Page 9

Chapter Nine

O rion hummed, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Anyone looking at him would probably say he had a goofy-as-hell grin on his face.

But why not? He and Cullen had been like bunnies. Just whoa. For like, three days.

He loved the purple lug even more every time.

He was sure he needed to get up and find food.

Be social.

Get dressed.

Oh, what fun was that?

He was being lazy. He turned his head to look out the window, and Cullen was right, he could just see this beautiful land, all of these flowers.

And Orion could see now where the idea for Cullen’s house had come from. He could see the triplet’s parents’ house—it seemed like a quaint fairy-tale castle, covered with vines and roses and flowers of every different kind.

Orion was so curious, he wanted to go and see. He wanted to see if the flowers smelled as good as they appeared to, and if the bread and honey that they brought over from the Land of Summer tasted just the same over there.

When he went out Corbin’s front door, it was becoming autumn, with falling leaves and the burgeoning harvest. When he looked out of Cosmo’s, it was thinking about becoming spring—albeit a high mountain spring, complete with snow and just barely budding trees. Here it was summer, and it was dizzying.

And fascinating.

Maybe if he just tried to go. Maybe that was the answer.

Cullen walked in from taking a shower obviously, and Orion tilted his head.

“Uh. Love?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re covered in spots.”

“What?” Cullen looked down at himself, and sure enough, his mate was covered in bright blue polka dots. “Umm…where did those come from?” Cullen dried his hair and sparkles just sort of fell right out of the long, silky stuff.

That was weird. Pretty, but weird. “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, I could eat.”

He sighed dramatically. “I guess that means I have to stand up.”

“Hey, if I managed to walk after the last three days, you can get your ass up.” Cullen reached down and pinched his big toe, and the tiniest little jolt of electricity zapped him.

“Ow!”

“What happened?”

“You shocked me.”

Cullen’s lips twisted. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Be careful. What if you do that to the little one? He’s going to bite you.”

“I said I didn’t mean to! It was just static electricity.”

It had felt much more directed than static anything. Static really meant that it was still. Static. This wasn’t still. This had traveled up his leg, almost to his groin. Not quite, thank goodness.

Orion slipped out of bed, scooting out of the way when Cullen reached for his balls. “Nope, nope, nope. No touchy.”

Cullen looked hurt. “Why?”

“Well, what if you’re not done being static? I don’t want you shooting up static lightning through my balls.”

“I didn’t do anything. It just happened. It was just—” Cullen stopped and turned and walked to his dresser, throwing on a heavy sweater and a pair of gauzy pants.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“I’ve got a little bit of a chill, and I’m grumpy. I tend to get cold when I’m grumpy.”

“Oh, good to know. Probably?—”

Suddenly, it was as if the world was rattled, was shaken with a scream, and he heard, CUNKLE! CUNKLE! ripping through his brain.

Cullen was off in a second, and Orion ran right behind him, naked as the day he was born, and he didn’t even care. He didn’t have time to.

Cullen ran straight for Cosmo and Hawk’s house, flying up the stairs.

They made it to the third floor, where Cosmo lay, water and blood pouring from his belly. Hawk’s house spirit, Bakli, was there with towels, trying to stop the flow, and the little one was screaming.

“Elliot! Elliot, it’s okay.” Cullen grabbed Elliot from the floor, almost tossing him at Orion. “What happened?”

Bakli shook his head. “His water broke, and he slipped. He hit his head on the floor.”

Cullen lifted his face to the sky, and this sound like none he’d ever heard, sharp as a scalpel, sliced through him. Hawk, Corbin, I need you now.

Then, as if the fabric of relativity had opened, Corbin and Hawk were there.

“What happened?” Hawk roared, flying to his mate.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t in here. I was in my house.”

“Da falled and hitted hims head,” Elliot cried, clinging to him like a limpet.

“Bakli said maybe his water broke, and then he slipped.”

Corbin shook his head. “We’ve got to get this baby born.”

“You’ve got to wake up my mate!” Hawk’s roar split the air, and Elliot screamed in pure terror.

