Epilogue
Jon looked over the back garden of their Upstate New York house. All he could see were wall to wall dragons. Well, there was only six of them, but they were all so big they took up a lot of space and it wasn’t only dragons in the clearing. He waved at Raoul who’d turned up on his request, with only two body guards this time. Essie was ogling the dragons, a sexy wolf shifter she shyly introduced as her mate scowling beside her. Bryce was flirting with one of Raoul’s bodyguards and Carter, who had become a lot more approachable and indispensable since Tiernan’s arrival was also among the crowd.
Tiernan was six weeks old and in accordance with dragon tradition he would be formally laid in front of the dragons and receive the first part of his hoard. Jon was amazed at how quickly the little one had grown. Shifter genetics aside, Tiernan was already trying to sit up and Jon was sure he wasn’t old enough to do something like that. Dirk would just laugh when he did it but then he started crowing every time Tiernan so much as blew a bubble, so he wasn’t much help. Fraught with nerves, Jon jiggled Tiernan in his arms as he waited for the ceremony to begin.
Standing two foot taller than his brothers and cousins, Dirk was resplendent in his red scales. That was another surprise for Jon. He thought, with Byron and Samuel coming from the same parents, that they would be red dragons too, but Byron was almost black and Samuel’s scales were a midnight blue. Foster, Rastin, and Leonard’s scales were also various shades between black and blue, something Dirk had told him was a family trait. Dirk’s red scales indicated his leadership status in the clan.
And it was the red dragon who was commanding attention now; blowing a stream of fire twelve feet into the air before speaking. “We begin. Jon, holder of our heart scale, please bring Tiernan forward.”
As tradition dictated, Tiernan was naked. Dirk said that oftentimes the presence of so many dragons would stimulate the child’s first shift; something that both worried and excited Jon. While Dirk was totally accepting of his son and doted on him to the point of having a small playroom set up in the corner of their office, Jon still worried that the ingrained prejudice dragons had to other shifters would emerge if Tiernan turned out furry.
His heart scale glowing, sending heat through his body, Jon stepped forward and carefully placed Tiernan on the small rug arranged for the occasion. All around him, fire pits burned, helping take the chill off the night air.
“As leader of the Hollingsworth clan, I am proud to formally present my son, Tiernan Erskine-Hollingsworth to the clan. Bryce, loyal wolf shifter and dear friend of the clan, is the chest ready?”
“Yes, my liege.” It seemed Bryce understood the formality of the occasion, bowing before dragging forward a large chest, reminiscent of the one in Dirk’s hoard.
They consider this small?
“Dragons of the Hollingsworth clan, who will pay tribute to my son?”
The dragons jostled each other, trying to get closer. “I, Byron, Uncle to Tiernan, present the first gift,” the black dragon said, throwing a glare at his younger brother. He dragged a small sack with his teeth, dropping it into the chest. Stretching his neck, he sniffed over the baby. Tiernan chortled and tried to grab Byron’s nose.
Samuel was next, and then Foster, Leonard, and Rastin. Each time the procedure was the same. The dragon would place the bag in the chest, sniff the baby, and then move aside. Only Rastin dared to try and lick Tiernan, almost getting his tongue grabbed for his trouble. Tiernan’s hand and eye coordination was improving by the day.
“Jon, owner of my heart scale, what do you have to gift to our son, to start his hoard and help prepare him for his life’s journey?” Dirk had prepared him for this, but even so a shiver ran up Jon’s spine as he stepped forward.
Holding up a sheaf of papers, Jon said clearly, “In my hands I hold the deed to my business, currently managed by my best friend, Essie.” He nodded his head in his friend’s direction. “With her blessing, I bequeath my business and house in San Jose, to be held in trust until such time as Tiernan can make his own decisions. Every dragon needs a place to call his own, to keep his hoard hidden and provide a safe place when the demands of the world become too much. As Tiernan’s dad, I will provide.”
The dragons roared and Jon stepped back, glad he hadn’t forgotten his words.
“My lord dragon, may I approach?” Raoul stepped forward, waving his bodyguards away.
“Prince among Vampires, you are recognized as a friend to the holder of my heart scale. Do you bring blessings for my son?” Dirk didn’t seem surprised, but Jon wondered what Raoul was doing.
“I pledge him life,” Raoul said seriously, nicking his wrist with one of his claws and allowing three drops of blood to fall on Tiernan’s chest. “Forever more, Tiernan, first half-breed dragon of the Hollingsworth clan will be protected by all vampires on this side of the Atlantic. May his life be long and his hoard continue to grow.” He tickled Tiernan under his chin and stepped back.
