Home for Christmas

*Calliope*
It is a two-day journey to his brother's palace. Zac has planned the journey so we arrive in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve.

“So this was your father’s home,” I say, occasionally peering out the window, anxious for my first glimpse.

“I barely remember it,” Zac says. “I had occasion to visit two years ago. I had tea with Djuna on the terrace there.”

It is where his memories have stopped. My stomach tightens. I wonder if returning will cause his memories to return. If he will look at something there and the intervening two years will flutter through his mind like the pages of a book riflled through in order to more quickly find a particular passage.

He sits across from me and Jeanette. Zane is sleeping on the seat beside his father, Zac’s hand resting on his back, holding him in place. How Zane sleeps is beyond me, but he does for a good bit of the journey.

“I consider Draco’s estate more my home than this place," he continues.

“Do you remember your father at all?”

“No.” He rubs his jaw. “Seems to be a habit of mine, not to remember things.”

The statement is innocent enough that I know Jeanette doesn’t understand the message beneath the words. From time to time, he will ask me a question about the war… He would just toss it out as though it is truly insignificant, but I know he is hoping to spark some memory. While I continually stress that what he doesn’t remember doesn’t matter, he still seems to search for the memories that elude him.

“I suppose Draco will be here,” I say, to turn the topic from memories.

“No doubt. Mother. Leo. Possibly Lynn and his family. Draco sent a message that they have returned from their journey.”

“I look forward to meeting him. He no doubt helped to shape you. Was he a good guardian?”

“We seldom got along. I don't think I could have disappointed him more if I were his own son.”

“Surely, whatever disappointments he might have experienced are overshadowed by your heroics in the War.”

“I wasn’t a hero, Callie.”

“But you were.”

He gives me a hard glare. “Were you on the battlefield?”

“No, but I heard your name mentioned among many of the men we treated." I issue a soft curse beneath my breath. “I keep vowing not to speak of war, and yet I do.”

“It is hard to overlook it. However, regarding Lynn, you’ll no doubt find him very charming. His entire family is very charming.”

The car turns off the main road, and my stomach knots. “We're almost there, are we?”

“Almost.”

Leaning across, I squeeze his hand. “I’m glad we’re going to spend Christmas with your family.”

“And what of yours?”

I sit back. “It’s only Father, and he made his choice to be done with me.”

“His loss."

I smile. “I like to think so. Oh, look!” I point. “There it is. I didn't expect it to look so… dark.”

“Foreboding, no doubt.” He glances out the window. “It suits Morton's temperament.”

But inside could not have been more warm or welcoming. Candles are flickering amidst greenery. The spicy fragrance of the outdoors and the warm scent of cinnamon wafts on the air.

“You've arrived at last!” Djuna exclaims as she sweeps into the room, leading the other into the entry hallway, and taking me in her arms. “It’s such a dreadfully long journey. I was beginning to despair that you'd met trouble on the way.”

“Only a hungry lad who needs to be fed far too often," Zac says, but I hear the pride in his voice, and it touches a special place in my heart.

Morton takes his brother's hand and claps him on the shoulder. “I don't think you’ve been here for Christmas since you were a boy.”

“It wasn’t Mother’s favorite place, as I recall,” Zac said.

“But that has changed,” the Princess says, taking Zane from Jeanette. “Oh, look at you, my darling boy,” she croons. “You have grown, haven’t you? Leo, don’t you think he's doubled in size?”

“Not quite, my love,” he says, his voice warm with affection.

“Lynn, come meet my newest grandson.” She turns to a tall man with dark hair and hazel eyes.

I can’t help but stare as he bends over the brown-haired child. Lynn was Zac’s guardian, but surely he is related in some manner as well. Although no one has mentioned a relationship, I can see an uncanny resemblance between him and Zac. Surely, it was that side of the family that Zac has inherited his features and charm from when everyone else is so incredibly serious to behold.

“He's quite the charmer,” Lynn says, an odd expression on his face as though he is holding back his true emotions. He looks up at Zac, and I realize his eyes are the exact shade of my husbands. “Takes after his father in that regard. It’s good to have you home, boy.”

“Thank you, sir.” Zac's tone contains a stiltedness, and I remember that he has mentioned the difficulty he had in pleasing Lynn. “Allow me the honor of introducing you to my wife, Callie.”

Lynn bows, then as though deciding it is not enough, he moves forward, taking my hand, and placing a kiss against my knuckles. “Callie, it is an honor to make your acquaintance. I never thought to see this one settled."

“I consider myself most fortunate. He was quite remarkable in the War."

“So I've heard.”

“Come,” the Princess says. “You must meet Lynn’s family. They're waiting in the parlor.”

Zac’s mother grabs my arm and is steering me toward another room before I have a chance to object. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Lynn approaching Zac, saying something to him. Based on Zac's expression, I can only deduce that he is very touched by the words.

In the parlor, a tree sits on a table. Lit candles adorn the branches. Small gifts rest at the base of the tree. Garland is draped over the mantle. This Christmas is going to be celebrated a bit differently from what I am accustomed to. I have seen an etching in the Illustrated Dragon News showing the royal family with their Christmas tree. I assume Zac's family will embrace the new tradition. Thank goodness me and Zac brought presents to put under it.

