Chapter 38: Real as Ever.

Chapter 38: Real as Ever.
Onyx:

“Is this a joke, because it’s not funny.” Ziggy looked up with misted eyes as Jade and Viv hugged each other with shaky nods of “no”, peeking over their shoulders into the necklace shaped boxes with….

“They’re pregnant.” Whispering out with Shehad in shock, looking over to Seth as his smile crept along his lips with a playful wink and nod to confirm my inner shock.

Touching my chest, feeling my heartbeat strumming to life as the giddy child inside of me leaped for joy, hugging Zek and Ziggy as they slowly comprehended it was real. Scooping me into a tight embrace as their bodies shook violently with sobs of happiness. Breaking away from our hug as they scooped up their ladies, laughing and kissing one another.

“Best Christmas Ever!” Ziggy cheered happily, turning towards us with bright smiles and misty eyes as we shuffled into the living room, taking seats along the floor and large white sectional that could hold twenty people easily. Snuggling down into the warmth of my trio as their fingers gently trailed blazing paths along my goose riddled flesh, giggling softy with Shehad as she nuzzled into her own cozy embrace.

“What about their foxes?” Dirk leaned forward with Jun nestled tightly to his chest as she sipped her coffee with perked brow, looking at everyone with a questioning gaze.

“Actually, I have one more gift, well, two.” Seth jumped up with a sneaky smirk laced across his lips as the front doors clicked closed with a hollowed clunk, followed by soft footfalls. Seth sauntered back in with a megawatt smile that put the crystal star to shame in radiance as Hali and Toni rounded the corner with bright smiles, setting down two car seats.

“HALI!” Tumbling over the trio with a graceful tripping, embracing her bubbly laugh as Toni offered a sweet kiss to my cheek in passing to shake the guys hands, greeting the rest of the family. Pulling back, taking in her sun kissed tan and bright amber eyes as her soft brown locks swayed in the edgy off-set bob she wore like a beach goddess.

“Looking good woman.” Flicking her new hairdo with a playful wink as she huffed out in a mock Diva eyeroll.

“Girl, Please! Look at you.” She stepped back, fanning my arms out to the sides, looking at my curvy figure with a snarling huff. Chuckling darkly as the guys cleared their throats, looking over my shoulder at their smoldering gazes as soft cooing filtered from the two carriers sitting quietly to our left.

Squealing in excitement, kneeling to see two precious girls tucked snuggly in dusty pink blankets with black and white stripped hats, covering their rich brown locks.

“They’re perfect.” Gently stroking their smooth cheeks, dusted softly with pink and cute little button noses as they stirred softly against the embrace.

“Arihi and Penina Whitefang. Spirit guardians to the Royal Elder Dragons.” Seth leaned back to his heels with his hands shoved halfway into his jeans, looking between our confused expressions as his smile grew in intensity.

“The “Ladies” decided that a new generation, required a new spirit guardian to guide these “poor kids” into the future.” Seth beamed ear-to-ear, taking a jab at our crazy parenting skills, resulting in several pillows flying though the air as he dodged and deflected the airborne projectiles of vivid colors and fluff.

“Not enough foxes to go around, it makes sense.” Shehad spoke softly with the grumbling agreements of the Silverfang trio, looking back down at their peaceful faces, snuggling into their blankets as rushed foot falls approached the lively laughter that rang from the living room.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” We all trumpeted at the giggling, smiling faces that rounded the doorway in matching pajamas as everyone swooped in, tickling their sides as Seth and Randi clapped their hands to reveal the mountains of presents hidden behind a concealment barrier.

Bright eyes scanned over the colorful mounds of boxes with bows and ribbons, small and large, round and long, flowing along the floor as both men slipped on their reindeer antlers with twinkling lights, rubbing their hands together like mad scientists.

“Who’s ready for some gifts?” They cheered happily against the horde of giggling toddlers, motioning for them to take their positions as they literally dived into the presents calling out names. Chuckling softly with the trio, watching paper and whatever else, float through the air as the smiling faces beamed and squealed with each toy revealed.

“Best Christmas Ever.” Whispering softly, feeling the shivering waves of energy course through the room as we shared our first “Family Christmas”.

“It gets better.” Birgir nudged my cheek softly, capturing my lips in a sweltering embrace as Mikkel and Davyn stroked their fingers along my sides with chesty purrs, gaining a few chuckles of amusement as the famous sing song voice, heralded through the vaulted ceiling with a gasping screech.

“SETHY-POO!” Izzy “poofed” from the doorway into his arms, tumbling back into the massive heap of shredded boxes and paper as Desmond saluted us with a two-finger wave, sliding into the sectional with a soft chuckle.

“Merry Chris…..Jesus Fucking…”

“Don’t you finish that sentence if you want to live.” Izzy growled from the heap of paper, appearing with a large red bow stuck to her forehead, causing the toddlers to giggle at her scary-funny expression as the Watchmen stood in the doorway with slack jaws.

“I thought she was just hallucinating in her drunken state. You’re really back?” Roger grabbed his hand, pulling Seth into a massive group hug as they laughed poking his face and chest to make sure they weren’t hallucinating themselves.

