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Well, she s good at that. Tirra grinned. A niece. I am going to have fun shopping.

It isn t necessary.

Sarel said, My sister is probably going to go nuts with it.

Leska frowned. Will it upset her?

No, she has recently been introduced to her lost daughters and one son. She has attained motherhood several times over, the long way around.

Oh, good. I really don t want to rub a pregnancy in her face if she had permanent issues.

Sarel looked thoughtful. I will let her know. This is not something to surprise her with. Thank you for thinking of that.

Tirra asked, Did you always sing?

Yes. From the first moment I breathed freedom, I sang.

Tirra squeezed her hand. Me, too.

Gorith s expression got soft.

Tirra asked, I hate to ask, but a seer I was talking to congratulated me on finding one of my sisters. Are there others?

Leska said softly, There was one other, but I thought they destroyed her when she was six or so.

Oh. Do you have a name?

Subject Seven? We didn t have names, and my handlers didn t talk about other subjects. They were devoted to tormenting me and seeing what it took to kill me. Nelith was famously very difficult to kill.

Tirra smiled. I am glad you are here. Have you ever done a complete transformation?

No. Scales and now wings are all I have managed to achieve. I think that is pretty much where I am stuck now.

Why?

She put a hand over her belly and patted it. No transforming with a passenger on board.

Right. I had no idea that the energy projection of the wings was an inheritable trait.

Keep an eye on your kids.

I will. Well, when the next one makes their appearance, wait. You said kids, plural.

Leska blinked. You aren t pregnant?

Tirra muttered, Yes, but only a few weeks. How did you know? Gorith didn t even know. Well, I mean, he knows now.

Gorith slowly smiled, and his energy tentacles writhed out and pulled Tirra into his arms, holding her against him. They walked off and had a quiet chat, face-to-face.

Leska blinked. Oops.

Khytten wandered out of the house, arm in arm with Torenne.

Vinul murmured, Did you want to settle in for a bit?

Sure. I will take a seat at the table, just in case food happens. I am rather hungry.

Vinul nodded. I will get you something.

She was going to say he didn t have to, but he disappeared as shadows wrapped him, and she just sat on her own until Khytten had a seat across from her. So, you don t have the same concerns as your friend?

Her concerns are valid. I know I am an omega, and that means that my morals are a little bit flexible. My concerns come first and then my partners. If they can keep me satisfied, they can keep me.

Sarel walked up while she was speaking and nodded. That is pretty much it. We have to keep the benefit to ourselves in mind, or we will be lost. Sweetie, where did Vinul go?

I told him I was hungry, and he disappeared.

Sarel nodded and tapped on his com. Burgers or tacos?

Yes.

He chuckled. Noted.

She blinked. Wait. Did he go to get takeout?

Yes.

Fries and a milkshake! She bit her lower lip.

Sarel chuckled. You have expanded quite a bit. I will also add a salad.

What? Are we getting naked and making it watch?

Khytten giggled.

You need a balanced diet.

As soon as I catch up with the calorie expenditure of growing this. She patted her belly.

Khytten grinned. You caught me off guard.

I noticed.

I overdosed you.

Torenne noticed that.

Khytten asked, Why do you keep your nature away from Cadence?

Leska paused and thought about it. She started crying, and Khytten held her. In between gasps, she said, She was only my friend because she thought I was human. There is nothing to keep us together.

Khytten looked at her and stroked her hair. It s fine, Leska. You can t bribe people to like you. Shit gets weird really fast.

Sarel held his arms out. Come here, Leska.

Khytten muttered, You can stay with me if you want and not go over to that nosy omega.

Leska chuckled. Tempting, but I am going to go back so he can commune with the baby. I find it relaxing. She moved to Sarel, and he held her.

Khytten chuckled. Good. Then find out what you like and to hell with anyone else. I will plan a baby shower. Tirra will be delighted to come. Gorith is from the family that runs and designs for Tomorrow Jewellery. Expect a silver rattle or something from them.

Sarel chuckled. Expect something more from my family and Vinul s. And my people.

I haven t seen many of your people.

Doesn t matter. They get baby crazy. We don t have a large population. Babies are very much celebrated. He stroked her belly.

He shifted until she was on his lap and cuddled against him. He told her how happy he was to have her and how joyful it was that she was with him and them. How happy they were going to make her and the baby.

Vinul arrived with a greasy feast. He left a bunch of bags for the others, but he brought special bags over to Leska. He plucked her off Sarel s lap and sat to nestle her on his. He handed her the milkshake with a serious expression, and she smiled and took a sip. Heaven.

