Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
C ade had a feeling about Poe and his cravings.
Thankfully, so did the upper clutch, and they kept Poe supplied with fudge. Cade had been very involved in teaching Beau the ins and outs of being a guardian. And wrangling the idea that the village needed more of them with the elders.
Something inside him, Zeke would call it his gut, told him that the bard man was correct. That the children needed protecting.
And he thought he had a child on the way. He really did.
In fact, he watched as Poe sprinted for the water closet, the sounds of retching a touch desperate.
Hrm. He needed to make some warat tea. That would help.
Cade rose, stretching hard, his joints popping. He needed to ask the others about the heated sand they had.
He wrapped himself in a robe, then went to the kitchen. Warat tea and wafer crackers. That was the ticket.
By the time the tea had steeped and he’d warmed up the crackers, Poe was back in their bed looking green and miserable.
“Sorry, love, I’m not feeling one hundred percent. My stomach is gross.” Poe yawned and cuddled back in the covers. “What’s that?”
“Tea. It will help. I have some crackers too, just to settle everything.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry if I woke you up.” Poe curled up over the warat tea, inhaling deep. “This sure smells good.”
Cadeyrn personally thought it smelled like ass, but if it made Poe happy, it made him happy. If the tea made Poe happy, then that meant they were having a baby, which made him even happier.
Poe sipped at the tea, and then drank more deeply, once it cooled off a touch, relaxing back into the pillows. “Oh, better. Thank you, love.”
“You are more than welcome, mate.” He couldn’t help but rub Poe’s belly. He wondered if it was a boy or if it was a girl. Was it a fire dragon? Ice?
Cade needed to know.
Poe smiled at him. “You okay? Everything all right?”
“I’m fine. Everything is amazing. Glorious, in fact. I think we’re having a baby.”
Poe stopped, his head tilted. “Do you think so? I’ve wondered, but I didn’t want to say anything until I was more sure. It’s not like we can run to the drug store and get a pregnancy test, after all.”
“I don’t think we need a test. I think you just took the test.”
Poe frowned and stared. “What?”
“The tea. That tea is atrocious unless you’re pregnant.”
“Oh, you sneaky monkey.”
“I am.” He beamed. “It would not have hurt you if you just had an unsettled stomach, at any rate. But if you like it, it has meaning.”
“Mmm. I’m just glad it’s working. Is there fudge?”
“There is. I will also make some today. It is one of my rest days.” Cade was ready to attempt his first batch of the stuff. Abe had taught him to make it, and he was prepared with all of the ingredients.
Poe looked at him. “We’re having a baby. Are you happy? Do you want to be a father?”
“I already am a father, but a new baby will be a blessing. I’ve always imagined myself as having many children. I love children, and I believe children like me.”
Poe’s eyes twinkled. “Do they now? I can see that they might like you a little bit.”
“Only a little bit?”
“Perhaps…quite a little bit.” Poe grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “We are going to have a baby, and then we will be a family of four.”
“Yes. Can I tell my parents? They’ll be very excited to have another grandchild.” He winked at Poe. His mother especially had taken Tanya under her wing.
“Yes. We should have them out. They can spend time with Tanya, have supper here, enjoy a fire and maybe a game.”
“That sounds lovely. I will make enough fudge to share one batch. If it comes out.”
“If not, you can run down and get something from the bakery. We need some of that crusty, braided bread anyway,” Poe pointed out. “Maybe I could come with you. I love to explore.”
And everyone was eager to meet his new mate.
“I would love that, sweet.” Poe’s sickness tended to burn itself off by midday, and the tea was doing wonders. His iridescent scales looked transparent right now. “I will get father a new book and mother a scarf, I think. As grandparent gifts. We should get Tanya something as well.”
“What kind of toys do younger dragons here play with? What’s something that she wouldn’t know?”
“Dragonets of her age enjoy magic kits, marionettes. Dolls, of course, of all shapes and sizes. Perhaps we can get her one of the fae dolls that flies. Or if she likes science, we could get her a crucible of her own, and she could practice melting things.”
