“They are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” So sweet, so precious.
"Señora?" She'd like to have the midwife check them over, make sure everything was okay. The children were so tiny, but they seemed to be fully grown. Both the midwife and the priest were gone. Like they'd simply vanished into the air. "Where did she go?"
A woman's voice came from behind Match's back."Her job is done. She must have decided it was safe for you and your children. It is her way to leave new mothers in peace."
The warriors parted and Ninsy stepped into the circle. "She's asked me to come to help with the young warriors. I am here to serve you, my lady."
Before Azy could even acknowledge Ninsy,Match was on her in a flash. He growled low. "Where is Fallyn?"
Ninsy didn't flinch. "My service to her is through, my lord. She's off finding her way in the world."
"Exposed?" Not only smoke, but little wisps of flame licked at his lips.
Ninsy nodded, calm and serene."She is ready."
Match stumbled back at those words, like she'd hit him with a baseball bat to the chest. He glanced around the circle of warriors and their mates, his eyes wild. "Cage, I must take my leave of you. My second in command, Brand, is ready to do whatever you need."
Cage grasped Match's arm in a warrior's embrace. "Go. Seek your revenge."
Red light, flames, shimmered over Match and his dragon burst forth, knocking over the wedding arch. He took to the sky and Cage made a motion to some of his golds to flank him. "Use the winds to help him on his journey."
Azy had about a million and a half questions, especially about her friend Fallyn. But every one of them could wait. She had her family to tend to first.
Yes. Her family. A husband, two children, and a lot of love. She could barely believe that was her life. More prickles of tears tickled her lashes and eyes. Happiness didn't even begin to describe how she felt. "Thank you for coming, Ninsy. I'm sure we'll be glad for your help soon, but not just yet."
"I understand, my lady. Please, celebrate the birth of your children, your nuptials, and the Gold Wyr's united bond. I will be at your disposal." She turned at greeted the other Wyverns with a nod to them each, then took up Wilhelmina's hand. "It is good to see you again, my friend. I am glad to have you back in our midst."
Wilhelmina shook Ninsy’s hand but placed her other hand over her throat and twirled the pearls there, fidgeting with them."Oh, I, well. It's nice to see you too."
Storm clouds formed above Ciara's head."Mother? How do you know Ninsy?"
"She was your nanny when you were little, dear. She helped me out with you after your father left." Wilhelmina's eyes darted from Auric to Ninsy to Ciara and back again.
Ninsy didn't look old enough to Azy to have been Ciara's nanny. Then again, they didn't know what sort of being she was. It was enough for Azy to know that Ninsy had battled with the dragons before and had helped Fallyn who had been batshit crazy the last time they were together. She had a warm comforting presence and could wield a sword like a mother fucker. Sounded like perfect nanny material.
Ciara threw up her hands and walked away muttering something about way too many secrets. Jakob gave his mother-in-law a look that had Azy kind of glad she didn't have in-laws to deal with. He followed Ciara and stopped her only a couple of feet away, soothing her until her storm clouds turned into soft snowflakes and dissipated in the warm Spanish morning.
Ninsy laughed. "You know that's not how it happened. You've got a lot of explaining to do to her, don't you?"
Wilhelmina sputtered. "I-well, she, I--Ciara has been my number one priority since I knew I was pregnant."
"Mrs. Willingham?" Azy couldn't quite bring herself to call Ciara's mother by her first name. She certainly didn't feel qualified to give motherly advice. She'd only been a mom for a few days now. But she did understand what it was like not to have a mother around to share that special bond. Azy looked down at her own daughter. "She just wants to know you love her."
Auric turned Wilhelmina toward him. "It might help if you told her our story."
These guys were better than reality TV. Real Housewives of Dragon Warriors. Azy snuggled into Cage's warm chest and wondered just how much of this drama the wedding guests were seeing. If she'd been sitting there waiting, she'd have declared it was reception time already.
"I have been asking you for twenty some odd years to be my companion. Now that the Gold Wyvern has found his mate, you can finally mate your own dragon. We're a little late, but we can still be a family. Will you finally allow me to mark and claim you, Mina? It might help."
Ciara poked her head back into the circle. "Yeah, mom."
"You're sure Ciara is safe now?" Wilhelmina glanced over at her daughter, back to Auric, and then at the sleeping babies in Azy's arms.
Auric nodded and Ciara frowned. She looked like she was about to harangue her mother with a billion more questions, but Jakob hauled her back and ran his hands up and down her arms. "She is safe with me, Wilhelmina. I swear it is so."
"Well, okay. Fine then." She looked up into Azy's eyes. "You'll see soon enough, that you'll do anything for your children. Even if it means giving up your own life for them. Even if they hate you for it."
"I don't hate you, mother."
