Page 13 of Emerald Waves (Primordial Protectors #2)

Chapter Eight

Emerson

This was like the best field trip ever, only I got to live in it. I loved aquariums. And zoos. But I’d always been drawn to sea life and animals and now understand why. Life prepared me for my fated mate, perfectly matching our desires.

Many things I’d obsessed over for years, never understanding why. My mind was mad with questions, nearly driving me past the brink of insanity, whereas now, it all clicked into place and the voices within me calmed.

Caro held the key to accomplishing that.

Envisioning myself in his horde, soon to be our horde, for hours on end, researching these wonderful mammals with my mate. These tanks the ideal backdrop as we toiled away. What more could I have asked for? Foolishly I’d questioned the fates when I should’ve known better.

“Which is your favorite?” Caro’s voice vibrated through me when his lips pressed to my head.

“The sea turtle. I can’t believe you made a flipper to replace his missing one.” Seriously, who does that? Someone with a heart the size of the world and that someone I am lucky enough to call my mate.

“He got caught up in a boat propeller. I was near enough I felt his pain and heard him cry out. I scooped him up and flew home with the utmost haste. I packed the injury with a mix of natural herbs then wrapped it in seaweed. Once it healed I tried out several variations of replacement flippers until I created one light enough that he could easily maneuver it.”

“Titanium?”

“Yes, my brilliant archivist. Titanium for the win. I may or may not have destroyed their fishing net and capsized their boat,” he smugly shrugged. “But fear not, I did see them resurface, so no humans were harmed in this rescue mission.”

“Will you ever set him free again?” While I wished for his freedom, the selfish side of me would miss watching him swim and enjoy the wonderful habitat Caro had carefully built for him.

“Likely not. Titanium is a highly valued metal and humans are greedy. I fear what they would do to him in their haste to strip him of it.” I felt Caro’s sorrow through our connection. His love for all animals whether land or water ran deep.

“Does he have a name?”

“Aye, Trooper.”

“Trooper, I love that.”

“He was a trooper through all my trials and tribulations seeking the best replacement flipper for him.”

Wait, had he said before. “Can you communicate with them?”

“I can. With all animals, it’s part of my gift.”

The fates chose well when they picked the Denarius brothers to guard not only the gems, but dragon kind. Who knew it extended to so much more?

Or was that all the brothers, with their kind hearts hidden beneath their gruff exteriors, have chosen to take the weight of the world’s problems onto their shoulders?

Possibly both.

“I’m absolutely blown away. This is nothing short of amazing and will be the perfect place to get lost in research.

” I envisioned myself deep in thought as I watched these magnificent beings in the natural habitats Caro had taken the time to recreate for them.

Would some have babies? Would I get to witness firsthand near extinct species repopulate?

Goddess, excitement spiraled through me, igniting the passion I’d once had.

Sadly, the longer I ignored my dragon, the faster that passion was replaced with unhealthy obsessions.

With Caro’s guidance and my dragon’s voice, both of them, I’d not lose sight again.

“Do you have any wildlife you’ve rescued up here?”

“No, I wish we had the proper space for it. Instead, I’ve privately funded many across the globe. Even dropped off a rare one here and there.”

I had a feeling his here and there was more prevalent than not. Many rare and near extinct wildlife rescues were making the news as of late. I bet my kindhearted mate was their silent finder.

“Well then, let’s get you sorted. I’m sure that brilliant mind of yours is mentally digging through the boxes already.

” I loved how the entire time we stood here, Caro held me.

Not in a hey, he’s here might as well be cordial way, but as in a he truly cared one.

His gentle touch skimmed up and down my back, nearly sending me into a dream state.

My dragon purred, ready to curl up with our mate’s dragon and nap inside this glorious horde.

“I couldn’t think of a more suitable horde for us.”

Caro sighed. “I’m so happy you feel that way. Come, let’s make it better by adding yours to it.”

Together we had the boxes unloaded in no time though there was a lengthy discussion on how to properly shelve the archives.

“Alphabetically makes the most sense,” Caro argued his case.

“But there’s a method to my madness.” Was there really? Previously led by an unnatural fixation I now saw my process, if it could even be deemed that, as questionable.

Caro cocked a brow. “Please, enlighten me.”