“Real as ever.” Seth looked over his shoulder at Mei and Max sticking bows on JR’s stony face, flashing them a quick wink catching sight of Elicia waddling into the room with four miniature versions, well, not miniature because let’s face it, the men in this family were built tough and tall.

“Oh, Seth, meet Elicia our mate and wife.” Ben helped her pregnant frame sit next to us with a gentle kiss to her knuckles, smiling his boyish grin as his jaded orbs danced over shoulder to the four strapping young men standing with their phones in hand.

“Pleasure is all mine, young lady. And who are these strapping young men?” Seth gleamed brightly, sauntering over to them with a predatory glare as they smirked against the soft glow of their screens.

“Hey.” They sounded off flatly, not taking their eyes off of whatever they were watching.

Dark chuckles slipped from us as Izzy steamed slowly to her feet, slamming her fists to her hips with a snarling hiss as they snapped their heads up with a streak of fear flashing across those hazel orbs.

“Sorry, Grammy.” They sounded off, standing tall with straight smiles as they slipped their phones into their back pockets.

“Seth, meet our oldest boys, Nakoa, Knox, Darius, and Keegan. Boys, this is your Uncle Seth Whitetail.” Elias patted Knox’s shoulder as each brother stood behind their son with bright shit eating grins.

“Oh! You’re the one “Back from the Dead”.” Nakoa laughed darkly with his brothers as Roger jabbed his finger into his ribs for his remark.

“Grammy, dad just poked me. Hard.” Nakoa looked over his shoulder with a narrowed gaze and frown that sparked loud laughter around the room.

“Well, maybe you should show some respect to the King of the Dead.” Izzy didn’t skip a beat as she giggled and tickled the toddlers that scrambled around her legs with their toys in hand.

The priceless expressions of pure mortification had us rolling in laughter as Seth patted Nakoa on the shoulder with a bright smile.

“Don’t worry, my “Bite” is as big as my “Bark”.” Seth winked at their paling faces, snapping his jaw tightly with a sharp snap of his teeth, causing the four boys to flinch back into their dad’s grips.


“Sorry Uncle Seth.” Keegan huffed lowly, receiving a firm pat from Ben as they broke apart taking seats along the sectional and floor.

“Seth, I apologize for my sons’ lack of respect. It seems the closer we get to their sixteenth birthdays, the worse their attitudes evolve.” Elicia gave each boy a pointed stare as her eyes flashed a golden-blue, causing them to shift away from her immediate reach.

“Hey, easy E. Remember what Amelia said about the temper.” Randi leaned over the back of the sectional, handing her a steaming mug of dandelion tea.

Seth placed his hands on her protruding stomach, whispering softly under his breath as her body slowly relaxed with an exhale. Lacing my hand in hers as she tilted her head with a grumbling as her golden-blue orbs looked at me with a soft smile.

“Sorry. You would think by the third pregnancy my temper would have mellowed-out.” Her soft tone had me chuckling softly, squeezing her hand in understanding.

“Three sets of quads would do that to anyone.” The guys chuckled in our link, snapping my gaze to them with a warning growl, smiling at their panicked expressions looking back at her relaxed face as she sipped her tea.

“Speaking of which, where are Maddox, Phoenix, Bo, and Reed? I was hoping to see their fiery little faces.” Smiling softly as the girls crawled over the boys, giggling and squealing as they were tossed into the air before landing back into their gentle hands.

“With Gammy and Pappy at the ranch. A set of twins were discovered outside of Las Vegas with unique qualities, but it seems they took a strong liking to our brothers.” Darius chuckled from the floor as Suki and her sisters tried to pin him down with tickly fingers.

Vegas? A strange wave of anxiousness rushed over me, feeling the shift in the air as we all looked at one another.

“What kind of “qualities”?” We all asked in unison with perked brows, remembering our past connections to the sin city.

“Mom said something about “glowing red eyes and black mist”, but Levi and Dylan are sweet boys. Simply scared and nervous after being abandoned.” Elicia smiled warmly as her finger tapped softly against the rim of her mug, humming “The Hunter” as her eyes began to close in a soft nod.

“Why does that sound familiar?” The guys spoke flatly in our link as Shehad flashed memories of Lea’s abduction and the battle between the Walkers and Hunters.
Dropping my head into my hands at the realization these boys were “Hunters”, but Lea and Byron halted the Hunter bloodlines, when Ace and Aeros were sentenced to the Under Realm.

“They’re no threat. They will be raised under the new Laws of the Realms with special guidance from Byron and Kolt.” Seth draped a blue and white fleece over her sleeping form, settling back into his role of gift giver as he hummed the same tune that started with Mei years prior.

“It’s a New World, new generations being raised, so what’s to say they’re not meant for bigger, better things in life. We, as the sitting Royals and Elders, can mold these youngsters into fine ladies and gents.” Desmond leaned forward, ruffling Keegan’s dark red locks into a disheveled heap of static locks as they swatted at each other’s hands.

Humming in agreement with our dragons as we embraced our new lives with so many possibilities, and bright futures for all the Realms.