Page 4 of Matched By the Dragon

“I… I’m safe when it’s just me and the boys. More importantly they’re safe. None of us are paying for someone else’s mistakes. Like my whole life I paid for whatever my brother did. That’s what started everything. He tried to hurt someone and someone killed him because of it. Though, even before that it was always about Chad. F-ing Chad. Then it just snowballed but if it’s just us, that won’t happen to them. I can protect them if I just don’t let anyone come around bringing trouble. I’m a dad now. I can’t afford to make mistakes because they’re the ones who will pay for them.”

“I can understand that,” he nodded. “If you really want me to leave, I will. For a while at least. We both know eventually my bear will drag me back here to check on you guys. I don’t mean that in a menacing way.”

“I know,” I nodded.

“What did you mean about being mate-bombed?” He asked, staring at the babies.

“Somehow Raziel knew that Alby and Bennie were true-mates before they knew or met. I think maybe he knew about us too,” I shrugged. “Probably thought he was helping.”

“He probably did help. We just can’t see it yet. You’re afraid and I’m depressed,” he laughed. “We might’ve never crossed paths.”

“I go to the temple sometimes. I’ve just never seen you there,” I shrugged.

“Maybe it’s better this way. I don’t know of a cave at the temple.”

“There is an escape tunnel.”

“Good to know.”

“The Followers of Frost are warriors. They’re not going to be easily defeated and they’re not going to let themselves get trapped.”

“Do you have another way out of your cave? Wait. Forget I asked. Just realized how creepy that is.”

“There’s a spot big enough for the babies to get out,” I shrugged. “If all else failed they can squeeze out the tiny way and have a chance to survive.”

For a moment, Durin looked like he might cry.

“They’re all I have. I have some friends but… These guys are always here. These are my tiny people and if it came down to it, I’d rather they live without me than die with me. I received a death threat after I moved back onto the estate. It was one of my sire’s friends in London. He’s in a Moonscale jail now, but it was scary. I stayed here for a week, hunting the rabbits that came and eating whatever Bennie or Raziel brought out. I need the babies to live. It’s beyond want or anything like that. It’s a need that thrums within me. It’s… I’d give anything up if they needed it or I’d die to keep them alive.”

Now I was the one in danger of crying.

“Well, count me as part of their security team for better or worse,” he shrugged.

“You bring drama here and I’ll eat you and the drama. If I can’t do it, I’ll toss you into Raziel’s mouth,” I said, meaning every word that came off my tongue.

“That’s fair,” he nodded. “Seriously, that’s fair. Though, I’m too tired for drama and no one wants to kill me. Liza’s parents begged me not to leave the mountain because they’d miss me. I miss them but I couldn’t stay there and live and I know Liza wouldn’t want me to walk off a cliff. She said it over and over.”

“Maybe it’s backwards because you’re my true-mate but I’m so sorry that happened to her. I’m sorry that modern medicine and magic couldn’t save her,” I sighed.

“I’m sorry about Jac too. I can’t imagine how that felt – thinking he left only to find out they killed him.”

“They gave me a med at the hospital because I had a pretty strong reaction to it. If not for these two… I don’t know what I would’ve done. I mean, my parents were dead by that point, but still….”

Neither of us said anything for a long, quiet moment. I stretched my bare foot out to touch his leg. He looked at it for a long moment but didn’t move his leg away. As the adrenaline crashed out my system, I realized I had another panic attack.

“If you need me to leave so you can go inside, I will,” Durin said. “I don’t want to cause you or the babies any more stress than you already have.”

“Is there food rotting in that box on my porch?” I yawned.

“It didn’t have a lid. Looked like a big bag of trail mix and some plushies and throw pillows,” Durin shook his head.

“Ah, yes. Cave snacks and things for my children to hunt,” I nodded, trying and failing to fight off a yawn.

“If you want to nap, I’ll keep watch,” Durin said.

“Try any funny business of any kind and I’m turning this into a pool stick,” I said, nudging my walking stick before pulling it closer.

“Got it,” he flashed me a half smile.