Page 42 of Emerald Waves (Primordial Protectors #2)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Emerson

“I can’t wait to wear the baby carrier you got me.” Caro turned it over in his hands, doing his best to figure out how the straps worked. “Will you take a picture of me with our egg in it?”

“Of course,” it’ll likely become my screen saver.

“Come on,” I tried to stand and stretch my back but there was no getting up from the couch on my own.

“A little help please.” My sweet mate dropped the harness and immediately came to my aid.

“Thank you. Now, we have to get dressed and head over to Ionus’ house.

” That alone was quite the feat. Not only would Caro have to dress me, but he’d have to carry me there as well.

Right after I peed.

“There they are!” Alex announced as we stepped inside the house. Had he not been right in front of us we wouldn’t have heard him over all the noise. “Merry Christmas!” The family cheered.

“Merry Christmas!”

“Here, I cleared a comfy chair for him. I remember all too well how hard it was to get comfortable in anything towards the end.”

If this gets to be too much let me know and we’ll leave.

Thanks, love. It’s a bit much and I’m not feeling great.

Are you okay? Should we leave now? What’s wrong?

“You can set him down now,” Alex said. Caro had paused with me hovering above the chair.

Just a bit achy and kinda blah.

Let’s give the kids their presents then we can go.

Shoot, their presents!

Don’t worry, I dropped them off last night. Ionus tucked them away until we got here today.

“Alright,” Ionus’ booming voice stopped the tears and fighting over new toys. Thank fuck for that. “If you want your presents from Uncle Caro and Uncle Emerson you need to sit by the tree and be quiet.”

“Kane, Hunter, no fireballs.” Alex’s no-nonsense tone surprised me, but given the stories I’d heard as of late about their fiery antics, it was welcomed.

Griffin, Luna, Kane and Hunter sat as well as overly excited dragonets could be expected to, while Caro passed their presents out.

“What do you say?” Ionus prodded them. Talking was still a bit foreign for them so muffled tank-ew and tanks were muttered.

Tiny claws shredded paper, sending it flying through the air like holiday confetti.

The entire time I watched them play, the pain in my back worsened and the once comfy chair quickly became the bane of my existence.

My love, are you alright?

Can’t. Get. Comfortable.

I think it’s time to go home.

No sooner had Caro said the words then I suddenly felt…

“Wet.” The room quieted, all eyes were on me, and that was a lot of peepers given there were easily a dozen dragons and four dragonets in it.

Alex ran to my side. “Sweetheart, did your water break?”

Did it? Or had I peed?

“I-I, I don’t know. I pee so much it’s hard to tell the difference. I’m so sorry, we’ll buy you a new chair, I promise.”

“Stop with the apologies, you’ll do no such thing. Caro, take him home. Ionus, call Raven to meet them there.” Alex barked the orders and both men fell right in line. I must remember to ask him to teach me how to do that. But now wasn’t the time. Nope, I had a feeling it was time to meet our egg.

“Ugh!” I screamed and grabbed my midsection. “It hurts so bad.”

I was up, in Caro’s arms, and out the door faster than the next contraction could hit. Guess that answered the pee versus water breaking question.

Across the cold quad, into our house and up the stairs we flew. Caro set me on the bed and propped pillows all around me.

“The nest! The nest!” I cried out. “We can’t have the egg yet because we forgot to do the nest!” The tears ran wild, worsening as I screamed through the next contraction and scared Caro so badly he ran down the stairs and returned with a handful of blankets seconds later.

“Where do you want these?”

“Where we decided to put the nest. Over there!” I pointedly screamed.

I’m not a screamer, this wasn’t me, but we couldn’t have the egg without the nest. How could we have forgotten such an important step.

“We’re horrible parents!” I bellowed from bed.

“We,” sob , “can’t,” sob , “even,” sob , “build a proper nest!” sob, “We suck!”

“Baby, baby, ssshhh. I’ll fix it now. It’ll be okay, I promise.” About that time Odem came barreling into the room with a pile of pillows. He spotted the area where Caro dumped the blankets and piled them on. “Get the rest and I’ll build the nest.”

The two of them tried, well, I think they tried, but it still wasn’t right. “No, put the pillows there!” I pointed. “No, Cade will be in the middle. We need enough room for your dragon. Help me up, I’ll do it myself.” The two of them looked at me like I’d sprouted another head. “AAAHHH!”

Raven entered the room, plugging her ears. “Emerson, let’s see how far along you are.”

“Alex! Where’s Alex! I need him!” He’d know if this was okay and was progressing as it should be, but the pain was unbearable. This can’t be right. “Alex!”

