Chapter Eight

Nycto

With morning sickness still lurking on the horizon, my dragon refused to take back over. So Waj and I flew back to the nest on Izora's back with Sunny and Teddy following us. I wasn't thrilled about having visitors and I wouldn't let them into the actual nesting room just yet, but they were Izora's family. Besides, the nice one and the himbo flew all the way out here to bring me medicine and gave my mate some weird little machine too. Later, I'd ask Izora what it was.

Seeing us head home, Mom returned to her normal day-to-day activities and stopped following us around. Townies would never understand how much ‘back watching' went on in the mushie forest. Sure, we were at the top of the food chain, but it was nice to have someone looking out for you in case you got stuck somewhere or injured in some way.

Back at the nest, I went down first with Waj. I sent him off to his play cavern to get him out of the way. I wasn't sure how the others would take to him after he pinched the shit out of Sunny. Sure, the orange dragon deserved it, but everyone else might not see it that way. With him safely out of the way, I called for Izora to bring the other two down. I expected some snide remarks, but both of the newcomers landed at the bottom of the slide laughing. I barely pulled them out of the way before Izora came down after them.

I led the way to the kitchen with Izora bringing up the rear, keeping our guests between us so that they didn't wander off or get lost in a side cavern. Once they were settled in the kitchen I headed to the nesting room for a quick shower. I kept my link wide open with Izora so I could hear if either of the new guys caused him any trouble. Sure, they were part of his flight, but no one was coming into our home and insulting my mate. Mostly, Sunny wanted to know what the big secret was but Izora wasn't budging. He'd tell the story one time but not until everyone else arrived.

I decided sandwiches were probably the safest thing to feed them. I didn't want to risk accidentally poisoning one of them, that wouldn't end well for anyone. By the time I arrived in the kitchen Izora had already made up sandwiches and started the coffee pot. I hoped they didn't use as much sugar as he did, or we'd run out by the time the rest of their friends arrived.

There were only three chairs in the kitchen. Usually one for me, one for Waj, and one for Izora. His had sat empty for a long time before I met him because I didn't get a whole lot of visitors that could shift and fit through the trap door or the front door. Waj perched on Izora's shoulder, watching the other two. He'd taken advantage of my shower to sneak out of his play cavern. He was keeping his distance from Sunny, which I was grateful for.

Teddy started to stand up, but I waved him back down and sat on Izora's lap. He wrapped a gentle arm around my middle and Waj instantly leaned his front paws on the top of my head. I let my eyes drift closed for a long second. An egg. An egg. The possibility – the damn near certainty - swirled around my brain.

"When are you going to make it official?" Sunny asked between bites of his sandwich.

"We're true-mates. It doesn't get any more official than that," I answered.

"Oh, yeah," Sunny laughed. "Not that, though. I meant the ultrasound."

"Don't mind him. All these younglings always shove their snouts where they don't belong," Teddy said, and I was pretty damn sure he kicked his friend under the table.

"Younglings?!" Sunny said in mock offense. "Don't mind him. I think grandpa lizard over here forgot his medicine today."

I laughed and Izora shook his head, but he was smiling. He rested his chin in the crook of my shoulder and I leaned back against him. I was older than all three of them. Life stretched out in both directions endlessly for me but looking forward was quickly becoming my favorite direction.

"I don't think they can fit another nest in the dining room on the ship," Sunny said.

"We're nesting here," Izora said before I had to.

"All the way out here? What if something happens?" Sunny's eyebrows rose high enough that I thought he might shoot them off the top of his forehead.

"My mom is close by," I said, feeling prickly.

"She seems really protective," Teddy nodded.

"She is and M—Izora is a healer," I said, almost calling him Mine again the way wild dragons referred to each other once they chose a mate for life.

"Cut it out," Izora said. "We both know you have none of your carrier's sensitivities and all your sire's throw the egg in the fireplace and it'll be safe there."

"That is only a rumor. He did not put Cade in the fireplace!" Sunny said, a growl to his voice.

I waited for his friend to kick him under the table again but he didn't this time. Izora tightened his arm around my waist and grabbed a sandwich from the plate in the center of the table. He held it in front of my mouth for a few seconds until I realized he was trying to feed me. I glanced down at my stomach and warned it not to be a fucking traitor again before taking a tentative bite of it.

"Well, if you ever get back to Earthside you can ask him about it," Izora said, voice smoother now that I was eating.

"We might get back if everyone stopped wandering off," he said.

"Sunny," Teddy said, in a low warning tone.

"What? That's what happened. Castor runs off to a strip club and he runs off out here."

"Is there a problem I should know about?" Izora asked.

"We were supposed to be working together to get everyone connected," Sunny said.

"And we are," Izora nodded. "Is something going on with Baby Caxlin or Minter? With Melon and Casimir's egg? Because in case you haven't noticed, I'm not a wizard, Sunny. I'm a healer."

"His parents are having another egg," Teddy said, and Sunny kicked him under the table.

"And even if I convinced Castor to leave tomorrow, it'd be over a year before we were home," Sunny said.

"You're homesick," Izora let out a small sigh. "Makes sense. You two actually have family back there."

"I have family here," Teddy said. "Dad and Elio and the baby. It's nice not to have everyone flash me smiles like I'm dead."

"Why would they do that?" I asked.

"My mom died a few decades ago. Miss her, but they look at me like I'm lost or something. The older folks, anyway. Got so bad I took up rugby to beat the shit out of something that wouldn't get me tossed in the dungeon."

"Dad wouldn't have tossed you in the dungeon," Sunny laughed. "He'd be afraid your mom would haunt him forever. Plus, I think he likes you more than he likes me."

"Probably," Teddy laughed. "To both."

Sunny kicked him again under the table.

"Sorry about your mom," I said.

"Thanks," Teddy said and flashed me a wistful smile.

"Once you meet your mate, Sunny, it'll ease up," Izora said, sparing Teddy from having to tell the whole story of his parental loss. "You'll still miss them, but it'll ease up."

Sunny changed the topic to rugby, and I finished my sandwich without my stomach staging another rebellion.