Page 19 of Singing the Dragon’s Heart

Chapter

Nineteen

R eno, Talon, Triton, and Boone trooped after Kami, pushing through the gemstone room and cave in Cain’s quarters to wander into the cave system behind it.

Durango had been called to work, so he was the only one missing out on this wild mission they were on, which was to find colored crystals for the nursery, which was now painted and furnished with a rocker, an overstuffed rainbow chair, a rainbow changing table, and a bunch of rainbow rugs and curtains and…

It was a unicorn barf room, and it was awesome.

“I don’t want to get anything that someone might need for their heartstone. I just want little chips of prettiness, you know? So, we’re not looking for anything major, and if you find something big, we’ll take it back and put it in Cain’s area.”

Personally, Reno thought that that was really going to become Kami’s area.

It was still protected by the foyer and Betty, but Cain hadn’t been back here, so far as he knew, since Kami showed up.

Kami didn’t seem to be doing much, really. It was fascinating because he hummed, and Reno could feel the energy kind of bubbling forth from both Kami and the walls around them.

But it wasn’t like there was this big thing. Every so often, there would be a little spark and one of them would scoop it up. Then something sparked and they scooped, spark, scoop.

It was fascinating, and they kept walking, each of them having in their bag different colored stones that he assumed Kami would do something with or give to someone to do something with, either way.

“Oh, this is the most fun.” Kami rubbed his belly, chuckling softly. “We’re going to make rainbows for you, baby.”

All of the alphas looked at each other, and the fondness was palpable. Kami was so different from Lake and Elowyn and Eyv, so much less passive and so fascinated by everything.

You think that? Kami said. But Lake took four babies. No question. Pregnant as a house, he took those babies in. And Elowyn protected Leilani and his twins from hell. All by himself. He risked his entire soul to protect them. Eyv—he had a terrible time with his pregnancy, and he still taught the entire time up until he had the baby. You know. You were there right at the end. I’m different, no question, but I’ve gotten to know them and they are good dragons. You should be proud of them too.

I am.

Weirdly enough, that just made him prouder of his Kami.

“Will you find your rocks, please? Continue finding rocks.” Kami tilted his head and made a sudden turn to the right.

They walked through a short passage, and all took a deep breath.

The lights hit the crystals in the cavern, and there had to be thousands. Literally thousands—all reflecting the light and refracting it, and the rainbows were spinning.

Kami sat down, right on his butt.

“Oh my goddess, look at this place. Don’t touch anything.” Kami blinked, just staring at Reno. “This is wild. This is beautiful.”

“What is this place?” Triton asked, and Kami shook his head.

“I don’t know; it’s like a naturally occurring room, I guess. We shouldn’t touch it; it should just be allowed to be what it is. Someday, it’ll be important, right? Or not. It’s just beautiful.”

“You don’t want me to take any of the pieces then?” He wasn’t sure whether to pick Kami up or just stand there.

“No. No, don’t. We can bring the baby here and have him see it as it is, but don’t alter it.” Kami seemed dazed to him, and Reno was a little worried.

“Good deal. Come on, hailee. The rock can’t be good for your butt.”

Kami blinked at him. “You probably have a point. My knees just stopped working.” He held up his arms for Reno to grab him.

Reno hauled him to his feet, his eyes dazzled by the bouncing light. Damn. This place was really something. “Do you think we could bring the kids here? Like just to see?”

All of them, from Felicity to the teen seers to the littles would love this. It just sparkled so.

“Absolutely. I want to learn all about the native rock and teach them at the same time.” Kami wrapped both arms around his neck. “Are we heading back?”

“We are. I think we need to be more organized next time. We are dragons, so we can see, but rope, some carabiners, and better stuff to carry your rocks would be welcome.” Reno liked to be prepared.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Triton rumbled. “Come. I am hungry.”

“You guys are always hungry,” Kami said. Then he chuckled. “Of course, right now so am I.”

“Well, you are eating for two,” Boone pointed out. “Do you want to meet with the crew, or are you two wanting to be alone?”

Kami grinned all around. “Hey, you all came to help. Let’s let the kids help me sort stones and we’ll have something out at the grill.”

God, Reno was proud of Kami for learning to fold into the keep family. And Tal, too.

Talon bounced on his toes. “The little ones will be so pleased, yes, brother?”

Triton snorted. “They will make you crazed with how happy they are. They love to play with big bags of weird stuff.”

“Sounds like you guys. I’ve seen you with new bags of training weapons.”

