Archie MacAllister had spent a lifetime battling with his neighbor over a property border dispute. Apparently, dropping boulders from the sky in dragon form wasn't unheard of between the pair.
She glanced over at Aimee and her mate, a Scottish dragon-shifter from Lochguard, and couldn't help but smile at the large amount of family standing around her. The MacAllisters were almost all outgoing to begin with, so add in some mates and small children, and Honoria doubted there was ever truly peace and quiet when they all got together.
Honoria said to her dragon, It could be a lot worse than a few boisterous Scots. Or have you forgotten how difficult the first year was, trying to convince everyone that Asher and I wouldn't turn into dictators like Marcus?
Her beast huffed. I’m sure their dragons trusted us a lot sooner. I don't understand their human halves at all. We did one improvement and good after another—including fosters and inter-clan Protector drills. And still, many resisted.
It doesn't matter how long it took, all that matters is how it convinced them in the end.
Asher finally made his way up the dais, cutting her conversation short with her beast. He kissed their son Julian's forehead, and then Honoria's lips. He whispered, "Sorry, love. It seems everyone has advice to offer." He lowered his voice for her ears only. "And while my dragon thought telling them to sod off would be the best remedy, I somehow resisted."
She raised an eyebrow. "If you think your restraint merits praise, then you'll be waiting a long time. I think every former or current mother on Skyhunter has stopped by to tell me how to raise Julian. Not once, or even twice. I reckon at least five times apiece."
Asher's lips twitched. "It just means they care."
"Right, while the males will merely smack you on the back and say good job. Somehow, that doesn't seem fair."
"We divide everything, remember? This is just one of those circumstances when it falls to you."
She stuck out a tongue a second before adding, "Then you can take on the charming role for the evening. After all those one-on-ones with the females, I'm too tired to do it."
"I somehow don't believe you're too tired to be yourself."
"What, that I'm tired to the bone and that may have affected my personality a little? Of course it's the truth."
"Tired from the baby, yes, that's a given. But you like talking to others. Me, not so much."
"What about all the training and flying sessions you do with the students?"
Asher's back had healed properly and ever since, he'd been teaching as much as his schedule allowed.
Her mate grunted. "That's different. They want to learn something, and I have the knowledge. It's a bloody big difference from trying to feign interest in someone's vegetable garden."
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. One of the clan members was quite enthusiastic about his plants, to the point that if a dragon hunter attack happened, he'd run to guard them from being destroyed.
Pushing her amusement aside, she shrugged and then rearranged the blanket around Julian. "Equal shares, remember? I put up with the mothers, so it's your turn."
He sighed. "Fine. But only because I love you."
She beamed. "It's amazing how often that works in my favor." He shook his head, but she leaned over and kissed him quickly. "I love you, too, Asher King. Now, let's welcome our son to the clan properly."
Asher moved to the front of the dais, and Honoria stood beside him. As he quieted down the clan, it was a stark contrast to their very first clan meeting. Back then, people had fallen silent right away. However, this time it took Asher nearly three minutes to get the crowd mostly silent.
And yet, she couldn't help but smile at all. It'd taken years, but Skyhunter was mostly healed and a cohesive unit more times than not. Add in the presence of the MacAllisters from Lochguard, and how many from Skyhunter greeted one or more of them as friends, and it was an even greater contrast to the early days.
Staring down at her sleeping son's face, happiness flooded her body. The clan was doing well, she loved Asher more than ever before, and their family had welcomed their beautiful boy two weeks ago.
Add in the solid alliances with the other dragon clans and budding relationships with the neighboring humans, and it was hard to believe Honoria's parents had sent her away from Skyhunter in the dead of night almost twenty years ago.
Asher finally had the crowd quiet, and he projected his voice so that even the few humans in attendance could hear him. "That may be a new record in getting your attention. Maybe next time we can work on that?"
The old Scottish dragonman Archie shouted, "I always have my bagpipes, laddie. Just say the word, and I'll get everyone quiet, aye?"
To his credit, Asher didn't frown. "Thank you, but I'd rather not wake my son. Speaking of which, that's why we're all gathered here today, to celebrate Julian King's arrival to the clan. And while we'll do the tattoo design presentation a little later, Skyhunter, please say hello to our newest addition and let him know how much we welcome him."
Asher gently took Julian with one hand under his head and the other under his bum. He lifted their baby carefully over his head. "Say hello to Julian, one and all."
Honoria held her breath as everyone cheered, but her son didn't so much as stir.