonight around the perimeter,” Hael says, his tone serious. “Thea and my sister were right about the energy around the nest. You’re carrying Sky Gods, a once-in-a-lifetime event. You shouldn’t be cooped up here, you should be out there.”

He flips back a few pages in his book, then adds, “No interference from your mates, but I’m wondering how that positions Lochness and me…”

“So, I have to walk alone around the perimeter of the magic around the nest?” I ask for clarification.

“Yes,” Hael half-nods, his face etched with concern for my safety.

“Come with me.” I suggest, setting my empty plates aside and hopping out of bed. I feel strong, my muscles aren’t sore or aching.

In fact, I feel stronger than ever before! “But keep your distance. I don’t mind if you and Lochness watch over me… you won’t be interfering unless you approach uninvited.”

I move to the bath and slip into the steaming water that Hael had prepared earlier. I quickly wash up, resurfacing to apply the fragrant oils and perfumes. I glance back at Hael, who is engrossed in his book, his… groin noticeably stiff.

He shakes off his desire and refocuses on the book. “All right, mouse,” Hael says, his voice strained. “Tonight is your night… you’re in control. We’ll watch from afar and keep out of your way.”

“It says to collect… berries, stray feathers, and dangling flowers. You eat the berries, I think, hmm, I don’t understand these pointless and absurd instructions.”

“Hael,” I interrupt his growling monologue, “I think I know how it works… you don’t have to understand, I’ll figure it out.”

Hael closes the book with a snap and leans back against the rock, watching me finish my bath. I get out, wrap myself in a towel, and go to a chest filled with clothes. I choose a black dress, knee-length, sleeveless, with a deep neckline.

It is meant to be sexy, but it also feels weightless. I walk over to Hael and sit next to him, turning my back to him. Without a word, he sets the book aside and begins braiding my hair, just like he did the other day.

“You’re ready to go now?” Hael asks, his impatience evident.

“Has the sun set?”

“Soon.”

“Then I will go now, but can you call Lochness back so he can join you in stalking me from afar?” I ask cheekily.

Hael doesn’t respond verbally, but he makes an affirmative gruff noise. I glance over my shoulder to see Hael still working on my hair, lost in thought. I can tell from his haunted eyes that he is deeply worried about me.

Concern is an understatement. My Dragons believe I am at great risk simply for being me. He doesn’t want me to get hurt and he doesn’t understand this female energy magic thing, which only adds to his frustration.

I don’t tease him about it, I just let him ponder. When he finishes braiding my hair, Hael takes my arm, his hand wrapping around my wrist as he stands and pulls me up with him. He leads me to the hole in the ceiling and my paintings on the wall.

Hael turns to me, about to release my wrist and shift into his Dragon form. I step closer and hug him tightly, inhaling his musky forest fire scent. Hael snaps out of his thoughts and focuses on me.

“Maybe you’d feel better if I wear a collar? A leather one, not a metal one,” I suggest. “I saw one in there with green studded emeralds, it was very nice.”

I grin and Hael cups my face. “You wouldn’t mind?” Hael asks, his voice filled with appreciation. “I don’t want it getting caught on anything, you might trip and choke yourself.”

“I’ll be careful—” I start to say, but he has already let go of me and is heading back to the chest. He opens the lid and pulls out a soft black leather collar with a ring on it. I turn around and lift my braid out of the way as Hael places it around my neck, locking it in place.

He stands so close I can feel his bulge against my ass. I suck in a breath, wondering if he will take advantage of the situation. But the moment the collar is in place, Hael steps back.

I turn around to see him lifting a finger to hook through the ring, pulling me closer. He smirks down at me as I collide with his chest. “We didn’t put it on, simply to see if you’d ever ask,” Hael murmurs.

I blush at that. “Another test?” I blurt out.

“Mmmhmm, very good mouse, you do learn,” Hael says, rubbing his thumb over my lips.

He disappears through the hole, already on the move. He is impatient, and I know it is because he is constantly thinking about my pussy. I bite my lip and look up as his green tail grabs his pants and curls so I can sit on it as he lifts me up to the outside.

I jump down to the rock and Hael returns to his human form, pulling his pants back on. Across the nest, Lochness’s Dragon is approaching, his strong strides coming to a halt when he sees the collar.

He is so shocked, one arm raised, sharp talons spread out, and his wings cinching back as he transforms. I laugh delightedly. I never thought I’d see his intimidating rogue look so confused.

Lochness appears in front of me, his finger encased in the onyx ring, touching the collar as if it were an illusion… but he confirms it is real. “Pretty…” Lochness compliments. “And I love your choice of dress. Not a brat today, Madeline?”

“No. And thank you, Nessy. Has Hael informed you of the walk I must take around the perimeter?” I ask him.

Nessy gives a nod of understanding. “I’ll stay close, but I won’t be a nuisance,” he assures me, and with that, I pivot to begin my journey.

Suddenly, he seizes my wrist, halting my departure. I swivel back to face him, an eyebrow arched in question.

“You’re glowing, Madeline,” he murmurs, casting a glance at Hael, who stands a distance away, nodding in agreement.

“Wait, am I actually glowing?” I question. “What color?”

“No, not literally, you’re not a firefly, sweetheart,” Hael retorts with a smirk. “You’re radiating happiness. Pure joy. A content mouse.”

“Ah, yes, I am content, that’s true,” I agree, taking the lead. “No talking, I need to connect with this magic for spiritual growth for the twins I’m carrying.” I don’t mean to sound bossy; I just want to start this walk.