Talon flicked his fingers at Kami. “You would be there too were it not for your growing belly.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Kami squeezed Reno’s neck. “Kill him for me.”

Reno hooted. “Are you kidding? Legendary warrior. And his brother. They would kick my ass.”

“Well, then taunt him for me, will you?”

“Absolutely.” Reno stuck out his tongue. And he knew the only reason there wasn’t a friendly scuffle was because he was carrying Kami.

By the time he set Kami down in a padded patio chair, the kids and omegas were all waiting for them, Lake grinning at Kami. “This was a great idea.”

“With the patio heaters and all the wind protection up, this is almost as nice as it is in the dead of summer,” Kami said.

“You still get lap blankets.” Reno covered him up. “What to eat, baby?”

“Chicken pesto calzone?”

Kami was craving those things like crazy. Had to be something in the pesto that he couldn’t pass up, something his body needed. Reno was always happy to oblige.

“You got it.” Reno gave his hailee a kiss, their lips clinging for a moment. That meant something yummy and red saucy for him, which he was always down for. “Come on, guys. Let’s feed the hungry horde.”

He and the other alphas headed off to get the food, and he heard much giggling and stomping feet and impatience, but Kami waited until they were all back and seated before nodding.

“All right, let’s show them what he got, gents.” Stones spilled across the big picnic table, and there was nothing but oohs and aahs for several minutes.

“Can we touch them?” Felicity asked.

“Yes. Of course.” Kami looked like a proud…stone papa. Or something.

Felicity sifted through the stones with her hands, and they made a lovely clatter. Most of them were already tumbled naturally from water running through the cave, but some of them were larger crystal formations. Not big, but bigger than a worry stone.

“So pretty.” Tempest grinned, picking up a very bright piece of aquamarine, studying it.

“Would you like to keep that, Tempest?”

“May I? I think it would make a lovely focus stone for when I’m seeking.” She looked so pleased, cupping the stone in her hands.

“Can I have one?” Felicity asked.

“Sure, kiddo,” Kami said, winking at Reno when he laughed. He thought Kami got it. All the kids would want one. “I bet you like…topaz.” Kami handed Felicity a stone.

“Ooooh.” Felicity peered into it. “Like fires inside.”

“It is, huh? I like how orange it is in the middle.”

“Me too!”

The older kids all picked out a stone, but Kami grabbed one and handed it to him just as the food came.

“For me?” Reno asked, surprised.

Kami frowned. “Yes. Hold onto it. It’s important.”

“How?” Reno was a little worried, because Kami had never seemed like he had any kind of seer talent, but the seriousness in the command came across that way, for sure.

“I don’t know. I’ll tell you when I find out.”

“Okay, baby.” Maybe it was for their wee one. Not a heartstone, necessarily, but a talisman. The stone was a deep, rich red, with crystal structures that turned into white and pink spirals on the ends.

He slipped it into his pocket, and that was that.

By the time the food came, everyone had chosen their little stone, and then Kami oversaw the process of sorting all the colors of the rainbows and putting them into different little piles. It was lovely, and hopefully, it would take Kami the rest of this pregnancy to make the stones into mobiles or whatever it was he was going to do.

Whatever it was, it was going to be beautiful. Beautiful and natural to fill the nursery with light.

He knew it was gonna work.

Kami was used to going over to Talon’s house at least three or four times a week, maybe more. And Talon came to hang out a few times a week too.

It was a thing.

The last couple of days, Talon had been putting him off, telling him he wasn’t feeling well, that sort of situation, and Kami was worried.

It wasn’t like Talon. Kami respected his privacy. He totally did, but damn it, if the man was going to do something exciting like find a mate or even a fuck buddy or go out on a mission. Or anything. He just wanted to know.

He was sort of living life vicariously these days.

Not only that, but Talon was making all this noise next door. Hammering. Moving furniture. How sick could he be if he was doing all of that? And the door was opening and closing…

So why couldn’t Kami go over there.

“What are you pacing for?” Reno growled, and he arched one eyebrow at his braaken.

“I want to know what Talon’s up to.”

Reno shook his head. “Why?”

“Because I don’t know.” Duh. He was bored and curious. And this was his best friend they were talking about. Talon never hid things from him.

“That doesn’t seem like the best reason.”

He heard more sounds coming from next door, and Kami frowned again. “What on earth is he doing? Why is he making so much noise?”

“He’s not making that much noise. He’s a dragon in his own home; leave him alone.” Reno kind of stared at the wall.

“I know he’s a dragon. I know him very well. Why hasn’t he been over?”

Reno gave him a look that was mild as milk. “He said he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Maybe he’s having convulsions and needs us.” It could happen.

