Page 22 of The Dragon’s Stormwoven Bond (Dragon Flight Academy #2)

Pep

Six adults and four eggs traveling together was a recipe for disaster. Yet we were doing it. I wanted to be with my mate, and it was competition time. His team needed him. If we stayed home, his mind would be with me and the dragonets. This was our best plan.

Valen’s team had their first competition of the season, and I wasn’t going to miss it. He had told me several times that I could stay home with the nest and watch the competition live. I didn’t know if he believed his words or not. I needed to be here just as much as he needed me here.

Leaving my eggs was not an option, so we improvised. Improvised with some help from our neighbors. They’d done the same thing last year and had a whole lot of advice, including bringing help, which was why my family was in tow.

We used a travel nest, which was just a smaller version of our actual nest but large enough for the entire clutch. It fit into the back of the van, barely. We were staying in a hotel, one owned by dragons, which was the best-case scenario. It meant they had a room that could accommodate our nest.

Once we were there, it was quite the orchestration to get all four eggs safely from the van to the room, but we managed.

There wasn’t a big enough tip to give the staff for all the help they gave us or for managing to get our family all adjoining rooms. It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a whole flight to attend the flight games with your clutch.

We used a contraption called a ring sling to carry the eggs safely against us.

Any humans who saw them would just assume we had babies in them.

Not that there would be many humans around, and those that were had connections to the dragon world.

You didn’t accidentally stumble across these games.

The organizers were great about making sure of that.

We were staying at a hotel owned by the clan that was hosting the competition.

No one batted an eye when Valen carried our nest through the lobby and to the elevator, no one asked to see the baby as we transported them in the baby carrier, and no one flinched when my father barked for people to get out of our way, his scent of fire strong.

It was embarrassing, but much better he be all ashy and strong about this than about my mate.

Once the eggs were settled in the room, I let out a long breath. I hadn’t realized just how on edge I’d been while traveling. Every bump on the road had me wince, and transporting them from the van to here? Terrifying.

My mom brushed the hair from my forehead. “Why don’t you get some rest, Pep? The welcoming ceremony is in a few hours, and Valen has paperwork to handle. You can nap with the eggs.”

I looked to Valen, and he nodded. “I’ll be with the team for a while, so we can sort out our registration and anything else we might need for the weekend. You should rest so you can come to the dinner tonight.”

The nap sounded magnificent. Leaving the nest to go out to eat? Not so much.

“Who will stay with the eggs?” I asked

“I can,” Rhythe volunteered.

I loved my parents. I did, but when Valen said Rhythe was the only one I trusted more than him, he hadn’t been completely off base.

I wouldn’t say more than, but equally as much.

We’d shared an egg, how could I not. If I was going to leave my eggs with anyone, it would be him. But it was a huge ask.

“Don’t you want to go to the opening ceremony? It’s your chance to meet all your heroes.”

Rhythe’s whole face went white. “No, I’m good. I’ll watch the competition tomorrow.”

I wanted to ask more, but there were too many people around. Something wasn’t right with my twin. Come to think of it, something had changed since before we had our clutch. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he’d been increasing odd since the family picnic.

And worse than that, he wasn’t opening up to me like he normally would.

He’d said he didn’t want to burden me with any of his worries since I had a family now.

Anytime I tried to bring it up again, he changed the subject.

Some way or another I’d get to the bottom of what was going on. But not now. He deserved his privacy.

A half-hour later, everyone but my brother had left, finally. I needed the break from all the people. I glanced at the travel nest where our four eggs were nestled. Rhythe was sitting in the chair next to the nest. He had placed a hand on each of the eggs before taking a seat. It was so sweet.

“Go rest, Pep.”

“Bossy much?” I stuck out my tongue at him and then laid in the bed, exhaustion washing over me, yet my mind wouldn’t shut down. If anything, it was working overtime.

The gentle hum of the air conditioner was a stark contrast to the chaos that had been the van ride. I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. I worried about the competition, about Rhythe, about my eggs, about dinner. My head was worry central, and I wasn’t a fan.

With a sigh, I rolled to my side and re-fluffed my pillow. A short nap was what I needed. If only I could actually sleep. And I must have, because it felt like I had just closed my eyes when the door clicked open and the scent of my mate had me opening my eyes.

“Valen?”

