Page 18 of Becoming One

Orion squeezed Nelson hard, making him grunt. “Can’t breathe.”

Orion let him go and set Nelson down as Ezra walked in and quickly went to his mate. “Hey there, Sweetheart, are you and the baby okay?”

Nodding, Jewel said, “I’m sorry, Ezzy. I didn’t mean to spill the beans, but Nelson is good at getting you to talk. Besides, with the pregnancy, my hormones are crazy, and I don’t think before I speak and—please don’t stop doing our thing. I really like our—”

Jewel started crying and Ezra laughed, then wiped his mate’s eyes. “Sweetheart, calm yourself. I know you can’t keep a secret from Nelson. It was stupid to even ask you to do it.”

Nodding, Jewel quickly said, “Yes it was. Maybe we can go so you can do that thing and we’ll call it even?”

Ezra picked Jewel up and replied, “You know I can never say no to you.”

Nelson shook his head as Jewel and Ezra left the room. Once they were gone, Nelson looked at his mate and said, “You are not backing out of the Summoning Ceremony. So what do we need to do until it’s over?”

Orion opened his mouth and Nelson snapped, “I’m not changing my mind, Orion. You deserve to be Regal, and I refuse to allow a threat to me to keep you from it.”

“No rank is more important than you, Starlight,” Orion insisted.

Shaking his head, Nelson replied, “No, I’m a title whore. I want to be mated to the Regal. I would be so hurt and disappointed if you didn’t compete.”

Orion laughed, saying, “You are such a liar.”

Nelson sighed. “Okay, how about this? If you don’t compete I will always blame myself.”

Sighing heavily, Orion wrapped his arms around Nelson once more, whispering, “We’ll figure something out, Starlight.”