Page 20 of The Monster at the End of This Molt (The Monster at the End of His Pregnancy #4)

Chapter Twenty

Weld

A lot had changed in the last twenty-six years. Robin could spell his compression shorts to collect his slick on a tarp, which had to be easier on his poor ass cheeks. Axel taught me a few spells to childproof our home, not just the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. He even knocked out a wall without a sound while Robin napped. We waited for him to wake before constructing the four new rooms, though. Axel said his crew could work in complete silence, but it would have taken twice as long. As it was, it only took them four hours to add on four new rooms.

I let Robin return to his nap and followed Axel out onto the porch when they finished. "Thanks, again."

He grinned and shook my hand. "My pleasure. I felt bad when I mentioned the additions before."

"That was my fault. I wasn't ready."

"And now?"

I shrugged. "It's not like I can take it back."

Now that our eggs were growing and taking on slick, I had a different set of worries. Sometimes as we lay in our nest at night, I wandered down dark paths where I yelled first and asked questions later or lashed out in violence instead of using my words. I'd learned the behavior from my adoptive parents, and I didn't want to pass it on to my own children.

"It's scary as fuck," I whispered.

"I remember." Axel patted my shoulder. He was a little shorter than me, but damn, I was glad I didn't have to wrestle him to prove my strength, back in the day. "Just remember, you're not alone. We'll be here with you all the way."

"Thanks." He was right. I'd given the same advice to dozens of parents who were worried about the teenagers in our class, and here I was, thinking I had to do it alone. "Won't it be weird?" I asked. "Because Tuft and I … you know."

He laughed and slapped my shoulder with even more gusto, making me wince. "That's ancient history. Giving Robin the cold shoulder when you first returned, now that was weird." He shook his head. "I told Mac it wouldn't work. I'm glad you saw right through it."

"I don't care how you all feel about me," I said, "but I won't allow anyone to hurt Robin if I can help it."

Axel nodded. "I feel the same way about Tuft. Hell, that's how this fated mates business works."

I couldn't argue with that. Once Axel and his crew left, I sat on the front porch and watched as the village teamed with life around us. Galen and their little dragon flew overhead, followed by Mac on his dragonet. Kobolds returned to their cabins after their workdays. Punky and Lark walked home from the fortress, followed by Ernie and Lemon a moment later. They weren't far from mating, if the kiss they shared against the windowless wall of Punky and Lark's house was any indication.

Robin and I would have been happy in The Meadows, but our lives here were so much richer. Robin had his parents and siblings, and we both had our friends.

My heart ached for Clementine, who would leave us for the Meadows with Tim soon, but she was far more independent than Robin and his family gave her credit for. Plus, with a friend like Galen, she would stay on top of The Pavilion's gossip. Once Robin and I could travel with our little ones, we would make weekly visits to see her, along with the rest of their family.

I had a family now. That surprised me more than anything. These kobolds I had seen as enemies were now my closest kin and best friends. I couldn't imagine life without them. It humbled my heart and filled me with gratitude.

My dragon bond with Robin swelled in return, reminding me of my duties. I went back inside and fixed a simple meal from our housewarming supplies. While I had enough magic to request food from the fortress cafeteria, I wanted to cook for Robin, too. It settled my mind to fill our little kitchen with steam from the pasta water and the savory scent of tomato and basil sauce. It was a simple meal, but Robin and I both enjoyed it. Afterward, we coated the eggs with more slick. I lay down facing Robin in our nest, but I couldn't take my eyes off their beautiful shells. The colors of the setting suns shifted across their pearl-like patina and faded into darkness. I couldn't look away.

In the dark, I promised each egg I would be the best parent I could. Then, I covered them with another layer of slick.