“Did I wake you? I’m sorry, baby.” He squatted down beside the nest.

“Did you forget something?” I sat up and looked around. The room was considerably darker than when I had first laid down.

Valen chuckled. “I’ve been gone two hours, love.”

“What? Did I sleep the whole time?” I didn’t feel like I slept a wink.

“I think you might have.” Valen climbed into the bed with me, and I settled into his arms.

“Is Rhythe still here?”

Valen nodded. “He’s with the nest.”

“I’m worried about him,” I whispered, not wanting my brother to hear.

“Hmm. He has been quiet lately. Have you tried talking to him?” Valen pressed a kiss to my temple and nuzzled against me as he spoke. He was not content until he got his scent all over me. I wasn’t complaining.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it.” I sighed. I wasn’t used to my brother not confiding in me. It had me all feeling left out and confused.

“Give him time. Perhaps on the way home, you and he can ride in the car together and you’ll have a chance to talk.”

“That could work.” I nearly pushed him today once everyone left, but the moment didn’t feel right.

“Me and the team will ride with the eggs and the trophy.”

I chuckled. “Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“I’m sure that I have the greatest good luck charm, plus an additional four good luck charms. No other team has that.”

“Pretty sure most mated Leaders brought their families.” It was one of the things that made this sport special. It was more than individuals and even teams; it was about community and family.

“Yes, but none of those families are as amazing as you, mate.” He kissed my cheek.

“I’ll give you that.”

Valen kissed my neck and held me tighter around my middle. “We have to get up soon and go to the welcome banquet.”

“I know.” I didn’t want to people. I wanted to stay in bed with my mate.

As much as I loved being with my eggs in our nest, I’d forgotten how amazing a bed felt.

And now that I had a taste, I wanted another and another and another.

It didn’t hurt that my mate was snuggled up against me.

“I just want to hold you a little while longer.”

We did end up skipping the banquet. He called and let his team know that his mate needed the rest, and there was truth in that. I did, but it was more that we needed the time together.

And my brother, being the rock star that he was, he stayed with the nest all night long, assuring us that it was an honor he was happy to have. We owed him so much for all he’d done for us since we met. I wasn’t sure how we’d repay him, but we would.

In the morning, when it was time to get up and head to the competition, my mate was ready and refreshed. It was go time.

My parents both offered to stay with the nest so my brother could come to the competition. He refused, saying this was where he wanted to be. We all tried to sway him. These games were his favorite thing, after all. But there was no arguing with him, and eventually we gave up.

I kissed each of our eggs, hugged my brother close, and promised that we’d be back as soon as we could, which wasn’t the best thing to promise when the competition was elimination based. The sooner we got back, the worse that meant the team was doing.

As a surprise to no one, the first round—they nailed it.

They blew the competition out of the water.

But they’d also been paired with a team that was brand-new, with new dragons, a new coach, and a new program.

It wasn’t indicative of what the competition would look like for them next round, but it got them closer to the finish line.

Between their times in the sky, I went back to check on the eggs. And to check on my brother, bringing him food and a play-by-play of my mate’s team’s performance. He’d been watching it on his phone, but that didn’t stop my enthusiasm from overflowing and turning into a play-by-play for him.

They did really well the second round too, not quite as wide a margin in victory, but easily the winners. There was only one round left, and they needed to bring their A-game for the final competition if they had any hopes of bringing home that trophy.

I went back to the nest until Valen called me, letting me know it was a twenty-minute warning. I was there just as they were getting ready to head to the field and gave him a good-luck kiss.

I watched as the choreography, the one I’d been in the room as they created it together as a team, went off without a hitch.

Unlike my brother, I wasn’t huge into the games.

I didn’t know all the fancy terms for the dives and the twists and the circles and the corkscrews that they did.

But more than once, the crowd went silent, as if they were all holding their breath at once, wondering if they’d be able to pull off their particular trick.

And when they landed on the ground, their routine complete, the roar of the crowd was deafening. They had done it. They managed every move flawlessly.

I could feel the pride pouring off of my mate. It didn’t matter if they got the trophy or not. Today was a success.

Although… they did end up winning that trophy.

It sat in the back of the van with my mate and our nest. I went with my brother, who remained just as tight-lipped as ever. All I could do was be there when he was finally ready to open up.

He’s always been there for me. And I was going to do the same for him.