Page 46 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

“Woah, Ela,” Cedric jogged up to walk alongside me as I passed the warrior’s barracks where he stays with Meldec.

The two of them should be getting their own dwelling soon too, but Cedric told Lachlan and Mel he wanted to wait for now.

Wait for what, I do not know. The two of them are sharing a single’s room in the barracks and could use more space, but Meldec won't go against Cedric, and Cedric said he wanted to wait.

Cedric fell in line behind me, following as I walked with an extra pep in his step. He's in a good mood and I can almost feel his feisty, sassy attitude.

“Where are you going in such a rush? Did you take one look at the one-eyed snake and go running for the hills?”

“One-eyed snake?” I asked, not understanding what he was referring to. “I wasn’t in the forest today. What species of snake only has one eye?” Is it some kind of leech? I am not a fan of bugs and critters, but I don't go running from them.

He smiled and chuckled to himself. “The kind with the most potent venom there is. It needs to be milked regularly or it can attain a condition called blue-balls.”

I stop walking and growl, though Val is now giggling in my head. “Can I help you with something, or are you just determined to pollute my ears with your vulgarity today? You seem to be on a mission to do so.”

“You seem to be on quite a mission yourself. Where are you running off to so soon after your confession to that smitten alpha of yours? Is the deed done already? I knew he was pent up, but I expected the man to at least make it last long enough to mark you.” Cedric pushed the hair off my shoulder, revealing my unmarked neck.

I swat his hand away with another growl.

“Someone is testy. Guess the minute-man left you unsatisfied all the way around.”

“Quit speaking of my mate and my bedroom activities,” I then muttered quietly, “or lack thereof.”

“Ah,” he nodded as if he understood. “Could he not perform at all? Poor pup.”

“Cedric!”

“I jest. I jest,” he laughed, throwing his hands up in surrender. “So, what is it that is holding up your bedroom activities ?”

“It’s none of your business,” I growled, turning to continue on my way.

“I’m going to assume the worst if you don’t tell me,” he states in a sing-song voice.”

“Oh yeah? What’s the worst you could assume?”

“That he has lady parts and you’re running away in fright.”

“Cedric!”

“Ela!” He mimics, then laughed.

“You can be so infuriating,” I muttered, knocking on Yasmin’s door.

I hear her groan on the other side, then footsteps creaking on the floorboards.

Is she sick? Is that why she has been staying home more often? I rarely see her nowadays. She hasn’t worked as my maid since my return, not that she hasn’t tried. I told her it was unnecessary.

The past 2 weeks she has barely left her home at all, and hearing her now, she sounds as if she is struggling to even make it to open the door.

“I told you just to bring me back the soda crackers and-,” Yasmin murmurs as she slowly swings open the door, then stops speaking when she sees that it’s me. “Ela! Sorry. I thought it was that blasted man who can’t seem to ever let me sleep.”

“Percy’s in the dining hall,” Cedric raised an eyebrow. “Would you like for me to go find him?” His eyes moved up and down her body, assessing her disheveled appearance and the sick look on her face.

“Leave the man be. He needs to eat eventually, I guess, but I can’t seem to stand the scent of anything at the moment. He simply brewed a pot of tea this morning with hibiscus flowers and I almost threw my guts up all over the table from the strong floral smell.”

“Are you ill?” I swiped the back of my hand across her forehead while checking her temperature. She felt a bit warm, but nothing concerning.

Val began to chuckle in my head. “ Ill wouldn’t be the term I would use. I think her mate gave her something that has the symptoms though.”

Her mate? Was Percy sick too and I just didn’t notice?

“No?!” Cedric gasped. “You can’t be?!” He grinned so wide that his eyes crinkled to slits.

Yasmin giggled and nodded. “We found out just a few weeks ago. We haven’t told anyone yet, but I think we are in a safer period now. I planned on telling you soon.”

“What?” I looked between them, still not understanding. “Are you really sick?”

“No, Ela,” Yasmin laughed. “I’m with child!”

My eyes went wide, then I soon matched Cedric’s enthusiasm, the both of us throwing our arms around Yasmin and jumping for joy.

“I’m going to be an uncle,” Cedric sang. “Can I name the tyke? I’m good at naming. I once named a pet turtle Lyle and he lived forever. He’s still swimming in the sea.”

“Don’t turtles naturally live long lives?” I rolled my eyes. “I doubt it was your naming abilities that prolonged it.”

“Do we really want to take that chance?” Cedric’s eyes glinted.

I smiled and just shook my head, turning my attention back to my friend. “I’m so happy for you and Percy.”

“Thanks,” she smiled. “Now you need to hurry along and have one too, so our babies can grow up alongside one another.”

My cheeks blushed at the mention of Lachlan and I having a baby.

“That is actually why I’m here,” I confessed. “I was hoping you could give me some advice?”

She tilted her face to the side. “About what?”

I bit my lip, feeling shy. “Mating,” I muttered.

Her eyes glinted and she clapped her hands. “It’s about time. Come in. Come in. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“Can I help too?” Cedric smirked, now knowing what I was doing and why I was on my way over here.

“No,” I snapped.

“Come on. It might help to have a man’s opinion on things.”

Yasmin giggled. “He may be right.”

I groaned. “Fine. But if you mention my husband’s pirate parts again or suggest he has a female’s, I will order you out.”

Yasmin chokes on a laugh, but Cedric somehow manages to keep a straight face.

“I promise,” he said boldly, “on my pet turtle, Lyle.”