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Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

" T his party is going to be a disaster," Jake murmured.

He sucked at hosting gatherings, Grant was in a shit mood, and Samuel was so nervous he kept dropping things.

What else could possibly go wrong?

Samuel blinked up at him, eyes huge. It is? Do you want me to call Lars and tell him to help me cancel? I didn't burn the food…

No, of course not, love. I just want you to be happy and calm down. Lars would be there in ten, half an hour before everyone else.

Okay, but you have to be happy too, right? I mean, this is for you. So that they can see we're a functional family.

He grinned wryly. "I'm terrible at this, sweetie."

"Terrible at what? Having friends? Loving me and Grant?" Samuel's chuckle was fond. "Come hug me a second?"

"Of course." That was his best skill. "Just being social," he said as he squeezed Samuel. "I always do the wrong thing."

"We'll be fine. I'm a dork, and I'm not the world's best cook, but we have beer and coffee, soda and wine. Munchies. Things for the kids to do." Samuel kissed his knuckles. "We'll be fine."

"We will." Jake took a deep breath, then let it out on a laugh. "These are our friends."

"Yes. This is just a way to let everyone see us as…well, us ."

"And not as a jerk who made your life miserable?" he teased, loving the feel of Samuel pressed against him. He felt like taking Samuel to bed and hiding from the world.

"Yep. You are the bane of my existence." Samuel's kisses made his eyes cross, distracted him.

"Mmm. Too bad I don't get you all hot."

Samuel chuckled softly. "Right? Too bad I don't need you more than breathing…"

His eyes widened, his cheeks heating. "That's exactly how I feel. Like I can't do without you."

"You don't have to. We're together now, okay? You claimed me. Brought my books home."

"I did. I'm so smart!" He palmed that tight little ass. "What can I do?"

"Kiss me."

Oh, that sounded utterly delicious and less like work than he thought it might. He kissed Samuel deeply, aware that he was so lucky Grant was asleep, his time out turning into a nap.

"Mmm…" Samuel stepped in, humming deep in his chest. "Mate. More."

"Yes." Jake held Samuel close as Samuel wound both arms around his neck.

The knock on the kitchen door was less than welcome, but he knew it was Lars, and one never kept the guy waiting. So, he kissed the top of that head, then went to answer.

"Lars!"

"Jake! Am I too early?" Oh, someone had peeked through the window, he could tell.

"Nope. Come on in, man." He shook hands with Lars after he let the man set his stuff aside.

"I brought some goodies and some platters. Everyone is excited, and there will be plenty of food and happy mating gifts."

"Thanks." He winked at Samuel, who flushed. Then he went to unload Lars's SUV.

You made me all flustered. You'll have to do it more tonight.

I will. I promise. After we have a huge snack and a little nap. The hosts never eat enough at things like this.

True. We'll be too busy chatting and nodding and showing off Grant.

We will.

"I swear, you two are so loud," Lars said when he walked back in.

"You could hear us?" Samuel exclaimed.

"Not words, but I could tell there was a wave of magic going on."

"New matings are important." Jake waggled his eyebrows. "Very intense."

"They are." Lars's expression went wistful, he thought, but only for half a second. "I'm so happy for you both." He started bustling around the kitchen, opening up platters of food, fussing with all sorts of shit.

Samuel came to Lars, hugging him tight. "Thank you so much for your help, friend. Honestly. You're a lifesaver."

"Oh, Samuel, I'm delighted to help." Lars hugged right back, and he suppressed a growl.

Lars stuck his tongue out at Jake over Samuel's shoulder, wiggling it.

Jake rolled his eyes, but he had to huff out a laugh. Yeah, yeah. He was a jealous butthead. He was an alpha. Sue him.

Lars winked at him. "Come on, honey. Let's arrange the cheese."

Samuel nodded. "Okay!"

Which left Jake to start answering the door when it was time. Which was fine.

Logan and Dakota showed up first, Simon's arms loaded down with food, Logan's with babies.

"Can I help with anything?" he asked, not sure what to grab.

"Help, Simon. We're going to put the babies on a blanket?" Dakota kissed his cheek. "Where's Samuel?"

"In the kitchen with Lars. Here, Simon." He grabbed bags, leading the parade.

"Thank you for the invitation. I am honored." Simon bowed, quills rattling.

"You're very welcome." He grinned at Simon over his shoulder. "Are you glad the snow let up?"

"Indeed, it's about time that you took care of your situation, my friend." Simon's grin was purely wicked. "Although I have to ask," he murmured, violet eyes just glittering with mischief. "In order to get winter back, is that going to mean that you two will have to fight? Are we going to have to separate you to get seasons?"

"Don't make me beat you, old man. I'm sure, if asked, Samuel could just bring on the snows." Samuel was literally a force of nature.

Simon just began unloading things, laughing merrily.

People started coming faster then, as if having Logan appear meant that it didn't matter that they were early. They had all just been waiting to come in and meet the new member of their wing. Everyone brought food and little gifts.

