Page 24 of Courted by the Sabertooth (Mori’s Mementos #3)

Beal

Pierce’s Family Estate

Whenever Nic worked from home and didn’t need me for a bit, I went out and practiced my driving.

It wasn’t until Raiel pointed out that I needed permission to do that, that I bothered to sneak off and take their little test which I passed with flying colors.

So, when it came time to load my pregnant mate up and drive him out to see his witchy friend it was mostly legal for me to do so.

Nic dozed off and on all the way out into the countryside.

The estate was big and fancy and looked as if it were built because someone wanted to show the world that they had resources to make things beautiful.

We hadn’t called ahead because Nic feared that Crilus would tell him not to come out and decided that it was better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

I left the car running and him asleep as I got out, walked up the flower-lined path, and knocked on the door. A vampire answered. I vaguely remember hearing about Pierce. His eyes weren’t red and he didn’t smell hungry. He held the tiniest little baby girl to his chest as he looked me up and down.

“You’re Raiel’s cousin.” It was a statement not a question.

“Is Crilus home? My mate would like to speak with him. Normally, I wouldn’t bother a witch at his home but my mate is very pregnant and very worried about his mom.”

“Switch me places,” Crilus came into view. “You stay in here and I’ll go out and talk to Nic.”

“It’s about—” I started but the elf shook his head.

“I know what it’s about,” Crilus said. “All of London knows that Annila hasn’t woken up yet.”

“I—” I started but Crilus was already out the door and Pierce was waving me inside.

The house was decorated just as elegantly on the inside. We sat down on soft sofas and Pierce put his bare feet up on the coffee table. His eyes drifted shut and for a moment, I thought he might’ve fallen asleep.

“It’s hard to believe she won’t be this small forever.

She’s already grown so much,” he said as I settled in.

“That’s the thing no one tells you. They grow and grow and each milestone means they need a different thing from you but less at the same time.

She can hold up her own head now. She can shift into a little bird and fly around too.

We have to watch her because she likes to fly over and try to drink blood from the neighbor’s horse. One time it nearly ate her.”

“Sounds like she’s already having adventures,” I chuckled and wondered what my kitten would be like.

Would he be more like me or their carrier?

“Have you all had the big ultrasound yet?”

“They know but Nic wants to keep it a secret – even from us. I’m pretty sure it’s a boy, though. Nic smells like he’s carrying a boy.”

Pierce grinned and opened his eyes.

“Will your mate be able to help mine?” I asked him.

“I hope so but most of the time dragon sleep isn’t magical.

It’s biological. He’ll do what he can but some wounds take time to heal.

We’re trying to keep the estate quiet because Preston had his baby last night.

His midwife only left a few minutes before you arrived.

I thought you might be him stopping in to check on us again. ”

“Hope it all went well.”

“Preston’s tired. The baby was almost five and a half kg. That’s twelve-ish pounds. I’m not sure which other worlds use,” Pierce shrugged.

“Either or. We know both,” I nodded.

“His parents are coming in soon. We’re all on high alert in case his unwanted and unhinged grandmother shows back up.”

“I wanted to apologize for the fact Crilus got accused of taking the….,” I said, hoping it hadn’t caused their baby too much distress.

“Don’t apologize for that. Annila did what she had to do.

Clarence just wanted a scapegoat. Though, he’s still hearing about it from his grandkids and from Creon.

That’s Crilus’s sire. Clarence is lucky he’s not roasting over some elven fire somewhere as someone’s dinner.

He’s lucky I didn’t eat him. It would’ve been the easiest thing.

Since Hex has been born I can consume massive amounts of blood and blood substitute without feeling sick.

I think it’s due to the fact I feed her too. ”

“Better you than the hungry horse,” I laughed and to my relief so did he.

A few minutes later, Crilus came back inside, and I took my leave. Before I even got back into the car, I knew things hadn’t gone the way Nic wanted them to.

“He went on and on about how some dragon slept for like forty years after his mate died,” Nic sighed. “He thinks she just needs more time. How much time is too much? Every doctor I’ve called has said the same thing.”

“We will figure this out,” I said, starting the car. “Whether it’s by medicine or by magic we will. If you feel like it’s more than just her being asleep we’ll start contacting other magic users. I’d say we could swing over to speak with Mori but he was up all night with Preston.”

“He had his baby,” Nic nodded. “Andy. A big baby.”

“Are you going to be able to have our baby without your mother?” I asked, pulling out of the driveway.

“I don’t want to but mate, I don’t really have a choice.

If she’s still asleep when my water breaks, it’s not like I can cross my legs and refuse to have the baby.

They’re going to come out one way or another.

I was hoping she’d wake up in time to go to an ultrasound with us and find out –” he started sniffling and I pulled over to the side of the street.

Raiel thought I should’ve made him go to therapy as soon as the dust settled but I wasn’t my mate’s boss.

If he wasn’t ready to talk to a stranger about what he felt, then that was his choice.

I undid my seatbelt and then his before getting out of the car and going around to open his door.

Leaning into the car, I hugged him as best as I could, as big tears rolled down his beautiful face.

“Unless the therapist knows how to wake her up, it wouldn’t help,” Nic cried and my heart broke.

I almost called Raiel to run out and drive us home because there was no way I could let go of him until he felt better. He was pregnant, sad, and afraid. I could kill anything or anyone I needed to in order to protect him, but I couldn’t wake up his mother.

Nic stepped out of the car to be hugged as properly as his big pregnant belly would allow.

We stood there on the side of the road holding onto each other for a long time.

He was close. Almost any day now close by the smell of him.

Our time to solve his problem before our baby was born was running out.

“Can we call Edna?” I asked and my heart leapt into my throat.

His water hadn’t broken yet but he knew more about his body than I ever would. He was the one who had lived in it for decades. I pulled out my phone, a gift from Raiel so I quit snatching his, to call her but Nic stopped me.

“My back hurts but I’m not in labor,” he chuckled, wiping at his teary eyes with one hand. “I want to know more about the baby. I think I have to stop waiting for her to wake up to be there too. I don’t think she’d want me to miss out on things because she’s asleep.”

“Okay,” I nodded we can do that too. “We can do whatever you want. Whatever it takes to make you feel better.”

“I think that’s a start,” Nic said, and I helped him sit back down inside the car.