“We need to get him to Lunastra or Mother.” Corbin stared at Cullen, who was beginning to glow.

“Hawk can bring him to Lunastra.” If something happens, Hawk should be there.

Fuck.

“Come on, then.” Hawk grabbed Cosmo up and began to run with Corbin and Cullen right behind.

Cullen pinned him with a look. “Come on, bring the baby.”

And out they ran, down the stairs and out the door, so he ran with them.

Suddenly he was not in the house.

He was not in the house, and he was naked and there was snow on the ground, and he had Elliot.

Oh, dear.

Orion pondered what to do, and finally, he swung Elliot around to his shoulders. “Hold on, Elliot. Can you do that for me?”

“Da!”

That had to be good enough. Orion shifted into his unicorn form, choosing the smaller of the options, the one that the tapestry weavers all made look like a cross between a goat and Shetland pony. He was far more attractive than that, naturally, but human art perspective hadn’t evolved at that point…

Elliot clung to his mane like a burr, and he clattered down the rise from the house, following the brothers and Hawk to what looked like another cluster of bizarre, amalgamated houses. Hawk was still roaring, calling to…well, he guessed other dragons, judging from who was spilling out of the houses and arriving by air.

“We need the midwife!” Cullen shouted. “And Abe! Please.”

“What happened?” A brawny gray-haired dragon ran out of the upper house.

“He fell and hit his head.”

“I’ll go get the midwife.” The guy ran a few feet, then sprang into the air, his dragon form huge and intimidating and wild.

Another half-dozen male dragons came running, a bunch of children of all ages trailing behind.

“Abe. Help!” Cullen begged.

“Sebby! Get blankets. Get some water on, Samuel. Bring him to the house, Hawk.” Abe took off back toward the cabin-like home at the top of the little villagey-type collection of homes.

“Is that a unicorn?”

Cullen rounded on him, eyes wide. “Uh. Yes. Yes, it is. He’ll need something to wear when we get to the house.”

“I’ll get some of Justin’s clothes.”

They all ran inside, and he shifted down, catching Elliot before he could fall to the floor.

“Da!” Elliot wailed.

“Hello, Elliot.” A smaller silver-haired dragon came to hold out his arms. “Will you come with Uncle Seth? We’ll make hot cocoa for your da to have when he wakes up, hmm?”

“Da.” Elliot nodded, then lunged at Seth, who caught him when Orion lost his grip from surprise.

“Here. You might need these. Bit cold.” That was another huge, silvery hot dragon. Damn. This was a good-looking bunch.

“Thanks.”

“So a unicorn, huh?”

Orion stuck out his hand. “Orion.”

“Samuel. Bad circumstances, but good to meet you.”

“What can I do?” Orion asked, dressing quickly. The warmth felt heavenly.

“Can you cook?” Samuel shot back.

“I can.”

“The main kitchen is in there. We’ll need lots of food.”

“On it.” He’d make some broth, too. For Cosmo, who he thought would need the nourishment.

“Who you?”

He blinked down at a small child who looked like she was made of spun platinum. “Orion. Who are you?”

“’Melia.”

He blinked at what lumbered over to them from behind her. A pale gold bear. “Is that a bear?”

“Spirit.”

“Uh, nice to meet you, Spirit.”

“Ups.” She held out her arms, so he picked her up.

“Is that your bear?”

“Me and Lissa and Laurel,” she said, her voice clear as a bell.

“That’s pretty exciting.”

“You’s a uni?”

“I am.”

“Pretty.” She patted his cheeks, then grabbed his ears to steer him. “Find Elliot.”

“Uh, very well. I am your faithful steed.”

“Steeee.” She nudged him in the chest with her knees, and he headed to the communal kitchen, or at least he thought that was what it was.

Cosmo? he asked his mate.

Still knocked out, but Abe thinks he’ll be fine. Cullen sounded worried, though.

I am just in the kitchen if you need me. The best thing he could do was to stay out of the way of the healers.

Thank you, love.

Do you have clothes on?