Not housewarming kind of stuff, just little things for their new wing member. A soft blanket. A scarf. A pair of hand-knitted gloves. It was actually quite lovely.

Jake was a bit embarrassed that he'd been so very worried. The house was suddenly full of noise and laughter and children and family, and he felt like, well, honestly, he felt as if he belonged for the first time.

He really thought he could get used to this. Thank the goddess for Samuel.

"Ammu!" Grant called from where he had been napping.

Oh, somebody was awake and missing the party. And he didn't think this was a good idea at all. "Ammu! Up up up."

Samuel chuckled, nodded. "Will you excuse me? Someone's calling. He would like to join the party as well, and I'm sure he needs his diaper changed."

They all laughed, and Jake watched Samuel go, his grin wide and proud.

"Looks like you finally came around, eh?" Logan asked him.

"I let go of the worry that it was happening too fast, yes. That was why I had been freaked out about him, and I was projecting it." Jake was honest whenever he could be. Sometimes, that took wrangling things for himself.

"Well, good. You need a mate, need help with Grant. And the house looks great."

"Yeah, Samuel has already made it more homey." And books kept popping up all over.

"Soon you'll need a housekeeper," Simon said, rattling his quills. "I'll begin the search."

"A housekeeper? Do you think so?" He wasn't sure about that. Why would they need a housekeeper? They were doing just fine. In fact, he thought Samuel liked running the house.

"A housekeeper because you have a child. More children will come. Familiars will come to help Bumper. You're the guardian, and he's running the library. There's a lot to do. You need someone amazing. Someone like me, but not me because, well, you know…"

Lars smiled and nodded, very enthusiastically. "I think that would be perfect. Someone to cook, to help with the baby, just be a member of the wing."

"It is part of our culture," Simon agreed. "Beta dragons need a space and a family. They need to know that they're wanted. Logan and Dakota have given me so much. And I know that I've done the same. For them, I mean."

Jake hadn't actually thought about that. Beta dragons were few and far between, treasured members of the society. Many of them did attach to guardian families, providing comfort and stability in this arena where a guardian could be called away at any minute of any day.

Bea nodded. "It's a hard concept. I admit that Mickey and I were reluctant, but Sarah has been quite a joy and an amazing helper, and she's now part of the family."

Bea's mate Mickey bobbed his head. "It's a lovely situation. She settled right in, and now I don't know that we could do without her. I would be heartbroken if something happened to make us lose her."

Jake lowered his voice, his cheeks hot. "I wouldn't even know how to begin to find someone."

Simon chuckled. "That's my job. As the oldest caretaker of the wing, I will find someone to provide what you need, so you can focus on your work and your mate. Guarding, the library, babies, each other."

Jake got a little choked up. "You honor me. All of you."

"We love you more than is reasonable, Jake." Logan clapped him on the back. "We're here for you. You have a lot of resources at your disposal."

"Thank you." Jake just beamed. "Okay, Simon, knock yourself out. I'll talk to Samuel."

What are you talking to me about? And this diaper is a stink bomb.

Do you need help, love?

No, I just wanted you to know.

Jake had to snort. Simon wants to get us a housekeeper.

He felt a short, sharp burst of panic from Samuel. Have I done something wrong?

No, love. Guardian households tend to have lots of help because of our responsibilities.

Oh. Okay. Well, I can help him interview people if I need to.

I'll let you two talk it out. He wasn't about to step on anyone's toes there. If Samuel wanted to deal with that along with Simon, he was super fine with that.

You sure I haven't done anything wrong?

Oh stop it, you're fine. It's tradition. You know about tradition.

That earned him a dark chuckle. Yes, yes I do. All about. That's fine because I could spend more time at the library. Organizing.

Is that what we're calling reading these days ? He didn't get an answer for that, just the mental impression of a door swinging closed. He could still feel Samuel's laughter, though, in the midst of all of it.

All in all, the party went super well. Everyone except for Jason Delray and his wife, who were off gallivanting seeing grandbabies, were there.

Wasn't as weird as he thought it would be either.

Usually, Jason was expected to appear at every single function. To be at the head of all of them.

The pinnacle.

Now that was Logan. At least for the time being.

Somehow, he didn't think that Logan was going to let himself be demoted from the head of the team, no matter who came to take Jason's place.

That situation was going to be something else.

Not that it mattered. It didn't.

Jake was the low guardian on the totem pole. The youngest one. The baby.

But a mated one with a family…

Yes. Very much.

Samuel came back into view with Grant, and they all ooh ed and ahh ed over him, and then it was time for food and drinks and a dizzying array of congratulations, and before Jake knew it, it was ten p.m., and everyone but Logan and Lars and their family had gone home.

Lars slumped on the couch. "Oh goddess, that was a good party. So many people."

He grinned, shaking his head at Lars. "I think you look like a snake that swallowed an aardvark."

"An aardvark? Really? You've been reading a lot of children's books. A is for aardvark. B is for beaver. C is for chipmunk. D is for?—"

To a dragon, they all hollered out. "Dragon!"

