Page 61

Story: Cosmo

“I like Yahtzee.” Dice games he understood. Some of the cooperative games the trips owned baffled him. How did anyone win?

But Yahtzee was like an ancient game he remembered. And it was fun.

He would pour drinks.

Something was wrong with Hawk.

Cosmo didn’t know what, but there was something off. His mate was treating him like…

Like he was a piece of porcelain, like he was breakable, which he wasn’t. He was strong, and he could fight. He knew how.

He came off a little dip-shitty because he really could. He was in a safe space with his brothers, and he didn’t have to be allgrrarghserious.

He could just be… Cosmo.

But that didn’t mean that Hawk had permission to treat him like he was fragile. He was not fragile. It had been happening all evening too.

Through Yahtzee and Clue and a backgammon tournament, which had been kind of fierce. Corbin had won, of course. Jerk.

No, it was late, like the wee hours in the morning late, and he was sleepy.

They were getting ready for bed, Hawk stealing these weird little glances at him.

“What’s wrong?” Cosmo finally asked.

“What?” Hawk tried for innocent, but he was shitty at it. He was way too old…

“Don’t be weird. Something’s wrong. I can tell. You keep looking at me like I’m a bug or something.”

Hawk gasped, hand literally going to his heart. “I do not.”

“You totally do. Like you’re utterly giving me bug-looking vibes. What’s the matter?”

Whatever it was, it would be fine. Cosmo knew it in his bones. They could fix it. So Hawk just needed to come out with it.

“Are you pregnant?” Hawk asked.

Okay. That hadn’t been on his radar of things he needed to worry about today. “Well, I don’t think so. I don’t know, but I haven’t thrown up yet. Isn’t throwing up part of it?”

“Apparently Cullen says that no, throwing up does not necessarily have to be part of it.”

“Oh, because Cullen’s an expert. At any rate, I don’t know. I mean it’s not like we take dragon pregnancy tests. Maybe if they have some for lizards or big birds.” That might work in a clinical setting.

Hawk glared at him. “I think you’re supposed to know. Like. Can you feel them? Anything inside there like? Magic.”

“Everything feels like magic, Hawk.”

Hawk pursed his lips. “Well, I suppose you are made of two magical beings and so that would make sense. What does it feel like? Does the magic feel any different?”

“Not really. How did you know to ask?” That seemed to be an important question. His eyebrows lowered. “Not Corbin.”

“Corbin. No, it was totally Cullen.”

“But Corbin’s the one who grows things.”

Hawk shrugged. “I know. No, it was Cullen. He says you’re more pink than normal.”

“Huh. Maybe I should contact my mother?” Mom probably had a few things to say.