Convulsions happened.

“It’s not like he doesn’t have a phone or that he can’t talk to you without ever coming over. Maybe he just doesn’t feel well.”

“I don’t like it. I don’t want him to be sick. I’m worried about him.” It wasn’t as if he didn’t care if Talon was sick. He did care, and Kami would get him chicken soup or something. But he wasn't going to just sit back and let his next-door neighbor suffer. How cruel would that be? “I’m going over to check on him.”

“Leave the man be, Kami.”

“No, he wouldn’t leave me be if it was the same situation. He would bring me soup. Or possibly a baked potato.” Mmm…a baked potato.

“You hungry, hailee? We could go to the cafeteria, find something yummy. A baked potato with bacon and sour cream?”

Kami hated when Reno was in “humor the lunatic” mode. He hated even more that he was often in a place to deserve the humor-the-lunatic mode.

Still, it sounded good.

“Okay. A baked potato.”

“Perfect.” Reno handed him his big sweater they kept by the door for when he left their apartment. They kept their place hot as a greenhouse right now so he could walk around naked if he wanted and be comfy. But out in the wild world of the keep, it was freaking cold.

“Are you ready to go, hailee?” Reno stood at the door with it half open, leaning against the doorframe.

“I am. Let’s go.”

Reno smiled at him, touched his nose. “Baked potato, ho.”

“I want bacon and cheese and sour cream and?—”

He thought he heard a few doors opening and closing, not just Talon’s, but across the way too. Weird.

“Did the guys wanna come with us?”

Reno blinked at him, head tilting. “What guys?”

He blew out a hard line of air, trying to keep his temper. “The guys, the ones that you are brothers with, you know, the ones with all the babies. What guys?” Kami was going to have a stroke.

“No. I think the kids are playing with the doors, but I want to have lunch, just the two of us.”

So sweet. “All right, that makes sense.” He would accept that as an answer, especially as there was potato-y goodness at the end. “I haven’t seen anybody it seems like in a couple of days. It’s almost like… I don’t know. They’ve been lost. Or maybe we have. Do you think that it’s possible that you and I are actually in some other dimension?”

“Another dimension?” Reno stared at him.

“Yeah, like, like you’ve shifted into some different dimension with me. But no one else is here, and they don’t know that we’re here. They think we’re missing and?—”

“Hey, hailee, I love you. We’ve talked to Cain in the last couple of days, we’ve had food delivered, we’ve had mail delivered.”

He stamped his foot a bit. “Don’t be logical. I’m playing.”

“Oh, sorry. Let me roll that back.” Reno made a show of taking a step backward and then coming forward again. “We totally could be in a different dimension. Maybe when we went into the crystal room, we fell through, and we don’t even know.”

“Oh, very nice. Not logical because we did have the big lunch with all the kids, remember, and the rocks? But I appreciate the effort.”

“Well, that’s really all that matters.” Reno got to laughing, and that tickled him. Reno hadn’t ever been known for being particularly playful, so when it happened, it always made Kami feel like he was amazing, like he could possibly be the funniest dragon in history.

Because he made Reno want to play.

“Oh, you are something else, braaken. Do you think we’ll have an alpha or an omega dragon?” He didn’t care. He just wanted a strong, happy, healthy little dragon.

“I don’t care, hailee. I just know that I’ll love them, no matter what. I just want to know them.” Reno’s expression was pure bliss. “I want to hold them and rock and play.”

“Fly.”

“Oh, yes. I want to fly together, all three of us, as a family.” Reno grabbed him suddenly and hugged him so tight. “As a family.”

He nodded against Reno’s chest, his nose a little squashed, but it didn’t matter. He loved how Reno smelled.

Talon’s door opened, and someone said, “Whoops!” and it closed again.

“Reno…”

“Baked potato.” Reno picked him up and carried him off after closing their apartment door.

“But what?—”

“Nope. Not now. When we get back from lunch, I promise we will drop in at Talon’s, okay?”

“Okay, but I’m not happy.”

“I will make a note of your complaint.” Reno laughed, and if people looked at them a little funny as they made their way through the halls, well, that was okay. Kami loved it when Reno held him.

They hit the cafeteria, the scents so good, but he could totally pick out the baked potato bar, and Kami grabbed Reno’s ears and steered him that direction.

“Mmmm. See? Potato goodness.”

“Hello, Reno. Kami. What may I get you?”

“Oh, I think I want butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese and chives,” Kami said. His belly rumbled.

“Of course.” The kid started loading him up.

