Treasure Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 1 Chapter 85

Cole

We were all sitting at the table on the garden porch. The kids were in bed, or off in their rooms, soon to be in bed, tomorrow was another school day. Right now, routine and everything were supposed to be helpful with grief. We had asked their teachers to be watchful for anything pertaining to them losing a sister we should know about. So far they had been doing well, and being with their friends, and having the routine, seemed to be helpful and stabilizing for them.

Ria is here, and I’m honestly afraid for her to open her mouth. Today down in the control room she was far more gracious than I would have believed. She didn't rant or rave, she simply laid everything out. I was also shocked to find out about the injections she had received for years as a child. Since she didn’t know what she had been given there was no way to get a lead on what might help other dragons. If it helped her be this fertile, could it possibly help other dragons at last be able to have families? 

“Ria before you begin anything can I ask you some questions and get your feedback on some ideas that I have based on the information you told us earlier today?” I asked her, crossing my fingers.

She nodded, “Would you mind letting us take a couple of vials of blood for testing. We have specific scientists and labs that have been working for years on trying to solve the problems with female dragons attempting to have children. We have no idea what you might have been given that increased your fertility to the level it is now. However, there may still be markers in your blood and DNA that could help other dragon females to be able to finally have children.”

She had a very surprised look on her face, “Ah, sure, I honestly never thought about that. Now, I kind of feel like a selfish asshole.”

I shook my head, “I’m a doctor Ria, I think of things about blood and tests that most people wouldn’t think of, so, now we know another piece of the puzzle, so now we put that piece in and see if it changes the big picture.”

She nodded, and I was very glad she took it that way and not that we wanted to turn her into some kind of experiment. So much pressure would be taken off of her and other females if the birth rates rose, and more people were able to have children again. 

“When you were talking to the Diamanis about finding a way to break mate bonds, were you only thinking about them?” Drago looked sadly at Ria.

She looked back at him with a flat expression, “No, but I think you already know that. I have been looking for the answer to that for years, I”m not honestly sure there is such a thing out there, but I am concerned about the whole thing with Mari. I mean what happens if they get desperate enough, and Mari is still like this? Can they use a surrogate, but that doesn’t help with the dragons wanting their mate. It doesn’t help with the pressure they will feel to mate with her, so what the fuck do we do about that Drago?”

Drago sighed heavily, “I know Ria, we have been putting our heads together as well. I think your idea of bringing her home is a good one, and it has the potential to really help. If we can get her back, perhaps they can work on her feelings towards them. They can apologize, and see what they may be able to patch and work through. As far as dragons, I don’t know the answer to that either. That will probably be a wait-and-see situation. If Mari’s dragon does finally wake up, that could help her to, and possibly help with the whole situation, again, it’s going to be a wait-and-see I guess at this point.” 

“From this day forward, any decisions about anything concerning the kids will include me, end of conversation. I will no longer be held at bay just because you don’t want to listen to my opinion, and you think you know what I’ll say already. Either I am your mate and their mother, or I am not. No more middle-of-the-road bullshit. You have now seen that I wasn’t talking out of my ass. I would have thought with our history and what you have learned about my past, you would have given more credence to what I had to say regarding our own daughters. Now, as I said, way back more than 18 years ago, you have to face the consequences of your decisions.” She stopped to take a breath.

“Unfortunately we all have to face those consequences with you. Did any of you know that Elizabeth had a hysterectomy done before her 18th birthday?”

I choke on the tea I had just taken a sip of, “What the fuck are you talking about?” is what I yell

Drago looks surprised but he says, “Yes, one of the few things the Landrys have confessed is she told them about that."

Ria looks at Drago, " Okay, so you know about that, also fyi Brand got her a gun from your stash, so if you find one missing, that’s why. So, I have a feeling the reason the Landry’s aren’t exactly forthcoming with everything, is because the mating never happened, and Elizabeth stood up for herself and threatened them. Now, their egos are bruised and they don’t want to talk about it.”

I could see her trying not to smile at the idea of Elizabeth being the typical fiery badass she could be. I could totally see her pointing a gun at someone, and in fact, pulling the trigger if it came down to it. I also am not surprised they told Brand about the agreement, and she talked to him about stuff, nor am I surprised he helped her. 

Drago ran his hands over his face, he was tired, and there were dark circles under his eyes, I knew this whole situation had hit him hard; he, just like the rest of us, had imagined in our minds the way this would work out, and reality was a far different picture.

“I think I can definitely agree with that Ria. I’m sorry that I have been so incredibly stupid about including you in the first place. Right now, I just feel like I have let my whole family down. Nothing went as any of us were sure it would. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you told us what you knew would happen. I am more sorry than there are words to express it.”

Ria nodded, “Then now is your chance to help me try and fix it, so, do we fix the shit we can, or do we stay with what you are familiar with?”