Page 32 of The Manny's Fiery Dragon Bond

“I can see that. You are the fun grandpa too. It’s like you’re a different man at work and with family. One side all business all the time, but I suppose that’s the way it has to be.” He snuggled into me.

He was right that my job required me to be no-nonsense.

“Tell me more.”

At first, I worried that sharing about my past would hurt my mate, but there was a calmness spreading over him as he I spoke of Chastain. He needed this. I did too.

“Chastain kept us all in line—making sure we were at our events, making sure the children learned their languages and did their music lessons. He had each of them learn an instrument because he wanted them to experience music fully. Of course, this was back before electrical anything. The piano we have in the foyer belonged to him. He liked to play. I still can’t listen to music the same way. He was fiercely loyal and quick-witted. Strong. Like you.”

“He sounds like someone I’d have liked.”

“You’d have loved him. Losing him was hard. One of the hardest things I ever went through. I threw myself into my work afterwards. It’s the only reason I became clan leader. The boys were all grown, and I was alone in my home for the first time. The grief was… insurmountable. Tavian looks the most like me. Thalric looks the most like Chastain. He has that same quick wit.”

“The two of you did an amazing job raising your sons.”

“You and I will do the same with ours.”

Ollie sighed and looked around the nest. There was plenty of space for the two of us and however many eggs we ended up having. Of course this wasn’t the final nest, but whatever style we purchased would be large enough to accommodate both of us. I’d make sure of it. We didn’t have a lack of space, there was no reason to go small.

“I’m terrified of having a large clutch.” He admitted, and I completely understood. This wasn’t going to be a normal pregnancy for his species, and he had no experience with others like him having a clutch. The entire situation had to be terrifying.

I chuckled, squeezing my mate against me. “Fate will deliver us whatever she thinks we can handle, whether that is one egg or five.”

Ollie shuddered in my arms. “Please, not five.”

“You know, even though you will lay eggs, it doesn’t mean they will all be dragons. There is the possibility that we will have a little mouse in there.” It wasn’t common, but it had been known to happen.

“That’s terrifying also.” He shivered.

“Would it help alleviate some of these concerns if you met my dragon? I still cannot believe you haven’t met a dragon before.”

Ollie rolled his eyes. “I’ve met plenty. I just haven’t actually seen one in their scales.”

“Come, let’s go.”

My dragon was itching to get out, not wanting to take the time to go all the way outside first, like he would have fit in the room without breaking pretty much everything.

Ollie and I went outside, and I led him to the covered swing I had out there. “Have a seat.”

I rubbed my nose against his, and he gave me a look, one I couldn’t quite decipher.

“You’re carrying our dragonettes or our mouslettes or both. No need to be standing here when there is a nice seat for you to use.”

And while that was all true, there was a part of me that was worried my beast would scare him. Sitting would give him a little bit of grounding.

I took off my clothes, ignoring the way my mate licked his lips upon seeing me. “You’re killing me, Ollie.”

“Is that so?” He did it again. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I jogged far enough away to allow me to shift and still give him ample space to adjust to my size and my scales as I took my dragon for the first time.

My dragon was more than ready for this. He wanted to meet our mate, and he wanted to meet his mouse. But today wouldn’t be the day for that. Ollie was growing our clutch, and while some shifters were able to do that and shift, because of his size, it was highly recommended that he didn’t. We’d have to wait for that.

I called forth my scales and landed on the ground with a thud. I kept my wings close to my body, waiting to see how he would respond. He gasped, his hands going to his mouth as he got up and crossed over to me.

“You’re stunning.” He reached out, and I lowered my head so he could run his fingers along my scales, just under my eyes. “I hope our young have your eyes. Every single one of them. You. Are. Stunning.”

He didn’t say much for a long time—walking around me, running his hand over my wings, my back, doing his best to give me a hug, even kissing me on my nose.

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