Page 10

Chapter Ten

C ullen looked at his hands, which were…fuzzy. Like sasquatch hands. Like, oh man, you were jacking off and got hair-palm hands.

Which was stupid. He never lost control of his body part illusions like this.

Maybe it was the new baby. Not that she was a bad baby, or that she was sick. No, she was happy and healthy and a little bubble of bubblegum joy. Elliot had been a little grumpy, but not too bad at all, and Orion was always willing to entertain the little guy.

There definitely was something wrong. Maybe it was mating.

Although it hadn’t messed up Cosmo.

Maybe he wasn’t getting enough meat in his diet. Having Orion, it really did cut down on the whole meat-eating part of his world. He just didn’t really want it anymore, which was weird, but okay, he could live with that.

Veggie bacon was a thing.

He glanced back down at his fuzzy hands and shook his head. Whatever it was that was going on here, he didn’t approve.

Orion walked in, Elliot on his hip, and frowned. “Why are you being a werewolf?”

“I don’t know. Hey, Elliot.”

“Cunkle.” Elliot waved to him, little hand opening and closing.

“What are you guys doing?” He was being fuzzy.

“Me no like baby.”

“You don’t like the baby? Emily is a pretty little girl, you know.”

“No.”

“No, you don’t know? Or no, she’s not pretty?”

“No, her not pretty. I’m pretty. I’m the baby.” Elliot pouted.

“Oh, I see.” Cullen really didn’t know what he was supposed to say to that. He knew it was normal, but on the other hand, he’d never known not having siblings, so he didn’t have any idea what the appropriate thing to say was. ‘Sorry kid, life sucks’?

Orion kind of stared at him a little bit. “Love? Mate?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re forming thunderclouds. If it rains, is it going to be real water or illusory water?”

“It’s—What does it matter? If it looks wet, and you think it’s wet, then that means it’s probably wet, right?”

Orion stared at him. “I was more thinking of like damage.”

“I imagine that it’s—” Cullen blew out a frustrated breath. “You know what? I’m going to go see my mom. Do you want to go see Mhormia, Elliot?”

“Mormy.” Elliot lunged at him, and he caught the little one, laughing at Orion’s surprised expression. He was still getting used to living with kids.

“Yep. Maybe she can make me feel less hairy, huh?”

“Haiwy.” Elliot was tugging at his hands, the little nutburger.

Mmm. Nutburger. He could go for a veggie burger.

“Are you coming?”

“What? Excuse me, what?” Orion actually looked a little bit like he’d been shot with Cupid’s arrow or something.

As soon as he thought that about ten thousand little heart-shaped arrows went flying. Fortunately, the ends of them were all suction cups and they were illusion, so they didn’t actually pierce anything.

“Well, that’s cute.”

Oh, that pissed him off. He wasn’t trying to be difficult, dammit. “I’m freaking adorable. Are you coming?”

“Can I?”

“I don’t know, can you?” Orion had managed to walk right into Lunastra without the slightest bit of anything terrible happening. “If you want, I can pretend to have an emergency, throw you Elliot, and you can run through.”

“Okay…” One of Orion’s eyebrows winged up. “Do you want me to be naked while I’m doing it?”

“Well, you could, or you could just be a big horsey and run clip-clopping through the house.” He frowned at himself. “Whoa, that was really grumpy of me, I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you at all.”

Orion, who had started to look really hurt, relaxed and came right up to him. “Well, I’m glad you’re not angry with me. It’s the magic, is it?”

“Yes, I don’t like not being able to control it. This is like being a teenager. So frustrating.”

Orion frowned at him. “Hormones, you think?”

“Maybe. I want to go see my mom, and I think you should come with me. I’d like it if you could.”

“All right, well, let’s do it. I mean, you said if I can’t come in, I just can’t come in.”

Cullen nodded. “Absolutely. No one’s ever gotten hurt. If you can’t come in, you just can’t come in. You end up right back where you started.”

“All right, then you take Elliot with you. If I can’t come, then I’ll see you when you get home.”

“Yeah, exactly. If you can’t, then I’ll see you when I get home, and I won’t be long. And I’ll bring honey.”

“I love honey.”

They walked through the house to the back door, opened it, and it smelled so good.

Elliot laughed. “Go, go, go!”

As soon as he started calling and waving, Cullen could see hundreds of tiny pixies hurrying over to see who it was. Their bodies were invisible, just the tiniest little sparkles letting them know that they were there.

“We’re coming to see Mother. If you’d like to tell her we’re on our way, I’d appreciate it.”

There was a distant laughter, like a giggle that was more like bells tinkling than anything else, and then the mass of pixies winged off to tell Mother that they were on their way.

He walked through the door. “All right, Orion, let’s?—”

There was Orion standing next to him. “Huh. Well, okay, we know that this works. You’re the only one who can go everywhere. Well, I mean, there’s us and Elliot.”

“But Hawk can only go back and forth to the dragonlands?”

“And the human world.”

