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Edgar needed some time with his dragon.He was pissed off enough as it was, and not allowing him to get out wasn’t helping.The need to protect Mandy and Tabby was great, and his dragon wanted to snap some heads.Mostly Tommy’s.He was in the other realm, the one where his parents lived twenty minutes after leaving the home that he shared with Tabby and her daughter.

“Are you all right?”His dad took a step back when he said that he wasn’t.When he told him he was sorry for snapping, Dad asked him if Tabby was all right.“Yes, she and Mandy are fixing dinner, and I asked if I could have some time here.I needed to let my dragon go for a bit.That’s what I’m here for.”

“Then go, son.Do what you need to do while you’re here.Your mom is with her mom right now, and they’re in a meeting.I wish I could fly with you.”He’d never said that before, and it startled him that his dad would wish something like that.“It’s all right, son.Go fly.I’ll watch you.It’s about as good.”

Nodding once, he took a running leap and was shifted almost as soon as he was in the sky.His body was forming the dragon even as he saw his mom coming up from the ground as well.They flew together for another hour or so, and he did feel better.After landing in the beautiful grass and flowers, he felt better than he had in quite some time.

“You and I both needed that, I think.”He thanked his mom for flying with him.“It was my pleasure.Your dad said you looked stressed out, and I thought that I’d find out why.But as soon as I was able to shift and hit the skies, I knew that I needed it as much as you did.It’s been a stressful few months around here.”

“At home, too.I want to badly to protect the two of them, but there is very little that I can do other than to be there when they get upset with him.Before I forget, Mandy wants to call you and Dad Grandda and Grandma.I hope you don’t mind, but I told her that you’d love it.Will you?”She told him there was no greater gift than that he could have given her.“Well, act surprised when she asks you.She’d going to call the others aunt and uncle too.”

“I shant tell your father.He’ll be surprised better than I would be.I’d be shocked to know the truth.But to be someone’s grandparents is wonderful.Thank you, son.”She asked him how Tommy was doing.“His health is poor, we were told.He doesn’t do drugs, not that they found any in his body,but he’s not been eating well, and it’s been making him sicker.The ulcer can be treated without an operation, but I don’t think he’ll do what is needed to get himself healthy again.”

“No, and with his personality, he’ll blame that on his family as well.The kid needs to see someone about his behavior.His human body can’t take the stress of trying to be that much of a pain in the ass all the time.Something has to give.”He agreed with his mom.“Also, while you’re here, I wanted to go over the contract that you sent back from the mayor.I think you’re right.We don’t want to get involved in that stuff.It’s too political.”

“Good.I’ll send it back in the morning.”He stretched out, letting his body feel the grass beneath his feet, and smiled at his mom.“I need to get back.I’m sure she expected me an hour ago.”

“I’ve spoken to her.She was worried about you, and I told her that we were flying together.She’s fine with you spending time with me and your father.”He thanked his mom.“No worries, son.Your dad is coming now.Someday soon, we’re going to have to all get together and have dinner.I’d love that.”

“So would I.”After the three of them had a long talk, he made his way home.Mandy was still resting, and Tabby was making popcorn for their movie night.He hoped that Mandy would join them, but he didn’t hold out much hope.She’d been tried on the plane, and he didn’t think a couple of hours nap was going to get her very rested right now.He’d be surprised if she didn’t sleep until late into tomorrow morning for all her exhaustion.

Watching the movie was more than his tired brain could handle, and he kept dozing off on the couch.By the time it was over, he, too, wanted to sleep late in the morning and made his way upstairs with Tabby.They didn’t have the house to themselves, but it was quiet like they did.As soon as he left Tabby at her door, he staggered down to his own.He thought perhaps he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

He woke up twice in the middle of the night.Once to go to the bathroom and the second time because he thought that he’d heard something in the hall.Getting up, making sure that he was quiet, he looked down the long hall and didn’t see anything that looked like it was coming to get him.As he was headed back to his room, Fred appeared in his room.

“What’s happened?Are you all right?”The little creature said he was fine and was embarrassed that he’d woken him.As he told him what had happened with Tommy after everyone left him tonight, he was laughing so hard that he had to hold his sides.“So he thought that he could manhandle a woman nurse, did he?I wish I could have seen her putting him in his place.That must have been hilarious.”

