Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Pleased to have something else to focus on, Rimi turned to meet her gaze, sending this mental message, Thank you, Skye. Then to everyone, she asked, “Superpowers?”
“Some things have to be experienced,” Keres said mysteriously as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Rimi’s cheeks heated with embarrassment.
“Keres!” she said in exasperation.
“La, la, la, la, la! Things a twin does not need to hear,” Oldrik commented, adding humor to the conversation.
“Speaking of hearing, that reminds me. Keres, do you have a map of Wyvern and the surrounding area? I had a report of loud music coming from a nearby city and I’m not sure where it is,” Ardon said.
“Of course. Come with me. We’ll figure it out,” Keres said, leading the dragon shifters to his office.
Rimi sighed in relief as Slate slid from her lap to follow the dragons. She bounced her knees up and down, relaxing her muscles. “I think his time on my lap is over.”
The mates laughed. Even in human form, dragon shifters weighed more than a normal individual. She suspected they’d all tried to move their mates and found them impossible to shift.
“Can you all tell me about Wyvern? How did the dragons get involved?”
“I think we were all clueless about dragons until all the tech died,” Aurora told her. “At least I was.”
Everyone nodded.
“Then the dragons were super involved in finding and returning everyone to Wyvern,” Ciel told her. “We got used to seeing them in the sky and on the ground. It still fascinates me to see them shift. It feels like I miss a split second of something magical each time. Does it hurt to shift?”
Rimi nodded. “It can. If you’re not in good health, it’s a tremendous strain on both the dragon and the human part of you.”
She took a deep breath and plunged in. “Can you tell me about Keres? He came to find me, thinking it was the end for him. Was he violent?”
“I think he scared everyone and saved all of us at some point,” Brooks confessed. “Skye and he have the closest relationship between the horde and other dragons’ mates. She could talk to him in dragon form.”
“He’s my favorite after my Daddies, of course,” Skye told Rimi with a smile. “He needed to find you. That’s all.”
“I’m glad he did,” Rimi said. It didn’t bother her at all that Skye and Keres were close. She’d already figured that out. The bond between Skye and her mates was strong. As was hers with Keres. Jealousy toward the unique woman was impossible.
“We are, too,” Lalani told her warmly.
Rimi relaxed more with each moment she spent with the mates. She’d never had friends, of course. All that hiding and people searching for her interfered with the possibility.
“Are you happy here, Rimi?” Skye asked.
“Yes. I’m safe and loved. That’s a huge difference from my life before Keres found me.”
“Do you think you’ll have more children?” Brooks asked before holding up his hand to stop Rimi’s answer. “I’m sorry. That was a stupid question and totally none of my business.”
Tension suddenly filled the air. The mates weren’t sure how she would react. Rimi laughed before admitting, “I don’t know. There isn’t birth control for dragons.”
“Just flame Keres if he gets frisky,” Ciel suggested.
Two long seconds passed as no one looked at each other. A snort escaped from Rimi as she tried to keep herself from laughing at the thought of being able to resist Keres’s tempting ways. That wouldn’t ever happen.
Immediately, everyone lost it. Lalani even spat a mouthful of water through the air as she tried to control herself. The staff came in to make sure everyone was okay before leaving, grinning themselves. Their mirth was infectious.
As if on cue, the shifters returned. Argenis scooped Ciel up in his arms and sat down with her on his lap. One by one, the dragons followed that pattern, confiscating a seat and cuddling their mates. Oldrik took the empty seat between Rimi and Skye, allowing Ardon to hold their mate.
“Rimi, do you have a nursery?” Aurora asked.
“She has not seen it yet,” Keres shared as he easily lifted Rimi into his arms and sat down. “We’ve been a bit busy with Slate.”
“Where is Slate?” Rimi asked, glancing around. Even though everyone else was seated on someone’s lap, she felt slightly embarrassed.
Keres kissed her temple. “He went to his room. He’s fine, Snowflake.”
Rimi nodded and tried to relax. She replayed his earlier statement in her mind. “I have a… A nursery?”
“You do. Every mate needs a quiet space of their own. We will add whatever you like to the room. Books, puzzle, crafts.”
“I love to read. I’ve found a few tattered books here and there. They were a wonderful escape.”
“Then we will add books to your nursery,” Keres assured her.
“We all like to read, too,” Lalani blurted.