Chapter Four #2
Marlin wished he could talk about it with his best friend, but he couldn’t.
Birch was protective of Curran, and while Marlin didn’t think he would be opposed to a relationship between Marlin and Curran, his first instinct would be to protect his brother.
Since Marlin didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t want to burden Birch that way.
He also didn’t want to risk losing him for something he wasn’t sure he could have.
Something landed on his cheek. He blinked and came back to the present, which he never should have left since he was working. “What is it?”
Killian arched a brow. “Aren’t you supposed to be protecting me?”
“I am.”
“I called your name several times, and you didn’t react. I can’t help but wonder what you would’ve done if someone had barged in.”
Marlin winced. He needed to be more careful. “I apologize.”
Killian frowned. “You know I don’t care. I’m just worried because it’s not the first time something like this has happened recently.”
“He’s probably daydreaming about whoever he slept with the night of the party,” Birch teased.
Marlin winced. He really needed Birch to stop thinking about what he’d done after the party. “It has nothing to do with that.”
Birch shook his head. “Come on, man. I know you. It’s the first time I’ve seen you so focused on someone, and I really wish you’d tell me who it was.”
“Not telling us is making us wonder if it’s someone you shouldn’t be sleeping with,” Killian added.
Marlin shuffled his feet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He didn’t miss the way Birch and Killian glanced at each other.
Maybe he should talk to Killian and ask him not to mention anything to Birch.
He wouldn’t be happy, but he’d do it because they were friends.
At the same time, Killian was the king. Was it right to ask that of him?
Wouldn’t it be better for Marlin to keep all of it to himself?
It wasn’t like anything else would happen with Curran, anyway. He couldn’t even stand to be in the same room as Marlin. It would be a miracle if he talked to him.
“Well, there are only a few people he really shouldn’t be sleeping with,” Birch said. “Maybe one of your siblings.”
Marlin shuddered. “I wouldn’t sleep with one of Killian’s siblings even if they paid me to do it.”
“Who is it, then?” Birch asked. He’d always been pushier than Killian.
“No one,” Marlin said with a glare. “Besides, it doesn’t matter because they want nothing to do with me.”
That wiped the smile right off Birch’s face. “What? Why?”
“Things are complicated.”
“Maybe, but not so complicated that this person shouldn’t talk to you. Did something happen between the two of you?”
“Not the night we spent together, but it’s always been complicated.”
“Maybe you should find a way to uncomplicate it.”
“Don’t you think I would’ve already done that if I could? I don’t know what to do or even if I should do anything.”
Birch reached over to squeeze Marlin’s forearm. “Well, whatever happened, I’m on your side. Tell me if you need anything, please.”
“The same goes for me,” Killian said. “Let us know if you need anything. I could give you some time off.”
Marlin shook his head. “There’s no need for that. Like I said, they’re not talking to me, so it would be useless to take time off.”
“It wouldn’t be useless if it helps you.”
“Besides, you’ve been distracted,” Birch added. “It’s good that nothing’s happened with Pearl, but you know that eventually, she’ll strike. We need to be on our A game and protect Killian when she does.”
Marlin swallowed. Birch was right. Marlin hadn’t been doing his job, and that needed to stop. He’d never forgive himself if something were to happen to Killian while he was distracted. “I’ll do better,” he promised.
Both Birch and Killian stared at him for a moment. He expected to be judged, but instead, they both nodded. “Of course you will,” Killian said softly.
Marlin didn’t have a choice.
* * * *
KNOWING FOR SURE WHAT was happening, Curran left the infirmary, but he was still confused about what to do about it.
Part of him wanted to take Palmer’s offer and terminate the pregnancy.
He didn’t know what to do with a baby. He hadn’t been planning on having one anytime soon, and he wasn’t sure what his life would look like if he did.