I do, Cullen told him. Make something yummy.

Your wish is my command. “Hi,” Orion said to the one named Seth. “Do you have yeast?”

“Yes.”

“I thought I would make cinnamon rolls. Also, what about any veg that’s on the edge of a breakdown. I can make broth.”

“We always have something on the verge of a nervous breakdown around here.” Seth grunted him, those silver eyes faceted and sparkling. They were fascinating.

“I’ve never seen anybody with silver eyes like that before. They’re amazeballs.”

Seth’s eyes crinkled. “Thanks. We all have them. The five of us and the babies, I mean. Oh, congratulations for getting through the doorway, by the way.”

He hadn’t been worried. “Going through doorways is sort of a specialty of mine.”

“Yeah? I’ve never met a unicorn before. I mean, at this point, I thought I’d met a lot of things. People. Um, creatures?” Seth’s cheeks were bright pink.

“Oh, I like creatures.” He grinned at Seth. “Let’s go with beings.”

“Beings. All right, I can do that.” Seth rolled those glorious eyes. “Goddess, I’m such a dork. I’m just a little off-kilter. And, and I don’t know where Gareth is. He’s probably got the other children. He tends to watch them, the older ones especially. Before they head off to school.” Seth took a deep breath, before letting it out, obviously soothing himself. “Sorry, this is very unnerving. I don’t love when things are unnerving.”

Orion could imagine that they had had quite a bit of unrest. Honestly, he had heard from Cosmo about how they’d all been trapped in a house that kept changing and then kept getting smaller and smaller around them. And then Cullen had explained to him about the veil and how different the dragonland, Lunastra, had been. How many of their friends had made their way over.

And Corbin had been very clear about their boss who lived on the other side of the veil and couldn’t get out now, and how they’ve all been worried about Hawk, especially Cosmo, who was pregnant with Hawk’s baby.

Well, had been pregnant with Elliot and was currently pregnant. Christ, he was getting a headache “Veg?”

Seth started pulling out tubers and greens and what appeared to be some kind of onion. “Here, this is what we’ve got. I can find more if you want.”

“Oh, this is great. Perfectly fine. I just thought I’d make a broth.”

“That’s very thoughtful. I’ll—I’ll make brownies.”

An owl, or what appeared to be an owl, and a flying…something feathered, but kind of large…went through the kitchen.

He ducked, and Seth sighed. “Stella, you and Luna, be good, please. Uncle Cosmo is sick and…is somebody keeping an eye on Penny?”

That was a switch in direction.

Seth was answered with a screech.

“Oh, good. Well, she can stay in there with Gareth. Why don’t you guys go find some… Let’s see… Can you go see if we have any dried garlic? If not, you’ll have to go to Uncle Myk and ask him if he has any we can use.”

She fluttered out with another screech that tried to split him in half.

Orion blinked. “Seth, what was that?”

“Hmm? That’s Stella. She’s Abe’s daughter. Him and Brandon.” Seth smiled, the expression fond and warm. “She was an unexpected gift.”

There was no way that was a dragon. But Orion smiled and nodded. He knew a lot about orphans and gifts from unusual places. That was, in a weird sort of way, one of his stocks in trade.

Changelings, the humans called them. He would bet she was a special gift, kind of like he had been.

He studied the tubers. “Do I need to peel these?” Orion asked.

Cosmo is awake!

Oh, good. I’m making broth with, um, Seth.

He’s a sweetie. I’ll be in here a while.

No problem.

And it wasn’t. He was pretty self-amusing, and there seemed to be an endless stream of kids and animals and?—

“Who are you?” A strapping young dragon came to stare at him, standing in the entry to the kitchen.

“Orion.” He smiled, going for charming but not smarmy. “I came with Cullen.”

“I’m Sebastian. I’m the oldest second gen.”

“Pleased to meet you.” He shook hands with Sebastian when the kid came over. “So. Peel or not?”

“Definitely peel.”

“Thanks.”

“I can do that, no problem.”

