Chapter 40: Call anytime.

Byron:

Laughing darkly as the rich aroma of coffee, wafted delicately up the stairs as Lea and Onyx giggled standing at the island. Onyx was glowing as she laughed with Lea, smiling at me from behind her mug.

“Draven and Lana should be here soon.” I spoke softly as the dark, ambered liquid filled my cup with a satisfying sigh.

Turning around, stirring the creamer and sugar as both girls gave me questioning brow.

“Twins?” Onyx laughed lightly as she pointed between me and Lea’s shirts.

Flashing her an evil smirk as Lea trailed her hand down my side, hooking her hand into the back pocket for a firm squeeze. Perking a brow at her as two quick raps sounded from the back sliders as Draven and Lana entered with bright smiles.

“Lea! Onyx!” Lana chirped happily as she scooped the girls into her embrace with a bright smile.

“The “pups” are so precious.” Lana cooed as Draven shook my hand with a smirk of mischievousness.

“What is with these “Dragons”?” Storm grunted lowly as Lana poured herself a cup of coffee.

“Byron called last night, saying “Nuwa paid you a visit” and the “Map”.” Draven spoke firmly with a dark timber as Onyx slid into the stool next to Lea nodding her heads “yes”.

I grabbed the semi-flattened map from the coffee table, laying it out on the island so we could examine it better in the natural daylight. The ink drawings seemed to float a top of the golden aged paper as Draven pulled out another map with the current realms as we know them today.

“This map was given to us for safe keeping from the head “Royal Guardian”, before the Dragon Realm was ambushed.” Draven spoke with somber tone as Lana rubbed his back in a calming manner.

“Why now? Why me?” Onyx signed quickly as her eyes skimmed between the two maps.

“Onyx, honey. You are a “Royal Guardian” and up to the day we met you at Demon Wolf, we thought all was lost. You surprised Draven, when you extinguished his flame with that huff, only “Royal Guardians” can put out another Dragon’s flame.” Lana spoke proudly as she stood behind Onyx, pointing to the symbols drawn in the four corners of the map.

“Only “Royal Guardians” can open the portal that connects this Realm to the Dragon Realm, and we are not sure if anyone survived, let alone the destruction left behind.” Draven huffed a small purple flicker as Onyx examined him closely.

“Great! Burn down our home.” Storm grunted darkly, rolling my eyes at his attitude.

“So, where exactly is the portal entrance?” I asked curious, looking up at Draven with a lost expression.

“Not sure, but if you line up the maps correctly, it should give you an idea of where to start.” Draven pointed to the dash marks indicating the four directions.

Onyx slammed her finger down on the three dragons, circling around a purple symbol with a questioning brow.

“This symbol in dragon means “Rebirth”, and these three dragons indicate the destined path.” Lana spoke sweetly as Draven sipped his coffee with a coy smile.

“Destined path?” Onyx asked quickly as she took a hearty swig of her cooling coffee.

“Um…yes! Your destined mates.” Lana laughed nervously as she sipped her coffee with a perked brow, side glancing Draven.

“You know Onyx, the triplets have not stopped talking about you, and your presence on the battlefield that night.” Draven exhaled softly as Lana elbowed him in the ribs.

“What was that for?” Draven whined as Lana gave him a pointed stare.

“Queen Mei said this morning, when she went to check on the pups, there were stuffed Dragons in the cribs with special trinkets attached to the necks.” Lana spoke lightly, not to scare Onyx.

Onyx smiled brightly as she trailed her finger over the symbol of “Rebirth”, sighing deeply as her eyes scanned everyone in the room.

“She looks like a lost puppy.” Lea linked softly as she looked up over her shoulder.

Storm purred darkly at her sultry gaze, smacking him back mentally as Onyx sat quietly examining the maps.

“Onyx we understand the weight of this news, and the fact that your dragon just awakened. Take all the time you need, but know we are always there for you, along with Drogo and Lena. They finished their home in Canada, so you are more than welcomed to stay with them.” Lana sat her mug down, cupping Onyx’s hands in hers with a reassuring smile.

“Here. It has all our information. If you ever need anything, anything at all, you call.” Draven smiled gently at her as he slid a business card over to her with the Blackfang logo.

“We need to be heading out, but you be safe, and don’t shy away visiting.” Lana scooped Onyx into a motherly hug as Onyx squeaked slightly under the pressure.

“Call anytime.” Draven exhaled as Onyx launched into his broad chest, hugging him with a bright smile.

Draven’s stone expression melted into a sweet, gentle caress as his arms wrapped around her petite figure. He looked to be hugging his daughter, before sending her away to get married but was reassuring her that “no matter what” he would be there.

“We will handle the “triplets”, you go fulfill your birthright and restore the “Dragon Realm”.” Lana hugged her tightly as they stood at the sliders overlooking the snow blanketed lake and forest.

“Talk about a “Tall Order”.” Storm groaned lowly from the shadows as a nervous sensation overtook me.

Lea beat me to the punch as she stepped forward signing rapidly.

“This is a “Safe Place” if you ever need to rest or in trouble come here. Byron, Me, the shadows will protect you.” Lea had tears rolling gently down her cheeks.

“Family.” Onyx signed with bright eyes as they launched into each other’s arms, crying softly.

Three women were now incredibly special to me and seeing them cry hurt as I pulled the two of them into my embrace. Onyx shook in a soft giggling cry as she pulled back smiling.

“Brother, sister I never had.” She signed as she followed Draven and Lana out the sliders, watching their pearly iridescent dragons soar high into the hazy overcast of the Alaskan sky.

Lea held tightly to my waist as Onyx turned, smiling brightly as she stepped out into the soft, crunching snow. Her smile radiated against the shimmering snowflakes as she signed her final words.

“Here goes nothing. Love you guys.” As her large purple iridescent dragon took two large steps, pushing furiously off the ground with her large leathery wings.

“STAY OUT OF TROUBLE!!” I shouted loudly with a chuckle as Lea wolf called into the sky with a loud roaring response from Onyx swooping over the cabin, shooting into the hazy overcast sky.

Storm whimpered softly as her dragon disappeared into the clouds, feeling a swirling conflict of pride and nervousness. Lea hugged me tightly as her jaded eyes followed the dancing white clouds with a loving warmth painted across her gentle face.

“Come on. Diaper duty awaits.” I laughed darkly, gently kissing her forehead as she laughed dryly turning to walk into the cabin.

“Challenge accepted.” She laughed lightly as we closed up the cabin, making sure everything was secure.

Demon Wolf kind of became my “home” with the overzealous in-laws, dynamic siblings that balanced each other with their mates. Two precious pups I would die for and a gorgeous mate. Add in Kolt and my new niece and nephew, life was perfect.

“Byron!” Lea shouted at me as she stood at the portal with her bag packed with a few items.