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An ally against the Council would be good but why was she still on Everett’s back? Was it the other dragons Malcolm didn’t trust?”
“Who are the other dragons?” she asked softly as to not disturb the family reunion.
Desmond’s grin was wide and almost split his face. “The blue one is Hans and the green one is Renfe. They’re practically cousins.”
Claire nodded. That didn’t answer her question so she decided to just come out and ask it. “Okay, so we like them?”
Desmond threw her a confused look. “Yes?”
“And we like Malcolm’s parents?”
His brow drew even further together. “Yes?”
“Then why won’t Everett let me off his back?” she said with a bit more frustration than was probably necessary. If everything was fine, then where was the danger? And if there was danger, she was a formidable force unto herself.
Desmond laughed at the put-out look on her face. “If I had to guess, little cheese curdle, it’s because our gryphon likes having you on his back and he’s not quite ready to give you up yet. His beast is probably riding him hard.”
Claire leaned sideways and looked at Everett. The gryphon stared back at her with his unblinking yellow eyes. “Is that really it?”
The regal beast didn’t move for a few moments and then dipped his head once in acknowledgement.
Claire sat up straight and rolled her eyes. “That was really it? I thought something was wrong,” she tugged on his feathers in a chiding movement. “You worried me.”
He extended his wings and shook out his feathers dislodging her grip and stamping a foot in annoyance.
“If your gryphon wants time with me, we can arrange more time now that we are here,” Claire told him. “But you have to let me down now. I need to meet Malcolm’s parents and thank them for having us.”
The gryphon tossed his head again but this time didn’t stop Claire from climbing off with Puck on her shoulder. She patted the gryphon’s neck before stepping back into Desmond’s chest. Everett shifted back and pulled on clothes, looking amused at the annoyed look Claire sent him. He had her thinking something was wrong and his beast just wanted the attention.
Desmond turned her away from Everett as Malcolm approached with his parents.
“Momma, Dad, This is my treasure, Claire,” Malcolm said, holding a hand out to Claire who took it, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked up at Malcolm’s parents.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Claire said politely. “Thank you for opening your home to us.”
Malcolm’s parents were a striking pair. The first thing she noticed was that Malcolm’s mother was also dressed in pants and in an identical outfit to Malcolm’s father. Both wore dark brown pants with red tunic-style shirts and gold trim. They looked similar to the Council troops outfits and if Claire had to guess she would imagine they were clan uniforms of some sort.
Malcolm’s mother extended a hand and a warm smile to Claire. It was clear who Malcolm had gotten his eyes from as her golden ones warmed. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you Claire. I can’t tell you how excited we were when Malcolm finally sent word that he had found you.”
That last part was said with a playful glare towards Malcolm who rolled his eyes in a move more suited to Desmond than her growly, steady dragon. She could easily see teenage Malcolm pulling such a move off though.
“I’m Mara and this is my treasure, Roderick. You can ignore that expression on his face, I’m sure you know where Malcolm getsthatfrom,” Mara told Claire conspiratorially.
Roderick’s stern expression warmed as he smiled and shook his head at his mate. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Claire. I’m sorry to hear that your flight was not as smooth as was planned. Rest assured, I will be sending a strongly worded missive to the Council about this.”
Claire didn’t really have a response for that so she settled on a simple, “Thank you.”
“Did we miss them? Brantley, you are always making us late!” An excited female voice sounded from inside the cavern and Everett let out a small groan. When Claire looked at him, he was wearing a smile though.
“I’m always making us late?” An amused male voice answered. “I believe that honor is reserved for you, my darling.”
Mara laughed. “That’ll be Everina and Brantley.” She squeezed Claire’s hand.
“My parents,” Everett told Claire softly before breaking away from the group to intercept them.
A woman in a green dress emerged from the shadows of the cavern. She had pale skin, blond hair and blue eyes and if it wasn’t for her hair pulled back into a braid showing her ears Claire would have been sure she was an Elf. She shrieked excitedly when she saw Everett and threw her arms around him as Brantley emerged from the shadows.
Where Everina was light, Brantley was dark. Dark skin covered in golden tattoos up his visible arms with short buzzed hair. His grin was blinding though as he hugged both Everina and Everett at the same time. Everina was chattering excitedly over Everett, asking questions about the trip, the last few weeks, if he was eating enough. She barely stopped for a breath but Everett just took it all in with a small smile on his face.
