Chapter 25
The man stood in front of his employers, waiting for them to finish discussing the news about Reif and his mate.
Having learned the hard way, he avoided joining in, aware of his place in the pecking order.
Zoning out over the endless squabbling that always occurred whenever decisions had to be made, the man’s thoughts turned back to the mate—wondering why Reif had rejected him.
Stupid asshole! If he were ever given a fated mate—not that it could happen anymore—nothing would keep him from claiming him.
Inwardly sighing, it was useless—and dangerous—to go down that path because that possibility had disappeared when one of his employers changed him.
Fighting what he’d become was useless; he found that out long ago, so now he played along.
Deep down in his soul, though, he always hoped to find a way to escape, even if it meant risking death.
He hated what they’d made him into, but carefully hid it from his employers, dreading what they’d do to him if they ever found out how he felt.
The worst part of his job was dealing with the hatred coming from Reif, his father and the rest of the sea dragons about his role in their lives—a role he’d never wanted but was forced to assume.
Being the liaison between his employers and Reif had tried him in ways he’d never imagined, but through it all, he was proud he’d still had kept part of his soul untainted by the evil now surrounding him.
So far, threats and minor attacks had worked with Reif—usually allowing him to complete his assignments ahead of deadlines, but this time was different.
Failure was not an option; not only would the sea dragons suffer, he would, too.
Only his punishment would be worse, probably ending his life and, as good as that sounded at times, he still had hopes of escaping the hell a careless night of fun had cost him.
“What the fuck is the matter with you? I asked you a question,” one of his employers snarled at him. Quickly bringing himself back to reality, the man said, “Sorry, sir. I haven’t eaten in a while.”
“Tough shit. Pay attention. Go and find out if the sea dragon has claimed his mate. Then report back.”
“Yes sir,” the man said before disappearing, leaving a wisp of smoke behind.
~/~/~/~/~
Reif pushed back his empty plate, his belly filled with his mate’s delicious cooking. “Hey, Nessie, where didya learn how to cook like that?”
Chewing his last bit of food, Brian glanced at his mate, “Cookbooks, mainly, sometimes friends would teach me. It was either that or I’d starve to death.”
“I’m not much of a cook,” Reif said. “My dad always took care of that.”
“Yer da did the cooking? What about yer ma?”
“Well, if you mean a female mother, there aren’t any…all sea dragons are male.”
Staring, Brian said, “I thought ye said ye were born aboot a thousand years ago.”
“I was. My dad gave birth to me. Dad stayed with me while father stole. I saw very little of him while I was growing up but we’re closer now.”
“Is it normal for male sea dragons to have babies?” asked Brian.
“Yeah, though it hasn’t happened in a long time,” Reif said. “The elders aren’t sure why, but I happen to think it’s because the gods abandoned us.”
“How did it happen?” asked Brian.
“What? A pregnancy?”
“Ay.”
“Don’t know. As I said, it was a thousand years ago and I was one of the last sea dragons to be born. What’s with the questions?” asked Reif.
“Last night, when we were in the water, my sea serpent scented ye…not yer normal scent…but a much stronger one. It called to my serpent, demanding I fuck ye.”
“I remember…like your blow job this morning…it was fucking amazing,” Reif smirked.
“Guid to know. But I never fucked in my animal form before…”
“I was your first? Have to say, I’m loving that fact,” Reif grinned.
Laughing, Brian asked, “What aboot ye? Ever been fucked as a sea dragon?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“What’s yer sea dragon doing right now?” asked Brian.
Taking a look, Reif said, “Huh. Never seen that before…”
“What?” asked Brian.
“He’s lying on his back with his underbelly exposed,” Reif muttered.
“Shit! I swear, I did nae know it.”
Glancing back at his mate, Reif asked, “Not know what?”
Unable to meet his mate’s gaze, Brian looked down, wondering if he was right about what happened last night.
And if he was, how would Reif react? He was pretty much over the moon just thinking about the possibility since he never thought it could happen, but that didn’t mean Reif would feel the same.
Damn! It was obvious his mate didn’t have the slightest clue, so now he’d have to tell him about the birds and the bees. Shit!
“Nessie, you are freaking me out…tell me…what didn’t you know.”
