Page 36 of Sapphire Seas

This time I led.

Inside was as colorful as the popcorn shop had been. Caspian headed for the hat, so that’s where we looked first, finding tiny starfish socks too, and a matching onesie. This was too much fun. I spotted snowflake covered pajamas and a pacifier, pausing for a second to wonder if we should be shopping for dragonets we didn’t have yet.

We will. Get them.

Okay, dragon.

And the snowflake socks.

And the bear with the snowflake on his belly.

Now look, dragon.

Get it.

Fine. Anything else?

Not yet.

Someone brought me a basket and that’s when I noticed that Mattias and Caspian both carried one too. I wasn’t the only mate excited about the possibilities and eagerly gave in to the temptation to indulge. Whatever happened tomorrow, or weeks down the line, didn’t matter right now. Today was about holding on to everything magical about this city and the compound that had become my home.

And my mates, who I loved with everything in my soul.

Chapter Twelve

Caspian

“I need to see Kaika,” I told my mates during breakfast. “Can we go when we’re done?”

“Is everything okay, mate?” I felt the protectiveness of Mattias’ dragon through our bond.

“Yes, nothing bad, I swear.” But I wasn’t going to get our hopes up until Kaika confirmed what I’m pretty sure I already knew. Or, hoped I knew even though my dragon was certain and was back to doing figure eights, itching to take to the sea in a celebratory swim.

Soon, dragon. Let’s verify first.

Hmph.

He’d become a bit of a, what did Ronan call it again? Oh yeah, a pissy bitch.

Am not.

Are too.

Just get to Kaika then we’ll see who’s the pissy one.

There will be no living with him if he’s right on all accounts.

“I want to show you both something on our way to the seaside village,” Mattias said. “Ready to go?”

Kes and I followed him into the familiar tunnels, only instead of turning right and heading toward the shoreline, Mattias turned left.

“I wasn’t aware there was another segment of tunnels down here,” Kes said exactly what I was thinking.

“That’s because it’s protected,” Mattias replied. “It’s only visible to the Protectors, their mates and Raven. This wing is heavily protected, and this is why.”

“Whoa.” Five huge, glowing stones stood before us in this cave. Each in the color of the protector’s dragon. “What is all this?”

“These are our life sources. Our gifts come with limitations. If our mates die, so do we along with the light in our stones. If a brother dies, it weakens the others. Our mates are everything. Not only have we waited centuries to find you, but you give us life, in more ways than one. As our family bond strengthens, so do our powers. Both protectors and mates alike.”