#liam drake

[dandylion240]

Swimming inside he found Liam already working. “You’re up early,” he grinned at his brother. “Tony and I are going into the village for breakfast. Do you need us to pick up anything while we’re there?” The offer was made before he could censor it. Why not offer to run errands while he was there? He could show Tony around and still accomplish things.

Nodding, “I’ll make a list,” Liam said, setting aside his tools. “I’m pretty sure Zara wants to replenish the kitchen. Check with her.”

“I’ll do that,” Mathias swam off in that direction.

An hour later they were on their way. “You asked about mer currency,” he reminded Tony “we don’t really have a currency like humans do. But it operates like a credit card. Everything is handled on account.”

[dandylion240]

“That can wait, can’t it?” Liam asked, “we need you here.”

“Um,” Mathias glanced back at Tony, “I guess but…” Looking somewhat confused “what’s going on? I thought everything was okay.”

“It is but,” Liam turned as Zara swam into the room “Caleb is coming over and we need to make sure everything is just right.”

“Oh,” Mathias sighed inwardly. “I didn’t think he’d come so soon.”

“We need your help to get things presentable at least in this part of the house,” Zara explained.

[dandylion240]

He led them to their family home stopping for Liam to swim up beside them. “You’re finally home,” he said.

“It’s not the way I remember it,” Liam said with a sad hoot.

“You’ll be able to bring it back to it’s old grandeur,” Mathias assured him.

[dandylion240]

Mathias let out a loud bark of laughter. “I doubt they’re going anywhere near Karissa. Failure is a death sentence and if they were still doing her bidding they must still think she’s capable of hurting them. My guess is they’re going in the opposite direction of wherever she is.” Shaking his head “if they were smart that’s what they’d be doing.” Looking at his brother, “I just need some good food and some rest and I’ll be good.”

Turning to Tony, Mathias added “so maybe a couple of days? I don’t want to put it off too long in case I’m wrong about what they’re doing. Waiting too long gives her a chance to come up with another plan.” Giving them all a weak smile “if we went right now I’d only slow you down which would make everyone vulnerable.”

He was beginning to think like he did when he had to outsmart Karissa at every turn to keep one step ahead. It frightened him how quickly he could slip back into that world.

[dandylion240]

“It was Karissa wasn’t it?” Liam asked once she and Neil had left the pool area.

Mathias nodded “a few of her people laid a trap for me when I was on my way back,” he explained everything. He could tell by the look on Liam’s face that he was angry. It wasn’t a look common on his face.

“She’s a menace,” Liam mumbled. “I tried warning dad what she was but he wouldn’t believe it.”

[dandylion240]

Several months passed. Mathias tried to create times to be alone with Tony as often as he could and if he couldn’t there was always the little island where a certain dragon would fly them too when a little alone time was needed to just talk without prying eyes.

“Soon you’ll be ready to go home,” Mathias said from where he was watching Liam leaning on his son’s shoulders as he took a few tottering steps.

“Humph,” Liam snorted. “I guess I don’t need to stand on my own two feet if I can swim.” His speech was slow and deliberate as he took time to formulate each word carefully in his mind before saying them aloud.

[dandylion240]

“At least you.. for now stay quiet huh?” Tony smiled at Liam who he decided to go check on, pretty much ignoring any looks he was getting. He noted the water needed a change though, which of course happened because it was sea water and not the normal pool water.

“Well you know the drill, I’ll lift you out for a bit, and new fresh water will be here soon.”  Tony used the pulley system to lift Liam out of the water, freezing the water in the pool which made it easy for a dragon to lift it out of the pool and then freeze a fitting amount of new water bringing it back to fill the pool. He didn’t lower Liam immediately, but let the Sulani heat warm up the water a little before he lowered him back in. “Nice isn’t it, fresh seawater.”

[dandylion240]

“This looks good,” Mathias took one of the sandwiches from the tray. “I hope you’re not expecting me to eat all of this.” He waved a hand at the heaping tray “help yourselves, there’s plenty for all of us.”

“Fine,” Liam took a sandwich before turning to give his bondmate a kiss. “I can’t help the way I feel. I promised our mother I’d protect him and I haven’t done it.”

With his mouth full Mathias said “Zara take my brother away and explain to him it’s not his fault and his duty now is to protect you and Neil.”