Part Two: Ch. 18

"Babe, what are you doing?" Tatum chuckled when he saw Theodore jump.

"Jesus, you scared the shit out of me." Theodore placed a hand over his chest.

Tatum laughed lightly while wrapping his arms around Theodores waist. "Wait.." Tatum jerked up straight. "Are you cooking?"

"Yeah.." Theodore scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Babe.. you can't cook.." Tatum grimaced a bit.

"I've been taking lessons.." Theodore blushed.

"You've been taking cooking lessons?" Tatum questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I've tried teaching you and you still couldn't get the hang of it.."

"Gee, thanks." Theodore scoffed while nudging Tatum away with his elbow.

"I didn't mean anything by it.. Just some people can't cook. I just don't want you to waste your time on this nonsense." Tatum frowned.

"Nonsense? I'm doing this for you!" Theodore growled.

"Me? I didn't ask you to do this." Tatum growled back.

"I'm tired of asking everyone for help when I make you dinner! I wanted to surprise you but you're right.. this is a waste of my fucking time." Theodore turned off the stove and threw the pans in the sink. "Happy fucking anniversary." Theodore threw a rectangular velvet box on the counter and stormed out of the kitchen.

"Dammit." Tatum closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I can't believe I forgot our anniversary.."

*You've upset Theo!* Jasper growled.

*I'm sorry..* Tatum whispered quietly.

*What's wrong with you? Huh?* Jasper snarled. *He was trying to surprise us!*

*I know.. I'm sorry..* Tatum whimpered.

*I hate you.* Jasper whispered.

Tatum lowered his head in his hands. "Dammit!" Tatum growled. He lifted his head and looked over at the small velvet box.

*Open it.* Jasper growled.

Tatum opened it and his face fell when he did. It was two leather bracelets. One had the word 'Always' burned into it and the other one had 'Forever' also burned into it.

*Jackass.* Jasper scoffed.

*I get it, okay!?* Tatum growled. Jasper just gave an annoying huff. *I'll fix it, I promise.* Jasper just cut of their link after that.

"Tatum?" One of the castle guards called for him through the mind link, interrupting his pity party. "You have a visitor?"

Tatum just frowned while he clipped the bracelet with 'Forever' around his wrist and placed the second one in his pocket. He got up and met with the guard outside. "Uh..?"

"Around back.." The guard pointed towards the back.

*Jasper?* Tatum called for him.

*I'm here.* Jasper reassured.

Tatum made his way around to the back of the castle and was greeted with a pissed off Kane and Gabriel. Tatum looked past them and was met with two purple eyes looking back at him. The man was fairly built, tattoos covered almost every inch of his body.

"What's going on here?" Tatum asked once he stood next to them.

"Thadieus.." Purple eyes whispered while taking a step closer but stopped once Kane let out a warning growl.

Tatums' eyes widened for only a split second before he regained his compose. "My name is Tatum."

"Your birth name is Thadieus." Purple eyes argued. "You are named after your father, King Thadieum."

"My father is Lord Vladimir." Tatum snorted.

Purple eyes just rolled his eyes. "Right."

"What the fuck is going on!" Kane roared.

"How did you enter our territory so easily?" Gabriel questioned.

"Excuse me, my kings." Purple eyes bowed respectfully. "My name is Oliver. I was King Thadieums oracle."

"I know you're an oracle. I don't give a shit about that. I want to know why you're here." Kane gritted out.

"We are here to ask for refuge.." Oliver bowed once again.

"Refuge?" Tatum frowned.

"We?" Gabriel asked.

With a snap of his fingers, about fifty different men, women and children appeared before them. "The Dragon Empire is gone, my kings."

Kane and Gabriel gave each other very shocked looks.

Tatum took a step forward. "It's gone? What happened?"

"Your uncle killed your parents and many others." Oliver started. "He wanted the crown and so he took it, with the help of some traitors."

"How is this my problem?" Tatum growled.

"You're the rightful heir to the thrown. Our Empire may be gone but you're still our king.." Oliver confessed.

Tatum just scoffed. "Bullshit. This is fucking crazy. I'm no king!" Tatum turned to look at Kane but only received a confused shrug from him.

*Jasper?!* Tatum shouted in their link.

*I don't know!* Jasper confessed.