“Your gift to my son will not be forgotten,” Dirk said formally. “It is time. Dragons, please form the circle around my son.”
Jon made to step back, but Dirk’s gaze held him in place. He watched as the dragons jostled between themselves until they formed a circle around the fire pits. “May the blessings of the Fates be on you this day, my son. Now.”
His hand over his mouth, Jon watched horrified as one by one the dragons opened their mouths, letting out plumes of fire that covered and surrounded the baby. Chuckling and waving his stubby arms around, Tiernan didn’t seem fazed at all, but then, as one by one the dragon’s dipped their heads and the fire diminished, Tiernan’s form started to change.
“He’s going through his first shift,” Jon cried, forgetting all about protocol. Biting his knuckles, Jon forced himself not to intervene. Shifting was an instinct and as young babies knew no fear, it was deemed a perfect time for them to shift into their animal form for the first time. But even so, Jon’s heart was in his mouth as he watched Tiernan’s body flicker from wolf to dragon, to bird, to dragon, even a cat was in there somewhere. But finally, when Tiernan’s wee body finally solidified, he settled into the form of a tiny red dragon with pointed ears, a long nose, and instead of scales, his wings were covered in bright red fur.
“A true hybrid. Amazing,” Raoul whispered.
“He’s so cute,” Essie squealed.
Looking around, it was clear Tiernan didn’t know what all the fuss was about. He spotted the diamond Jon had worn on the outer side of his clothes for the evening and reached for it, begging for Jon’s attention. Picking him up, Jon hugged him close for a moment and then turned to face his mate.
“Does his shifted form meet with our Leader’s approval?”
“We can feel him.” Was that a tear in Dirk’s huge eye. “We can feel his heart and know he is as true as the man who holds my heart scale. He is truly one of us.” Swinging his large neck around, Dirk bellowed, “Take to the skies; tonight we fly with a new dragon.”
Really? Tiernan was too small to fly, Jon knew that much. His wings would never hold up his bulky wee body. “Here,” Bryce said, coming up beside him. “Dirk thought this would happen and we prepared for every contingency.” He held out a wide sling lined with sheepskin and helped Jon strap it around his back. Tiernan was securely held against his front and Jon could see, even if Tiernan couldn’t hold his shift, he would still stay warm and safe.
“Jon and my son will ride with me,” Dirk loudly proclaimed as if there was any doubt.
“Prince Raoul, it would be my honor to carry you if you wish to experience flight with a dragon?” Samuel’s dragon sounded a little breathless but after a moment’s consideration, and much to the horror of his bodyguards, Raoul inclined his head.
“You offer me a great gift. I thank you.”
It seemed no one wanted the party to break up as one by one the three cousins offered a chance to fly with them to Essie, her mate, and Bryce. Only Byron flew alone and Jon sent up a short prayer that the lonely dragon would find his mate soon.
With a final roar, Dirk took to the sky, Jon resting one hand on his son and the other on his mate’s neck. Secure in his warm coat, Jon watched the view as his mate’s body levelled out and he took in the sparse lights of the scenery below. It seemed a lifetime ago when he wondered if he’d ever get to see Dirk’s dragon form, let alone build a life with the man himself. But now, sitting astride a giant dragon, his son nestled in his arms, Jon’s heart overflowed with the love and happiness he had in his life. He felt truly blessed.
Looking down, he checked to see if Tiernan was coping with the speed and chilly air. He chuckled. Tiernan was asleep. But instead of the red chubby dragon he’d picked up, Tiernan had taken another form. That of a German Shepherd puppy. He really was perfect.
The End
I hope you enjoyed your first foray into my new Dragon series. I will admit, when it was first conceived, my lovely readers pleaded with me for MPEG – dragon babies are so cute. I was sorely tempted, but in this case, Celine’s baby needed a home, and Jon and Dirk provided the perfect parents for the talented Tiernan. However, I am not ruling it out in later books in this series, so if MPREG is not your thing, make a point of checking the warnings at the bottom of each blurb.
I am in two minds as to who the next book will be about – both Byron and Samuel have compelling stories to tell. I guess it will be a case of who shouts the loudest at me when I come to writing. But along the way we’ll learn more about all of the men in the Hollingsworth family including Jon, Dirk and the baby Tiernan.
If you did enjoy this story, please think about leaving me a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews play an important part both in how Amazon promote books and in how new readers consider picking up a book by an author new to them. I am happy to answer any questions or comments you might have for me personally – my contact details are in the about the author section.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my stories. Your continued support means the world to me.
Hug the one you love.
Lisa.