Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“I don’t remember hearing about any mates in our history. I mean, there is an Ericsen, Olivia Ericsen, I believe, carved in the steps of the square,” Skye’s mother said.
“Your great-great-great-aunt,” Abigail explained. “Open the book, Skye. I’ll show you the list of family.”
A couple of hours later, Skye was exhausted from all she had learned. She glanced up at Oldrik, who had never budged from his vigil behind her. His hand had landed on her shoulder when she needed assurances. Ardon next to her provided similar support.
“Our mate is tired. We will take her home. You will alter your door color to acknowledge blue and bronze,” Oldrik told her mother and father.
“Of course, Oldrik. It will be done throughout the family homes,” Abigail agreed. “We are delighted to honor the blue and bronze dragons.”
“Thank you. We stand ready to defend the Ericsen family as well as the rest of Wyvern,” Ardon added.
Come, mate. It is time to go. Ardon pulled her chair back and scooped Skye up in his arms.
Pressing her spinning head to his chest, Skye listened to his steady heartbeat. The slower, louder rhythm underlined the differences between them but no longer frightened Skye. She understood that she’d been fated since birth to be theirs.
“Skye, I don’t know what to say,” Amelia, Skye’s mother, admitted softly at her side. She reached out to smooth her daughter’s shorter hairstyle. “This suits you. It seems I have been wrong about many things. Be happy. Return to visit. We love you too.”
“I love you and Dad. I’ll come when I can, but my place is with them,” Skye told her.
“I recognize that now. They are perfect for you and you for them,” Amelia stated, looking at all three of them.
Skye could tell the idea of her daughter with two men, much less shifters, was completely out of her understanding. She appreciated her trying to adjust.
Down, Ardon. I can stand.
Her mate lowered her feet to the carpet, steadying her against him. Oldrik moved into position on the other side.
Stepping away, Skye hugged her parents and her Aunt Abigail. She whispered to the latter her thanks for being the family’s guardian.
“They couldn’t have chosen anyone better.”
“I am honored,” Abigail said, nodding. “Be happy, dragons’ mate.”
“Thank you.” Skye stepped back to join the shifters she adored. Will you fly me home, please.
Our pleasure, Blueberry.
Chapter 13
The mate bond eased over the next few weeks. Oldrik and Ardon alternated heading out on patrol with the other dragons. Skye filled her sketchbook with dragons. She drew the gold, silver, and green dragons for her new friends.
To her delight, Aurora, Ciel, and Lalani welcomed her with hugs the next time she joined them. The triad’s abrupt departure had not seemed out of the norm for newly mated dragons. They teased her gently about two dragons as mates, but it was all good-natured fun. For once, Skye didn’t feel like an outsider looking in. The women included her completely in the group. She was one of them, and that was incredible.
She caught hints of concern in her mates’ thoughts when the subject of Keres came up among the shifters. They quickly closed down the communication lines to protect her from any unpleasantness, but something was going on with him.
After days of being at Oldrik’s, Skye was ready to climb the walls. Even drawing didn’t help calm her restlessness. That morning at breakfast, she shared, I want to go into town, or maybe we could fly to that waterfall you mentioned before.
“You are safe here, Skye,” Oldrik reminded her.
Safe and bored out of my mind. I could visit my parents or draw at the square.
“Oldrik will pose for you today if you’d like,” Ardon volunteered Oldrik’s time.
I love drawing dragons, but I need to do something different.
“It sounds like we should go on an adventure with our mate before she goes stir-crazy,” Oldrik said.
Yes! Skye bounced with excitement at the idea of an outing. Unable to contain her joy at being heard by her mates, she turned to hug Ardon, whose lap she sat on, before racing over to thank Oldrik.
“I think we’ve made her happy. I’m sorry we didn’t realize how stir-crazy you had become, Blueberry. Shall we go now?” Oldrik suggested.
Yes, please!
Within a few minutes, they had taken to the skies and were flying over the city. Skye loved watching people glance up from below and waved friendly hellos at them. The city seemed to have gotten used to having dragons overhead.
When the dragons crossed over the mountains ringing Wyvern, they flew high into the air. Skye clung to Oldrik’s neck, on edge when she couldn’t spot anyone beneath them. Soon, they descended to a lower altitude, and she could see the cascading waterfall.
Oh! That’s pretty!
Wait until you feel the water, Blueberry. It is refreshing, Oldrik shared.
Does that mean cold?