Page 92 of Dragon Keeper

He burst into happy tears. “Oh, thank you.”

“Yay!” Riley hugged him from behind. “Happy baby party.”

“We have all your favorites, Tyr!” That was Tor, laughing and tossing tiny bee-shaped paper in the air.

Suddenly the air was filled with paper bees, and he held out his hands, catching them. The baby inside him rolled and jumped, and he swore he could hear her tiny voice, her joyous little laugh.

Melissa.

He blinked. The whole world seemed to still. And he tilted his head.Is that your name, sweet girl?

Melissa, your honeybee.

He nodded.Yes, my own honeybee. We’re having your very first party. It’s all for you.

She laughed again, and then time began. He was still smiling, throwing bees in the air, and there were tears on his cheek.

Mate, are you well?

Her name is Melissa. She told me. I heard her.

Melissa. That’s beautiful.

He nodded because it was beautiful, and she told him her name here, surrounded by their community, who were celebrating her at her very first party. He would remember this forever. “Thank you all for coming. This is amazing.”

“We wanted you to have something really special.” That was Cade, who engulfed him in a huge hug.

“The bear is called Winnie the Pooh, love. He’s from the human world, and he loves honey above almost all things.”

“I understand that.” Tyr laughed, scooping up a handful of bees to decorate the nursery with.

Then he was brought a huge chair of honor, almost a throne, and he sat upon it with the blankets piled all around him to cushion his bony bed. And everyone came to visit to nod and smile. Even the Rocky Mountain clutch was here—Arielle, Sebby, the little ones along with all their fathers.

Best of all Aleana, Fredda, and Mari were here too, bringing amazing gifts: necklaces of sea glass and toys made of shell.

And Tor wandered about, allowing himself to relearn the villagers.

It was truly magical, and he was grateful to have it.

Are you happy, mate? I did well?Sloan nuzzled his cheek.There are many gifts for you.

“For Melissa, for us. You truly have become one with the village. I couldn’t possibly be happier, not even if I tried.”

Sloan beamed at him. “Neither could I. I love you so much. You and our little one. And I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tyr shook his head at his mate. “There’s no worries tonight. There’s just party and honey cakes and celebrating our Melissa.”

“I love that somewhere back in my line, perhaps my mother’s mother, there was a Melissa. It was meant to be, right?”

“That was meant to be. You and me.” Tyr smiled around at everyone and couldn’t wait to try the cake, but what made him happiest was when Sloan sat down next to him on the floor and leaned against his legs. That way he could run his hands through Sloan’s hair and just be there and experience it all.

He knew there would be games, toys, and little tiny baby clothes and all of the wonderful things he remembered from when they had done a party like this for Poe, but right now, all he wanted to do was sit and let everything flow around him.Friends, family, and his mate were what made everything else worthwhile.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Sloan floated in the pool and watched his mate paddle about on his back, his belly sticking up out of the water. That was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen, that heavy belly with its scales sticking out of the water like the spine of a giant dinosaur or something. Tyr barely moved his feet and hands to keep himself above the water line.