“Interesting.” Orion grinned at him. “Are you okay with me meeting your mom? This wasn’t just to see if I could come out here?”

“No. Not just to see. I want you to meet my folks. Though where my dad will be, I have no idea.”

“Can he go back and forth?” Orion asked.

“Dad? No. No, he got a one-time pass into the Land of Summer, and he can’t leave or he won’t be able to come back in.”

“Ouch. Is he mad?”

“No. I mean, I think he misses dragons, but he loves my mom, and he has us.” Cullen’s hands had gone back to normal, and he was so glad. The hairy thing was weird. And not like him at all. Not since puberty.

Orion’s hand landed on the small of his back, and he breathed in deeply, smelling the flowers and grasses and trees. The very earth here was rich and deep, and it felt like his body was falling into harmony with it as his feet touched it.

“This is amazing,” Orion said. “It’s a lot like the Glade.”

“You’ll have to tell me about that place.”

“I will. I promise.” Orion’s eyes glowed a moment, and he had a feeling the magic here was more like Orion’s native magic. Something he could manipulate more.

That was really cool.

“Ah, son.” His mother appeared, walking out of the trunk of a tree. “You brought me Elliot!”

“Have you come to see Cosmo?”

“I have. Late last night. But my beautiful Elliot. Come to me, my sweet love.” She held out her arms and Elliot seemed to float to her.

“Oh, that’s a neat trick.”

His mother looked at Orion and smiled a gentle, mostly enigmatic smile, which meant she was withholding judgment. “Hello.”

“Hello, my lady.” Orion bowed low, his fingers sweeping the ground. He came up with a flower Cullen had never seen before and, while it was an illusion, it was solid enough for his mother to grasp and smell.

“Is this from your home?”

“Where I was raised, yes.”

Cullen thought the flower was so pretty it almost hurt his eyes. It was like the deep purple irises his mother loved, but it had the tones of a violet and a blue rose, as well. It was shaped like a bell, and he thought it rang a little when his mom turned it upside down.

She blinked, then laughed. “Oh, that’s clever.”

“Thank you.” Orion chuckled. “But this one,” and he nodded at Cullen, “wanted to see his mom.”

She frowned at him, a tiny, gentle line appearing between her eyes. “What is wrong?”

He looked at Orion and thought…hearts.

And his mom took a step back with Elliot. “Sharks? Where did you encounter sharks?”

“I didn’t! I’ve been polka-dotted. I’ve had hairy palms. I set off fireworks in the house. I was talking to the new”—he looked at Elliot—“to Cosmo’s latest, and a big pink pointing finger appeared over her head.”

“Hmm.” His mom bounced Elliot, who was playing with her necklace. “Follow me, both of you. I’ll make tea.” She turned to walk through where she’d come from, which was a kind of a portal she’d opened. Cullen was used to that, but he wondered if Orion would be wigged.

But he followed easily, even if the shadow he cast was of a large stallion unicorn rather than a man. He wondered which of the unicorn forms he’d seen was closest to the real thing. Or if any of them were.

They all are the real me, love , Orion told him.

Are they?

Yes. I really am very fluid. The horn is mandatory.

But where is it now?

Oh, it’s there.

He chuckled, but he didn’t think that was a sexual innuendo. So he would have to explore. Maybe there was just a nubbin on Orion’s head that he hadn’t felt yet.

“Welcome to my home. I’ll put the kettle on. Would you like some milk with honey, sweet boy. I’ve missed you. You should stay here tonight, and we’ll play with your Daidhe. Do you think that would be all right, Cullen?”

“I think that Cosmo and Elliot would love it. I’ll ask him.”

Cosmo? Brother? Mother would like Elliot to spend the night.

He felt Cosmo’s sigh of relief. Thank you. I just…

Shh. He knew; he got it. Sort of.

“He says that’s fine, Mom. Just don’t let my little gargoyle destroy your house.”

Mother’s house was dainty, filled with hundreds of vials and jars, curios and books. At the same time, Dad was a dragon. Like a full-out, great big dragon.

So of all the houses here, this one had huge furniture, tons of room for a dragon to turn around without finding himself crashing into shelves and causing explosions.

At least he was fairly sure that hadn’t happened since he left home.

“He would never. Your father created a playroom, just for our garmin.” She smiled at Orion, her eyes sparkling. They were the same as his, even as her skin was like Cosmo’s. She and Cullen had the gift of growth in common, so she was in all of them.

Orion bowed his head. “Grandchildren are a blessing.”

“They are.”

She put Elliot down and he ran to the back door. “Daidhe! Daidhe, I here!”

“Are you here, my sweet garthach?” Dad came in, all green and scaly and wild. He scooped Elliot up with a happy roar, swinging him around. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me.” Elliot turned to glare at Cullen. “Me me me.”

“Hey! Who’s been your best bud?”

“Unicorn.”

Cullen’s mouth dropped open, and he clutched his heart. “You wound me.”

Dad blinked at him. “Unicorn?”

Orion smiled. “Me, I’m afraid.”

Dad sniffed the air, nose tipping up. “By damn.”

