The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

BONUS EPILOGUE

Ten months later

Jack let out a sigh as the familiar black door with gold embellishments came into view. He stared at the large dragon door knocker. He smiled, body relaxing.

Home.

Jack placed a hand on his saddlebag and felt Carrie move within. He knocked, and a second later, the door opened.

“Evening, Jack. How was work in the bakery today?” Daniel kept his voice low as he took Jack’s coat and hung it in the entryway cupboard.

“Good but long.” Jack matched the volume of Daniel’s voice. “I’m happy to be home.” Jack pulled out some freshly baked bread and cookies from his saddlebag, held in a different compartment from Carrie. He handed them to Daniel. “Can you give these to Cook?”

“Of course.” Daniel took them. “And this arrived for you today, sir.” Daniel handed Jack a letter.

Jack’s lips pressed together as he stared at his name written on white paper. His aunt and uncle had been reaching out for about four months now.

Jack had been on his way to his and Avery’s apartments. Jack assumed his aunt and uncle had been on their way home from work. He’d almost walked straight into them. If he’d seen them, he’d have tried to avoid them. More grey streaked through their dark hair and more wrinkles lined their faces than when he’d last seen them.

“Aunt. Uncle.” Jack nodded and tried to walk past.

“What are you doing in this part of the city?” Uncle Trenton asked in a tone that sounded almost like an accusation.

“It’s very far from your home.” Aunt Augusta’s gaze raked over him, lip curling with disdain at his no doubt less-than-impeccable dress and appearance.

Jack pulled his shoulders back, lifting his chin. “I live in this part of the city.” He didn’t give his aunt and uncle the specifics. He didn’t want them to know where he lived. After this interaction, he hoped he would never see them again.

“You mean you work in this part of the city?” His aunt frowned.

“No. I still work in the family bakery. But I live in this part of the city now.” Jack smiled icily.

His aunt’s mouth fell open.

“What?” His uncle’s brows furrowed. “How could you live in this part of the city?”

“Sorry, no time to chat. My mate will be waiting for me.” Then Jack had strode past them, not giving them a backwards glance. A deep satisfaction had filled him.

Unfortunately, it seemed they’d asked around about him and they’d found out his new situation and where he lived. They’d sent him letters. They’d even tried to visit twice. But Daniel was under strict orders that Jack was not available when his aunt and uncle visited.

Jack had read their first couple of letters. They’d talked about family loyalty, about missing him, and other bullshit nonsense. He shoved their newest letter in his pocket. He didn’t bother to read them anymore. He’d throw it on the fire like he had all the others.

“Are they in the library?” Jack asked Daniel.

Daniel smiled. “They have been all day. I heard Master Blaize reading about an hour ago. But it’s been quiet in there for a little while now.”

“Thanks, Daniel.”

“Will there be anything else, sir?”

“No, that will be all for now.”

Daniel bowed and clopped down the hall towards the back of the house.

Jack reached the library door. He could feel Avery’s presence on the other side.

Home.

He opened the door carefully. Unsurprisingly, all the curtains hung shut. The only light came from the embers glowing in the fireplace. The light smell of sweet metallic smoke lingered in the air.

Avery, in his dragon form, curled up before the fireplace. He lay in his blanket nest. And right in the middle of the nest lay a large dragon egg.

Jack’s heart clenched.

Our egg.

Every time Jack saw their egg, awe and wonder erupted within him. It seemed too magical for something like this to happen to him.

It had been rather simple in the end. Jack had fucked Avery. Then Avery had shifted. For two weeks, he’d remained in his dragon form in the library. Then he’d laid the dragon’s egg, their dragon’s egg.

Jack took his shirt and trousers off to deal with the stifling heat of the room. He wanted to crack a window and let in some cool air. But he wouldn’t. The egg needed heat. Lots of heat. At present, Avery nested. His protective urges sometimes took Jack aback. He never left the egg for even a second unless Jack was there to take Avery’s guardian role.

Jack didn’t quite know how Avery knew, but if anyone other than himself, Daniel, or Cook approached the house, Avery would be awake and standing over the egg, ready to attack anyone who came too close. Anytime a package was delivered, Avery would wake and be on alert within an instant.

But since it was Jack who entered the room, Avery blinked lazily awake.

You’re home. Finally.

Jack chuckled. I missed you too. Both of you.

Avery exhaled, and smoke puffed into the air.

Jack pulled Carrie out of his saddlebag and set her on her specially built shelf with a cushion above the fireplace. She shuffled forward and peered down at Avery and the egg, checking up on them as she always did. After several moments, when all seemed to be well, she settled down and closed her eyes.

Jack placed a couple of logs onto the fire. Then he turned and stared down at Avery and their egg, appreciating the sight.

You’re too far away. Avery’s tail snapped out and curled around Jack’s waist. Jack made a noise of surprise. Although, he really should be used to this by now. Avery deposited him within the blanket nest. Jack laughed as he leaned against Avery’s flank.

Jack stroked Avery’s head. How are you both doing this evening?

We are good. We are happy. And everything is perfect now that you and Carrie are home. Our little family is complete. Avery’s tail curled protectively around the egg and Jack. Our baby is strong. Her heartbeat is strong. Pride spread across their link. We have made a strong dragon.

Jack stared down at the egg beside him. It shone dark black and coppery red in the firelight. Their egg lay on the blanket Avery’s mother had made with tiny red dragons stitched into it.

Jack reached out and stroked the egg. He swallowed at the lump that rose in his throat. The egg felt hard, hot, and rough to his touch. Jack closed his eyes and concentrated. After a second, he felt the heartbeat. Jack let out a breath.

Their baby. Their dragon.

A rush of love pulsed through the link, growing and filling Jack until he couldn’t breathe.

I think she will be ready in two years, Avery thought.

“Two years?” Jack’s eyes snapped open. He met Avery’s golden gaze.

A dragon will take as long as it needs to hatch, Avery thought matter-of-factly. Some have even taken twenty years. My father told me today. But I think she will need only two years. I can feel it. Avery’s gaze fixed on their egg.

Jack nodded. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

Me too.

Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much information available on baby dragons or raising them. Avery had looked in bookstores. At first, Jack had asked around. He’d gotten information on human, pixie, troll, sprite, werewolf, and faun babies, but nothing on dragon.

Even so, there was one person they knew who had experience with dragon babies. Duke Azer.

Jack’s first few meetings with the duke had been tense, with the duke clearly looking down his nose at Jack. But Avery’s aggressive protectiveness of Jack had seemed to earn the duke’s begrudging respect.

Then they’d created an egg a month ago. Now Duke Azer seemed genuinely interested and invested in them and their offspring. He’d not softened. But in the last month, he’d come by twice a week, checking in and giving advice. He also answered any questions they had.

Still, Jack did not feel prepared to be the father of a baby dragon. But maybe he would in two years.

Probably not though. It didn’t seem to matter if the baby was human, troll, sprite, or dragon— everyone seemed to agree that you could never be really prepared.

Avery lifted his head. Will you read to us?

“Of course.” Jack leaned forward and kissed the top of Avery’s head. “But you placed me in the nest before I could get a book.”

Avery’s tail uncurled and slithered against the floor. It lifted, wrapped around a book, and brought it back to Jack. There. Problem solved.

Thank you. Jack took the book. He smiled at Avery and opened the book. “Now, where were we?” Then Jack started reading to his mate and their egg.