“He’ll be here in a,” Caro paused right when Alex walked in. “A moment.”

“Alex,” I grabbed his hand. “It hurts, like, a lot. Is it supposed to feel like this?”

Alex laughed. “Yes and imagine doing this four times in rapid succession.”

“No, nope. No. Not doing this again. Nope.” That was a hard no for me.

“Help me get his pants off, Alex, so I can check him.” Raven and Alex stripped me down.

Once upon a time I’d been shy, but now, I wanted all the clothes off and this egg out of me.

Why was it so fucking hot in here? “Emerson, I have a feeling you’ve been in labor all day and kept this from your mate because you’re fully dilated. ”

“Oh, um, sorry. I thought it was just gas.”

“Dude,” Alex shook his head. “That would be explosive gas. I’ve felt the pains of labor and would’ve shit myself if it were gas.”

I wanted to laugh but it hurt too much. “When can I push? I need to push.”

“Caro, come and slide in behind Emerson and help hold him up. Alex, grab a couple of towels to put beneath him. Odem, keep working on the nest. Think fluffy, light, and comfy.” I’d never seen those three move as fast as they just had.

Well, Alex I had, but usually it was when he had a fire extinguisher in hand, chasing after his twins.

Please don’t let Cade be a firebug.

“Need. To. Push!” I bellowed as they slid a towel beneath me.

“On the next contraction, Emerson, push. Caro, be his rock.”

“Got it.”

“Okay Emerson, push!”

I leaned back against Caro and pushed with all my might.

“Good, good, he’s moved down a bit more. Another good one and the tip of the egg will crown. One, two, three, push!” Thank the goddess of midwives for Raven. She was an angel.

“You’re doing great, Em,” Alex wiped the sweat from my forehead with a nice cool towel, and I wanted to wrap myself up in it.

“Emerson, push!” How was this even possible? My body wasn’t elastic. “With the next one push until I tell you to stop.”

“Or he passes out.”

“Not funny, Alex. Here we go, Emerson, push!”

“Ahhhhhh!”

“Alex, get a soft cloth to clean the egg with, please. Next big one should be it, Emerson. Are you ready?”

Was I? Ready to pass out, but I wanted to meet our son, well, our egg that held our growing baby within its sturdy shell. How sturdy was it? Oh my god, what if something hits it. Will it break? What if it opens too soon? What will happen to our son?

“Breathe, Emerson,” Alex squeezed my hand. “Everything will be alright.”

“One, two,” before Raven got three out, I was pushing like a mad man with every ounce of energy I had left in me.

“It’s a boy!” Alex said as he cleaned the egg, announcing what we already knew. “An absolutely gorgeous emerald and teal one at that. Cade will be one stunning dragon.”

“Hold him.” Grabby hands weren’t happening. I barely remembered them handing me the egg before I passed out and woke a couple hours later, cozy warm in the nest. My body curled around Cade’s egg and our dragon curled around both of us.

My love, how do you feel?

Exhausted and ridiculously happy.

You did so well. Cade’s egg is a good sized one. He’ll be a strong, sturdy dragon.

Did I miss anything?

Congratulations will be given once you feel up to it. Alex and Odem helped me clean up and change the sheets before they left. Alex said to tell you he loves you and he and Raven will be by in the morning to check on you.

Oh my gosh, I forgot Odem was here for all of that.

He’s even more enamored with you than he was before. My brother adores you and was elated to be a part of something so personal to us.

Love you, mate. Love you, Cade.

Our sleepy little boy bubbled inside his egg, a sweet emotion I’d grown to adore while carrying him. Either that, or he had gas.

Did you feel that too?

I did. He does that when he’s happy.

Papa loves you, Cade.

More happy bubbles vibrated before the three of us dozed off again. Snuggled together in the nest my mate and his brother made for us. I was truly blessed.

“Good morning, Cade.” The amazing shades of his egg glimmered in the sunlight that streamed through a break in the curtains. He was the perfect mix of Caro’s dragon colors and mine. “Daddy and Papa can’t wait to meet you.”

“That’s right,” Caro came in, breakfast tray in hand. I sat up and he placed it on my lap then kissed the top of Cade’s egg. “We love you, little one.”

“You spoil me, mate.” And goddess how I loved it.

“You, my handsome mate, deserve it and so much more.” Caro slid into place on the other side of the egg and curled around it while I ate. Keeping our sweet boy nice and warm.

“Far too icky to be handsome. Think the egg will be okay while you help me shower?”

“Have no fear, Uncle Odem is here!” My all-smiles brother-in-law sang from the doorway. I swear, he had a sixth sense when I needed him. “How is the happy family today?”