Two young men, who very much favor Lynn, approach. The Princess introduces them as Lynn's eldest son Mallard, and his other son, Charles. I then meet his daughters: Emily, Joan, and Charlotte. The girls favor their mother, Tessa. She is a small woman with brown hair. I recognize right away by the pallor of her skin that she is not well.

“A malignancy of the bone," the Princess says quietly, before I can ask, as though she recognized that my training would alert her to the woman’s health. “I shall miss her. She is a dear, dear friend."

I squeeze her hand. “I'm so very sorry. "

“My dear girl, it is life. We must not let it dim the festivities. Angela would never forgive us."

“May I hold your son?" Tessa asks.

“Of course." I bend down and place Zane in the woman’s arms. He stares up at her with his large, blinking eyes.

“Oh, what a lovely boy. I can see the family resemblance. He looks so much like his father."

“Yes, he does, doesn't he?” the Princess asks.

“Tessa, you must be beside yourself with two grandsons already. "

“They are an absolute joy.” Zane begins to fuss. “And when they cry, they can go back to their mother or the nursemaid.”

“I would so like to have grandchildren,” Tessa laments.

“You will, darling,” the Princess says.

Zane releases a wail that startles Tessa and I reach for him, take him, and quiet him in one smooth movement. “I think he's simply hungry after the long journey.”

I feel a familiar hand come to rest on the small of my back. “If you'll excuse us," Zac says, “we're going to retire to our chambers and freshen up before dinner.”

“Of course. Absolutely,” the Princess says. “We shall dine within the hour.”

“I’ll show you to your rooms,” Djuna says. Once we are back in the entry hallway, she wraps her arm affectionately around Zac's. “I’ve put you at the far end of the west wing. You shouldn't be disturbed there.”

“I barely remember this place from my youth, " Zac says, “but I recognize your influence now. "

“Morton’s fault entirely, since he left me to wallow here while he gallivanted around the Capital."

“Which was my fault." Zac stops, holds her arms so she faces him directly, and he can study her eyes. “But you're happy now, Djuna, aren't you?”

“Frightfully happy. It means the world to Morton that you’re here. He always felt as though the family abandoned this place when your mother married Draco’s father."

“I daresay we did.”

Djuna looks around Zac to me. “It is no secret that the Princess did not fancy her first husband. He was not a kind man.”

“She's happy now though, " I say.

“Remarkably so. Leo is good for her. Tomorrow he plans to begin a portrait of Lynn and his family. They're going to stay here until he has finished it.” She moves until she stands between me and Zac. “We must have him do a portrait of your family. "

“I would like that very much,” I say.

Djuna leads us down a long, broad hallway. A portrait gallery. I slow to study one portrait after another. “These are your ancestors,” I say quietly.

“Yes, I suppose they are. I've never seen portraits of them. Never really cared, quite honestly.”

“They're all so dark, forboding."

“I can see Morton in them,” Djuna says. “It's uncanny really.”

“I must have taken from Mother's side of the family, " Zac says. “Never gave it much thought.”

Although I am not as sure. Even the Princess has almost black hair and dark brown eyes.

Leaving the portraits behind, we ascend a wide sweep of stairs. At the end of the hallway, Djuna escorts us into our suite of chambers. “We've assigned servants to see to your needs, so don't hesitate to ring for them." Leaning up, she kisses Zac briefly on the cheek. “I’m so grateful you’re here.”

With that, she slips out, closing the door behind her.

“You two are very close," I say.

“We grew up together; I was always tugging on her braids,” Zac says as he walks over to the window and glances out. “You've no cause to be jealous.”

“I’m not." Strangely, I realize I am not. “It's obvious she adores Morton and looks upon you as a brother. I'm going to take Zane to Jeanette.”

Merely nodding, he continues to gaze out. When I return, he is still standing at the window. I cross over to him and lay a hand on his back. “Are you all right?"

“Lynn said something rather odd. Said my father would be proud of my accomplishments. Then he adds, ‘I could not be more proud if you were my own son.’” Zac shakes his head. “I don't remember my father. Couldn't tell you if his portrait is in that gallery. I barely remember Draco’s father. But Lynn… he's been harping on me for as long as I can remember.”

“Your mother was a young widow twice."

A corner of his mouth curves up. “Very young. I didn't make things easy for her. "

I ease around him, nestling against him until he is forced to turn from the window and place his arms around me. “That’s all in the past." Easing up I nip his chin, which causes him to give me his first genuine smile since we arrived. “We're going to have a jolly lovely Christmas here.”

Dipping his head, he begins to ravish my neck. “Perhaps we'll be late to dinner.”

“It would be rude."

“My family’s known me to be rude before."

He nibbles on the sensitive spot below my ear. He can control me so easily.

“Not too late,” I murmur.

“Not too late.”

Laughing with triumph, he lifts me into his arms and carries me to the bed.

The dragon’s stolen heir
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