There was no easy way to do this. “Fine, you win.”

Having witnessed a peacock strut, watching it dragon style as my mate puffed out his chest and strutted across the room was hilarious. Wait, is he whistling? This lighthearted side of Caro thrilled me to no end. Breaking down barriers, I believe it’s called, and we were doing just that.

But where to put me…

“Is there a way to make space for a desk?” The area pretty much rotated between rock walls and tanks.

Caro paused and glanced around. “We could always put one next to Trooper’s tank, then you’d have company while you work. Or in the center walkway, what there is of it.”

I wonder if through our connection I’d eventually harness the ability to speak with sea life too. Goddess, please don’t wake me. I hope this dream never ends.

“I’ll put your clothes away, then I have a surprise for you,” Caro said, then kissed me and disappeared before I got a single word out.

I’m not sure how many more surprises I could take. None of them have been bad, just a lot in a short period of time..

But my inner child that missed their childhood was in heaven with all his new aquatic friends. “Here, fishy, fishy.”

“You know,” I jumped at Caro’s voice. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I was so, I don’t know, scared isn’t the right word. Reluctant is better, to show you my horde and now I couldn’t be happier it was you I got to share it with. A mate who appreciates these wonderful creatures as much as I do.”

Guess I wasn’t the only one that mating had changed.

“Come on, time for your surprise.” It was nice to handhold with another.

Well, not in the dragging you into a thirteen-year-old purgatory way.

How sad is it that all these years later I associate holding hands with being dragged into the council meeting and forced to shift.

While Caro was pulling me, somewhat, it was a gentle, excited tug, followed up with sweet glances over his shoulder.

“Wow, it’s gorgeous up here.” When we first arrived, we drove right into the underground garage and bypassed the amazing mountainside.

“Over there against that rockface is the entrance to Ionus house. Across from us is Quint’s and behind us is Mattias and Odem’s.”

“Am I allowed to venture outside of the house?”

“Emerson,” he stopped so abruptly I ran into him.

“Sorry, should’ve warned you. This is your home now, you’re not trapped.

These lands are protected and just like in town, you’ll feel the wards when you pass through them.

My only suggestion is don’t wander through the tunnels without me, or you will get lost.”

“That’s what happened to Alex, right?”

“Yes, and how he got hurt. I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt again.” Caro sweetly pressed his lips to mine. “You can always sit out on the balcony too. I’m sure you’re picking all the best spots to read right now?”

My cheeks heated. “Something like that.”

“Do you have a driver’s license? We have plenty of cars if you need to go into town and I’m not available. I’ll show you which ones are ours and where the key box is.”

Goddess, I had so much to learn. Long gone were the days were the security system let me in and out when I needed something. Now I had to worry about wrong turns and getting lost. Maybe I was better off in the horde.

“If you ever get lost, call out to me and I’ll find you.”

“Whoa.” At the top of the hill it looked out over a vast area that resembled a battlefield.

“That’s Ionus favorite place, the practice pitch. Well, it used to be. Thankfully now he has a house full of babies to keep him busy. Bright and early every morning for centuries we sparred at the crack of dawn for hours on end.”

“Is that where we’re going?” Fighting wasn’t in my blood. “I’m not in the mood to have my ass handed to me.

Caro laughed. “We’ll tackle self-defense another day. Today my goal is to lure your dragon out.”

My dragon perked up at that.

“Ah, might not take as much coaxing as I thought.”

Would it really happen? Could I actually shift? Giddiness bubbled inside me and my dragon did figure eights.

“He’s going crazy.”

We’ve waited far too long, human. You got your forever now let me have mine.

Mate, our dragons are meant to fly high above the earth together. Don’t hold back.

I-I, I’m scared. What if I screw something up? What if it hurts.

The first shift will be uncomfortable but after that it will become second nature.

“I’ll shift first and maybe that will draw your dragon out. Take your glasses off, you likely won’t need them any longer.”

Huh, hadn’t considered that. It was a normal process to put them on the second I woke. Heck, I’d fallen asleep in them countless times. How amazing it will be to no longer wear them.

