Page 27 of Emerald Waves (Primordial Protectors #2)

Chapter Eighteen

Emerson

I woke with a start from a dead sleep when it hit me.

No clue how long I slept, having been beyond exhausted after the day I had, but I had to talk to him and find out if it was true.

There was no way he didn’t know, and my mind wouldn’t relax until it got the answers it sought.

Unless I’d been giving him far too much credit, which was highly possible, though not likely.

He knew.

I rushed down the stairs and out the front door, not realizing until it was too late that I’d zoomed right past Ionus and Caro. Great, now they were following me. But I was a man on a mission, and this was a big one.

Mate?

I ignored Caro’s call to me. He’d soon find out. I only hoped this didn’t cause a rift between the brothers, as that wasn’t my intention. Bursting through the front door to Mattias’ house, I knew exactly where to find him— in his office.

“I wondered how long it would take one of you to put the pieces together.” He tossed the pen down, stared at the three of us, and gestured toward the wingback leather chairs across from his desk. “Take a seat. I have a feeling this may take a while.”

“How long have you known?”

“You’ll have to be more specific than that, Emerson.”

“Does someone what to tell me what the hell is going on?” Ionus demanded. I cringed at the anger in his voice, having done my best to stay on his good side.

“Let’s wait for Odem and Quint to get here.

I’d rather not answer these questions twice.

” Mattias was a keep to himself kind of dragon and by far the calmest of the bunch.

A man of few words, but one who was apparently full of secrets.

He held the key to the merging of our species. Without a doubt, I knew that.

Odem and Quint entered a few minutes later. Odem was never one for stealth and was more of a hey, I’m here, let’s get the party started , kind of dragon. How he ever managed to sneak up on an opponent was beyond me.

“Begin again, Emerson,” Mattias waved his hand around, clearly annoyed with the invasion.

“How long have you known about the Merdragons?” My mate growled and Odem gasped.

“Since they fled to the seas after the Dragon Wars. I’ve helped protect them. They wished to remain hidden and asked that I keep their secret. In order to do so, it meant keeping them safely hidden away from all, including my brothers.”

Ionus slammed his fist down on the desk, denting a good chunk of the mahogany surface. “Nothing and I mean nothing is to be kept from us!”

Mattias cocked a brow. “Really, dear leader. You mean to say you’ve spilled all your secrets over the centuries?

” When his question was met with another growl, in lieu of words, he continued.

“I thought not. The seas are mine, oceans, lakes, ponds and any other water-based crevices included. I’ve been following Caro for centuries.

Each time he crossed the waves and dove beneath them, I was there.

However, before the day we entered his horde and the statue called to me, I had no clue he'd been taking artifacts, nor rehabilitating sea life. That last part I’m very pleased with, the artifacts, not so much. ”

“Following me?” Caro questioned. “Like an errant child?”

“Think of it as you may, brother, but the seas are mine. It wasn’t until your visits increased in frequency that I realized just how closely linked our affinities truly are. Raven’s recent lessons on how we can share them served to solidify that.”

“Did you know of the other Merdragon clans?” I again asked before they got too far off topic, and all hell broke loose.

“Yes, and I’ve already reached out to request a gathering of elders.

They are peaceful dragons and prefer to keep to their own, but if a war is truly upon us, they must be prepared.

I’ll not allow them to be attacked again.

Not on my watch.” The brothers were mere eggs when the war broke out, unable to protect anything.

What was left took centuries to rebuild.

Apparently, more clans than we’d thought had survived.

“Any more secrets, brothers?” Ionus asked the group, but no one replied. “Great. Can’t wait to see what happens next.”

“I knew exactly where Emerson was and that he was safe. Kai only wished to have Tasi returned. That little imp is a smart one, sometimes too smart for his own good. His affinities mirror that of a mage,” Mattias smiled fondly, then shook his head.

“I am very in touch with my element and am aware of all that takes place within my beloved water.”

