Epilogue

Eldritch

Another Month Later

“ S he’s moving like crazy.” Veryn leans over my shoulder, running his hand over the top of Serafina’s egg. “Ouch, it’s hot again.”

I chuckle. “I know, it’s burning my chest.”

Bane and I have had to take turns wearing the baby-chest wrap contraption the last few days. Our sweet little dragonling is fond of her dragonfire.

It does make me a bit nervous for once she’s born, but we’ll manage.

The top of the egg cracks, and my jaw falls.

“Run, hurry and grab everyone,” I tell Veryn. His big blue eyes widen, and he turns around, bolting toward the stairs. “All right, little one. That’s the way you do it.” I run my hand over the egg as another hairline crack appears.

My chest pulses with giddy excitement. The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here.

I lied.

It takes two hours for the tiny cracks to turn into substantial ones.

Charity sits on one side as Bane paces the floor bare, now that we’re back in the nest. Athos drinks his carbonated beverage, watching something on the tablet Bane got him to keep him busy.

Veryn lies on the end of the mattress, playing a game on his handheld toy device.

My eyes widen as the first edge of the shell falls away completely.

A blackish-blue paw kicks through the opening, and Charity gasps.

“You can do it,” I murmur, running my finger over the bottom of her clawed foot.

Bane stomps up the steps as the shell fully gives way.

“Holy shit, she’s a dragon,” Charity whispers. “Like a whole baby dragon.”

“That’s why they call them dragonlings.” Bane chuckles.

“No, I mean, she’s a fully formed dragon,” Charity whispers, gently pulling a piece of the egg away from Serafina’s tiny nubs of horns.

“Your sister is here.” I gently shove Veryn in the butt as he stays focused on his game.

Athos immediately drops his tablet. “Oh, she’s lovely.”

“Veryn only had a tail and wings.” Charity runs her finger over the dragon’s cheek.

I don’t think any of us are expecting Sera to pop up and nuzzle her cheek to Charity’s wrist.

“Hi, baby girl,” Charity murmurs.

“Holy fucking shit,” Bane chokes out.

“Perhaps we should all be a little more mindful of the foul language?” I suggest.

“Good luck with that,” Veryn says.

“So, wait. How do I breastfeed a fully transformed baby dragon?” Charity asks as Sera’s little wings flap.

“I think she’s supposed to eat the shell.” Bane scratches his jaw, coming closer. “One of us should have paid attention to dragon reproduction.”

I snort. “My kind is infertile.”

Veryn finally drops his gaming console, rolling over and blinking at his baby sister. The newest addition to the family squeaks and runs over to him.

“Hi, Sera.” He scoops her up and laughs. “Eww, you’re still kinda slimy. You need a bath.”

Charity pushes her lips together, watching the two snuggle. “I’m sure she’ll change back when she’s ready.”

Bane laughs. “She’s got my DNA. Of course, she’s going to be a pain in the ass.”

Athos siphons through the air, landing at Bane’s side. “Truer words, my friend.”

Sera spends several hours as her tiny dragon before transforming into her humanoid form. She has black hair, and quite a lot of it for such a little thing, and big blue eyes.

“She’s surprisingly alert for a newborn.” I grin at her chubby cheeks.

“Veryn was the same way.” Charity scoops the nude baby from my arms. “Okay, I need a diaper and a onesie.”

I blink slowly, trying to determine what the second item is.

Athos appears in a shimmery cloud, dropping the requested items next to Charity.

“You’re the cutest little dragonling, aren’t you, precious?” He proceeds to tenderly boop Sera’s nose, and her tiny face shakes like she’s trying to latch.

“I think Bane was right.” Charity straps the little lady into the nappy. “She got hungry and transformed into the form I can feed her in.”

I truly didn’t know baby dragons could feed from their mother’s breast, but it’s fascinating that Charity’s body can produce the nutrition necessary to feed Serafina.

Charity gets the baby into her tiny outfit as she begins to fuss, and I grab the pillow in preparation of offering it to her when she needs it.

My chest fills with warmth and contentment as Charity coos down at our daughter. I never thought I’d be able to experience the joys of being a parent.

I can’t wait to see exactly what eternity holds for our family of six.

Fourteen More Years Later

“Where the fuck have you been?” Bane growls, stomping toward the front door.

“Ever the picture of peaceful parenting.” Athos chuckles, elbowing me as he nods at Bane.

My eyes widen as I get a look at Veryn.

To be fair, I would also question his current state. He’s covered in mud and, by the smell of it, a fair amount of blood.

“I’m not a kid anymore.” Veryn’s head tilts, and his eyes glow yellowy-green, signaling his dragon is close to the surface. “I don’t have to tell you when I go out. As a matter of fact, I haven’t in years. ”

“That doesn’t apply when you disappear for the better part of two fucking days,” Bane growls.

Things have been complicated since we had a talk with him about staying away from Ember. They’re most certainly mates, but the age difference is a bit too significant for this stage of their life.

Ember is at the age of wolf maturity, but the residents of Haven follow the human realm guideline of eighteen for adulthood, which isn’t a bad thing. Or it won’t be in a couple of years, when she’s fully an adult, but for now, it’s safer to keep the two of them apart, no matter how miserable it makes them.

Veryn shrugs. “I had shit to take care of.”

“You’re really trying my patience here.” Bane chuckles, shaking his head. “You want to try that again? You’re so fucking lucky your mom is in the bath.”

“Want me to throat punch him for you?” Sera asks, skipping into the room. “It seems much less abusive when I do it.”

Bane crosses the room, getting close to Veryn. “Why the hell do you smell like the quadruplets and death?”

I’m sure he means Dread and Emerson’s quads, and not Aline’s. Aline’s children are mostly well-behaved, while Emerson’s boys are straight-up little heathens.

Veryn smirks, shrugging and letting the long hair on top of his head fall over his eyes. “You told me to stay away from Ember until she’s eighteen, and I have, even though I fucking hate it. Do you plan to ban me from hanging out with her little brothers too?”

Bane’s nose twitches, and he grabs Veryn by the front of his filthy T-shirt. He tugs until he can scent…something. He finally releases Veryn and nods. “Burn it all. You’ll need to ensure every bit of evidence is destroyed, and don’t forget your boots.”

Veryn snorts, rolling his shoulders back. “Thanks for the advice, Dad.”

“God, you’re so cocky. I honestly can’t imagine Ember ever wanting anything to do with you.” Sera laughs.

“Keep your mouth shut about tonight,” Veryn calls after her as she moves to head up the stairs. “Otherwise, I’ll toss your ass off the side of a mountain.”

“You forget, I have wings too,” she says over her shoulder as she jogs up the steps. “And my dragonfire burns hotter than yours.”

“Four more years and she’ll be an adult too,” Athos says with a laugh. “Imagine how peaceful it’ll be to have an empty nest.”

I snort. “Until they pawn the grandkids off on us on the weekends.”

Bane’s eyes widen as his head shakes. “Too soon, Eldritch. Way too fucking soon.”