Chapter Seventy-One

Daegal.

Stetson took off in the middle of his sentence. We’d been going over plans to finish the guest cabins and build a new school for the children when he stood up and shot into the sky.

My dragon grew restless at first. I was momentarily brought back two years before. When everything had been tossed on its head. When everything had been ripped out from underneath us.

But Stetson’s heartbeat felt rapid but not in a threatened way.

He was excited.

Why? I had no idea. I stood up from the plans we had drawn out on the map and turned to see Tobias landing near me. “Sir, Queen Poppy has requested you. She said your guest has arrived and lunch is almost ready.”

I rolled the map up and stuck it into my back pocket. “Thank you, Tobias. Did you see where Stetson flew off to?”

“He passed me going toward the courtyard but he didn’t speak. I think he was focused on something.”

“Thank you. I’ll be eating with Poppy if anyone needs me.”

I took a few steps and launched into the air. The wind soared over me like a blanket of water. I sliced through the humid breeze and landed feet from our front porch.

It was modest compared to our previous castle, but I’d grown to love it. Poppy and Jeremiah made the place a home.

The front door to our house was open when I stepped on the front porch. Stetson was stark still in the entranceway into the house.

His shoulders were tense and his fingers were clenching and unclenching. I stepped through the door and watched Poppy’s startled face.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

Stetson didn’t budge. Poppy’s gaze shifted toward mine and she walked over toward me. Missy stood like a statue in the hallway, staring at Stetson in a confused manner.

Poppy lifted her eyes to mine. “I think Missy is Stetson’s mate,” she said.

“Oh,” I said.

“Oh, is right,” Poppy said.

I cleared my throat, but Stetson didn’t respond. So, I cleared it louder this time. Stetson tore his gaze away from Missy and looked at me. There was fire dancing in his eyes. I knew that feeling. I had a similar feeling when I smelled Poppy through the portal.

“Stetson, this is Poppy’s friend, Missy. Missy, this is Stetson.”

Stetson tore his gaze away from mine and walked over to Missy. He stopped inches from her and offered her his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Missy nodded slowly and took his hand.

Something must have zapped through her because she stumbled back against the wall. “I’m … is that normal?”

Stetson nodded his head. “Yes, for us, it is."

Missy looked over at us for help. Stetson was staring as if he wanted to rip her clothes off and have her against the wall.

“Maybe we should eat?” Poppy said, clapping her hands. “I made plenty, Stetson. Would you like to—”

“Yes,” he said.

Poppy looked over at me while going to pull the casserole out of the oven. “Stetson, can I speak with you for a moment, please?”

Missy eased around him and walked into the kitchen with Poppy. Stetson watched her walk away like he’d never see her again.

I snapped my fingers and jabbed my thumb over my shoulder. “Outside, Stetson?”

He nodded, running his fingers into his dark hair, he pushed by me and stopped on the porch. I let the door shut before turning to him. “You have to chill out.”

He scoffed. “I’ve been waiting for so long …”

“I know,” I said, putting my palm on his shoulder. “But she’s human. You can’t pounce on her like a dragon. You have to take it slow.”

Stetson laughed. “Like you did when kidnapping, Poppy?”

“Touché,” I mumbled. “You have a point, but learn from my mistake, tell her what’s going on, and speak to her about it. Don’t force her.”

Stetson nodded and closed his eyes. “I would never force her. I’m … I’m fine. Can we go inside now? I need to smell her.”

Stetson moved around me and pushed his way back inside. I’m pretty sure that everything I said went in one ear and out the other.

Missy was setting the table when I walked inside while Poppy put the food out behind her. Stetson stood in the corner of the room with his arms folded over his chest and his eyes watching Missy.

I could feel the heat forming under her skin from Stetson’s intense gaze.

Poppy clapped her hands. “Alright. Let’s eat before the munchkin wakes up.”

Missy sat down next to Poppy and Stetson sat across from her. I was sure it was so he could watch her.

“This smells good,” I said. “What’s in it—,”

“What do you do on Earth?” Stetson asked.

I glanced over at him, but his gaze didn’t move from Missy. She stopped her fork inches away from her mouth. “I am a journalist like Poppy was before she came here.”

“You write articles?” he asked.

Missy nodded. “I do.”

Jeremiah cried from down the hallway and Poppy stood up to go get him. “I’ll come with you,” I said. “I haven’t seen him all morning.”

I followed Poppy into the nursery.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, grabbing Jeremiah and kissing his forehead. “Can you believe that? Do you see the sizzle? The connection? I’ve never seen Stetson so … focused.”

I chuckled and took Jeremiah from her to change his diaper. “I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. If she decides to leave, I’m not sure she’ll want to come back.”

Poppy snorted. “Yeah, right. Missy has been asking about a dragon since the first time I went back to see her. Her letters are about finding a fantasy man. She’ll stay. Or she’ll commute, but she won't deny Stetson the mate bond.”

I changed Jeremiah's diaper, kissed his cheek, and put him down. He ran from the nursery and down the hallway. His little footsteps stopped at the end of the hallway as we followed behind him.

