Page 25

Chapter 25

Ollie

W hat made me decide we needed to have a party when I woke up this morning, I had no idea—but once that notion filled my head, it was happening. I was out of the nest and on the phone, calling my mate’s kids to let them know it was family day. I was going to make food. We were gonna play games. The whole nine yards.

My heart soared, and I was filled with excitement when my mate woke up forty-five minutes later.

The first thing he did was ask me why I was up so early.

“It’s not so early.”

“Did you look at the clock?” Something about the tone of his voice told me it wasn’t mid-morning, like I thought it was.

And for the first time that morning, I checked the time. Crap. “Mal, I maybe called your sons at 4am. Why didn’t they say anything to me?”

If someone called me at that time, first thing I would do was ask who was dead.

“They answered all chipper and happy like it was normal to be called at that time.”

“That’s because they were hoping that you had good news about the egg, and probably pieced together pretty quickly that you were still half asleep.”

Talk about cringe-worthy.

“That’s the thing—I wasn’t half asleep. I woke up ready to take on the world. By the way, we’re having a party today. Get ready.”

And “party” was a term that was pretty loose here. We weren’t inviting tons of friends, just family. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to have all the components we needed to call it a party.

I opened up the laptop and placed a grocery delivery order. Mal offered to run the errand for me multiple times, but it just didn’t feel right having him not here by my side where I could see him. Safe to say I was being a little needy.

Groceries would be here by 10. I had gotten all the sandwich fixings I could think of, various kinds of rolls and wraps for people to use, fruits, veggies to make a platter, and, of course, a cake. What kind of a party would it be without cake?

“You keep going at this rate, little mouse, you’re going to be asleep before they get here.”

“No, I’m too wired for that.” So very wired. Like entire pot of coffee and a bag of gummy bears wired.

I vacuumed places that didn’t need to be vacuumed, dusted places that didn’t need to be dusted, and finally conceded—taking the shower my mate kept offering me while he made me some toast and tea.

When I came out dressed, the delivery was just being dropped off, and then it was game on again—prepping platters and worrying I didn’t have enough options.

“You’re not feeding the universe. And they are all family. If they like what’s on the platters, great. If not, they can go in the fridge or the pantry.”

I let out a long breath. “I just wanted to make this perfect. Today feels… special.”

Mal gave me a look. A knowing look.

“What was that look for?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t give a look.” Mal took a bite of his toast.

Oh, he so gave a look.

Everyone started showing up around noon, and the first thing the little ones did was race to their aunt’s egg and give it a kiss.

“Baby. Baby,” each of them said as they caressed the egg.

It was beyond adorable.

We ate lunch, chatted, read books to the kids, and turned on music. Once the cake was in our bellies, we took everyone outside, including my precious egg, which was in the sling. The weather was absolutely gorgeous.

I loved watching the little kids run around in the grass on a good day, but today, it was so much better because all of their grown-ups, except for me, had let out their beasts, and the little ones were frolicking with the animals of those who loved them most.

And that was when I felt it. The first move of my egg.

Initially, I was sure I imagined it. How could my egg be moving? But then another wiggle. And another.

“Everyone, let’s bring this inside—to the nest.”

They all shifted back to their human forms, and excitement crossed everyone’s face. They knew what was happening before I even told them in so many words.

I rushed inside as they worked on gathering the kids and their clothes. I placed our egg down in the nest. Once they started to crack, it was best not to mess with them—but it was so hard. After remembering what it was like to break open that ostrich egg, I was getting nervous about what our baby was going through.

“They’ll be born with talons.” That was what Mal had said. Which was great, if they weren’t a mouse. Mice didn’t have talons.

But both the clan doctor and my mate had said I could be having a mouse, and if I was, then we were in for a world of hurt, because there was no way they were getting out of that egg. It was far too thick for that.

“You look terrified. Tell me what’s worrying you.” My mate wrapped his arm around my waist.

“You’re gonna laugh at me.” I buried my head in his chest.

“Absolutely not. If it’s distressing you this much, I will not laugh at you. I promise.”

“I... I’m worried our daughter is a mouse, and they won’t be able to come out.”

Tavian came over and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “That’s not how it works. Each animal, each beast, is able to get out. What you can’t see from the outside is that the inside of the shell has been thinning all day long.”

I blinked. “So it’s... not much stronger than an Easter egg at this point? And I was carrying her like that in the sling.” Horror filled me at all the what-ifs that could’ve happened.

“Little mouse, the baby was always fine.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “And now it’s time to wait.”

It was funny watching a group of adults staring at an egg, willing it to move—to give signs of hatching. They were so bad at it. The kids, on the other hand, they were staring too, but they didn’t have the same impatience. It was like opposite day when it came to that.

But eventually the movements became closer together—became a rocking. And then there was tapping.

Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap tap tap.

I clenched my fists at my side, trying to force myself to restrain, knowing that “helping” the process wouldn’t be helping at all. My mate’s warm arms wrapped around me, holding me to him.

“She’s got this, little mouse. Trust me. She’s got this.”

We heard it first, and then it appeared. A crack being formed.

And then another.

And then another.

And when the shell finally fell away—

And out of the shell came a little mouse.

But not just any little mouse. This little mouse had wings. She looked exactly like what I thought I might look like when I first found out I’d be getting wings.

“Is this... is this... am I dreaming?” Surely I didn’t give birth to a dragon mouse. That wasn’t a thing. Although, maybe it was?

My mate kissed my forehead. “Nope, not dreaming. I have no idea how this happened, but we have the most perfect baby to ever baby.”

Tavian barked out a laugh. “What?”

Mal looked up at him. “Are you telling me it’s a lie?”

Eryndor looked down at the little mouse dragon. “Honestly? I want to stand by Tavian and tell you you’re wrong, because I know three wonderful children, and was a child once myself, but if there was ever anyone cuter on this planet, I’d be shocked.”

But all too soon, it was time for us to say goodbye to our little mouse dragon and hello to our baby girl.

I reached for her, and she shifted in my arms—our daughter letting out a cry. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

I cuddled her to me for a brief second and then handed her to Mal so I could take off my shirt. Our little girl was hungry. He placed her on my chest, and she latched on like a champ.

“Have you finally settled on a name?” Eryndor asked.

Tavian had been bugging us for a long time, and now apparently had gotten Eryndor involved.

“I... I think so.” I reached over and took my mate’s hand. “I think... Chastine.”

He looked at me, his eyes glistening. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I can’t think of a more perfect name than honoring someone who meant so much to all the people I love.”

“Chastine it is.” My mate snuggled in beside me. “I love you, little mouse. And I’ve got a present for you.”

He nipped at my earlobe and then reached over behind one of the many stacks of pillows. When he came back, he held out a box.

“Want me to open it? Since you’re busy, you’ve got your hands full.”

I nodded. He pulled off the top and reached inside, pulling out a tiny little basket with a lid—and a harness. A harness that was just the right size for his dragon.

“You really did it, Mal. You got me a basket.”

“Of course I did. Your little mouse wants to soar with me—then who am I to get in the way?”

Best. Mate. Ever.

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