I stride forward, and I can feel them both chuckling behind me, but for once, not at my expense.

As the sun dips below the horizon, I step onto the luminescent forest trail, dragon shadows sweeping across the sky above. I hop over a few puddles and glance over my shoulder.

Hael and Lochness are out of sight, but their presence is palpable.

I turn back and continue on, letting my feet guide me. With each step, I feel energy surging up from the earth, through my legs, and into my belly. It’s a comforting, nurturing sensation that makes me feel even more powerful.

Every now and then, I pluck and munch on the edible berries I find, and my berry-stained hands lead me to little surprises along the way. I find a crow feather and tuck it into my hair.

I stumble upon the ‘dangling’ flowers by the pond Thea showed me yesterday. I gather a bunch and fashion them into a crown for my head. I feel like a child again, frolicking in nature—but this time, the forest is harmonizing with me.

I can hear it, as if from another realm, the forest’s approval.

I continue my journey, catching glimpses of spectral figures passing by, but never too close.

Eventually, my feet start to feel heavy, and I halt in a small clearing, in front of a fallen log blanketed in moss.

Perched on it, slowly materializing, is… me. She’s me.

Turquoise eyes, long red wavy hair, and dressed in a dark forest green. She’s speckled with dense freckles, which remind me of Mason.

I’m desperate to ask who she is, but I heed Thea’s advice that spirits are delicate. One wrong word could sever the connection. So, I just offer a timid wave instead.

“It’s called wearing your heart on your sleeve,” she whispers so softly that I have to strain to catch every word. “When you love someone so much, you feel that heavy passion that leads you to act recklessly, all emotions on display… it’s not a weakness, Madeline, never think it is.”

As she speaks, I feel warmth rising from the forest floor to my belly—filling me with such a strong sense of familiarity, I can only describe it as maternal. I think she’s… my… it takes all my strength not to speak or reach for her, to simply ask for confirmation.

She died giving birth to me. “Don’t be afraid of danger when you and your lovers are the greatest weapons. Don’t be scared of being a mother. Don’t ever doubt yourself. You are not vulnerable. You are very strong, the strongest you’ll ever be… Madeline.”

“Mother?” I whisper involuntarily—and her apparition vanishes instantly in a puff of encroaching fog. I immediately move to the log and sit where she sat, feeling filled to the brim with every magic I could ask for.

That maternal power shifts my perspective in this moment.

Hael and Lochness are worried for me, but they don’t understand my role in it.

The maternal role.

Their mother had always been sick.

But I will be strong because they aren’t like Nerezza.

And me, I am all heart, she is right. I just express it so recklessly and without thought. Well, I’m thinking a lot now before I act.

I reach up and fiddle with the ring on the collar.

After seeing my mother, I decide my walk has come to an end.

When I look up, I search for Hael and Lochness.

I think I see a slight movement up ahead, so I get up and I sprint through the trees until I see both of them standing together, turning to me, waiting when they realize I am seeking them out.

“Dragon Lords, I finished my walk,” I announce with a genuine smile.

“How do you feel?” Hael inquires, still anxious.

“I’m not scared anymore, of anything,” I assure them both. “Because together, we are the scariest motherfuckers in the realm.”

This certainly takes them by surprise.

“We are?” Hael latches onto that, giving me a once-over, smirking.

“Yes… she means us three,” Lochness chuckles, winking at me. “I agree.”

“I don’t know about that…” Hael scrutinizes me again. “But… I’ll just agree… this one time.”

“Nice flower crown, Slayer,” Nessy approaches me, prodding it with his finger, also raising an eyebrow at the crow feather next to my ear. I feel a wet spot on my cheek—and I look up as it starts to drizzle.

“Oh,” I notice the dark clouds. “That’s not good. We’re far away.”

Hael and Lochness follow my gaze.

“That’s a heavy rain cloud, back to the nest now,” Hael snaps and tries to hurry me along. “Move it, sweetheart—” but it’s already changed from a drizzle to a downpour, a torrential onslaught so fierce I can’t even open my eyes.

Hael and Lochness huddle me closer to the tree, their hands over my belly, their bodies shielding me from most of the rain as they huddle us together, their foreheads touching as they watch over me.

“Damn,” Hael grumbles. “We can’t even fly in this.”

“No… but someone is happy about it,” Lochness smirks as he reads my mind.

“Since we’re stuck here… can I… um… do you?” I propose to them both, wiggling my eyebrows. “We don’t need to see to do… stuff… right? Like…”

Hael and Lochness are about to scold me when I slide down to my knees and I tug at their pants. ~Can I please… worship my mates, before we run back?~ I really mean it too.

Their backs are being pelted by rain that gets through the leaves and branches, but at least I’m mostly protected between them and the thick trunk. This seems doable.

Hael presses a thumb to my lips, tilting my chin up. ~You want us to fuck your mouth, sweetheart?~

I nod.

They share a brotherly glance… and they mist forward.

Lochness sends a purr of satisfaction through our shared consciousness as his hand gently rests on my head. ~I might not have ever voiced it, but… I enjoy sharing her.~

~I feel the same, brother. She’s ours, and now she’s willingly giving herself to us. Such a good girl, finally submitting,~ Hael echoes, equally eager to accept my offer.

I can sense their external worries fading away. Fear is no longer a factor.

They don’t need to fret over me. Or each other…

…because we have one another.

We’re a team.