“I don’t like any of this,” Ionus huffed. “Secrets lead to deadly encounters. How can we protect dragons and humans if we don’t even know what clan Denarius is up to?”

Fear turned to sorrow as I saw the hurt in Ionus eyes. He’d been tasked with not only keeping the brothers together, but with training them as protectors while they’d kept things from him. Things such as Merdragons, which was a huge deal.

“Maybe the focus shouldn’t be so much on secrets, as it should be on ensuring each of us are in sync with our elements.

There is much we must learn from them if we’re to weather the impending storm.

” Mattias was full of surprises today. I’d never conversed much with him, he was the more reserved brother, but I’d surely pick his brain from here on out.

“It’s always the quiet ones,” Ionus complained.

“All these years I thought I knew my brothers, only to find they’d kept secrets from me all along.

Private secrets between partners are one thing, but secrets that affect all our kind are unacceptable to harbor.

Mattias, had you told us, and explained your pledge to keep them safe, we would’ve adhered to that, but instead you chose to say nothing.

That I cannot forgive. I’ve devoted my life to our cause, the entire purpose for our existence, and now you’ve left me questioning everything. ”

“Ionus, it’s not like that.” Mattias words fell on deaf ears as Ionus stormed from the room.

“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to start all this.” Great, now I was the cause for the brothers fighting. “I ran out of the house so fast. I didn’t know they were there. I’m sorry.”

“The fault is not yours, Emerson. Your curiosity is one of many things I love about you,” Caro entwined our fingers. “We’ve all kept secrets, which means we’re all at fault here, not you. We, as the protectors, have our work cut out for us. My love, could you leave us to discuss this?”

That request I was happy to oblige. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

I’d already caused enough problems and wanted nothing more than to once again hide away inside the sanctity of our horde.

It was by far my favorite place, and the one I was most comfortable in.

As soon as that heavily armed door shut behind me, I leaned against it and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Home sweet, horde.” The smell of saltwater and parchment paper filled my senses, calming my racing heart.

Home.

Home was truly where my heart was. And anywhere Caro was too, of course.

I couldn’t wait to show our little peanut all the wonderful lives his Papa had saved.

Trooper was by far my favorite, though I loved each of them.

Would our dragonet be as proud of me as they will be of their Papa?

I hoped so. Being an archivist and historian may not be glamorous, and my dragon may not be as big as Caro’s, but my work is necessary.

It’s important for our species to learn from our history and from where they came, and hopefully not make the same mistakes as dragons past. War was never the answer.

Now, to double check I’d properly documented the blood pact between Ionus and Kai, along with my time in the Merdragon cave.

I couldn’t wait to visit again and watch them as they go through their daily routines.

At least that encounter ended on a bright note even if it did end with a rebuilding of the pitch.

Goddess, please don’t ever let anyone tell our baby how or where they were conceived.

Have you eaten, my love?

Right on cue my stomach protested.

Um, no.

We need to set alarms on your phone to remind you to eat. You have two very special people to consider now.

This was going to be one very long pregnancy with a helicopter mate. But then again, that was better than being ignored.

I’ll be out in a few.

“I knew better than to believe that.” Caro’s voice startled me. “Sorry, my love, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He slid a plate in front of me with the largest sandwich I’d ever seen.

“I’m eating for one, not for Alex’s army.”

His boisterous laughter filled the room. “Noted, but I’d rather go big.”

I almost added, than go home, but we were already here.

“How did the meeting of the minds go?”

“Well,” he sighed as he sat, not a good sign.

“We’ve all got secrets. Things have happened over the centuries.

Now that all of mine are out in the open it’s a matter of where to go from there.

But to find that Mattias and I were so closely linked was a bit of a shock.

I mean, as kids we were tight, but the affinity part of that equation hadn’t sunk in until recently.

That and the fact that he’d been following me all these years.

But I feel his secrets run much deeper than he’s letting on. ”

That thought was a bit frightening, given the things the brothers saw and had done. Sometimes it was overwhelming knowing my mate was thousands of years old while I was barely in my thirties.