Poppy went to grab him but stopped and turned around to face me.

“What is it—,”

Stetson and Missy weren’t in their seats. He had her against the wall with his wings blocking everything going on under there.

I cleared my throat so loudly it vibrated my chest. Stetson dropped Missy and stepped back. His eyes danced from color to color as Missy looked down in shame.

“Maybe you could take Missy to your cabin to eat? Take your plates over there and … finish?”

“Good idea,” he said, grabbing both plates, he stalked toward the door and kicked it open with his foot. “You coming?”

Missy nodded. “I’m coming.”

They both left in a mad dash and Poppy burst out laughing. “I bet they don’t eat one bite of that.”

“Maybe they will later,” I chuckled. I sat down with Jeremiah in my lap and offered him a bite of food. “It’s good,” I coerced him into a bite.

Poppy sat across from me and smiled. “When I saw you the first day in my apartment. I was scared to death, but I’d never seen anyone look so good. I didn’t think you could be any more appealing, but now,” she said gesturing toward us, “you proved me wrong.”

“That’s good to know. When you’re clonked out tonight from exhaustion, I’m going to remind you of how appealing you think I am.”

She chuckled and took a bite of her casserole. “You do that, Dragon King.”

I pointed toward the door. “Why didn’t you fall into my arms like that?’ I asked. “You gave me Hell.”

She smiled. “Because Missy wasn’t kidnapped from her home by a random flying man. Was I not worth the wait?”

I smiled over my bite. “You were worth every minute of torment, Ember.”

***

Several hours later, Missy walked onto the porch. She was twisting her hair around her finger nervously and asked to speak to Poppy in private.

When she disappeared down the hallway with her, I handed Jeremiah to Melinda and found Stetson pacing the courtyard. His fingers were in his hair and he looked scared to death.

When I got near enough, he turned and looked at me. “I’m scared she’s going to leave. She has to stay. Everything about her. It’s perfect—,

“It’s God-sent,” I said, putting both palms on his shoulders. “You need to calm down. Even if she does go back, she’ll come back here. It’s destiny.”

Stetson sighed heavily and ran his palm over his face. “I want to go back with her. If she goes, I want to follow her. Let me take her back, not Irion. I hate to think his hands were on her—,”

“Stetson,” I said. “Calm down. She’s your mate. You can take her anywhere. I think you need to go sleep this off. If she wants to come to your cabin, she knows where it’s at. I had to sleep in the same room with Poppy for weeks before she let me touch her.”

Stetson took a deep breath. “You’re right. You’re right. I’m going to go. I'm okay. I'll see you in the morning.”

I walked back inside and found Poppy helping Missy into one of the guest bedrooms. She was nervously looking around and still twisting at her hair which seemed to be a nervous habit.

Poppy pulled back the blankets and handed her a towel. “The bathroom is across the hall. Come get me if you need me, okay?”

Missy nodded, and her gaze shifted toward mine. “Good night.”

Poppy moved passed me and walked into the master bedroom. I shut the door behind me. “What’s going on?”

“She’s scared. She’s debating on what to do,” Poppy said. “But we both know that she’ll end up coming back. Look at the chemistry.”

I grabbed Poppy’s wrist and pulled her over to me. “Would it be weird for her to be here?”

She laughed. “She’s my best friend, Daegal. I’d love for her to be here with me.”

I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “As long as you’re okay with it,” I said.

“I am.”

“Melinda mentioned that she would get Jeremiah to bed tonight. Do you want to spend some time with your Dragon King?”

She waggled her brows and grabbed my deltoids. “Better hurry before my exhaustion kicks in.”

I laughed and lifted her to my waist. It seemed like Stetson and Missy weren’t the only ones claiming their mate tonight.

The next morning when I woke, Poppy’s side of the bed was cold. She was up with Jeremiah, I could hear them in the living room.

I walked down to see what we were going to have for breakfast and noticed Missy sitting with Jeremiah in the living room while Poppy cooked.

“Good morning,” I said, seeing Missy look over. I caught sight of a mark on her neck and stalled.

"Good morning," she said, nonchalantly playing with Jeremiah.

Seconds went by when I heard the guest bedroom door open and Stetson walked out into the hallway. There was so much pride on his face. So much love.

It reminded me of the feeling I had when I marked Poppy.

He stopped by me in the entranceway to the living room and sighed. “Missy didn’t make it through the night,” he whispered.

I chuckled. “Jeremiah had been right about love coming your way. Is she staying here?”

“Eventually. She has to go back and tie up loose ends, but she’s coming back.”

“Good,” I said. "I'm happy for you."

"Me too. It's been a long time coming."

I left Stetson in the living room with Missy and found Poppy standing in the kitchen, frying bacon and eggs at the stove. “Where is Melina?” I asked.

“I told her to take the day off since we have company,” she said.

I trapped her against the counter and she looked up at me with a giant grin. “You ready for round two, Dragon King?”

I smiled. “I’m ready for the rest of my life with you, Little Ember.”

She placed her palm against my chest. “Here’s to forever,” she whispered.

“Here’s to forever and always."