“Isn’t that a little dangerous?”
He resisted reminding Poe that Tanya was a fire dragon, because that might make his mate grumpy. “She will have to practice in school. And then when she goes away to college?—”
“We’re not talking about that. She’s only little. I don’t—I’m not ready for that. She might not go to college, but she might stay here with us and just set things on fire. She could become a jeweler or a welder. She could make great art.”
“She’ll be able to do whatever she wishes. We’ll find her some?—”
A sharp scream sounded. “Kadi! Kadi! Help! Papa!”
Cade headed off with a roar, Poe right behind him, light blazing from his mate.
They found Tanya standing in the common room staring, sparks shooting from her nose.
A pukka stood there in front of her, head tilted, long black ears alert, tail swishing.
Poe scrambled around, scooping Tanya up, cradling her close, and pulling her away from the pukka. “Cade…”
“It is all right, my love.” Cade bowed to the pukka, honored to have it. “Welcome, friend. Would you like some cake? We have some left over.”
He hoped the pukka was there bringing good fortune and help to them.
“Bright blessings. I am Nan.”
Tanya peeked out from Poe’s arms. “You talk.”
“Of course I speak, child. I’m sorry to have frightened you.”
“Are you a bunny?”
“No.”
He winced because pukka could be so easily offended. This one seemed to laugh.
“I have been sent to assist you in your home. I hear that there are many blessings.”
Cadeyrn wanted to say yes, there’s a blessing right now, but they hadn’t told Tanya yet. “We have honeyed cakes.”
“You have been well raised. I appreciate it.”
Dude, what the hell is this?
It’s a pukka, a house spirit.
It looks like a monkey bunny baby.
Do not offend Nan, please. She is offering her assistance.
She’s safe, right?
This is an honor.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Nan. I’m Poe. This is Tanya.”
Ears twitching, Nan bowed back to them. “Bright blessings on this house.”
“Thank you.” Poe moved to get cake for Nan, and Cade nodded at Tanya.
“Nan might like some milk.”
“I’ll get some!” Tanya trotted off to the cold room, coming back with a jug of milk. She poured some into one of his mother’s clay cups, then held it out.
Thankfully, pukka had opposable thumbs.
“Thank you,” Nan said when they brought her cake and milk. “I see you having a palaag cat. For your familiar.”
Cade’s eyes opened. That was a large animal. And from far to the north, where most animals were silver and blue in stripes so they matched the snow. “We will need to make sure there is room in the nursery then. That is auspicious, though.”
Poe looked at him, wide-eyed. Cade knew that the Rocky Mountain clutch had many familiars, including the magnificent white bear, Spirit, so Poe must be wondering about the palaag cat. He would have to show his mate pictures from one of the bestiaries his father had given him.
He loved teaching Poe about his world.
“Have you ever seen one in person before?” Nan asked.
“No. And my mate and our daughter have never even heard of it.”
“How exciting.” Nan ate her cake in quick bites, then drained the milk. “I will be a thought away if you need me. I am here to help you.”
“We are most honored.” Cade bowed again, then nodded to Poe and Tanya.
They both bowed as well. “Thank you, Nan,” Poe said. “That means the world to me.”
“You have chosen well, Cadeyrn.” Nan’s ears twitched, and then she bounded away so quickly he lost sight of her immediately.
“What just happened?” Poe asked.
“We should tell Tanya our news first, and then I will explain, as it all hinges on that.”
“Tell Tanya what?” Tanya looked at them, eyes squinted. “What’s going on?”
Poe offered her a nervous smile. “We’re having a baby, lovely.”
She looked at Cade. “Are you sure?”
Cade nodded. “I’m fairly sure. There will be a new child sometime in late summer.”
Poe frowned at him, head tilted. “What?”
“I’m sorry?” He didn’t follow.
“I thought dragon gestation was six months—solstice to solstice or equinox to equinox?”
Cade shook his head. That wasn’t how it worked. “I don’t know what you mean… I will say that it is much more likely to get pregnant during the times when the magic is strongest in the year, but no. It takes about ten moon cycles before a baby comes. It is autumn, ergo the child should be born in summer.”
