My brain was sliding towards sleep as the room started to shake around us. "Tagan, stop. I'm tired." I pushed at him with my shoulders. He chuckled, the sound both lazy and tight. "As much as I want to go another round, cheeks, that wasn't me. Nor do I think it was normal." He hoisted me up into his arms and pushed from the bed. That better be you two, Thane said over the mental connection. Not us. But we're on our way, Grumpy replied. Get some fucking clothes on this time. Real clothes. Sorry, Hols, Tove added. I pouted, but understood. And, joy of joys, we were in Grumpy's room where my clothes were stored. He set me down in front of the dresser. I pulled on the drawers that held my panties (stupid), my bras (torture devices from hell), leggings (palatable), and tanks (if I had to). I got dressed as quickly as possible and joined Grumpy at the door. "Your facial expressions getting dressed..." he trailed off into laughter. I elbowed his belly. "Why can't you a
I rolled my eyes. "Come on. We need to go find Drace." I turned towards the front door. Grumpy's hands around my waist stopped me. "Clothes. Even if they're magical. I'm not sharing your body with anyone else. Even visually." He slapped a hand to my still sensitive butt. I hissed out a breath. "Ouch."He laughed as he rubbed his hand lightly down the abused cheek. "I'll rub some oil on it, make it feel all better."Tove blew a raspberry. "No. We'll rub some oil on it. Our turn." He flicked his finger between himself and Thane. Thane nodded. "Agreed. Out voted."I left them to their game as I focused and tried to pull the magic around me like Drace had shown me. It felt like ages ago instead of a handful of hours that Grumpy and I had disappeared into his room. I got the last thread of magic settled around me as I pulled the front door open. Drace was slumped against the wall. "Drace!" I hurried out and grabbed her around under the arms. "Help me!" I shrieked at my guy
We might not win the war, love. Drace's words from two days ago danced across my mind for the millionth time. I sighed as I dragged my spoon through the bowl of cereal again. Not even my Alphabets cereal was providing me with any inspiration today."We'll win this, Stretch," Thane said-for the billionth time.I lifted my head, smiled. Nodded. Neither of us really believed it, but we were trying to stay positive. Tove slid some toast onto my plate. Two egg yolks made eyes and a piece of bacon made a smile. "Come on. We're not going to win with this crap attitude. Dig in, eat your breakfast. Then we get to start the ever wonderful training again."Thane snorted. "Plummeting towards my death from the top of my home isn't really what I would call wonderful training.""That's because you're not focusing. Maybe I should push Hollyn off the roof. I bet you'd be real good at flying then," Drace said as she joined us at the kitchen island for breakfast. Two of my three men snarled
I looked at my brothers. At Sweetcheeks. Confused expressions covered their faces to varying degrees. Finn and Drace looked ready for war. I cleared my throat as I transformed back to fully human. "I'm guessing ollpheist isn't some weird elephant then."The three others laughed. "Means monster in Irish," Drace said, the slightest lilt to her voice. I nodded. "Then yes, let's go bag ourselves a monster." Tove, Thane, and Cheeks all nodded as well. Victorious smiles on their faces. Ari smiled. "First, we do need to train. If Patrick is drawing from the ley lines that shadow and protect Alder Valley, then we need to be at the tops of our games. This is not a time for hesitation nor bravery. We need routine. We need learned movements. We need learned reactions that take the place of our current thoughts, feelings, and actions." She looked at each of us. "Our replacement at our company is supposed to be here today around noon," Thane said. Ari nodded. "Excellent. O
On that grim note, the doorbell rang. I jolted at the unexpected sound. My chuckle was a little strained. I think the jolt was the least of the available options and I was pretty proud of myself for being so restrained. It wasn't every day I received the news: Hey, kill your psychotic, incestuous, rapist uncle or unleash a living hell on Earth. But hey, no pressure or anything.I shook off the negative voice inside me. I could do this. I snorted mentally. I would do this. I had to. Not just for me. But for my men. Drace and Finn and their thunder. For Ari. For my mom. I had to do this and I had to win. By any means possible. Grumpy cleared his throat. "Um, cheeks, clothes. Now."I looked down. Sighed. My magical clothes had disappeared again and I had no idea when."Thank the bloody gods," Finn whispered as I walked by. I hunched my shoulders. Magical clothes weren't quite second nature yet, spank me. Jeez, it wasn't like I was trying to flash Finn and Drace. I sighed.
I looked at Drace. "Are we good to go with Castleworth?" I still couldn't believe the man was a dragon shifter. His business skills were legendary. They were taught in my MBA classes. He was an example in my ethics seminars of professional conduct and sound judgment. Drace smiled. "Yeah, he's coming. He should be here by nightfall if he can travel with the setting sun."I tried to keep the smile off my face. This was not Christmas, and I was a grown ass man. Getting to meet one of my professional heroes should not make me want to jump up and down like a little kid. Or Stretch when she finally took her clothes off at the end of the day. "Wonderful. Then let's gather what we will need for training," Ari said. "I have not been able to locate a garden here. Gardens are necessary for magic."I shook my head. "We were going to get one put together for Hollyn, but we've been a bit busy. What do you need?"Ari's smile was a bit toothy. "I'll make you a list. I'll bring some clippin
I could feel them. As if each of my guys was rubbing his power against my mind and heart, I struggled to pay attention to Ari. I nodded as I watched her speak, but everything inside me was tucked up close next to my men. "Granddaughter, if you are not going to pay attention, will you at least stop with the moony sighs?" She sighed heavily. "You're very distracting."I felt my cheeks go red. "Sorry, Ari." I turned to the living room. Saw them all grouped together like old friends. Once again, I was the one singled out. Left on the outside yearning to be included. Ari's hand covered my own. "You are not alone, garinion. You have bonded, you have mated. You create the base of your inner circle. They are simply out of arm's reach. Simply call out and they will come to you."I looked at her. Her pure blue eyes watched me steadily. She nodded. "Star Mistresses are always set apart. Had you grown up anywhere but that wretched Valley, you would know your worth. Know that you are w
I wrinkled my nose, coughed around the burn in my throat. "What is this? Fire water?" I clunked the glass back down on the slightly sticky table. I shook my head. "How the heck do people drink this? Why do they drink it?"Drace rocked to my side. She'd downed at least three of the little glasses full of pale amber liquid before I'd even taken my seat fully. "Cuz they like the effects, not the taste, corcra." Her shoulder bumped into mine as her fiery breath grazed my cheek. Ari smiled as she sipped from a bigger glass. The beautiful crimson liquid in it was a little mesmerizing as it dipped and flowed under the low lights in the bar. "Drace, why do you allow Finn to get under your skin?"Drace jerked upright as she tossed back another tiny drink. She narrowed her eyes at my grandmother. "Under my skin? The bastard owns my heart, don't think he doesn't.""He's your mate?" I asked. She shook her head. "No. He's promised to another, the fecking reptile. But I'll not be the tal