It would be a mess. His mothers would be happy but probably also kind of disappointed. They’d know that it had been an accident, and they’d always told him to be careful, which he hadn’t been. He also wasn’t in a relationship, and they’d want to know who the other father was.
Marlin would know it was him, but did anyone else have to know? Curran didn’t want to tell people. Hell, he didn’t want to tell Marlin. If there was a way for him not to, he wouldn’t, but Marlin would guess as soon as Curran started showing.
He looked at his stomach as he walked down the hallway. It was still flat, but it wouldn’t be for long. He’d be able to hide the pregnancy for a while longer, but what would he do once he couldn’t anymore? What would he tell Marlin? Hell, what would he tell Birch? Would his brother be happy?
Curran supposed it depended on what Marlin’s reaction would be.
He was a good person, so Curran had no doubt that he’d want to help and take responsibility.
That wasn’t how Curran wanted things to go, though.
Yes, he wanted his baby to have both their fathers, but he wanted to be with Marlin.
He wanted them to be a family. Instead, they’d be co-parents.
That wasn’t what he’d imagined his life would be like, and it was entirely his fault.
If he’d been more careful, if he hadn’t given in to having one night with Marlin, this wouldn’t have happened.
He wouldn’t be in this situation right now, scared and excited, nauseous and hungry, conflicted and confused.
It was a lot to deal with, and he had no idea what to do. Should he go to Marlin and tell him?
Curran knew that the answer to that question was yes, but he couldn’t.
He couldn’t face Marlin and tell him that their one night together meant that they would be stuck for the rest of their lives.
Even when their child was an adult, they would still be linked by them.
They would be parents soon—already were in a way—and that was life-changing.
He needed a plan. He needed to decide what his next steps would be.
Curran paused by a window and leaned against the ledge.
Outside, the sky was pale blue, with white clouds lazily moving.
Far in the distance, he could hear the screech of a dragon in flight.
He wanted to shift, but at the same time, he didn’t.
The thought of his body changing in both of his forms made his stomach twist. Would he still recognize himself once he started showing? Would he recognize his dragon?
His thoughts shifted back to Marlin—how they’d smiled at each other that night, how surprised Curran had been when Marlin had told him he wanted him.
How natural it had felt to fall into each other’s arms after years of yearning.
How good it had felt, even though Curran had known that Marlin wasn’t doing it because he loved him.
How impossibly complicated it had become.
He pushed away from the window and continued walking, staying away from the dining hall because he wasn’t hungry.
He wasn’t ready to go home, either, so instead, he decided that walking down hallways was a nice way to spend an hour.
Hopefully, his mothers would be gone once he went home, and he’d be able to snuggle into his nest and stare at the ceiling for a few hours.
He needed some time to wrap his mind around the mess he and Marlin had made.
He snorted loudly enough that a dragon walking past him turned to look at him. He shrugged but didn’t say anything.
He and Marlin were in this mess together, but at the end of the day, it was Curran who was at the center of it. He was the one carrying their baby. He was the one who would have to lay the egg. Once that was done, they could both watch over the egg, but until then, the work was all Curran’s.
He swallowed. How long would he be able to hide the pregnancy?
It should be fairly easy to do when it came to Marlin because they didn’t see each other that often, but Curran’s mothers saw him every day.
They wouldn’t notice the instant he started showing.
Once they did, he’d have to tell them what was going on, and Birch would find out.
If he found out, Marlin would, too, and he’d know that he was the baby’s other father.
Curran could lie to him and tell him there had been someone else, but he couldn’t do that. He didn’t want to do that.
He wouldn’t have a lot of time to decide what to do next, but he did have a little.
For the next few weeks, he could ignore what was happening with his body and act as normally as he could.
That normality wouldn’t last long enough, but it would give him time to decide what his next step should be and how to take it.
It would give him time to accept what was happening to him and the way it had happened.
It would give him time to find a way to tell Marlin about it, and he desperately needed that time because he had no idea how to go about doing that.