Page 17 of The Baby Hex (Mori’s Mementos #2)

Pierce

It wasn’t uncommon for me to have to break up fights between clients.

Dangerous situations often sent tempers flying off the handles.

Only, Mori and Preston weren’t trading haymakers or spells.

They were having a yelling match that would go down in the history books.

Mori had plenty of questions about how Preston ended up in his current ‘delicate’ condition but wouldn’t shut up long enough for the bear to get a word in edgewise.

“ENOUGH!” Crilus yelled and grabbed my arm to yank me out from between them.

His strength left me blinking. Sure, everyone knew elves were strong, but his touch was so casual and warm and – this was why I was on mating leave. My arm tingled where he touched me and for a moment I lost track of the argument.

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Creon asked.

“Why don’t you mind your business?” Mori snapped.

“Nope,” Crilus shook his head and leaned in close to Mori.

“I understand that you’re beyond angry. That you feel betrayed and hurt and maybe even a little jealous and confused right now, but we’re not doing this.

We’re not going to start treating people like that.

It’s his business because he’s here and you’re yelling loud enough to wake the dead.

So, no, you won’t be talking to my dad that way. ”

Mori blinked. His eyes were those of his wolf and his internal struggles were visible on his face.

The medics were just outside of the room, having left to give the pregnant carrier and his twin some space.

I’d been right after all. Preston’s blood didn’t smell like food because he was pregnant.

Only, how in the hell had he kept it off his scent?

“It’s not your business, Mori,” Preston finally spoke, slipping in between Crilus and Mori, his back to my mate. “The shouting is everyone’s business. You sound like I killed someone. The pregnancy isn’t anyone’s business except mine.”

“How?!” Mori asked, his face softening.

I glanced at my father-in-law, inquiring if he was okay. Creon nodded. Given his past, he’d had much scarier people say way worse things to him than Mori had.

“We should all sit down,” Creon tried again. “Mori, he’s pregnant and he’s keeping the baby. There is nothing to do now except for ensuring he and the baby are going to be okay. The ultrasound looked good, right, Preston?”

“Yeah. All of them have. Just because I didn’t tell you, doesn’t mean I’m not doing the right thing.

There are doctors in the world besides our parents.

I just hopped through the Other World gateway and went to the Glitter Bomb Carrier and Baby Care Clinic.

Doctor Lawngry is wonderful, and he’s performed plenty of complicated surgeries.

So, if things get complicated, I’ll have the help.

And I’ve even popped over once since we got to London. It’s all fine.”

“It’s not fine,” Mori groaned.

“Why not?” Preston sighed.

“You have a boyfriend who you haven’t told me about!” Mori tossed his hands up in the air.

I opened my mouth to say maybe we should give them some privacy, but Crilus was staring Mori down with his arms folded.

“People are allowed to have private lives,” Crilus said a second later. “He doesn’t have to text you just because he dicks someone down or whatever.”

“I don’t think that’s how---” Mori started but stopped. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or not?”

“This is why I didn’t tell you. You can’t just say congratulations and move on,” Preston said and flopped onto the sofa.

“Well, unless you’ve evolved to impregnant yourself, there is a second person involved,” Mori said.

“Thanks, Commander Obvious,” Preston rolled his eyes.

“Did the medics finish with you?” I interrupted, trying to give the pregnant bear a break.

“I’m calling our parents!” Mori groaned.

“No,” Preston shook his head. “Or you know what call them. Tell them. Then I’ll tell them about how you kept a lot of your little paranormal things from them. Mori, remember, I know where your skeletons are buried.”

“You make me want to bang my head on the wall!” Mori growled.

“Come on,” Crilus said, slipping his arm through Mori’s. “You’re making an ass of yourself. Yelling at my dad. Shouting while my mate was between you two and now, you’re harassing a pregnant bear. We’re getting out of here for a while.”

“Crilus, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “Not with everything that’s happened.”

“Don’t you start with me. I’ve faced monsters without you, and I’ll do it again. If you want to be helpful, stay with Preston. We’ll finish our conversation later. I’m saving Mori before he breaks every relationship he’s ever had. If Teddy arrives while we’re out, tell him to find us.”

“Where are you taking him?” I asked.

“For a walk,” Crilus shrugged.

“I’ll make snacks,” Creon said and then sighed. The kitchen was currently off limits.

“I’m okay,” Preston said as Crilus dragged his brother out the front door. “You should get some sleep if you can.”

“Okay. Just shout if you need anything,” Creon said. “And congratulations if that’s really what’s in order.”