“Honestly,” it threw me a bit to think this, let alone admit to it. “I feel bad for Ionus. I’m sure he’s not exempt from holding secrets either, but he’s very hard on himself and expects to know and understand everything.”

“We’re all a work in progress, from birth ‘til death.”

“True. Maybe you can find a nice way to reiterate that to him. You’re closest with him of all the brothers.”

“Nice?” he arched a brow. “Is my mate insinuating that’s not the norm for me?”

Shrugging was the best response I had. “We didn’t exactly start off on the strongest of grounds.”

“True, and I accept full responsibility for the mistakes I’ve made with us. Emerson,” he came around to my side of our paired desks and lifted me from the chair, then sat with me upon his lap. “You and our baby are the best things to ever happen to me, and I’ll spend eternity making it up to you.”

From nothing to spoiled, all it took was finding my mate.

“Here,” he placed the sandwich to my lips. “Eat. We’re building the next line of protectors.”

“Building? Is it like a dragon erector set is growing inside me?”

“Quite possibly. Or the next bookworm archivist. I’m good either way.”

“Good to know, since they will choose their own path in life, and we will love them no matter what.”

“Spoken like the true genius you are. Your heart is so full of love, Emerson. I can’t wait to see you as Daddy and me as Papa.”

“Same.” The overwhelming sensations at finding I was with egg had since waned.

“Why don’t you walk me through the construction plans rolled up on your desk.

” I’d purposely not unrolled them, wanting to hear and see the excitement I knew filled my mate.

He’d given me so much already. Love, a home, my dragon, and now I would return it in the best way possible—by carrying our baby.

“I thought you’d never ask.” He sat me back in the chair and gathered the plans to spread across my desk. “In here, where we spend most of our time, I wish to carve a bassinette between our desks from the beautiful rock that surrounds us. Then the baby is always here with us when we’re working.”

Tears filled my eyes at the thoughtful suggestion. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

Caro kissed me. “Fantastic, I’m building that myself, so I’ll get started immediately. Regarding the nursery, I chose a neutral pallet. Earth tones, of course.”

“I’d expect nothing less. Will it be fireproof?”

“Absolutely. With a crib made just for our little, one carved out of the finest oak and stone. A day scene will be carved into two of the stone walls, falling into night along the others. Dragons in flight, the moon high above illuminating their beautiful colorful scales.”

“Mate,” I gasped, on the verge of tears. Damn these hormones.

“I’m glad you like it. I put a lot of thought into it and our contractor was so enamored he immediately placed the supply order. He’s also carving us a large rocker for two so we may lull our bundle of joy into slumber together.”

And there went the tears.

“I love how fate is bringing us our mates. All the cousins will grow up together, so close in age.” Caro’s eyes filled as mine had.

“I can’t begin to tell you how long ago we’d written off our own happiness and accepted the life we were created for, believing that maybe it was meant to be that way.

Now to find that wasn’t the case is overwhelming in the best of ways.

I love you so much it hurts to be away from you. ”

“And I you, mate. Our lives will be so much richer together.”

“They already are, my love. No amount of wealth will ever surpass the love of family.”

Found family , I nearly said. But that tidbit I kept tucked away.

This found family was better than anything my blood could’ve been.

This town, these brothers, well, except for Caro when he first realized we were mates and pretty much freaked out.

But they treated me with respect and now filled the void in my life, and my heart, with a love unlike any other.

“I thought we could start shopping for the nest, along with linens and a few items of clothing. Once the magic created from our love reveals its sex, we’ll order more.”

There went my savings.

“I know that look and don’t forget, your mate has been around long enough to have made wise investments. Our family will never want for anything.”

From nothing to everything. My cup was overflowing, as was my heart. I couldn’t wait to meet the culmination of our love had created. No child should ever have to suffer as I had, and I’d see too it our children never felt that pain.