In mere seconds, standing before me in all his glory, was my gorgeous mate’s dragon. Those familiar emerald eyes staring back at me. His razor-sharp talons glinted in the sunlight, nearly metallic, though I knew better. Metal had nothing on them. They were sharper than any man-made blade.

He was magnificent and he was all mine.

“Can I touch you?”

Aye, nothing would please me more.

All these years spent with dragons and never once had I been this close to one.

I’d fully anticipated his scales to be tough, hard like armor.

Every book I’d read portrayed them as exactly that, but they weren’t.

Vibrant shades that rivaled that of the most luscious forests known to man.

Every shade from the lightest to the deepest evergreen, the richest sage and everything in-between.

When the sunlight hit it just right the shimmery scales mirrored warm aquamarine.

“I could literally pet you for hours.” His dragon purred with every glide of my hands.

I’d like that. Now, it’s your turn. I can’t wait to see your dragon.

A harrowing fear ran through me at the thought of failure. What if I let Caro down?

We won’t. We’ve waited all our life for this. Now, it’s our time. Let me be free.

“I’m afraid.”

Don’t think, my love. Feel.

Love.

A warmth ran through me at the single word.

Open your eyes, Emerson.

Tentatively, I peered through my lashes and up at my mate.

You’re beautiful, Emerson.

We’re beautiful , my dragon corrected.

I gasped when I looked down and found paws and talons had replaced my feet.

My head darted this way and that, taking it all in.

Cerulean with a hint of the same aquamarine as my mate painted my scales as they shimmered in the sunlight.

Who knew dragons could cry, but the tears flowed forth, dampening the ground beneath us.

I’m a dragon! I have a dragon! Look, Caro, look at me!

He snorted. I am looking, I can’t take my eyes off you. You are one sexy dragon .

Do dragons blush? Add that to the research list.

Now, spread your wings just as you would your arms. That’s it, like you’re taking the biggest yawn.

My dragon literally stretched every inch of its body after being stuck in slumber for so long. Bones crackled as they reached unimaginable lengths.

You’re a natural, Emerson. Now, wave your wings up and down.

It took a couple of tries, but I finally got the hang of it.

That’s it, keep doing that.

The ground below shrunk but Caro stayed eye level with me.

We’re flying, dragon!

Dragons of all sizes and colors soared around us.

You’re so beautiful, Emerson. I’m so proud of my BFF!

Thank you, Alex.

Wonderful, Emerson! So proud of you!

Ionus’ kind words were like the greatest of compliments. Words from the one dragon all the others looked up to.

Odem did figure eights around us, flipping upside down then right-side up. Always the jokester and so full of life.

Our family has expanded, filled with gorgeous dragons.

Aye, Mattias, the Goddess has been kind to us.

I always feared Ionus, he made me nervous, though today I saw a completely different side of him.

Family.

Caro’s happiness lit up our connection.

I have a family and friends.

I was the luckiest dragon alive.

Let’s celebrate Emerson and his dragon. Dinner at our house tonight.

Aye, Ionus. Many thanks.

What a day. Moving in with my mate, my dragon finally surfaced and got to fly. Not as glamorous as the others were but we were still airborne. Now I’m having dinner at my eldest brother-in-law’s house. I couldn’t wait to see Alex and Ionus’ dragonets.

One by one they landed but didn’t shift as they waited for Caro and I.

What if I wipe out?

Oh, you will, Caro snickered, but with practice you’ll get better. Watch me.

Flawlessly, my mate glided in with the wind and into a perfect landing. I circled above, once, twice.

You can do this, Emerson.

The decent was too fast but I didn’t know how to put on the brakes. I hit the ground snout first and rolled, finally coming to a stop upside down.

Are you okay?

Yes, only a bruised ego.

And maybe a tooth, but hey, I flew! My dragon shifted, contently purring as he slid into slumber. Caro and Mattias helped me up and dusted me off.

“Not the best landing, brother,” Mattias clapped my shoulder. “But you were magnificent up there.”

I snorted. He was far too kind. “Thank you. Hopefully I’ll get better.”

“You will,” Ionus clapped my shoulder, and I nearly buckled under his strength. “Now, we break bread. Follow us home.”

Foolish as my landing was, you couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I wasn’t broken. My dragon flew. I shifted. I had a mate. No longer the fool or the outcast.

I am a dragon.