Page 9 of Sapphire Seas

“Yes.”

“Daigle’s been hard at work,” Quint added.

“What’s a Daigle?”

The brother’s groaned, but it was Mattias who answered. “A thorn, or in this case, a leech in our side. He’s the weaver, the one who commands his beloved blood suckers and those he adorns them with are under his spell and do his bidding no matter how heinous.”

“They’ve sent a few to infiltrate Dragon City, but we’ve managed to divert and rehabilitate them,” Ionus said, without going into detail. I understood, less was best right now. The more information I had of the brothers’ plight, the greater chance I had of being kidnapped.

Again.

“Caro, Mattias, when Caspian is healed we need to reach his herd.” Guess I was going on an adventure soon. With my mate and another protector by my side, it would be better. I hoped…

“I’ll join them,” Kes stepped up. “As an Ice Dragon, I can swim to great depths.”

“Good to know,” Ionus replied. “As great a swimmer as I am, I can’t reach the depths the three of you can. Caro, can you reach out to clan Tempest?”

“Aye. Mattias, Caspian may find our horde to be of interest along with the pools.”

“Yes, brother,” Mattias said, “Agreed.”

Is he really going to share his horde with me? I thought those were private?

Aye, they are, but Caro’s is special and may prove valuable to you.Can I play with the babies now?I was done thinking.

“Come on,” Kes said, “I’ll take you to the noisiest room in the house.” Mattias stayed behind with Ionus and Quint, Caro left, I’m guessing to reach out to the Tempests he’d mentioned. “Welcome to the Club Denarius playroom.”

“Unca Kes!” was shouted out by four dragonets. There were three others, one wobbling and trying to walk and two babies currently being nursed by Ronan. Kes picked up the only walking girl and swung her around. “Princess Luna, I missed you.”

“Silly Kes,” she kissed his nose. “Saw you yesterday.”

“You did, but that was so long ago.”

“Who is this?” a stocky boy, the mirror image of Ionus said. Arms crossed and face set just like his father’s, there was no mistaking that lineage. This was a young protector in the making.

“This is Uncle Mattias’ and my mate, Caspian. Caspian this young bodyguard is Griffin, the princess is Luna, and those other two, hopefully not setting anything on fire are Kane and Hunter. They belong to Ionus and Alex. Can you guys say hi to Uncle Caspian?”

“Hi uncle Cas!” rang out as Kes sat Luna back down.

“And this little one,” he scooped up the toddling toddler, “is Cade. He’s Caro and Emersons’ son. Cade, can you say hi to Uncle Caspian?”

“Hi,” he waved a slobbery hand at me, an exact replica, minus the glasses, of Emerson.

“And as you can see, the two princesses in waiting being nursed by their Daddy are Ruby and Opal. Odem and Ronan’s twins.”

“I’ve died and gone to baby heaven. As a Seadragon, the males give birth and have the natural paternal instincts, and mine have been screaming like mad.”

“Baby fever,” Ronan winked. “I never had it until our girls hatched, then I was sold. They are the loves of our lives and Odem is a wonderful father, just don’t tell him I ever admitted that.”

“I heard you!” Odem called out.

“Dang dragon ears,” Ronan huffed. “I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Nope!” Odem hollered.

“You must be Raven,” I said to the woman on the couch with an ethereal glow surrounding her.

She rose. “I am. It’s wonderful to officially meet you, Caspian.” When her hand touched mine, the energetic surge surprised me. I felt her scan my mind and body. Raven was a powerful priestess. “Your wounds have healed well.”