Page 21 of Thrilled By Her Protector

“Oh wow. Why?”

“No one has ever said why, but I believe it was to stop Drakein being born with too powerful bonds between them. It would alter loyalties, you see.”

Jennifer frowned and thought about it. In a society where everything hinged on loyalty, she supposed it could be seen as a threat to have powerful beings birthed with bonds already in place.

“Daeja, when will you know for sure if thiskinakeinis occurring?”

“I must run more tests, but we don’t have to tell the mothers yet. No need to raise their blood pressure with worry. Besides, despite what the patriarchs of my home world thought, the females knew thatkinakeinwas a rare blessing. Those born inkinakeinhave special places in our history as the best of leaders, warriors, and brothers.”

“Brothers? They’re all having boys?” Jennifer gasped.

“Shhh. I promised I would not tell,” Daeja said, and grinned mischievously.

She nodded and looked back at her friends. Jennifer’s heart ached as she took in their glowing faces as they filled the nursery with beautiful things, the best being laughter, friendship, and love. What she wouldn’t give to have something like that for herself. Jennifer gasped as fresh pain pierced her heart.

We could have all this, her Owl whispered,but you push it away.

You know why,she told her beast.

I know, but it doesn’t make it any better. We are alone. Safe. But always alone.

ChapterEight

Zircon hauled boxes of groceries into the kitchen, where his father was currently unloading and putting them away. The old man surely had better things to do, but ever since Medjed had cured him of the cancer that had been eating away at his cells, he’d decided on a more hands on approach to living, or so he’d said.

“Did you get the potatoes?” Arthur asked.

“Yeah, Dad. Eighty pounds of them,” Zircon replied, shaking his head.

Honestly, if he never saw a French fry again, it would be too soon.

“Great. Put them in the pantry,” he instructed, and Zircon nodded.

When he returned with the potatoes and a bag of onions, he brought them to the walk-in pantry where they housed roots and dry goods. The kitchen was designed for his mother, and she’d always liked the idea of having an old school storage system, which she believed was better for the food.

Thank goodness she had, because with all the people living there lately, they needed the room. Gods, he missed Mom. Especially now when he could use her advice.

“Something bothering you, son?” Arthur asked from right beside him and Zircon startled hard.

“Just thinking about mom,” he murmured, leaning into the comforting pat of his father’s hand on his shoulder.

“I think about her all the time, son. She was one of a kind.”

“How did you, I mean, how did she, well, I guess what I am asking is when did you two get together officially,” Zircon said, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

Arthur’s face broke out into a smile as he related stories of the first few times he’d seen his wife. Oh, Zircon had heard them all dozens of times, but there was just something comforting in knowing some people came together easily. What he wouldn’t give for a little bit of ease with his own woman? Shit. Could he even call her that?

“So, I know you’ve heard me talk about Mom before. What’s this really about? Is it Jennifer?”

“It’s always Jennifer. I love her, but she just doesn’t want me,” Zircon muttered.

His Wyvern scratched and sliced at him, the beast furious and blaming it all on Zircon’s human half. Maybe the creature was right. Maybe if he was a better man.

“Let me stop you right there, son. I can see your gears turning, but this isn’t your fault. And it isn’t really hers. What you two need is some honest dialog, but I know you are both stubborn people. Hang in there, okay?”

“I’m trying, Dad. I am really trying.”

After he finished with the groceries, cursing the shenanigans those two idiots Ox and Xabat had gotten up to, Zircon went outside for some exercise. He needed to release all his pent up energy and a few hours in his Wyvern’s scales would be good for him.

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