“So…you’re not a dragon. How did you get across the veil?” Sebastian didn’t pull any punches, and he opened his mouth to answer when a blaze of fire came rushing in, all wild red hair and huge eyes.

“Seb! What’s wrong with Cosmo?”

Sebastian turned to…her? “He’s fine. Uncle Cosmo is fine. He’s awake.”

“Promise?” Sparks were flying, but Seth didn’t seem to be worried, so he started peeling.

“I swear.”

Seth nodded. “Abe says he’s awake. He slipped when his water broke, and he hit his head. Knocked himself right out. Scary, but he’s all right. He’s having a baby.”

She blew out a long fiery breath and relaxed for about ten seconds, then she turned on him. “Who are you?”

“I’m Orion. I’m Cullen’s mate.”

“The unicorn. How did you get across the veil? I’m fairly sure you’re supposed to be impossible.”

“Arielle, be polite, please,” Seth murmured.

He arched an eyebrow. “No one had informed me of that, so I didn’t know. Elliot was scared and needed to be close to his father, so I brought him.”

She tilted her head, lips twisting. “Well, thank you. I don’t want him scared, but this is deeply concerning. You shouldn’t just be able to cross. Where did you come from?”

“The Glade.”

Arielle glanced to Sebastian, who shrugged. Then she looked at Seth, who also shrugged.

“You could just ask me,” he said wryly.

“I could.” She blew out sparks.

He blew out a rainbow that sparkled like one of those fireworks that exploded into more little explosions. He was sure they had a name.

She blinked for a moment, then laughed, sounding much more like the youngster she had to be. He lived for that. For healing a worry, for making it better when someone was worried or sad.

“Is this the same grove Penny got lost in?”

“Huh?” He shook his head. “Who is Penny?”

Seth smiled, this radiant little grin. “She’s mine. She’s going to be some sort of sage or something according to the lady of the grove.”

He finished peeling and started chopping, tossing things into the old, battered stockpot Seth had pulled out for him to use. He loved it. “Tell me about the grove.”

Both kids looked suspicious again. “What if you’re not nice?”

He set the knife down to turn to face them fully. “Cullen and his brothers and Hawk are guardians, yes?”

Seth just folded his arms over his chest, smiling slightly at the kids.

Sebastian and Arielle exchanged another glance. “Yes,” they said at the same time.

“Let’s construct a syllogism then. Cullen is a guardian, and you clearly trust him. Cullen and I have formed a mate bond, and he trusts me. Therefore, you can also trust me. I mean you no harm.” A flash of golden light enveloped him for a moment, and he nodded, because it was a sacred vow, and the magic in this world was acknowledging him.

They both sighed, and Arielle’s shoulders relaxed. “I had to know.”

“I understand. Everyone you care about is here. Now, about this grove.”

“Tell me about the glade first,” Sebastian said.

“How about we trade facts? I’ll tell you one thing, you tell me one.”

He got a searching look from each that was so identical it almost made him laugh.

“Okay.”

“So, I wasn’t born in the Glade, but that was where I was taken to be raised.” He stared. Waiting.

Sebastian sighed and waved a hand. “Well, Cade is the one who went to get Penny there, and we’ve never seen it, but?—”

“But it’s like a place that’s out of time and space with here,” Arielle finished.

He frowned, going back to chopping. “So it’s like a magical space?”

“This whole world is a magical space.”

“Sebby! Him next,” Arielle snapped.

“Okay.” He chuckled. “Ask me something.”

“Who are your parents?” Arielle asked.

“My birth parents are unicorns. They live in another dimension. I don’t see them much.”

“Oh.” Now the kids both looked guilty. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “I can get there when I need to.” He handed the pot to a surprised Sebby. “Can you cover all the veg with water, please, and put it on the stove?”

“Sure.” Sebby dutifully filled the water.

“Now.” He tossed a wink at Seth. “Yeast?”

“I’ll show you the baking cabinet.”

“You make up your brownies if you want the oven first. I’ll make bread and cinnamon rolls, but they’ll both have to rise.”