"Don't you ever feel it? The power? I bet you even lost control a few days ago." Oliver looked at him as if he was reading his mind. "You lost control and didn't even know why and when you woke up, you felt stronger, more powerful."

Tatum gulped and made a side glance at a now angery looking Kane.

"Are you stalking my family?!" Kane growled at the man.

"No, my king. King Thadieum was killed a few days ago and his power shifts to the next heir to the thrown.. his first born, Thadieus." Oliver spoke the truth. "We are here for refuge and to follow our king.. kings.."

"Why should I believe you? My parents made it very clear they didn't want me so why should I offer to help you." Tatum glared at the man.

"When you were born, you were immediately in danger. Your uncle wanted you dead. A dragon can survive the death of his mate. You would think they would become weak but in reality, the pain from the death turns into pure rage, making a dragon who lost their mate, a very deadly creature. Your uncle knew the only way to weaken your father was through you. If a dragon loses their whelps, their young, they become unstable.. weak, slowly dyng, losing themselves. So we found a family outside of the empire to look after you until you could handle yourself. Eighteen years didn't seem bad, especially if it ment your were safe but we didn't know hunters were tracking our warriors that were sent to watch over you from afar.. We lost you when they took you but we knew you were still alive because your parents were still stable. It wasn't until Lord Vladimir sent word to us that he had rescued you. They wanted to bring you home but decided to let Vladimir raise you. We've only heard good things about him and knew he would keep you safe." Olive explained.

"So why make me believe that you didn't want me?!" Tatum roared.

"We lied. We told Vladimir that we didn't want you. We couldn't risk you coming to find us. Your uncle started to become more unpredictable. He was killing our men and woman, left and right. He even started to attack children. When it was the time for your eighteenth birthday, we were going to send for you but your father saw the life Vladimir had made for you.. Both your parents' didn't want to drag you into our war.. They didn't want that type of life for you." Oliver gave a small shrug. "They managed to keep your uncle at bay for all these years, no one new where you were so you were safe. They were safe until your mother fell pregnant.. they managed to keep from reproducing until a few months ago. It just happened.."

Tatum looked at Oliver with wide eyes. "Did.. my uncle.. did he..?"

"No." Oliver answered quickly. "Your little sister was born a few days ago and that's when your uncle attacked, trying to get his hands on her but your father and his loyal warriors held them off while your mother and I tried to escape with your sister but we got cornered.. your mother ordered me to run.. to come find you." Oliver explained, a single tear falling down his cheek. "I felt when both of their souls were released. I'm so sorry, Thadieus."

"Where is she?" Tatum growled.

Oliver frowned slightly. "I think we should wait and.."

Oliver was cut short when Tatum grabbed ahold of his throat and started shaking him violently. "WHERE IS SHE??" Tatum snarled. Jasper was on the verge of taking control, the need to find and protect his baby sister was over powering all his senses. Tatum was forced to let go of Oliver when two warm arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him back a few steps. Tatum knew who it was from all the sparks shooting throuhout his body, calming him instantly.

"It's okay, baby." Theodore cooed. "Calm down."

"I'm sorry, Thadieus. but I think it's safer if the princess stays in hiding." Oliver finally spoke after trying to regain his breathing.

"IT'S TATUM!" Tatum roared.

"Where is the princess?" Theodore snarled.

Oliver looked like he wanted to protest but one glance over at Kane, made him bit his tongue. Oliver let out a heavy sigh and snapped his fingers once more. A burly man with two deep scars across his face appeared, a little bundle wrapped in a pink blanket was snuggled up to his chest while his arms held her protectively.

All the anger in Tatum left at once. He could feel Jasper perking up at the sight. He took slow steps towards the man, Theodore hovering over him, he was expecting to argue with the burly man but to his surprise the man gently held out the little baby towards him.

Tatum wrapped his arms around her and gently removed the small blanket that was covering her face. The most electric blue eyes stared up him. Once their eyes connected, he felt it. He felt the bond between them.

"What's her name?" Tatum asked Oliver but didn't take his eyes off his baby sister.

"Your parents didn't get the chance to name her.." Oliver confessed.

Theodore wrapped his arms around Tatums' waist, resting his chin on his shoulder, peering down at the little bundle. Her electic blue eyes glanced over at Theodore and the biggest toothless grin spread across her face.

"Octavia."