Page 3 of Full Moon
"Why didn't you say something?" I feel extremely neglectful for not knowing he needed such an easy item to procure.
Easton waves his hand almost dismissively. "It's not important."
That makes Feray growl as she pulls the rest of the way from Khal to go sit on Easton's lap. She threads her fingers into his hair and forces him to look her in the eye. "It is important. You are more comfortable sleeping as your shift than in your skin." She kisses his lips softly, and I almost feel jealous. "We can hopefully find something suitable in Dunnum, right Diaval?" She looks over her shoulder and pins me with a look.
I pull the small notepad out of the inner pocket of my jacket and jot it down. "I've added it to the list, my eternal."
Feray smiles and then kisses Easton's forehead before getting up. "Anything else?"
Feray tilts her head and looks over at Torben for several moments, then back over at me. Her eyes narrow before she looks back at Torben.
"This flip-flop..." She motions between Torben and me and narrows her eyes. "I'm not sure how I feel about it. Honestly, running a large poly family is more in Torben's wheelhouse than yours, Diaval."
I adjust my tie and nod slowly. "I wanted to help relieve some of the burden of caring for the family from him. He always puts everyone else's needs before his own. If I can at least shoulder this responsibility for him, then I will."
Torben lowers his head to me out of respect, and pride blooms in my chest. Him being first mate, the health and stability of the family is his responsibility. At least, that's what the old laws dictate. "I appreciate the help, Diaval. Besides, you're conducting it far better than I ever could. Thank you." Torben says with a smile.
Clearing my throat, I mess with my tie again before looking at Easton. "Besides the perch, if we can find it—is there anything you would like to bring up or share with the family?"
Easton tilts his head several times. "I know I don't just speak for myself. It's been... an adjustment. The dynamics." He motions to everyone. "It took me a bit to accept that Feray will always go to Torben for the things I cannot do. Like hunt with her the way she does."
He offers a smile before continuing. "I also have moments of jealousy. Then I realize each bond is unique. We each give Feray something different. I challenge her mentally. Diaval challenges her to not be afraid of who she is. Torben is her rock, the one she goes to when she doesn't feel safe. Khal is sensitive to her emotional needs. We all have our own unique place."
He huffs out a laugh, then rubs the back of his neck, blushing. "I do, I would, I mean to say—I would like more alone time when possible." He bites his bottom lip and looks bashfully over at Feray.
Feray's eyebrow shoots up, and a mischievous look enters her eye. She bolts toward the alpha house, then stops and looks back at us. "Easton, chase me!" She yells before taking off again. He takes several moments to connect the dots before he shifts and flies after her.
A deep rumbling chuckle escapes Torben's lips. "She loves being pursued. It's a wolf and bear thing. I chased her through the woods by my den. Best night of my life." He gets that distant look in his eyes, and I can tell he's reliving the memory.
"Neither of her dragon-kin mates can chase her. It would trigger our prey drive." Khal mentions, then looks over at Torben.
"That would definitely kill the mood." Torben laments before looking back toward the alpha house. On the second floor, the soft glow of fire rises, and Torben shakes his head. "Does he always catch on fire when they mate? Is it really necessary?" His eyes find mine, and I shrug.
"I honestly don't know. Maybe it's because he's an ancient. I couldn't tell you—he's far older than I am."
"He's older than you are?" Khal does a double take, then looks at Torben. "Did you know?"
Torben shakes his head. "No, I didn't. So he's well over eight hundred years old."
I huff out a laugh. "Much older than eight hundred. I'm closing in on my nine hundredth year this summer. Easton was there when my clutch hatched. Back when the females remained as their dragons to protect their eggs." I arch a brow, hinting at how much older than I am Easton is. As far as I can remember, he was several hundred years old when I was born. His true age remains a mystery to most to this day. It's the one thing he's very tight-lipped about.
"Wow... I know the oldest basilisk in our nest is closing in on six hundred and is blind in four out of six eyes." Khal moves the hair from in front of his eyes.
"Bears don't live that long. I think the oldest female was just shy of four hundred." Torben pauses, then looks back to the house, then at me. "Wolves don't live as long as bears do." He glances again toward the house.
Torben is right. Most wolves only live a couple hundred years at best. With as warfaring as they are, most die much younger. "Between my scale and Easton's feather, Feray will outlive her species' usual expiration date." I ponder exactly how long that will be. "To be honest, I have no idea how long our mate will live. It could be four hundred years or a thousand." Shrugging, I watch the upstairs window as the light dies.
Shaking my head, I walk over and extinguish the campfire. "We should get some sleep. Feray is going to want to return to the farmhouse tomorrow to finish looking for things." I glance once more up at the house and go to sit under the tree. Khal shifts to his basilisk form and slithers into the lower level of the house to block the stairs to the second floor. Torben shifts to his bear and looks around before laying down to sleep.
I'll stay up a bit longer, then sleep when I'm sure everything is fine.
Above us, the soft glow of phoenix fire flickers once more in the window.
Our mate is happy. Our family is whole.
For now, that's enough.
