Chapter 26 – Celaeno
CELAENO
We go to my old town and collect some of my important things from my apartment. It’s been four months since we started traveling together, the best four months of my life.
But my lease is up and I need to move my stuff out or get it thrown out.
So my boys each carry a bag on their shoulders of the special things I didn’t want to leave behind, and I’m giving them a quick tour before we leave. People move out of my way as I walk, in a way they never have before.
Well, they get out of our way.
Not a single person jostles my small frame. Instead, they move around the massive men who surround me. They must be scared to get their asses kicked.
Which is a very real possibility if they hurt me in any way.
I smile. These guys treat me like I’m made of glass… I can’t wait to see how they react when I tell them my news.
I’m lost in thought for a minute, and then I look up.
Freezing, I stare, wide-eyed, as Ashley and Papa Rye head straight for us. They don’t see me until it’s too late, and then we’re all staring at each other, blocking the sidewalk. Papa Rye won't even look at me.
“Cel,” Ashley greets, in a rude little voice.
I try not to feel satisfied about the little scars all over her face.
“Ashley,” I acknowledge her, but give them nothing more than that.
“Wait, this is Ashley?” Ender asks, and his gaze snaps back to her.
I nod slowly.
Ender moves in front of me and directs his attention to Papa.
“You must be Papa Rye then,” he says with a sneer.
I peek around his massive frame and see Papa nod. That single cold movement makes my heart lurch.
“Are you aware that your granddaughter is constantly late, takes long breaks, and fucks men in the back of the store? That’s how the comet cleaner got on the donuts. She was fucking the guy who gave her that gold bracelet and knocked it over. She blamed it on Celaeno.”
The air whooshes out of my chest and I stare in shock. No one speaks for an awkwardly long minute.
Papa Rye taps his cane on the ground and sighs.
“Since I fired Celaeno, I’ve been getting a lot of complaints.
The store opens late, closes often, and the food and drinks are subpar.
Ashley’s given me a lot of excuses, but I suspect she hasn't been doing her job.
In fact, she hasn't been doing her job since I hired her.”
“Papa!” Ashley exclaims.
“Shut up,” he says, his voice gruff. “Cel, I’m sorry. I should’ve believed you. If you want to come back and work for me, you’re welcome any time.”
My brain freezes at the question. It's all I wanted since this drama started and for a minute I can't respond.
Ender draws back and my guys stare at me, waiting.
Ashley bursts into tears, but to my satisfaction, no one gives her the least bit of attention.
“Thanks for the offer,” I say, “and the apology. But I won’t be coming back to the shop again.”
He and I ignore Ashley’s wailing and chat for a few minutes. When the conversation closes, we’re both smiling. The weight pressing down on my chest is gone.
At least this time when I leave, I’ll know he doesn’t hate me.
We hug, and they walk away. Ashley clings to the old man while he tries to shake her off. I feel… completely satisfied.
“Thanks for doing that,” I tell Ender.
He smiles and slips his fingers into mine. “You just tell us whose been mean to you, and we’ll take care of it.”
I laugh. “Well, there is my ex…”
Grey speaks from beside me. “Oh, trust us, he’s on our list.”
I start to laugh again, but I stop when I realize that he's deadly serious. I'm not ashamed to admit I’m strangely turned on.
They lead me into an alley, and then Journey’s gaze locks with mine. “Is there anything else we need to do here before we go?”
I shake my head. “Not a thing.”
“So, where should we head next?” Ender asks, running his hand through his beautiful hair.
Which is completely natural, the lucky asshole. I know because I asked.
“New Zealand?” Grey asks.
“Uh,” I hesitate. “I’m not sure I can handle that flight.”
Ender smirks. “Since when?”
I take a deep breath. This wasn’t how I planned to tell them, but I guess now's the right time. “Well, since I found out I’m pregnant.”
My words are met with complete silence.
After an awkwardly long time, Grey finally speaks. “That’s impossible. Do you have any idea how rare gargoyle pregnancies are? There’s been a handful of them between humans and gargoyles, ever. There’s been a handful of them between gods and gargoyles, ever. This is… just not possible.”
I put my hand on my belly. “Well, like ten pregnancy tests and a doctor’s visit confirmed it.”
“They must be wrong.” Journey sounds breathless, almost in pain.
Hand trembling, I pull the picture from my pocket and unfold it. I’d gone to the doctor alone, without telling them, because I wasn’t sure. I knew how badly they wanted kids, and I didn’t want to be wrong.
They gather closer and stare at the ultrasound.
“That’s our little bean,” I tell them.
Ender takes the picture from my hand really slowly. “They’re sure.”
I nod.
“Holy fuck,” Ender whispers.
Journey’s hugging me in an instant, babbling like a fool.
And Grey? He’s just staring at the photo. Unmoving.
He’s happy, right?
It’s Ender’s turn to hug me. He’s going on and on about what he’ll do if it’s a boy or a girl. How they’re going to have so much fun, his words spilling out in his excitement.
Grey finally meets my gaze. “From now on, you do nothing. Not so much as walk. You’re going to lie in a bed, and we’re going to stand guard until our baby is born.”
I laugh. “Not a chance.”
He moves closer and Ender and Journey step back. “You don’t understand, this is a miracle.”
I stroke his arm, trying to reassure him. “I’ll be fine. The baby will be fine. We don’t have to change everything, just… how far we fly. A lot of shifters have to stop shifting when pregnant, so—“
“All right,” he says, the word choked, and then he’s hugging me too.
There’s so much hugging, and kissing, and touching of my belly. I’m so happy I feel like I’m going to burst.
How could I have ever known that gargoyles and monsters could come together? Not only to fall in love, but to have a family together?
I guess, I couldn’t.
But it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’ll never be lonely again.
The End