Page 1 of A Very Denarius Christmas

Chapter One

Ionus

“Oh no, not another tree!” Alex bellowed at the same time I heard the fire extinguisher expel it’s all too familiar sounding guts.

“At least this time we hadn’t put the presents back under it.” A small fortune had been spent replacing gifts thanks to our out-of-control fire gifted twins, Kane and Hunter. “I’ll cut down another one.” Poor Caro’s beloved forest would be owed many new saplings come spring. Jesus, at this rate we’d need a whole grove.

Uncle Odem, your presence is required before they burn the house down.

On my way.

Who knew the one brother that had been the bane of my training existence over the centuries would be the one I’d call on to helpdealwith my twins?

Goddess, where had I wronged you?

Odem passed me in the hall carrying out the still sizzling yet very dead Christmas tree. We’d given up on ornaments for this one, tree number three, thankfully, though we had killed every string of lights we had. Poor Luna, she loved to sit and watch the pretty lights, merrily humming away. She was the epitome of our wonderful mother, a direct reincarnation if I’d ever seen one.

Did they make non-flammable trees? Maybe a fake one was the way to go for this family rather than decimate our beloved forest. It hurt my heart each time one of them died.

Sadly, tomorrow was Christmas day though, and the entire family would be here to celebrate with our dragonets, firebugs included, and it just wouldn’t be the same without a tree. I was excited to watch our dragonets open their presents. Hopefully the boys wouldn’t use fire in their rush to discover what’s inside.

Off I went, Odem and the twins behind me, in search of a new tree. The last three trees spoke to me, wishing to be a part of our first holiday celebration, until replanting time came in the spring and they could rejoin their flora family. Now with those gone would any speak to me again knowing their friends wouldn’t be returning as we’d promised?

Ugh…

“Boys, follow Uncle Odem’s lead after we apologize to this poor tree for taking its life.” The boys teared up, and I nearly whisked them away to a happier place, but they must learn that the earth feels all that its inhabitants do to it and a clear understanding of that will make them stronger, more caring dragons in the end.

“Uncle Caro’s element is earth, and he feels what it does and when it hurts, so does he.” Odem had such a way with them. I loved the bond he’d formed with Kane and Hunter. Luna and Griffin adored him as well but with these two it was a win given Odem shared their element.

“Sawry Unca Cawo.”

I can feel the boys’ pain, are they okay, brothers?Caro reached out.

Yes, Odem is teaching them how the earth feels in the hopes that they’ll stop burning down our beloved forest one tree at a time.

Not to mention couches, chairs, linens and toys.

That explains the pain I’ve felt. If you need me let me know and I’ll come right over.

Thank you, brother. Enjoy your morning with your beloved mate and we’ll see you both tomorrow.

Caro’s mate, Emerson, was very pregnant and would lay their egg any time now. No use riling him up and tempting fate into an early delivery. One egg for their first was perfect. Having four dragonets at one time took an army of dragon kin to wrangle.

While Odem worked with the twins, I set off in search of another victim, err tree. My poor mate was at his wits end with these two and I didn’t blame him one bit. We loved our four dragonets fiercely, but Kane and Hunter were a handful on a good day.

And they weren’t even a year old yet…

But dragons aged and grew quicker than humans, though once we reached adulthood the progress slowed way down, preparing us for the longevity that lay ahead.

If they were this rambunctious as dragonets, how would they be as teens? I shivered at the thought recalling mine and my brothers’ younger years. My brothers were a challenge and by then we’d lost our mother, so I was the only voice of reason and authority being the eldest.

Goddess, help us all.

I scoured the nearby trees, and none spoke to me, as expected. By the same token, my mind wasn’t free of the guilt over thosewe’d already lost, and it weighed heavily on me. I made my apologies to Mother Earth and called out to my brothers.

Brothers, are any of you in town?

Aye, Mattias replied. How can I help you?