THIRTY-ONE
Tiana stood with Morgan, Nana, and the other women for their turn to take an armload of sheets and pillows from the delivery truck. Others lined up behind trucks with bath items, clothes, homewares, bicycles, and other things needed for living.
At Morgan’s apartment building, the recent Drachen and other clan arrivals were busy helping put living spaces together. Morgan had been excited to leave her mother to handle setting that group with new places to live.
Meanwhile, at Sayeh’s old compound, Ker and his brothers, along with Noir and Drachen townsfolk, assembled--or tried to assemble--shelves, bed frames, and other furniture. The grunts and curse words about Allen wrenches and sucky directions coming from that area had her wondering on the progress.
Morgan leaned toward her. “Sounds like they need a female over there to read instructions and direct.”
Lexi laughed. “Like the men would listen to what we said, instructions or not.”
In the past couple of weeks, Ker and Tiana spearheaded the transformation of the old Noir compound. They’d eventually have everyone build homes around the compound and turn the place into an actual town. It made her giddy to realize she was helping these people live freely and blend into society. Even a few small businesses were being built.
With help from a friendly coven, the spells and hexes cast upon the people and buildings were banished. The people once enslaved to her father were now granted freewill. Tiana gave them the choice to stay and help build a neighborhood or to spread their wings—literally, sort of—and see what the world had to offer. Most stayed.
And surprising to Tiana, several mates were found among the separate groups. No telling how many of those killed during Sayeh’s stupid war were mates to others here in the town. There was nothing she could do about the past. But the future she could affect.
“Nana,” Tiana said, “Ker mentioned something about my father and a claim to the throne. Do you know what that’s about?”
Nana sighed. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to tell you now that Sayeh has passed on. The story he was told about his parentage was fabricated.”
“Fabricated,” Morgan said. “It was made up? By whom?”
“That doesn’t matter anymore,” Nana replied. “The purpose was to make Sayeh feel more a part of the family. If he were a half-sibling, then he would ‘fit in’ as a Drachen.”
“You’re saying my father wasn’t Drachen? He was lied to?” Tiana said.
Tears welled in Nana’s eyes. “Tiana, please understand—” Nana took a deep breath and let it out. “Sayeh was found in the forest when he was a baby. His mother was from a different clan and had been killed in an attack on our land, but we never found out what happened.
“Feeling responsible, the royal family took him in and came up with a story that would satisfied any question. The queen ruled that none of us were to tell the boy his real past.”
Tiana stood silently, nodding. “He wasn’t blood and so he was never offered a ruling position and never told why.”
“I’m sorry, child. But that’s how it was,” Nana said. Tiana could see how Nana was torn up over the whole mess and offered her a hug. “He wasn’t Drachen royalty. But eventually, it was figured he was Noir royalty and his blood called him to be with the Noir. It pulled others to be with him. Unfortunately, that meant they took on his dark and negative ways.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it now,” Tiana said. “But it’s good that the truth is out.”
“We never meant to hurt anyone,” Nana said.
“I know,” Tiana said, “I understand wanting to make him feel like he belonged, like he had a family. I don’t like the idea of being a ruler in this community. I believe in democracy. I have no clue where to begin with all that. Ker will be great.”
Even though she no longer “ruled” over the mass, the town voted in her and Ker as the first mayor of Arachton—Arach being Gaelic for “dragon.” And shocking everyone, Ker dropped all his technology projects. He had enough people who he could delegate to. Then he delved into learning politics. He wanted to make sure these people who had been forced to live by Sayeh’s rules would now have rights that would help them live productively.
His new obsession was creating the dragon constitution and bill of rights. He was determined to assemble the best, most fair, rules and regulations for everyone to live peacefully and happily. Who knew? Someday he might become president.
One thing was sure. He was no longer the quiet technology geek she met. Her man had come out of his anti-social tendencies and adopted this town as his people. This was a new beginning for the dragon species and Ker wanted to lead the way with his brothers.
Tiana more than supported her mate on his conquest, but she was busy setting up a school for the children based on Ker’s fabulous facility. And many couples wanted to be introduced to the children for possible adoption. A win-win for everyone.
High-pitched squelches and laughs rushed past them as a group of young females ran from a light green, three-foot-tall dragon rawring at them. Tiana smiled.
Morgan rolled her eyes. “Noah Tor Drachen, come here this instant.” The little dragon stopped, his shoulders slumped, head down, tail dragging and schlepped to his mom.
Tiana laughed. “Looks like Noah is getting good at this shifting into dragon thing.”
“Yeah,” Morgan replied, “too good. After Nana taught him how to shift back and forth, he spends more time in animal form. But he doesn’t understand yet why live crickets taste gross in his human form.”
Tiana laughed. She couldn’t wait until she and Ker were pregnant. She wanted a houseful of light green tails running around.
A sad thought of her father crossed her mind. She never had a family growing up, but she’d do her best to make sure as many children as she could reach would feel loved.
“I hope you like surprises,” Nana chuckled and glanced down the road.
A sports car zoomed into the area and did a crazy spin before short stopping.
“What the-” Morgan started.
“Heck?” Lexi finished.
The women gathered around Nana and watched as the driver’s side door opened to reveal a man that looked a lot like Tor.
Morgan frowned. “Tor’s not a twin.”
Nana giggled. “No. He is definitely not.”
The driver went around the passenger side and opened the door. A beautiful blonde with long curly hair and a peasant top and shorts that showed off her baby bump came out of the car and smacked the guy on his shoulder. “Are you trying to get me into early labor, Drayden?”
“She’s really pretty,” Avery whispered.
Lexi turned to Nana. “Who’s Drayden?”
Nana laughed. “You’re about to get a very interesting piece of the puzzle.”
Morgan glanced at Tiana. “This family never gets boring.”