“I’ll take chili and cheese,” Renu murmured.

“With butter and sour cream under it,” Kami said, laughing. “I know you.”

“You do.” They headed to a table after Reno had to set him down so they could grab his Sprite and Reno’s Coke.

“So.” Kami plopped down at the table. “Talon’s place. What are they doing?”

“Nope.” Reno made a show of buttoning his lip.

“No fair!”

“I told you, we’ll stop in on the way home.” Reno sipped his drink, eyes twinkling.

“Asshole braaken.”

“Me or Tal?”

“Both of you!” Kami smacked the table, trying not to pout. No one liked a pouty pregnant omega. Well, maybe someone did, but he didn’t.

The potato distracted him pretty well for a while. It was fluffy and perfect and had that baked/roasted flavor, not the microwave thing.

Yum.

He patted his belly. “Much better.”

“I’m glad, hailee.” Reno reached over to squeeze his hand. “And I promise, nothing is wrong with Talon. We’ll see when I’m done.” It took Reno forever to eat his potato. And he got dessert. But finally, he grinned and nodded.

“Then let’s go!” Kami grabbed Reno’s hand and hopped to his feet, practically dragging his mate back to their hallway.

Reno ambled.

That was the only word for it. And Kami was going to smite him. If nothing was wrong, why was Reno being so damn slow!

They turned the corner to go down their hall, and Tempest stood there wearing the prettiest emerald party dress. It had a full skirt and sequins around the ribbon-trimmed collar, and she looked absolutely overjoyed.

“Good afternoon.” She beamed at them. “How are you today?”

“Good,” Reno growled. “How are you, girl?”

“I’m great, Uncle Reno. How about you, Kami?”

“I am also great. Super. Fabulous. I just had the world’s best baked potato.” He didn’t want to sit and have small talk. He just wanted to go see what the hell was going on with Talon. “What are you doing out and about?”

He was trying not to be grumpy, because she didn’t have anything to do with his mood. To be honest, she was a sweet kid who periodically had terrifying visions.

What bliss.

“Well, I was coming to see you.” She smiled at him.

“Is it time?” Reno asked, and Kami frowned.

“What did you say?”

Reno actually stopped. “I asked if she had time. She’s a very busy little girl, you know.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore, Uncle Reno,” she admonished. “But it totally seems to me that we have all the time in the world this afternoon. So you’ve got me for as long as you want me.”

Kami fought the urge to snarl. He was still not used to being in a social situation where people felt it was perfectly normal to just interrupt their plans. He didn’t like it, if he was honest.

He didn’t like it, but it was important to Reno that he make an effort to join in.

Reno had asked the others to ease back on dropping in unexpectedly, so it was only fair.

It still aggravated him, but it was fair.

So he took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, but we promised to stop by and see Talon before we went home, remember? I’m worried about him.” Not to mention the fact that he was going to bite something if he didn’t get to see his best friend and just lay eyes on him.

He didn’t have to go in; he didn’t. They didn’t have to talk. He just wanted to see Talon and make sure he was okay.

“I told you, hailee, he’s fine.”

“Oh, good, I’ll come with you.”

Does this child not have parents? Doesn’t she have someone who’s paying attention to every move that she makes?

I don’t think she really needs that, Reno admitted. She’s very bright.

She took both their hands, then led them toward Talon’s apartment door, chattering at both of them constantly. It was absolutely wild.

Believe it or not, she used to be very quiet. She was eight when they rescued her. She’d been in hiding for eight years, basically living in a closet in the seer’s rooms so that they wouldn’t hurt her.

Okay, so now he felt like an asshole. Sorry, I guess I’m just—desperately curious is what I am. I just want to know what’s going on behind those doors. I hate a closed door.

They made him want to rip them open and see what he could see.

At least you know yourself. Reno winked at him. No stress, hailee. I was just saying she’s loud, she’s noisy, but she’s earned it. I thought she was never even going to so much as say boo to me. And now? She’s my good friend. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to complain.

No complaints. Open the damn door.

Reno knocked on Talon’s door, and Tempest did a little dance beside him, one he thought might be as impatient as his.

The door swung open, seemingly by itself, and Reno waved him inside, bowing slightly.

He walked inside, and the lights came on, dragons springing out from all over. “Surprise!”

He damn near fell on his butt, but Reno caught him, bouncing him back into play.

Talon’s front room was an explosion of rainbows.

Kami just stood there and stared at everything for a second, utterly awed. The entire room had changed.

