Chapter 110

Lukas patted Lily’s hand before gently pushing her towards Slonsky.
“Go with him, sweetheart. He’ll keep you safe.”
She hesitated and everyone could feel her fear. Lukas cupped her cheek and leaned down to breathe on her. His fire wrapped around her and she relaxed. Slonsky led her away while Lukas growled warningly at him. Their father patted his back.
“Relax, son. He’s not a threat.”
“He better not be or I will.. Punch him,” he said, changing the end of his sentence when Casey’s eyes grew fearful.
Sasha sighed. “Look, Casey, I will tell you something if you will keep it to yourself.” She nodded. “Do you know about mates?” Again, she nodded. “Lily is Lukas’ mate and that is why he is crazy about her.”
Casey’s eyes widened. “She doesn’t know, does she? Of course she doesn’t,” she said, answering her own question immediately. “If she did, she wouldn’t have asked me if I knew how to become a breeder.”
Lukas’ mouth dropped open. “She did what?”
Casey shrugged. “She wants to be your breeder, Lukas. She asked me if I had money so she could run away from home and be with you. She really likes you.”
He turned to look at where Lily was talking to Slonsky. She giggled at something he said and Lukas’ shoulders slumped.
“I fucked up,” he muttered.
Sasha gave him a quick hug. “It might not be a bad idea to let her come live with you. We’ll talk to her after the ceremony.”
He nodded. “Let’s hurry then.”
He stepped out into the hallway leading to the outdoor arena where half a million dragon subjects waited to find out why they had been summoned. Their father stepped out beside him and they slowly walked out. A thunderous applause shook the bleachers and the girls watched as they walked to the center of the arena. Lukas raised his arms and everything instantly became silent.
“I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE NOTICED THE NEW THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY! OUR WOMEN HAVE STARTED LAYING EGGS AGAIN AND OUR MEN ARE BEING HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD! WE NO LONGER HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF OUR SPECIES TO SURVIVE! WE HAVE INVITED YOU ALL HERE TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE REASON WHY! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SISTERS! QUEEN OF THE DRAGÃO CLAN AND MOTHER OF DRAGONS, SASHA AND HER MATE KING AIDEN!”
Sasha put her arm lightly on Aiden’s arm. He put his hand over hers and led her out onto the field. Aiden knelt in front of Lukas and Sasha knelt in front of their father. She bowed her head and heard the small ornate chest on the table behind her brother open. A small weight was placed on top of her head. Aiden tensed beside her and she glanced through her curls to see an intricate jeweled encrusted gold crown had been placed on his head.
“Rise!,” Lukas ordered. Aiden helped Sasha up, before Lukas took their joined hands and raised it up as high as Sasha could go. “I PRESENT TO YOU AIDEN AND SASHA, KING AND QUEEN, DESTROYER AND HEALER, OF ALL! LONG LIVE THE MOTHER OF DRAGONS!,” he shouted.
His cry was echoed all around the arena as Aiden and Sasha moved to the left of her father. Lukas took a deep breath.
“QUEEN KALANI, SECUNDA REGINA AND BETA FEMALE TO THE DRAGÃO CLAN AND HER MATE BETA GREGORY!”
Sasha proudly watched her sister glide down the path to kneel in front of them next to Gregory. Her father turned and took a second sapphire bejeweled crown out as Lukas took a second male crown out for Gregory. Lukas crowned Gregory while their father crowned Kalani.
“Rise,” Lukas told them and Sasha heard the happiness in his voice. He lifted their joined hands into the air. “I PRESENT TO YOU GREGORY AND KALANI, BETA AND BETA FEMALE, THE EXECUTIONER AND GIVER OF LIFE! LONG LIVE THE SECUNDA REGINA!”
Again he was echoed before he held his hand up for silence.
“LASTLY, PRINCESS CASEY! FUTURE QUEEN!”
Casey slowly walked towards them nervously. She knelt before them and Lukas opened the last sealed box. He pulled out a smaller crown and gently put it on her head. He helped her up, raising her hand into the sky.
“LONG LIVE PRINCESS CASEY!”
He positioned her between him and their father as his cry was seconded for the third time. Sasha, Kalani and their mates moved behind Lukas and their father to make sure everyone knew that Casey was under their protection. Lukas raised his hand again and the arena went silent.
“PLEASE, JOIN US IN THE RED ROOM RESORT! WE WILL BE HOSTING A SHORT MEET AND GREET FOR YOU TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET THE REST OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. NO CHILDREN, PLEASE, AND NO SHIFTING!”
Their father took Casey’s hand and put it on his arm while Lukas copied his movements on her other side. They all walked off the field together and straight down to the waiting horse drawn carriages that were waiting to transport them to the reception location. They didn’t pull off until Slonsky helped Lily into Lukas’ carriage, before climbing into their father’s carriage himself. Sasha leaned against Aiden’s shoulder.
“What do you think he wants to show us?”
“I’m not sure, but I hope it’s not bad. I’m tired of bad stuff.”
She kissed his neck, giggling when she saw the lipstick lips that were left there.
“I love you. Even if it is bad, we will work through it. I love you, my king.”
He kissed her knuckles. “And I love you, my queen and mother of dragons.”
She giggled again. “When we’re alone,” she said, moving to straddle him the best she could in the gown, “I am just your mate, the mother of your child and your future wife.”
He kissed her. “I like that.”
The carriage came to a stop and he helped her out. They were led to a long table set above the others. Servants immediately began to set platter after platter on the table. People started to arrive and a line formed immediately by their table. Person after person stopped in front of them to bow and gush about how glad they were to have the trio back. As the hours passed, Lukas grew more annoyed with not having Lily by his side. His eyes kept going to the table where she sat watching them by Slonsky’s side. Sasha covered a yawn and stood up.
“Thank you for all coming. We have really enjoyed meeting all of you. We look forward to a long and healthy species advancement. Please, continue to enjoy the festivities. We have rented the hall until dawn. Goodnight.”
Aiden took her hand and they were followed out of the venue by the rest of their family. Slonsky trailed slowly behind them, dragging his feet. Jo opened the backseat door for them and they all climbed in. They all settled in beside their own respective mates. Their father looked around at them all, before smiling at Slonsky.
“Has there ever been a prouder moment in history?,” he asked.
Slonsky grinned, shaking his head. “Never.”
They listened to Casey’s and Lily’s happy chatter on the way back to the Deegan castle. They all walked inside to the living room where Slonsky started pacing anxiously. Kalani sighed.
“I suppose we should just do this,” she grumbled.
“Yes, let’s do it,” Slonsky agreed.
Lily looked up at Lukas fearfully. “Are you going in, too?,” she asked with tears in her eyes.
He linked his fingers through hers. “Not this time. Come on, Casey. I’ll walk you to your room.”
He took the two younger girls out followed by Jo. Everyone else settled on the furniture and Kalani opened her links to everyone. She put her hands on Slonsky and she paused.
“I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’m not sure how much more we can take.”
Slonsky took her hands and looked into her eyes. “Trust me, daughter. We will work through everything together. I have you guys.” He reached up and took their father’s hand. “We have you guys.”
She put her hands on him and everyone present, except for Gregory, was yanked into Slonsky’s memories again.