A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (72 page)

As Coatl lifted them into the air, Gregor leaned forward. “Where are they?”

“Coatl says your father is close, just over a mile away.”

“They’ll no doubt head to the Residence. Can we meet them in the courtyard?”

Fillion nodded. “Yeah.”

He sat back in the middle seat on the saddle. As Coatl flew them up and over the Caer walls, Gregor spotted a distant carriage on the road beyond South Gate that must be his father’s. At the speed it was moving, Coatl would beat it to the courtyard by several minutes. His chest grew tight and he had to take a deep breath. He was incredibly nervous, all of a sudden.

After hopping off, Gregor looked down at his pants—they seemed fine—then tugged his tunic, trying to straighten it with just his right hand. “How do I look?”

Fillion appeared highly amused. With a smile, he said, “As handsome as ever.”

Gregor frowned. “Seriously. Is anything amiss?”

“Gregor, they’re going to be so happy to see you, they wouldn’t care if you’d sprouted another eye. Relax.”

“It’s just that it’s been years since I saw my mom and sister.”

Why are you so anxious?

My family is almost here.

They are? Where are you?

At the Residence. They’ll arrive in a moment.

Can I meet them?

Of course you can. Come. Fly to me.

I come!

“Kisa’s on her way.” Gregor took another deep breath and let it out.

Fillion chuckled. “You’re so cute when you’re nervous.”

“Hush, or I’ll vomit on you.”

Fillion chuckled again. Even Coatl joined in with a low rumbling laugh.

When Kisa landed, she let out a chirp at Coatl—he chirped back—then padded to Gregor and sat on her haunches just to his left.

I cannot wait to meet your sister and mother.

I can’t wait either. I haven’t seen them in years.

He felt disbelief through the link.
Why not?

I never had a good enough reason to return home, I guess.
Little swirls of confusion came through.
I realize now that I should have made the time to do so. I really miss them.

Kisa made a reassuring chirp.
I am sure they miss you, too.

Gregor grabbed Fillion’s hand. It had been just about six years. Six long years. How had his mother changed? How had Elise? She’d been a little girl when he’d left, now she’d be a teenager. Sixteen, if he remembered right. A stab of loss came at that thought. Six years.

Are you okay? You feel a little sad.

I’m fine, love. Just thinking about everything that I missed by not being home, is all.

His arm twinged with the deep sigh he let out. He glanced down at the sling and frowned. The break was a little over half healed but still bothered him every now and then.

He went over a few responses to the questions he knew would come.

“There they are.”

Gregor glanced at Fillion, then at the approaching carriage. He thought he heard a squeal as it drew to a stop.

His father’s voice, exasperated, came from the carriage. “Good gods, Elise, what are you—”

The carriage door flew open and a girl jumped out and sprinted toward him, arms spread wide. “Gregor!”

“Elise?” She was so tall! “Careful, cupcake!” He lifted his left arm up just as she slammed into him and wrapped him tightly in a hug.

With a chuckle, Fillion released his hand a took a step to the side.

“Alandra’s merciful heart, Gregor, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, too, cupcake.”

She released him and stepped back. With a smile, she said, “You’re the only one allowed to call me that anymore.”

Gregor chuckled, then twisted his lips. “You’ve grown so much.” His voice was more wistful than he’d intended.

“Well,” she looked him over, “you have, too. You’re as tall as father, now.” She frowned. “What happened to your arm?”

He sighed. “Can I wait to explain until mom asks?” His mother and father were speaking with the men unloading the carriage. They’d come over soon enough. He looked back at his sister. “You know she will.”

Elise frowned, and then nodded. “I suppose.” She glanced at Fillion and dimpled. “Hello. You must be Fillion.”

“Hello, Lady Elise.” He returned her smile.

She shook her head. “Please, Elise is fine when it’s just us.” Then, eyes narrowed in the sly expression Gregor still remembered, she glanced up at him and then back at Fillion. “Are you keeping my brother out of trouble? He was such a thorn in father’s side. Always getting into some kind of predicament or another.”

Good gods, she wasn’t going to go into detail, was she? “Hang on, now, cupcake, we don’t need to—”

Fillion started chuckling. “I try to make sure he doesn’t do anything too outlandish. To be honest, though, we can both be trouble-makers at times.”

“Hmm.” She stared at him a moment, then nodded. “Good. Now,” she looked at Kisa and Coatl, “you absolutely
must
introduce me to your beautiful dragons.”

She thinks I am beautiful!

Because you are!

Gregor chuckled and squatted next to his bond-mate. “This pretty girl is Kisa. She and I are bonded.”

Kisa lifted her wings and stood on her hind legs.
Hello, Elise.

“Oh!” Eyes wide, his sister placed a hand at her temple. “What a lovely voice you have.”

With a chirp, Kisa sat back down. She seemed quite pleased.

“And this big, lovable beast is Coatl.” Fillion stepped to his dragon and patted his neck.

Gold eyes shining in the sunlight, Coatl let out a friendly rumble and bowed his head.
Elise.

“You’re magnificent.”

Fillion groaned and then chuckled. “Well, you’re now on his favorite person list.”

Elise glanced from one dragon to the other and back again. “I can see why you chose Dragon Craft to settle in, Gregor.”

He stood. “Well, there was a little more to it than that, but, yes. I’m quite happy here.” He smiled at Fillion and turned back to her. “And you? Are to bored to tears yet, learning the ins and outs of Caer management? Or has father tried to rope you into working for his company?”

“I never understood why you hated learning about management so much. I like it.” She shrugged. Her chest bounced a little.

