Page 12 of Starting Over (D.O.A. DRAGO #1)

Jude gasped, but didn’t interrupt, allowing Casper to keep talking. “I was called to war and I went and I… I didn’t learn of their death until I returned from my mission.”

“Holy shit,” Jude gasped again.

However, it was as if Jude had never spoken. “Here I was off fighting for someone else, and all the while my wife and son were being murdered for our land.”

Unable to just stand there, Jude rushed to Casper and wrapped his arms around his mate, whispering, “I’m so sorry, Rance. Gods, I am so sorry.”

Smoky unpeeled himself from Jude’s body, saying, “I was never married, nor have I had children, but many clutch members of mine did. When the dragon war hit our clutch, our leader had sent the children and a few dragons to the ‘safe location.’ We hadn’t realized the enemy knew of this location and attacked.

By the time we realized what was happening and I got my team there…

it was too late. The enemy was gone, and they were all dead.

Thirty-three children… the youngest was only two weeks old. ”

“What the actual fuck? How the hell did you two never tell me this. No wonder you don’t want to have children,” Jude rasped.

Casper gripped Jude’s hand. “It isn’t that we don’t want them. We’re afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Jude asked.

Smoky stepped forward, “That we will not be able to protect them.”

“I know it’s been centuries since I lost my daughter, but it still hurts as if it just happened,” Casper admitted, then added, “What if Smoky and I are gone on a case? What happens if you and our child are under attack and we aren’t there to keep you both safe?

I just… I don’t think I can handle losing you and another child. ”

“And I know I couldn’t handle seeing you and our child dead,” Smoky whispered.

Jude looked from Casper to Smoky, saying, “You two make no sense at all. I mean, I get what you’re saying and it makes sense, but then again it doesn’t.”

“What do you mean? We have to keep you protected at all costs, and it could happen. Smoky and I get called on cases all the time. We…”

“Are leaving me and any children we might have in Drago… a location protected by the right-hand man to the creator himself… along with a shit ton of dragons, fellow DOA agents, shifters, and other paranormal people… not just humans. Also, if you recall, I’m not a damsel that doesn’t know how to protect himself.

Hell, Rance, you’ve not only been teaching me how to fight, but you also have me on the shooting range twice a week.

Do you think I’d just stand there and let someone hurt our child?

And if, gods forbid, we did die, you would die anyway.

It’s part of being soul bonds… remember?

You told me this yourself, Smoky. Bonded mates do not live when one of the soul bonds passes.

It’s one of the reasons you hesitated in accepting the bond. What the actual fuck?”

Jude would have laughed at the look Casper and Smoky gave to each other, then looked at Jude, Smoky saying, “When you say it like that, it does sound kind of dumb. I mean, the thought of anything happening to you scares the shit out of me, but knowing I would pass along with you and I would meet up with you in the afterlife, helps.”

“It doesn’t take away my fear of something happening to our child and I am not there to save him,” Casper insisted.

Jude knelt in front of his mate, saying, “Rance, every good parent fears the loss of a child. It isn’t the right order of things and just thinking that it could happen, scares me too.

However, we can’t focus on what could happen.

What we focus on is what will happen. The love we’ll share with him.

The new purpose it will bring to us. The joys of seeing him crawl for the first time, taking his first steps, speaking…

laughing.” Jude couldn’t stop his smile, adding, “Seeing if he’s going to be a snarky shit like me, or a quiet tough guy like you, or will he be a brilliant kid that can plan, lead and strategize like Smoky? ”

“Or maybe a mixture of all three of us,” Casper whispered.

Nodding, Jude said, “Oh, that might be scary, but so cool.” Getting more serious, he said, “I’m not going to lie and say it’s all going to be easy.

Kids require a lot of time, effort and although we aren’t hurting in the finance way, they do take a lot of money, but Rance, I believe the benefits outweigh the difficulties we might face.

This child will know love and happiness, and he will be safe because we have something you didn’t have back then…

a great support system and a grandma that would kick anyone’s ass that even thinks to look cross-eyed at her grandchild. ”

Both Smoky and Casper laughed, Smoky saying, “I’m a dragon and even I don’t cross your mother. She scares the hell out of me when she thinks one of us has screwed up.”

“Tell me about it. The woman raised me… remember?” Jude said with a laugh.

“I remember. It is for that reason alone I will always cherish her.” Smoky said in such a loving way Jude couldn’t help but fall even more in love with his maharishi.

“Okay, we will do this on one condition,” Casper said.

Looking to his mate, Jude asked, “And what is this condition?”

“You don’t get upset if myself or Smoky are a bit overprotective. We’ll do our best not to smother him, but you can’t get upset if we are a bit… watchful.”

Jude thought a moment, saying, “If it’s too much, I reserve the right to let you know I don’t like it and you’re crossing a line.

It’s fine to want to keep him safe, but if you are overwhelming with your need to protect, it can cause some serious self-esteem issues, bring on anxiety issues and more. ”

Casper’s eyes widened. “I don’t want that to happen.”

“Neither do I,” Smoky gasped.

“And I doubt it will, but if I think it’s too much, I will say something,” Jude said.

Casper and Smoky looked at each other for what seemed like forever, before Casper nodded, “Okay.”

“Okay?” Jude said, not wanting to hope, but feeling like his dream just might come true.

Casper stood up and drew Jude into his arms. “Okay. Let’s make a baby.”