C’mon asshole, man up to what ye did…or think ye did. Looking up, Brian let out a deep sigh. “I canna be sure, but I think yer pregnant…or maybe yer sea dragon. I dinna know which of your forms carries the youngling, but I’m guessing it’s yer sea dragon.”
Staring at his mate, unable to say anything, Reif was sure Brian had lost his mind.
Pregnant? My sea dragon? What the fuck? Thinking back to last night and the fun they had playing, he remembered the change he felt in his sea dragon.
At the time, he chalked it up to the excitement his beast had about being claimed, but now…
If Nessie is right, my sea dragon was in heat. Damn, I must talk to my dad.
“Reif…are you all right?” asked Brian, worried his mate was in shock. Damn, I should have been more gentle.
Finally, Reif spoke. “Why do you think I’m pregnant…no, not me…my sea dragon is pregnant?”
“Because of what yer animal is doin’ right now. With serpents, and yer one of them, exposing their underbellies is a sign of pregnancy. Normally it’s a female serpent but then ye come from an all-male species so I’m guessin’ tis the same for yer sea dragon.”
“That’s it? You’re basing everything on the fact my sea dragon is on his back? Good thing I didn’t freak out…well, at least, no more than I did,” Reif said, chuckling.
“Yer sea dragon needs to see a doctor,” replied Brian, frowning.
“Nessie, my sea dragon is not pregnant…nor am I. There is no need to go back home to see a doctor.”
“What if ye dinna have to go back home? What if ye can see one here in Scotland? Would ye do it…for me? Ye know, put my mind at rest?” Brian asked.
Thinking about his mate’s request, Reif wasn’t sure why Brian was pushing him about this. He wasn’t pregnant. But could Nessie be? Deciding to address it with his beast directly, Reif asked his sea dragon if he were pregnant, sure of the answer.
Looking at his mate, Brian waited for an answer, already knowing what it would be.
The only thing he didn’t know was how Reif would feel about them having babies so soon after claiming each other—and what if his mate didn’t want any?
Needing to know, but afraid to hear the answer, Brian kept his face expressionless.
Stunned after the tongue lashing his beast gave him, Reif sat there, staring at his mate, a whirlwind of emotions whipping through him.
I’m…no, we are going to be parents! Holy shit!
Parents? Parents! Holy fucking shit! Oh, crap, Nessie doesn’t look happy…
what if he doesn’t want kids…it would break my heart.
“Well? Did ye ask yer sea dragon?” Brian deadpanned, his voice giving nothing away.
Fuck! Gulping first, Reif finally answered. “You’re right.”
“Are ye okay?” asked Brian.
Am I okay? How the fuck do I know? Shaking his head, Reif replied, “Honestly? I don’t know.
I guess okay…I mean my sea dragon seems to be fine although a tad aggressive which is unusual…
I mean he always had a mind of his own and never shied away from telling me…
but he’s different now…I don’t know how to explain it…
don’t know what to do about it either…I better go home…
maybe I should call my father…shit I haven’t told him I found my mate… holy fuck…we are going to be parents!”
Exactly! Reif finally got to the crux of Brian’s biggest worry. “Ay. How do ye feel about that?” asked Brian.
Opening and shutting his mouth, Reif paused, unable to say anything, afraid his mate wouldn’t feel the way he did.
I could always take my son home to my family to be raised.
Even without asking them, he knew his parents would be excited about his pregnancy and would gladly take on the task of raising the boy.
The only problem with that scenario is he didn’t want to do that, but what if…
oh, shit, just say it. “I want my son,” Reif said, defiantly, ready to do battle.
Searching his mate’s face, Brian found what he’d been hoping for. A slow smile appeared on his face before morphing into a grin at the realization they would have a little sea dragon to take care of soon. “Ay, so do I.”
“You do?” asked Reif, not sure he heard his mate correctly.
“Of course I do, old man. Now will ye see a doctor?”
“Yes, but it’ll have to wait until I find the green diamond. If I leave Scotland without it, all hell will break loose and my people will be in mortal danger.”
“No need to leave. I know a doctor here.”
“A paranormal doctor? In Scotland?”
“Ay. The King of the Scottish Wolves is a doctor. Ye saw him cause he was at yer house with the Shaman,” Brian said.
“No shit! What’s his name?”
“Dr. Ian Wallace. He’s the Shaman’s brother-in-law,” Brian explained.
“I should call my parents,” Reif said, not without some agitation. “I don’t have a clue about what happens with a sea dragon pregnancy.”