The plain sofa had been replaced by a handful of cozy seating areas, and the television was there, framed on the huge mantel, a piece of art on the screen. The electric fireplace warmed the whole space, while a huge table groaning with food took up one entire wall.

There were dozens of appetizers and pastries, cookies and piles of fresh fruit. At the center stood a glorious, huge cake that was covered in rainbows. It was white and had to be at least five tiers with rainbows painted all over it and glitter everywhere. Crowning the cake was a topper that was a white dragon breathing out a prismatic riot of color. It was like an explosion of rainbow sparkly joy.

On one end of the table were coolers of iced drinks, and on the other, what looked to be games stacked, ready to play. Talon had even created a tiny play area for the smaller children, filled with toys and no sharp edges.

There were wrapped presents stacked all around the outside of the room and on top of a highchair and a stroller and the most perfect cradle he’d ever seen.

Oh.

Did you make that for me, love?

You wouldn’t fit… Reno was watching him closely, eyes searching his. Do you like it?

It’s the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to explore it. Our little one is going to be so blessed and comfortable.

Reno kissed his cheek. “I love you. Go enjoy your party.”

Everyone was laughing and waving at him, and Talon stood there in the middle of it all, beaming. “My ki’kai needs a party, and so does my best friend.”

Kami ran to Talon and hugged him hard. “Oh, you’re amazing. This is amazing. Thank you so much. I?—”

“Were you surprised?”

“I was. So surprised.” He couldn’t believe Talon had pulled this off, to be honest. The room was freshly painted, and the recessed lighting had been changed to be giant ceiling fans, each one of which had a glittery streamer hanging off the edge of it so that, as it moved very slowly, it sparkled. The walls were covered in artwork—all different colors and different styles, but it ended up being a riot of joy, the entire collection seeming to thrum with energy.

He had worried, actually, that Talon was going to sit in this absolutely functional and lovely, but not at all personal, apartment and rot. But he could see it now, how Talon had changed things and made them his own.

And made it something to be shared too, because this was beautiful.

“Good. I’m glad. You almost caught us bringing in things a dozen times. I felt so bad, worrying you, but I couldn’t think of anything else that would have kept you away.” Talon shook his head. “Thank goodness for Reno and his advanced distraction tactics.”

“He’s good at that. Even if I did threaten to cas?—”

Little ears, hailee, Reno warned.

“—spank him a time or two.”

“Well, sacrifices have to be made, yes?”

“Absolutely. We all have our part to play in surprising Kami.” Reno didn’t seem worried, to be honest. Not at all.

One of the little ones—he thought it was Felicity’s little sister—came up to him, eyes lit up. “Bath party! We get to have a bath party for you!”

Tempest chuckled and grabbed the little one, struggling to haul her up. “That’s right; it’s a shower. It’s called a baby shower.”

“Where is baby?”

“The baby’s in Kami’s tummy. You know, like your new baby is in your daddy’s tummy?”

“Oh.” The little one leaned over to pat his belly, and Tempest almost lost control of the child. She would have dropped her if Reno hadn’t caught her, scooping her up and taking her to Jack.

Tempest glanced over at him, her cheeks a deep purple with her flush. “Welcome to the family, Uncle Kami. Happy baby shower.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” Kami felt his eyes try to fill with tears. This was absolutely wild and utterly perfect.

Talon patted his back awkwardly. “Come sit at the place of honor, and then we’ll have people fetch and carry for you.”

“Okay, but I’m not that big yet.”

Talon sat him over next to Dex, who was possibly, literally, the size of a house.

“Don’t worry, you will be.” Dex winked at him, removing any actual sting from the words. “I’m assuming this one is a boy, because it seems really heavy.”

“Well, at least you have some time between them. I mean, you spaced everybody out well.”

“Yes, the girls are the same amount apart as this one will be from Gwen. So it’s a nice spread. It’ll be even nicer spread when it’s out.”

“Yeah. Well, thank you for coming. This is amazing and totally unexpected.” Nobody had ever given him a party before. Obviously, his parents had when he was a child, sure, but he’d never had a party with lots of friends, simply because his parents had been worried about them mingling.

This was the best party ever, and he would never forget it—never, and he was unbelievably honored that he was so accepted, so welcomed.

And how bad did he feel about being so…antisocial now?

Love, it takes getting used to. It freaks a lot of us out.

I love you. Hormones were a bear. They really were.

I love you too. It’s just your heart expanding to make space for all of us.

Oh. That was a lovely way to put it, wasn’t it. He laughed, because they had just eaten, so starting with food seemed silly, at least for him.

“So can I open presents while everyone else eats?”