“Sounds good.” Seth got to work after showing him the big Hoosier cabinet that held all the baking supplies. They even had an amazing sourdough starter.

How’s it going back there, baby? he asked Cullen.

Good now. You baking?

I am. And being interrogated.

Ah welcome to my world. Cullen’s mental laughter made him smile.

“Are you talking to Cullen?” Sebby asked, his curious tone respectful, at least.

“I am.”

“Everybody around here can do that, did you know?” Arielle rolled her eyes. “Where we were, where we grew up—me and Seb and some of the others—you couldn’t. Only mates and brothers, sometimes, I mean. It got bigger, huh, Seb?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yes. The closer we got to being able to come here, I think, the more we learned to talk to each other with our minds, but it’s neat to know that you can do it.” Sebastian pursed his lips. “Can you do it with us?”

“I have no idea.”

CAN YOU HEAR ME? Arielle’s mental voice was like a sledgehammer. Just bashing him right between the eyeballs.

He swayed for a second, lights flashing. “Yes.”

Seth shook his head. “Arielle, easy.”

“Sorry, I was just?—”

Two gigantic dragons pushed into the door at about the same time, the house shaking with it.

Arielle looked at Sebastian, who looked back at her and then looked at the big dragons. Then, for the first time, Arielle really, genuinely smiled. “These are our uncles.”

Sebastian nodded. “Tyson and Zeke.”

This seemed sort of important. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Good to meet you.” Big and red-headed smiled at the kids. “Guys, can you please go get Elliot? He went off exploring, and things are getting loud, and he’s getting worried.”

“No problem.” The two teenagers disappeared like smoke, and Seth just cracked up.

“The kids called, huh?”

“They did. They were worried.” The silver fox with rainbow facets for eyes—rainbows! If he wasn’t mated he’d be all over that—laughed. “And you know their Uncle Seth is gentle.”

Tyson nodded. “Sweet and kind.”

“He would never hurt a fly.” Zeke rolled his eyes.

“Ari has a very well-developed sense of defense when it comes to her family.” Tyson had red hair, which was a surprise, given everyone else was silvery. He could see where Arielle got it from.

“Are you Arielle’s father?” he asked, and Tyson shook his head with a snort.

“Oh no. No, I was not responsible for that. I am, however, her uncle, and she is the child of my soul.”

“As Sebby is mine.” He got a smile. “Zeke. Pleased.”

“Same. Orion. It’s been a day. I’m making cinnamon rolls and bread, and soup for Cosmo. Seth here is making brownies. Do you have any requests?”

Tyson’s lips curved in a smile, and holy goddess, these dragons were devastating. He might be mated; he wasn’t dead.

“I don’t suppose you know how to make empanadas.”

“Bien sur, mon amie. Or rather, por supuesto, mi amigo. I knew a manchachicoj from Argentina who made empanadas that would make the angels cry. Sweet or savory or both?”

Zeke raised an eyebrow. “Both? Please. So, about this Glade the kids mentioned.”

“Mmmhmm.” He measured out flour and sugar.

There was only so much information he was going to give up about his homeland. Not that he didn’t trust them. Of course he did. Except he didn’t.

He hadn’t even told most of this to Cullen.

Why would he share with strangers?

“I’m assuming it’s a dimension like this?” Tyson asked. “Is it dangerous? Is it going to be attached to us? And do I have to worry about it, because I have a lot to worry about. Arielle wants to go away to college in a few years, and I think Myk’s pregnant again…”

“You two do know what causes that, right?” Zeke growled, and okay, watching the two of them turn on each other was delicious.

He’d pay for that.

All of the monies.

“Oh, do tell me about it. How many babies do you and Gareth have?”

Zeke arched one silver eyebrow, and Orion kneaded. “You’re way ahead of me.”

“I started with three!” Tyson rumbled. “So you have to remove three from anything you’re talking about.”

“Well, if you remove three, then you’re on what? Number twenty?”

“Six,” Tyson admitted.

Are they always this grumpy? he asked his mate. How’s Cosmo?