Poe looked as if he might be sick. “I think that we might need to go speak to the dragons at the clan. Do they know this?”
Cade did not understand what was going on at all. “Of course, mate, if you would like to.” Is everything well?
Well, I’m a little bit worried, Poe admitted. You see, what if they don’t know? If things are different here, and they’re used to only being able to have babies four times a year and for a six-month gestation… What if it’s different for them or what if it’s not? They have to plan. What if they don’t know that they can get pregnant outside those days? And what about birth control?
Cade blinked. Birth control?
Love. Mate. If you don’t want a baby, and I don’t want a baby, and the timing in the world is not right for a baby, then there will be no baby.
Cage shrugged. They were magical beings. The magic dictated whether or not there was going to be babies, and both mates had to be able and willing for the spark of magic to take hold. He had been around for eons just waiting for his mate to appear, and he had had many sexual partners. None of them had been his mate.
Now he was blessed with a child. It was easy.
It might have taken a long time, but now it was easy.
He wasn’t going to say that to Poe though, because it was inappropriate. Omegas had the load to bear there.
I don’t understand, but I do know we need to tell the others. If we can get pregnant at any time of the year…we’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. Poe grinned and shook his head. “And there’s a big difference between ten months and six.”
“Hmm. I suppose the restrictions were because of the flow of magic in your world. If it was only strong those four times, then both conception and birth would by nature need to take place then.” Cade tilted his head, his father’s scholarly instincts kicking in within him. “I wonder what it is like for fae…”
Poe chuckled. “We’ll ask Cosmo, huh?”
Tanya stamped her foot. “Hello!”
“Sorry, my sweet girl.” Cade held open his arms.
“So there’s going to be a baby.”
“Yes, in the summertime, there’s going to be a baby.”
Tanya pursed her lips. “Good, my birthday is in the springtime. I don’t want to share my birthday with the baby.”
“That’s fair. You don’t have to.” Then Poe shook his head at her. “So anyway, it looks like our family’s going to grow. How do you feel about that?”
Tanya gave Poe an incredibly adult glance. “I’m going to protect the new baby. That’s going to be my brother or sister, and I won’t let anyone get it. No one will bite my baby.”
Oh, she’s got some rage there.
It’s understandable. Anger is part of mourning.
I guess you’re right, I just wish it wasn’t. Poe came to stand in his embrace as well, and he held his whole world in his hands. “I believe that you’re going to protect the baby, and Cade and I will protect you.”
Tanya touched Poe’s forehead, the caress one of love and care. “I believe you, Papa. I believe in you, more than anyone. You chose me.”
Poe’s eyes filled with tears. “I did. So Nan came to help us here at the house and help us be a family, and she says that there’s going to be a…” Poe looked to Cade in a kind of a panic. “Some kind of a cat that’s coming to stay with us. Be our family’s companion.”
“A kitty?” Tanya’s eyes lit up “Like Aria?”
Cade spread his hands wider. “Much, much larger. And silver and blue.”
“Like Poe?” Tanya asked.
“Yes, very much like.”
“I like kitties. Will it let me love on it?”
“You could probably ride on it.”
Poe stared at him. “What?”
“Yes, they’re not a small. Think of Spirit, the bear.”
“You are not serious. They don’t make cats that size.”
Cadeyrn had to grin. “Perhaps not where you’re from.”
“Tigers are big,” Tanya said.
“That’s true.” Poe blinked. “Seriously, am I going to have to worry about it eating the baby?”
Cade laughed out loud. “Goddess no. It will be a fierce protector for both Tanya and the little one.”
“Okay, cool. I just don’t want to have to fend off a big cat when I’ve just had a baby.” Poe put a hand on his belly.
“No, Kadi. I would fight it off.” Tanya put up her fists.
“I bet you would.” Cade ruffled her hair.
But she would not need to. The cat would be a boon, and so would Nan.
He could not believe how amazing his life was becoming, all because of his adorable mate.