Eyes wide, Gregor looked away. What in Yrdra’s deepest hells? When had that happened? Elise . . . was a young woman, now. Panic filled his heart. Did she even like toy animals anymore? Unicorns, bears, and wolves? Did she still splash through puddles in the rain? Did she steal into the kitchen at night anymore to raid the larder for cheese? His little sister, skinny little cupcake, was she gone?

Elise giggled.

He looked back at her. Maybe she wasn’t. The giggle was the same as he remembered.

“You’re right, though. Father is trying to convince me to join the company.” She shook her head. “I have no interest in it, however. I want to take over the Caer from mom, eventually. He keeps telling me news of company goings on anyway, hoping I’ll join him at CTC.”

“He did the same with me,” Gregor said.

“He was really excited last week,” she said. “He received confirmation that the company will be able to acquire some land at well below market price from an east-coast company that will be closed down.”

“National Transportation?” Fillion asked.

“Yes.” Elise looked at him with a surprised expression. “That was the company.”

“So he was able to acquire their assets after all.” Fillion nodded.

“Not all of them,” Elise said. “He only wanted their tracks, or more precisely, the land they sit on. He’s going to have to replace the tracks, you see. CTC rail cars have a slightly wider wheel gauge, requiring wider tracks.”

Gregor lifted a brow. “Wheel gauge?” She knew that much about father’s business?

“It’s the distance between the left and right wheel on a rail car,” Elise said, “measured from the flange of one—” Her eyes narrowed, then she pulled her arm back and punched him in the shoulder.

Gregor laughed. There was his cupcake!

“Are you making fun of me?” Her eyes flashed.

“Not at all.” He chuckled. “I’m just surprised you know so much about rail cars.”

“Well father talks to me about the company all the time, I can’t help but absorb some of it.”

“True enough, I suppose. And speaking of him . . .” His parents were walking over.

Gregor took a breath.

Best behavior, love.

I like your sister.

Gregor nodded. She was taller now, older, but she was still the sister he remembered.

“Gregor!”

He smiled. “Hi mom.”

“Oh, I missed you so much!” She half walked, half ran, and embraced him.

He reached around her with his good arm and hugged tight. “I missed you, too.”

She pulled back, hands on his shoulders, and stared at him. “Just look at you, a grown man, now.” She placed her hand on his cheek. “My baby’s all grown up.”

Cheeks warming, he said, “Mom, you’re embarrassing me.”

“Indulge your mother, Gregor,” Lord Eldin said. “She hasn’t seen you in a while.” He glanced at Fillion and bowed his head. “Dragonlinked Fillion.”

Fillion returned the bow. “Lord Eldin.”

Elise turned from them and rolled her eyes at Gregor.

He clamped his lips against a chuckle.

“Mom,” Elise said, wrapping her arm around Fillion’s, “this is Fillion.”

Gregor looked at his mother and held his breath. He was certain his father had told her about meeting Fillion. Had he filled her mind with negative things? How would she react?

She smiled. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Lora.” Fillion bowed from the waist and was smiling when he stood back up. “I can see where Gregor gets his looks. If I may say so, you’re dazzling.”

“Oh, I like you,” Elise said, nodding. She held tighter to Fillion’s arm.

Gregor smiled. Just like him to—

“Why, thank you,” his mother said, a smile curving her lips. She glanced at Lord Eldin and then back at Fillion.

Gregor’s brows lifted. Was that a faint blush in her cheeks?

“Perhaps I was wrong to worry as much as I did,” she said. “Gregor does seem to be making better choices. Which makes me wonder,” she looked at the sling, “what happened to your arm?”

“It wasn’t my fault.” The oft-repeated words were out of his mouth without him even thinking about saying them.

“Here we go again,” Elise murmured, looking to the sky.

“Again?” Fillion looked from Elise to Gregor.

“Remember how I told you he was always getting into trouble?”

“Did you get into a fight?” Lord Eldin looked resigned.

“Well, yes.”

“Gregor.” His mother’s brows were drawn together. “Just when I said you were making good choices.”

“But mom, it was official guild business. And they started it. We were only defending ourselves.”

Your son speaks the truth.

“Thank you, Coatl.” Gregor turned to the large dragon.

“That was him?” His mother stared.

“Forgive me,” Fillion said. “This is Coatl, my bond-mate.”

Lady Lora.
Coatl
bowed his head.

“Goodness.” She placed her hand on her chest.

“And this is Kisa.” Gregor reached down and patted her. “She’s my bond-mate.”

Kisa chirped.
Hi Gregor’s mom. Fillion is right. You are pretty.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling. She looked the young dragon over. “And you, my dear, are adorable.”

Kisa let out a happy rumble and Gregor smiled.

Thank the gods. They all seemed to be getting along.

His mother looked from Kisa to Coatl, then to Fillion and, finally, back to him. She sighed. “It seems there is much we need to catch up on. Can I come by your room soon and spend some time with you?”

“Of course,” Gregor said. “How about tomorrow afternoon? That’ll give you all time to get settled in, visit with Aunt Rora and Uncle Baronel, and rest up after the long trip.”

“That would be perfect.” She smiled. “For now, though, we need to do as you said, get settled in. Then we have a late lunch with Rora and Baronel—”

“Can I go to lunch with Gregor and Fillion?” Elise wrapped her other arm in Gregor’s. “Please, mom? I’d rather not spend lunch listening to Caer talk, which I’m sure most of the conversation will be about.” She clutched Gregor’s arm tighter. “I haven’t seen my brother in
years
!”

“I suppose. But you
will
spend some time with your aunt and uncle and your cousins. Do you understand, young lady? They haven’t seen you in ages, either.”