She leaned against Vinul while surrounded by friends scrambling for takeout, while Vinul defended hers with claws and growling.

She smiled and thought about Cadence and her therapy session. Leska had taken therapy when she was a child, but Cadence had always resisted. Hopefully, it was coming full circle.

A taco was handed to her, and she beamed, causing Vinul to purr hard. She kicked her feet, and Sarel grabbed some fries from the sacrificial pile and gave her one. She was held, she was cared for, and she was safe.

* * * *

C adence took a shower and sighed. Can we go back to the party?

Raek kissed her shoulder. We definitely can. What do you think of Leska being pregnant?

I think she has the makings of an amazing mom. She was certainly good with me.

He slowly rubbed her back. She is younger than you, no?

Yes, she is, but she always puts me first. Oh, I hope I haven t been rude to her. I am so used to her just letting me go first that I don t think of her as a separate being. She has just always been there.

But now she has mates of her own. Soon, she will have a child, and their child will play with ours, though it might knock it over a few times.

Oh, she s pregnant. Right. I need to congratulate her.

She turned in Raek s arms. He smiled. You do. She is further along than you are, and it is likely her child will come first.

Cadence blinked. Will you take me to her when she s in labour?

If I am not able to, someone will bring you to her. Why?

Because she will need someone. Someone who knows her. Her new friends and even family don t know her like I do. She will need me, and I will be there. She smiled at him. I can be a proper sister once in my life.

Do you think she will take the help?

I have been her best friend since childhood. She s going to have to. Cadence smiled. I am learning how to be family, and I need someone to practice on. If I can treat my best friend like she is important, I can think about talking with Arcady over tea or something.

She smiled up at him. Do you think my plan has merit?

I think so. My family has always just been me and Im-bar. Our people have been absorbed into dozens of countries. You are the new addition to our family, and through you, I have gained a sister in Leska.

She s an excellent sister. So, can we get back to the others?

He smiled. Yes, of course. This is a very interesting neighbourhood.

They dried off, got dressed, and Raek flew them over to the gathering. There were actives playing on the aerial pole, on the silks, and doing acrobatics in the yard.

Leska was on her alpha, being offered treats out of takeout bags, and when they approached, Sarel turned and said, Leska made us save these for you.

Leska was sipping at a milkshake and smiling, her belly was very obvious.

Cadence smiled. So, I am going to look to you to be my example again.

Don t look too close, things can get a little adult. Vinul chuckled.

Sarel smiled as Cadence took the bag. Cadence looked at the festively coloured donut holes. I guess we all have to grow up sometime but not precisely now.

She made happy sounds as she sent her fingers in search of the different types of donuts.

Raek looked over her shoulder. What is it, and would the dieticians approve?

Cadence grinned up at him. I am going to eat them so fast they never find out.

Leska laughed. Matron isn t here to catch us.

They both giggled, and Cadence smiled. One moment shared. No pain, no panic, just a moment.

Leska looked at her seriously. I have to meet family.

Cadence nodded. You will survive it. You survive everything.

Sarel laughed. My staff are still shocked.

Leska sipped at her milkshake and blinked slowly. Oh, that memory just came back. They really shouldn t have peeked. She had been on her hands and knees between them, with Sarel in her mouth and Vinul pounding her.

Sarel chuckled. I don t think they realized you are an actual omega. The heat was no joke.

Vinul kissed her neck. They know it now.

Leska looked at Cadence. So, yeah. I am embarrassed now.

Cadence walked to her and kissed her forehead. You can never be embarrassed, little girl. You are you and always have been. Now, are there more donuts?

Leska made a soft hiccupping sound and nodded. Vinul grabbed a bag from just beyond Leska s reach and handed it over.

Raek s hand reached over and snagged it. Ah, ah. You share this time.

Cadence tried to get the bag back, but Raek held it out of her reach. She felt a tingle, and she caught the bag, chortling with glee. Hah! Got it.

Raek caught her and said, Look down.

Cadence looked down, squawked, and wrapped her legs around his hips. We are flying. I was flying!

He laughed and spun her around while there was cheering from down below. He whispered in her ear, Don t drop the donuts.

She laughed, and he took her on a spiralling loop around the area, and every time she could use propulsion, they shifted course.

Eventually, he brought them back near where they had been standing, and Leska applauded. Woot! Way to go, Cadence!

Leska was always the first one to cheer her on. Cadence now had to show her how much that was appreciated.