“It is,” he nodded.

I wasn’t sure what to say to Preston after Creon disappeared deeper into the house. So, I sat down in the armchair next to the sofa.

“You’re wondering about my scent,” Preston laughed.

“There are these little pills you can take to hide what stage you are in your cycle. They were invented to tone down the scent of heats and ruts but they totally cover up a pregnancy. I’m also a bear.

The baby is a bear. That takes nine months to come about.

So, I’m showing but not under shirts like this. Not ones this loose.”

“If you’re happy with the situation, that’s enough for me. The only questions I have are do I need to drag the other guy in here and make him be a dad and do you think he’s the one behind breaking the windows.”

“Not him,” Preston shook his head. “We met on Pheromone Swap. We hooked up for a weekend and now I’m pregnant.

He’s not ready to be a dad. I am. I’ve made it clear.

He’s not showing up when the kid’s a teenager and expecting to magically be a ‘dad.’ He says he doesn’t want any part of it.

He offered to pay for an abortion. I’m not against people making choices for themselves but I want my baby.

His mother on the other hand is livid. Like seeing red livid.

Is that offensive? I don’t know if vampires really see red.

I’d never ask anyone—” Preston said, tripping over his words.

“Not offensive to me,” I shook my head. “Why is she so mad?”

“She thinks either I should’ve done away with the pregnancy or come to live with her so she can have the baby. I’ve told him. I’ve told him so many times to call her off, but I don’t think he can. It’s like she’s some evil witch who thinks she’s entitled to her son’s first-born baby.”

“Is he a bear too?”

“Yeah. No, not related to Philip McCoy from the GGB. Everyone asks me that,” Preston laughed and leaned back against the sofa.

“I haven’t told anyone because I’m waiting for her to calm down.

My carrier would kick her ass. My sire would freak out and try to drag my hookup into my life.

I don’t want any of that. I just want to live my life and have this baby. ”

“I can’t make any promises about your parents but if his mum is behind this, that will be taken care of. Why didn’t you say anything before?” I asked.

“Because I wasn’t sure it was her. I didn’t think she’d try to blow up the bar with me in it. I certainly didn’t think she’d come to London just to attack me.”

“I think we need to reach out to the leaders there in the GGB. She’s one of theirs. Maybe they can wrangle her. If not, maybe we can reach out to the Council of International Magic Users. If offing her is still on the table but I’m not sure that’s the way you want to go.”

“I don’t know what to do. She thinks she’s entitled to the baby because they’re part of her bloodline. They’re magical too,” Preston sighed.

“Eh, fuck her. It’s your baby. If the baby’s sire wanted to be part of this, I’d have to keep my mouth shut but she has no right to your baby. No right to try to command the direction of your life or where you go with your kid,” I frowned.

“Thanks. Mori will have to come around or he won’t. I think once the baby’s here my parents will be happy.”

“For what it’s worth, I think having a parent around who never wanted you is probably bad for a kid. That’s not how I grew up, but I’ve seen plenty of it.”

“Do we need to order takeout or anything? I thought your appetite was all bear until tonight,” I said.

“No, I’m okay. I’m probably going to lay down soon. Afraid as soon as I do, that they’ll be back and Mori will raise hell again.”

“I’ll be up until they get back. I’ll do my best to keep Mori grounded,” I sighed.

“I knew he’d be like this. He wants everyone to wait to live until they meet their true-mates.

He idolizes our parents that way but I don’t think they stayed single by choice.

Maybe our carrier – but he was also busy working for the sleuth.

I don’t know. I just don’t want to live my whole life waiting on some guy that never shows up.

Speaking of which, I know you’re probably decent, because Crilus is, but true-mates don’t always match on morals.

So I feel like I have to say it either way.

Crilus was just having fun while he was waiting on you. ”

“I don’t care about body counts unless we’re speaking of corpses. Then they become interesting,” I shrugged.

“Damn,” Preston laughed. “Maybe you are the right fit for Crilus.”

“Go get some sleep. I’ll call around about—What is her name?” I asked, realizing I didn’t have a clue who I was calling around about.

“Sharon Claudis,” Preston sighed. “She’s a witch in the GGB Territory.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks for not locking me in the tower or something.”

“Eh, not yet,” I teased. “Besides, if you are bait for her, I’ll just take her out when she comes into the house.”

“If she comes into the cabin while it’s filled with Moonscale Guards, maybe she deserves to die for being dumb,” Preston shrugged before heading off to bed.