“Bron. No cursing in front of Elliot,” Mom said.

“Damn, damn, damn, damn!” Elliot beat on Dad’s chest as he chanted.

“Somebody’s going to be in trouble!” he singsonged to Orion. “Orion, this is my father, Bron of the Third, and my mom, Calla of the Flower Mound. Guys, this is my mate, Orion.”

Mother’s eyes crinkled at the edges, but Dad’s went wide. “Your mate? Seriously? You didn’t mate with a dragon?”

“Not everyone has to mate with a dragon, you know.” He rolled his eyes, and it started to snow on his father.

“Your brother did.”

Elliot started catching snowflakes.

“Bron, dear, don’t be rude. Cullen brought his mate home to meet us.” She handed him a cup of violently blue tea. “Please stop snowing in the house.”

“Was he supposed to mate with a dragon?” Orion asked, and Dad shrugged.

“There are more of us wandering around the universe than there are fae. I just assumed he’d find a nice young dragon to mate with.”

“Dad, you’re being specist. It’s tacky.”

“Am I? Sorry. I’ll do better. I was just being?—”

“Rude, dear.” Mom was so clear on those things.

“Right. Of course. Sorry. Can you make the snow stop, son? I apologized.”

“I’m trying!” The snow turned to bubbles. Those would be less wet.

“Drink your tea, dear. It will help.”

At least it didn’t taste like ass. In fact, it was quite pleasant—smoky, sweet, not blue-tasting at all.

He took a deep breath, and he felt Orion rubbing his back again, which made the tea a normal color when he looked at it again, and it made the bubbles stop.

Thanks.

No problem. You don’t mate every day, right?

Never before this.

See?

Orion took a cup of tea as well. “Thank you, Lady Calla.”

“You’re welcome. Some days require a nice cup of tea, you know?” She smiled at them, and motioned to the low, overstuffed monstrosity that was their couch. It was multicolored and soft, big enough that Dad could lay on it, and Mom could sit on one cushion like she was perching atop a mushroom cap.

Orion took his cup to let him sit, then handed it to him and curled up next to him, letting him lean. Goddess, it was nice to have the support. He did love his mate so much already.

“So, Orion,” his mother started. “Tell us about yourself.”

“Oh, I’m just your average unicorn,” Orion said, his voice heavy with humor.

“Yes, and Cullen is just your average half fae.”

“Half dragon,” Dad teased.

“Mmm… Cullen may be fifty-five percent fae.”

Orion chuckled, the sound warm and happy. “He’s perfect.”

Little sparks started flying from his fingertips.

“Drink your tea, son. It will help.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You know what’s wrong?”

“You’re having a bit of a hormone imbalance, that’s all.” She beamed at him, and he swore he could feel a wave of heat in the pit of his belly.

His breath hitched, and he looked at Orion, who stared back at him, eyes wide.

What?

Hmmm? Orion smiled. Nothing.

It doesn’t feel like nothing, mate. It feels like we got ourselves in trouble. We just had a baby in the house. Elliot is…already frustrated, but ? —

A baby. Could they already be pregnant? Was that possible? He didn’t think so.

—but he was having…troubles.

I’m not sure Elliot is going to have a say. I think we were very busy having heat sex, my love, Orion told him.

Whoops. But he couldn’t stop grinning. Not even a little. He and—what the heck was a dragon-fae-unicorn baby going to look like anyway?

Suddenly a tiny, sparkly dragon with a spiral horn appeared in the middle of the room, and Elliot squealed.

“PRETTY!”

Oops.

It poofed away after it flew around for a bit, and his heart pounded. That was what she would look like. Their girl. Oh, goddess.

“Well, congratulations are in order, Bron,” Mother said.

“What?” Dad blinked at Elliot, then at them.

“Oh, my dear, you are so oblivious. Cullen is with child.”

“Yes, Elliot is right there.”

Mom stared at Dad, not blinking.

“What?”

Did she learn the lizard stare from a dragon, because that is impressive.

He nodded to Orion. I’m pretty sure it was Corbin. They don’t get along.

Really? That’s hard to see. I like him a lot.

Cullen nodded. He got along with his brothers, his parents, he was basically easy. He loved them all, and while they could be difficult, he was used to being the peacemaker.

Dad finally looked at him. Really looked. “Oh. Oh! Well, congratulations, son.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Cullen chuckled, shaking his head.

“’Rion! Make rainbow!” Elliot demanded.

“Of course, my liege,” Orion said, and a bright rainbow filled the ceiling of his parents’ home, clouds floating about it.

“You are well-matched, son,” his dad said.

His mother’s delighted laugh sounded very much like Elliot’s. “How lovely.”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s not the pregnant one,” Cullen said with mock fierceness.

Orion took his hand. “Hormones. Have you seen his old man human disguise? It’s amazing.”

His cheeks heated with pleasure, and his mom and dad laughed along with them, and Cullen decided he could handle being pregnant.

As long as he didn’t slip in his own goo and hit his head like Cosmo had.