“Ay, guid idea but if it’s anything like a sea serpent’s, we have aboot three months before the eggs come,” Brian said.
“Three months? That soon?” asked Reif, then, when the last part registered, he gasped, “EGGS?”
“What do ye think yer sea dragon would have? Pancakes?” grinned Brian
“Uhh, maybe little humans, otherwise known as babies…what are we supposed to do with eggs?” asked Reif. “Oh gods, no! Do I have to sit on them to keep them warm?”
“Whoa! Calm down. Ye dinna know anythin’ about yer kind’s pregnancy?” Brian asked.
“Fuck no! I told you. It’s been a thousand years since any of my people had a child. My parents never discussed it with me and I’m not even sure they know anymore.”
Nodding, Brian said, “I think we need to see the King and maybe he can help us.”
Grabbing the lifeline his mate threw him, Reif said, “Really, good, fucking idea. I don’t want to do anything to hurt our son.”
“Guid, cause my friend will be here shortly and the King is ready to examine ye when we get there.”
Reif’s eyes narrowed, “You set this up, already?”
“Ay, I did. When ye were gettin' dressed, I sent the Shaman a message and he took care of everything,” Brian said, sheepishly. “I was hopin’ ye would agree.”
Standing, Reif walked over to his mate, pulling him up into his arms. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a caring mate like you,” he murmured, “but I’m the luckiest man alive. Thanks for being here for me…and our son.”
~/~/~/~/~
“Do you know about a sea dragon’s pregnancy?” asked Colton, checking Ian’s medical bag, making sure everything was there.
“No, but I’m thinking it will be similar to a sea serpent’s one. Was that covered in your studies?” Ian asked, putting on his bathing suit.
“Sea serpents? Uhmm, I think so… but not in depth.”
“Now you’ll have a crash course. Are you ready?” asked Ian.
“In a second,” Colton said, tucking his cock inside his swim trunks. “Ugh, I like swimming au naturel.”
“Sorry, not today,” replied Ian, slipping into a pair of sweat pants. “Let’s go. I want to get down there and see what’s what.”
Grabbing Ian’s bag, Colton opened the door, ushering his mate out of their suite and found Groose waiting for him. “No problem with setting it up?”
“No, the pool is closed to everyone else except us. My enforcers are checking the area out, making sure there aren’t any hotel guests lingering,” Groose said. “Logan asked for you to join him in his suite.”
“Yeah, got the message,” replied Colton, grasping his mate’s hand and heading there.
“Let him know the helicopter has landed and that I’ll be there shortly with Brian and his mate,” Groose said.
“Will do. See you,” Colton said, opening the door to his brother’s suite.
Kieran hustled towards them, his face alight with excitement.
“Oh, my gods, a baby Nessie! Do you have your swimming suits on? Logan and I have matching ones. Luckily they were on sale. Macushla said he didn’t need one but I bought him one because they were this gorgeous rosy pink and I had never seen a shade of pink like this before, but I was so happy I did because he needed one after all. Isn’t it just perfect?”
Coming up behind his mate, Logan murmured, “And I can’t wait to peel you out of yours with my teeth.”
“Oh, macushla,” Kieran sighed.
Shifting his glance to Colton and Ian, Logan said, “This is a new one for me. A baby Nessie…who knew?”
“I did, macushla. Sea dragons are one of the extinct shifters I studied. I mean obviously they aren’t extinct but everyone thinks they are and here they were living right under our noses,” replied Kieran.
“You knew Reif would get pregnant?” Colton asked.
“I knew he could get pregnant but in order for that to happen, Brian and Reif would have to fuck in their animal forms and I certainly didn’t know if they were going to do that,” explained Kieran, giggling. “Do you know how a serpent gets pregnant because I can explain that to you.”
“Not really,” Colton said.
“Well, the male has two penises and…”
“Before this goes farther,” interrupted Logan, “and I have that image permanently etched in my brain, let’s just go. Brian and Reif are waiting at the pool.”
Ignoring his brother, Colton said, “Two penises? Are both needed to impregnate or is one a back-up?”
“Both are used. Imagine having two penises, can you imagine…”
“Babe,” implored Logan, “the pool is ours for only a short period of time, so maybe we can continue this later, okay?”
“Righto,” Kieran grinned. “Chop! Chop!”