Page 43 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

It was similar to how Ferdinand and Egon had their place, only their washroom was in the back of their cottage. When Egon had shown it to me, I cried. Egon had a large copper tub that I had fallen in love with. I had used it regularly since then, and I couldn’t believe that I would be getting my own. And a cook stove. I was fine with cooking over an open fire, but the cook stove that Ferdinand and Egon had come back with last month made things so much more convenient.

“What do you think?”

“I think that my mate is amazing. I cannot believe you kept this from me.”

“It was not easy. Da helped by keeping you busy during the day.”

“I could be here helping. I wish to help.”

Aleric looked as if he wanted to argue, but the winds picked up, surprising us both. I looked up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds that were now looming over us.

“We should go back to the other cottage. I have not had a chance to put a roof on this one yet, and there are no proper window coverings or mud between the logs. I cannot properly protect you here during a storm.”

“I wish to be here helping when you do. I agree though. I have bread rising, and Da was making stew.”

We left the cottage, Aleric closing the door behind us, and I wondered how much snow was going to end up inside after the snow came. The storm hit with full force when we were halfway to the other cottage, and Aleric picked me up and carried me the rest of the way. I buried my face in his neck, welcoming not only his scent but warmth as well.

When he set me down on my own feet, we were right in front of the cottage, and the door opened before I could reach it. Da pulled me inside, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

“We were worried. I know you can shift, Aleric, but Konrad can’t.”

“I would never let anything happen to my mate. I did not realize a storm was coming.”

“Egon, leave the boy alone. We have been here how long? You know these storms come up all of a sudden.”

I pulled out of Egon’s arms and wrapped mine around my mate’s waist. “Aleric has always protected me. But the cottage is amazing,” I said excitedly. The hope of distracting Da worked.

“You saw it?”

“Yes. It is marvelous. We will be just a short walk from you and Ferdinand.”

“I tried to get Ferdinand and Aleric to agree to adding more rooms to this cottage, but they kept arguing that you needed your own place.” Egon looked sad.

“It will be nice to have more room, but do not think you will be getting rid of either of us. We will be here often.”

That seemed to make Egon happy. Aleric though, his concern was coming through clearly through our bond.

“Would you rather I told him he could come to our place whenever he wished? Can you imagine being knotted together while the baby was napping and your da just walking into the cottage?”

Aleric started coughing and sent me a glare.

“What caused that?” Egon asked.

Aleric finally got his throat cleared and focused on his da. “I swallowed wrong. The stew smells good. Did you use the bear meat?”

I turned around quickly, hiding my face as I took off my coat. I hung it on the peg by the door. Distraction seemed to be the trick with Egon lately.

I went to the chair by the fire while Aleric kept Da distracted. I picked up my basket that had new cloth in it they had brought back last month. After I had a few pieces on my lap, I threaded a needle and went back to sewing dressing gowns for our little one. I was thankful for the lengths of fabric that Egon had stored in his chest as well as the new ones. I was fascinated by the stories of how they went to the large cities to purchase supplies and trade their furs they collected before flying back with them in their dragon forms. I wanted to go when I could, but I knew it would be many years because of the baby. I could wait.

The several lengths of fabric were from one of those many trips. I looked up at my new family and thanked fate for what I had been gifted.

I came to them without a thing to my name. Even the clothing I was wearing when Aleric had found me had to be burned. My mate though, he did not hesitate to offer me anything. I asked for nothing though, much to his frustration.

I went back to sewing tiny stitches in the seam of the gown, knowing I would need several because they would easily get soiled by the baby.

I was so engrossed in my task I did not realize it was time for our meal until a bowl of stew was placed in front of me. I flinched back, then looked up at my mate.

“I said your name twice, my treasure. Would you like to eat by the fire? Are you chilled, or were you just lost in your own thoughts?”