Samuel chuckled. "If you wake up those babies, everyone's going to regret it. It was a good party though, wasn't it? So many people, so much laughter."

Even if he'd hated it, Jake would have done it again just to see that smile on Samuel's face. "It was genuinely blissful."

"It was an amazing party, Samuel," Dakota said. "Honestly, it was so much fun. Everyone had a good time. There were no arguments. The food was great, the music was rockin'. The kids were good."

Samuel fluttered a little bit. "It was my very first party. I've never given a party before. I think I would do it again." Maybe not tomorrow though.

No, mate, not tomorrow, possibly not for a few months. Someone else needs to take a turn while you just find something amazing that you want to bring for the next party.

Samuel nodded and leaned in toward him, resting one cheek on his shoulder. "Everything was just perfect." I got presents . Samuel's mental voice sounded shocked to him. Odd. I mean, seriously, I got presents from people who don't even know me. Books. Tons of books and all sorts of neat little things. Like they were welcoming me.

Adding to your hoard is important, isn't it? Jake's wing had honored him.

And now he felt, sort of…not only ridiculous for the way he treated Samuel, but ashamed of how unsure he'd felt.

He hoped that most of that—at least part of it—had to do with raising an infant by himself and losing his sister all in the same blow. He had been a very, very young guardian when that happened and now?

Now it was as if he'd been uplifted.

Thanks to Samuel.

His mate was so damn amazing.

I love you.

Samuel nuzzled his shoulder. I love you too.

Simon chuckled. "I'll just pop into the kitchen, and we'll be out of your hair in no time."

Samuel blinked up at Simon, confused, but Logan just chuckled.

"Thank you, Simon. You're a champ."

"I had a wonderful time chatting and not working. It's the least I can do." Simon vanished into the depths of the kitchen, but Lars grabbed Samuel when he would have followed. "Nope. You get to sit. Sarah cleaned up a bit before she left with Bea and Mickey, I put the food away, and Jake swept and mopped, so there's not much left to do. Let him think he's helping."

"Okay, if you're sure." Samuel curled up alongside Jake, nuzzling his jaw, and making him buzz inside. "I'm so happy, mate."

"I am too. You made me proud, love."

Logan grinned at them like a proud papa. "You guys are adorbs."

"Oh, you shut up," Jake told him.

"Hey!" Logan held up both hands. "I just call 'em like I see 'em."

"I know, I know." Jake kissed the top of Samuel's head.

"I love this. Can you guys come over for supper and cards sometime this week?" Dakota asked.

"Yes," Samuel said it with no hesitation, and Jake fell in love a little more. "Please."

"Sure. I think it will be a ball." God, he was just on cloud nine.

"I'm not the world's biggest cook, but I can bring a yummy corn dip?" Samuel offered. "I got it off Pinterest."

"It's really good," Jake agreed.

"Mexican dip night!" Lars exclaimed. "Yummy! I claim seven-layer."

"Then I'll do queso," Dakota said.

"Woo." Logan fist-pumped. "I love spicy."

"You all left me nothing to do." Simon reappeared. "Shall we get the kids, Dakota?"

Dakota groaned. "If we have to."

"You'd miss them before we got home."

"Shut up." Dakota chuckled. "He doesn't lie. I would, but it's a sweet fantasy."

Logan nodded. "Just a night or two… Come on, love. Simon. Let's head home. You too, Lars. These two need to rest."

Lars stood, hugging Samuel when he did too. "So much fun. Love you, bye." And he was off and running.

Logan and Dakota headed out, Simon carrying empty dishes, the other two carrying babies. "Night, you too. We'll set a date for cards in a few days."

"Thanks for everything." Jake closed the door behind them, and the silence had a weird ring to it, the kind that comes from the whole evening being loud and just cutting off abruptly. "Wow. Are you hungry?"

Jake was starving. Hosting meant you talked instead of nibbling.

"I'm starving. Want to eat? I'm literally growling with it."

"Goddess, yes." They migrated to the kitchen, where they opened containers right out of the fridge and munched, just tearing a swath through the leftovers. "Oh, yum. I didn't even know these cheese puffs were here."

"So good, right? Simon called them gougeres . I think they're amazing."

"And the dip is good, too. Crab maybe?"

"I think so." Samuel giggled. "Someone wanted to do something oceany for me."

"They were all super kind. I can't believe all the gifts of books. You'll be reading for days."

"I know!" Samuel was obviously so very pleased.

He chuckled. "And any you don't want?—"

"Blasphemer."

He laughed out loud then. "I knew you'd object to that."

"I have to love them and sort them and share them and read them."

A bookish hoard.

How amazing.

"Well, you can read to Grant, huh?"

"I will." Samuel sighed. "This was the best day."

He put all the dishes in the sink, then held out his hand to Samuel. "Want to make it the best night?"

"Oh. Yes." Samuel took his hand, and they turned out the lights to head upstairs.

The books would have to wait.

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