Page 49

He could feel it, pressing against him like the weight of too much volcanic ash after a long nap. It made him want to shake it off, to burn the worry away.

So he did what he usually did in such situations. He went to the library.

Oh, he often went to his hoard, too, but right now, he couldn’t find it, so this was his option. Perhaps he would research dragon and fae hybrids.

He got to the library and sat his coffee on one of the big tables so it wouldn’t get spilled on the books. Then he began his search.

He was perhaps an hour in when he heard, “Psst.”

He blinked. “Yes?”

“Hawk. It has been a long while, my friend.”

“Ah, Bakli. Hello, my old friend. It has been a long time.”

The little nisse crawled out of a book nook, his long white beard tucked into his tunic. “It has. Too long.”

“Have you been well? They’ve been feeding you?”

“It has been very quiet, very lonely. We were pleased to find habitants rambling about, and even more pleased when we discovered it was your mate. We were waiting for you to come home.”

“Oh.” Hawk was happy they’d known Cosmo was his. That made him feel even better, because while he hadn’t worried honestly about whether or not Cosmo had been his, it was always good to have validation.

“Things have changed very much since I was here last.”

“Oh, yes. The veil has opened and closed. The world’s magic…well, we are in between that, aren’t we? This is In Between.” He loved how Bakli said the word in capital letters.

In Between.

“We are. It is an important space.”

He got the most serious look. “A terribly important space. This is one of the spaces where the worlds meet, a grand nexus. An In Between, and it is very important that we keep the balance here.”

He nodded, acknowledging his friend’s words. “The balance among the worlds is delicate, yes. Even one as large as I am can tell that.”

Bakli gave him a warm smile. “I’m glad. It pleases us, all of us that you have decided to support the guardians in this.”

“Do you foresee there being attacks on this home?”

Bakli nodded. “Yes, this is not a stable space yet. It is new, and because of that and because of history, the magics here are like a beacon.” He shrugged. “Unfortunately, beacons don’t simply work one way. You need the dragons who are lost to find their way here. You want the magical beings who are lost to find their way home. You do not want an infestation.”

The way that Bakli wrinkled his nose in distaste brought the vampires immediately to mind.

He could only imagine how much power the vampires could possibly have in the dragonlands.

“We will guard against that while letting those who need to pass through.” He gave the vow with the best of intentions, all the while knowing that the best intentions could fail sometimes. So, he needed to be conscious. “I am awake now, and I will be on watch.”

“So will we, my friend.”

“Good, good. Do you know where my hoard is, Bakli?”

Bakli chuckled. “I do. But that is not what you want to know right now.”

He tilted his head. True enough. He wanted to know why Cosmo was not with child. And while he was truly happy to be with Cosmo no matter what, since he’d brought it up, he could tell it was preying on Cosmo’s mind a bit.

“It took very much magic to create this space, and I do not believe that your mate and his brothers understand that this place, this nexus, was built solely for them, but also from them.” Bakli’s voice was soft, a series of little chirps. “He is building his energies. They need to create their homes. Cosmo was closest in the making of his nest. When the building is done, then the babies will come. Make this home yoursandhis. That is when the babies will come.” Bakli smiled at him. “I cannot wait for the babies to come. We love babies.”

“I do too.” He’d never imagined—well, he had, but not in an actual physical way—that there would be babies.