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Holden leaned out of the kitchen doorway, glaring at her husband. “No! There’s no way I'm going to expose my babies to the gate energies, as young as they are.”
Oooo. Good point, mama bear. Except, I wasn't going to remind her they were inside Alemos, who had been created using that same gate energy.
Everyone turned to stare at the Alpha. He growled. “If you are going, I am going.” He stared at each of us. “Who is staying here with our girls?”
No one said a word until Maggie exhaled, giggling nervously. “I will. Just—” She faced Soren. “Are you taking—?” She waved one hand at the gigantic beast lying on the living room floor.
He grinned. “What? You are mated with a dragon and you fear a little lecanifer?”
The Omega shook her head so fast her hair was slapping her in the face. “No, Nope. Not scared of him. I—well, I can’t communicate with him well since he talks telepathically, and I thought—I know the munchkins love him, but…”
I laughed, realizing she wasn’t sure about Renth. Then again, none of us, except Soren—and perhaps Lexi and Tamerin—knew him well. I figured I would help her out by redirecting the conversation.
“What is the game plan? Surprise them with a gate opening in front of them with tons of people pouring out? Or choose a smaller group to pick them up, with the additional surprises once they get here?”
My mate stared at me, a confused expression on his face. “What surprise? They already know their family is here.”
Lark caught on faster. “But they know nothing about our capabilities. It may be better to trickle out the surprises as opposed to hitting them over the head with all of them at one time.” He turned towards Holden. “As healthy as your parents might be, they are still much older than most of us here. Why don’t we hit them with one surprise—the method of travel? And one joy—your father’s siblings? They can meet the dragons and Renth once they get back here.”
She nodded. “Sounds like a plan. I am going. Shane won’t let me go without him, so that's two. Of course, we will need you, Lark.”
“And me. I'm not letting my mate out of my sight,” Lexi interjected.
“Okay,” Holden added her to her count. “Oooo, and we can't forget my aunt and uncle.”
Betta stood up and stretched. “Stet and I will accompany you inside the gate. We still have work to do, so we will leave you at that point and come back later to meet your parents. I think meeting Stet as one of the first people may be a little overwhelming.”
Holden nodded, turning to gaze at everyone in the room. She stopped when she got to Xotchi. “Do you want to come?” She asked the other woman, restraint clear in her voice. Xotchi wasn't the same person she had been before when she had been on Earth, but I doubted anyone trusted her still.
The dragon looked over at Belesh, her face pensive. “If I am not needed, I want to go back to our cave and make sure no one messes with any of Belesh's experiments.”
Relief filled the older Universa woman’s face. “Thank you. I had been worried, now that it appears I will need to extend my stay.”
Xotchi smiled at her. “My pleasure. It will give me time to play in the warm water in my dragon form, disturbing no one.” Her smile grew wider.
James turned and stared at her. “A hot pool? Large enough to fit a dragon?”
Now Xotchi’s grin became a little evil as she smirked at him. “More than one. It could fit at least four of us, with plenty of room to spare.”
Realizing what she had just said, she snapped her mouth shut, all color draining from her face as she stared back at the spirit dragon.
James chuckled, quickly tapping out a text on his cell. After hitting send, he waited, bouncing on his toes. Maggie frowned at him, her unease clear as her gaze bounced between Xotchi and her husband.
His phone dinged, and he punched the air with glee. “Yes! Mom will be here in a few. She wants to come too.” He leaned over to kiss Maggie’s cheek. “Sorry, love. As cute and fun as the babies are, they can’t compare to wallowing in warm, steaming water as a dragon.”
Xotchi’s eyes opened wide with horror. Maggie started snorting before the laughs escaped and she was holding her belly, her head flung back. Her joyous laughter caused everyone else to stop talking and stare at them.
I pointed at Xotchi. “Going to a hot pool, I am guessing.” Then at James. “He wanted to go along with her, since it is dragon-sized.” My finger slid over to the laughing woman. “She didn’t like the fact her dragon would be alone with a sexy red dragon while she is watching the kids.” I pointed back at James. “So he invited his mom.”
The silence was deafening outside of Maggie’s snorts and giggles.
Holden turned to the spirit dragon and smirked. “You are evil.”
He tried to appear innocent as he raised both eyebrows high, his eyes filled with mischief. “What? She said the lake was large enough to handle several dragons. I can’t remember the last time Mom and I had a friendly conversation, sitting in boiling hot water, easing our muscles.”
Maggie grinned, leaning over to pick up Lauren. “I am going to put them into a bed where they will be more comfortable.” She started up the stairs with the little girl in her arms. Holden cradled Hope while Shane retrieved Roxy, following behind her.
Renth lumbered after them, obsessed with the three younglings.