Yes, if you’re talking about Zeke and Ty. It’s their job. And we have a head. In five minutes, he’ll have a baby.

Oh, yay!

“That makes nine. I do not have nine children.” Zeke rolled his eyes. “This one is trying to repopulate the entirety of Lunastra.”

“I am not. And anyway, I’m pretty sure this is the last one.” Tyson shook his head. “Myk has his hands full with everybody, and I don’t know that he’s pregnant, I only suspect. He may just be grumpy.”

“I’d be grumpy if I had to deal with you all the time.” Zeke winked at Tyson.

“I’m going to show you grumpy.” Tyson grabbed Zeke, gave him a huge hug, and they both cracked up.

It felt so good to see that.

Then they both turned back to look at him. “So. Is it dangerous, and do we have to worry about it?”

“Not dangerous. You don’t have to worry; it’s a haven. Pure and simple. Zero drama.” At least that was the party line.

We have a little girl! Cullen’s voice was overjoyed. She’s perfect and bright pink, a little like bubble gum.

Oh, mate. Congratulations.

“The new baby is here,” he told the others.

“We should go see!” Arielle raced off, Sebby at her heels. He hadn’t even realized they were back. Ty and Zeke chuckled, and Ty clapped him on the back. “Thank you for helping out. Food will be a huge part of the day. Expect Abe soon.”

“Yep.” His head was spinning with all the folks he was meeting.

“You’ll come see the baby soon, right?” Zeke asked.

“As soon as it clears out a little and all my dough is rising.” He winked, but he didn’t want to go step on toes. He wanted to let the family and friends who formed this tight conclave all do their thing first.

Maybe someday he would feel as though he belonged, but then again, maybe not. He literally was the proverbial unicorn. He didn’t fit in anywhere so he went everywhere.

“Hey.”

He had no idea how long he’d been alone in the kitchen when warm arms slid around him from behind, and he jumped half a foot, not expecting Cullen to come see him.

“Hey. You can be very stealthy.”

“You were kinda lost in thought.”

“I was.” He turned to take Cullen in his arms and make sure he wasn’t still…spotty. He had no idea whose clothes his lover was wearing, but they were too big. “Are you feeling okay?”

Cullen looked so tired.

“I am.” Kissing his chin, Cullen leaned against him. “It’s just been a roller coaster of a day.”

“I bet.” Orion felt the same way, and he hadn’t been in there for the birthing. “So is your new niece amazing?”

“She so is. She’s very pink. And so pretty. Kind of more like My Little Pony than dragon…”

“Oh, I have to see her soon, huh?”

“Yes. She’s your niece too.”

Orion felt that like a punch to his chest, and he stood with the feeling for a moment, trying to get a grip on it. Okay. Okay, he could do that.

“So what all are you making?”

“Bread is in that bowl, cinnamon rolls in that.” He pointed to bowls that sat on the back of the counter by the huge old stove, staying warm. “And I am about to make empanada dough. That I have to keep cool.”

“That is so cool, babe. And I smell broth?”

“Vegetable broth. I thought I would separate some out and make bone broth or chicken soup or whatever they have for everyone, and some veggie for me.”

“You are amazing.” Little exploding hearts started going off behind Cullen’s head.

“Is that on purpose?” It was adorbs. Yarrow had told him no one said adorbs anymore, but he’d reminded Yarrow how many centuries of slang he had on the guy.

“What?”

“The hearts.” He pointed, and Cullen craned his neck to look.

“Crap. No.” But they didn’t stop.

“I like them.” He loved Cullen. So much suddenly that it hurt. Magical chemistry was a weird thing. He couldn’t imagine a life without Cullen now, and it had only been a few weeks.

“I can’t wait to eat your food.”

“You hungry?” He nuzzled Cullen’s cheek.

“Starving. Thank you.”

Orion smiled. “For what?”

“Being here for us. For me.” Cullen rose on tiptoe to kiss him.

“I’m glad I am.” And he was. Because he wasn’t alone in the kitchen anymore. Cullen was with him.