“You don’t know that half of it, sire.He then had to deal with the biggest nurse I’ve ever seen when he patted the younger one on the bottom.She nearly ripped his ear off when she turned him about to tell him to stop.I’ve never seen a human react so quickly.”Fred was laughing, too, now.“The big man picked up Mr.Tommy and tossed him right into a chair and tied him there.He needs to be getting up more often, and he’d been complaining about it.So now that he’s sitting in the chair, the big man sits right there with Mr.Tommy and flicks him with his fingers every time he gets out of control with his mouth.His toes will be sore tomorrow.You can bet your life on that.”

“I bet so, too.Oh, you’ve no idea how much I needed to hear that, Fred.Thank you for sharing it with me.”He said that he’d thought he and his missus could use a good laugh after today.“Yes, it’s been a stressful day.”

“Lord Edgar, there are two faeries that wish to work on the little one’s room for her.She has expressed a desire to have her room done up with bunk beds and a dresser combination.I’ve never seen the likes that she wants, but they said that they have special magic that will allow them to help her with anything she wishes.I thought that I’d ask you before they approached her.”He said that it would be up to her mother.That was something that he didn’t have a clue about.“Yes, good idea.Asking the mother will sort things out quickly for her.Yes, you’re very smart for telling me that.I will ask her in the morning before I head back.I have one of the other brownies watching over Mr.Tommy so that I could have a break from him.I hope that’s all right.”

“It’s more than all right, Fred.You do what you need to do to get yourself whatever you need tokeep an eye on him.When you were assigned this job, I never thought that it would be this long.And I’m sorry to have taken you away from your family.You should take a couple of days off so that you can rest too.I know that I needed it.”

“I might do that, sir.My lady wife has been handling things for me since I’ve been gone.I’d like to have a couple of days to pamper her a bit for her helping me with this job.She’s a good wife, and I love her very much.”Edgar told him to enjoy his time at home and to stay as long as he needed.“No more than a couple of days, sire.I will need to go back and watch over him.I don’t believe he’s going to be doing well for some time now, and I’d better watch over him.It’s a hard job, but I’m up for it.”

“I couldn’t have picked a better man for the job, I don’t think.”He embarrassed the little man and was glad that he was taking the job so seriously.He’d have to figure out a reward for him and his little family when this was all over.Edgar would ask his mom, and she’d know.Going back to bed when the little person left him, he fell asleep quicker this time and was out before he could make out the time on his phone.

Chapter 7

Making her way to his bedroom, she counted the chimes on the clock.It was six in the morning, the house was empty, and she wanted Edgar in the worst kind of way.She was sick of waiting for the right time.

It was totally her fault they’d never made love.He said he’d wait, and he had.She wondered if he had more stamina than she did or if she was just at her rope’s end with him.Either way, today was the day, and she didn’t want him to ask her if she was sure.Because no, she wasn’t, but she was sure that she loved him with all her heart.Going into his bedroom, she was dismayed to find that he wasn’t there.Frustrated now, she pulled her robe tighter around herself and went through the house one door at a time.

In the office, she heard a thud sound.It wasn’t perfectly tuned like you’d hear in music, more of a chopping sound now that she thought about it.Looking out the window, she could see the lined-up wood between two big trees and Edgar out there shirtless, chopping wood with the biggest axe she’d ever seen.Now, she didn’t know what to think.

Going back up to her room, she got dressed in something warmer and made her way down the stairs in time to see him coming into the house.She stood on the fifth step from the bottom, towering over him, and asked him what he’d been doing.

“Nothing.Just out for a bit.”He was dressed now, and she thought that she’d missed something great when she’d not gotten to see him without his shirt very well.Damn it all to hell and back.Her timing couldn’t have been worse.“What are you doing up so early?”

“I was looking for you.”Down a step when he took one step toward her.“Are we going to have a particularly hard winter that you’re aware of?”She took another step down when he took one toward her again.“You’ve been chopping wood like we’re going to need that much.”

“I’ve been chopping wood so that I don’t go down the hall and sneak into your room and take you.”Two more steps down to his two in front of her.“Mandy is gone.My mom picked her up earlier so that she could help with the faeries that will be born today.She’s excited about it.Why are you dressed like that?”

“I was going to find you.I told you that.”He nodded no more than a foot from her.“So the house is empty now, then, right?There is no one here but the two of us.”

“Some staff in the kitchen, but I’ve sent them on their way.Did you know that our cook and her husband are members of the local wolf pack?”She nodded and told him that she’d known that.“Good.They’ll be back tonight to cook dinner.That gives us hours before anyone will be returning.”