Page 12 of Mistletoe and Mayhem
Ferina’s gaze dropped to the bag, and like all dragons, curiosity got the best of her, distracting her from the fact that Isaac just shocked the hell out of her. “You brought a present for me? What is it?”
“You’ll find out later. We’re going to head inside. No more picking fights with Maverick.”
Ferina made a face but didn’t argue, waving them off as she went back to her perch near the entrance of the cave. Maverick was curious who she was waiting for, but Isaac walked away without waiting for him, and he refused to be separated from his mate if he didn’t have to be, so he followed him inside.
That familiar feeling of joy and awe sang along their bond, and Isaac sighed dreamily as he took in the view. Maverick could admit it had taken a lot to get him to leave his home the first time. There was something about this place that spoke to his dragon.
The city inside the mountains wasn’t all stone and rock. There was an entire forest inside, as well as a waterfall and a river flowing through the main parts of the city. Massive fires dotted the city, marking the different areas, such as the market and city offices, with braziers decorated with depictions of each dragon family, and the light spilling in from the cave entrances hit mirrors to brighten the entire area. Houses stood tall, with enough space around them for dragons his size to take off and land if they didn’t feel like shifting to come inside. The city itself wasn’t terribly crowded throughout the year; most dragons needed more territory than the mountains offered and lived outside the mountains, but during the holidays like this, there were dragons of every size and color flying around, coming too close for comfort as they zipped overhead.
Maverick growled out a warning as a group of fledgling dragons flew past, nearly injuring a few people as one of them dropped too low. Hearing Maverick’s growl sent the fledgling higher, an anxious look on his face as he hurried off, but Isaac laughed, patting his chest.
“Grumpy dragon. Come on. I don’t want to be late.”
Thankfully, he always came in through the cave closest to his family home. He led Isaac there with a hand on his lower back, keeping an eye overhead just in case.
His mother was outside when they arrived, looking around with a frown. She lit up when she saw them approach. When she went straight for Isaac, he didn’t feel the same annoyance he did with his sister. He was proud of his mate and happy that his mother loved him like her own son. She drew Isaac into a hug, then stepped back, holding his arms as she beamed at him.
“Isaac Silverbreeze, now a full-blown lawyer. I’m so proud of you, sweetie!”
They hadn’t been back since Isaac had passed the bar, too busy with getting him settled at Spellbound. Maverick had made a request to expand his office so Isaac could have his own space to work instead of that tiny desk in the corner. It was his yule gift, and he’d present it to him when they got back, to honor him being a partner and no longer an intern. Technically, he could have requested Isaac have his own office, but he’d refused the idea outright. He wanted his mate close. There was something soothing about knowing Isaac was only a few feet away when his temper threatened to get the best of him.
“Thank you, Mrs. Van Buren. It was a lot of late night study sessions and missed sleep, but passing the first time made it all worth it.”
“Come inside, dear. Everyone is excited to see you.” She turned her smile onto Maverick, wiggling a hand in a demand for him to bend down to kiss his cheek. “Hello to you too, darling boy. I’m glad you came. Have you seen your sister? She said she needed to make a call, then disappeared.”
He frowned. “She said she was waiting for someone.”
“Waiting for someone?” his mother queried with her own matching frown. “You two are the last to arrive. Most of the family flew in last night.”
He figured. His mother had requested he and Isaac do the same, but he’d refused. Spending the day with his family was stressful enough. Spending the night would drive him insane.
“I’m sure she’ll be back in a minute,” Isaac commented, tugging on the bag on Maverick’s shoulder. “Lemme take that. Where should we put the gifts we brought?”
He and his mother exchanged a look, following Isaac warily. It was never a good thing when Ferina started acting mysteriously. She was Maverick’s opposite, constantly causing mischief and getting into trouble. He’d been careful his whole life never to introduce her to Taron. Those two would get along too well and drive him up the wall. She’d met Ozen before, and he had agreed that the two should never meet.
If she showed up with Taron, he’d turn around and leave. He cared for his friend, but he made it a rule to avoid parties with Taron at all costs. Something always went wrong.
Tension settled in his shoulders as he waited for his sister to show back up with whoever she’d been waiting on. He hoped it wouldn’t be Taron, there was no way the shapeshifter could get into the city unless he somehow learned not only to shift into a dragon but also to fly, which he’d always struggled with in his shifted forms, but it also concerned him. If it wasn’t Taron, who else would she be bringing? And why was he so certain it would somehow be worse than the shapeshifter determined to pull his tail?
“Relax,” Isaac coached, standing from where he’d been setting out the gifts in the pile already gathering against one wall. Everyone brought something, and the table that had been chosen to house the gifts was overflowing to the point where there were stacks underneath it as well. Isaac had carefully placed the gifts he’d made along with the rest, while Maverick did the same thing he did every year: he put his card on the table.Free legal advice was plenty to offer, and he’d had more than one member of his family make use of his expertise in the past.
Isaac snorted when he saw it, raising an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t the point supposed to be something handmade?”
“My expertise was honed over centuries, my heart. It’s the same thing. And I haven’t had anyone complain yet.”
And while technically he didn’t hand make Isaac’s gift either, he figured it was the thought that counted. At least, he hoped that would be the case. Granted, the gift he’d chosen for Isaac was also a gift to himself, but he knew how much Isaac loved working in his office. He’d said so plenty of times before.
He considered it with a frown. Maybe he should make something small while Isaac was distracted. Just in case.
Chapter Three
Like every time they came to this realm, Isaac took a few minutes to admire the house Maverick grew up in. Despite being literally inside a mountain, it was bright and cheery, with a roaring fire as the centerpiece of the living room that was always burning whenever he came to visit. Members of his family sat on chairs and couches or even draped themselves on the rugs in front of the fire because, according to Maverick, all dragons loved heat. Isaac had to laugh when he asked if ice dragons felt the same way, and Maverick looked confused. He’d never thought to ask.
Candles dotted the room, the smell of cinnamon and spices heavy in the air. There was ivy and holly decorating the walls, as well as a sprig of mistletoe that Isaac would definitely be dragging Maverick under later. It was as warm and inviting as his own family home, and he was glad they decided to spend this holiday season with Maverick’s family this year instead. Last year, he’d spent the entire time being held back by Maverick to keep him from attacking his cousin. Little shit was going to learn to leave his mate alone one day.
Maverick always seemed to know when he was getting annoyed. He wrapped himself around Isaac’s back, nuzzling hisneck in that sweet way that always made him melt. “What are you thinking about, my heart?”
“I was thinking I’m going to have a better holiday this year, because I won’t be chasing Alder away from you the entire visit,” he grumbled, closing his eyes as Maverick’s affectionate chuckle brushed against his ear.
