Chapter Eleven
Kyson
“Juni, where are you?” I called out, but he didn’t respond. He wasn’t feeling the greatest this morning, and I’d meant to keep a closer watch, but got lost in working on the nursery furniture.
Mate?
When he didn’t reply through our bond, my dragon and I got a sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach.
He wasn’t in the kitchen nor napping on the couch.
Wasn’t sleeping in our bed nor in the bathroom for one of his five thousand daily bladder breaks.
Juni was due to lay the eggs any day now and I hated leaving him alone for more than a few minutes.
Check the nursery.
On it, dragon.
I flew up the stairs and into the room and there he was, nestled amongst the blankets and pillows he insisted we’d need. He was so tiny in comparison to the massive nest he was nearly lost in the plushy pile.
“Sweetheart,” I whispered as I knelt beside him. “Everything okay?”
“Huh?” my sleepy-eyed mate yawned. “Must’ve fell asleep fluffing the pillows. Here, help me up and I’ll make lunch.”
“Honey, if you need to nap then do it. I’m a big boy who can feed himself.
” His stomach rumbled. “And my hungry family too. Come on,” I held my hands out to help him up.
His poor tummy was so big he could no longer see his feet and had taken to either being barefoot or wearing slippers.
I’m not happy he got up the stairs on his own, but I’d not chide him now.
I’d just stay glued to his side until the twins came.
I kept a tight grip on his arms as he wobbled down the stairs.
Up until these last couple of weeks he’d had a fairly easy pregnancy.
Thankfully, so had Azure. Now my poor mate couldn’t get comfortable no matter how hard he tried, and I felt terrible waking him now, but the twins were hungry, if that mad rumble in his gut was anything to go by.
Mom?
I’m on the way. Azure is in labor too.
Shit.
It’s a big day for our family. It’s Juni’s first and I promised him I’d be there.
Should I call Nuri.
She’s already on the way with Shayla.
Shayla was Nuri’s granddaughter, and a midwife, just like Nuri. I was relieved they’d both be at the compound for this. Shayla didn’t live on the mountain, but at the base of it in the small town, and with both here Juni and Azure would be well taken care of.
“I don’t feel so good.” Juni swayed and I scooped him up and ran right back up the stairs to the nursery.
I’m so glad mom knew what was going on, I was way out of my element with this.
“Plastic—don’t forget the plastic,” Juni ordered.
I grabbed the roll from the corner of the room, moved him to the floor, rolled it out over the nest then laid him back in it.
Juni was insistent that he give birth in the nest and he wanted it to stay clean for the eggs to lay in afterward.
He’d made certain it was big enough for both of us to fit so we could curl up with the twins together.
Based upon the size of his belly, these weren’t small eggs, though my poor Juni was. But I kept that to myself, I feared it would freak him out. Nuri and Shayla assured me an omega’s body was built for this, and it would adjust however it had to.
Whoever is listening, please don’t let Juni or I pass out during this.
Hopefully the once shallow Juni was long gone, because if he insisted on a nip and tuck afterward, I’m certain that internet searches for butthole surgeries may just land me in jail.
Goddess, help us all.
“FUCK!” Juni bellowed.
“Juni bug, I’m here,” mom called out as she hit the top of the stairs, just as calm as ever.
“Thank fuck for that, his water just broke.” And thank fuck for the plastic Juni had insisted upon, ‘cause yeah, it was a mess already.
“Help me get his clothes off. Nuri will be here any minute.” I slid a claw down the sides of his outfit and yanked it off him, tossing it who knows where. I’d replace it later if he wanted a new one. “Well, that’s one way to do it,” mom shook her head at me.
“Could have burned them off of him.”
“Thank you for not doing that, son.”
“AHHHH!” Juni screamed. “This is not fun for me!”
“Nope, and this is only the beginning,” Nuri shared far too readily as she came in. “Let me check and see how far along you are.” As soon as she reached under Juni, our dragon growled. “Down boy, this isn’t foreplay.”
Blink-blink.
Did she just say?
Yup, dragon, she did.
Hmm.
Best we back off, dragon.
“Now that you got your head out of your ass, come sit behind your mate and help him birth these babies.” Leave it to Nuri to call us out on our BS. I swear, that woman knew everything about everyone in our clan.
“Yes ma’am.” Feeling well and properly chagrined, I leaned Juni forward just enough to fit in behind him. His groans troubled me, but I’d soon have him in a more comfortable position. Well, as comfortable as an omega in labor can be.
“Juni, you’re not quite ready to push yet. You’re only at seven and those eggs are a good size,” Nuri said what I’d avoided. Better her than me.
“Wait what?” Juni’s terrified gaze met hers. “How in the hell are they getting out of me? They’ll rip me wide open.”
“Juni, I promise you your body is made for this. Nothing will rip and whatever stretches will return to normal in a couple of days,” Mom’s soothing voice calmed him. Somewhat.
“Okay. Okay,” he chanted, until the next contraction hit. “Son of a!”
I had a feeling these were the only two kids we were gonna have.
“Let me grab the towels,” Mom snagged them and got into position, “Kyson, keep him warm.” She dabbed away at Juni’s sweaty forehead and massaged his hips. My poor mate was in so much pain.
“On it.” Dragon and I pushed our body heat forward, just enough to soothe him.
Juni made me promise to burn the towels afterwards. No washing and reusing as he’d deemed them tainted after this. His mind worked in very mysterious ways.
“I’m so thirsty. Can someone get me a drink?”
“No can do, sweet boy,” Nuri said. “We may be able to get you ice chips but there’s a chance you’ll throw up if you have anything substantial in your belly.”
“This really sucks.”
Mom chuckled. “Yes, but the end result is more than worth it. Just wait until you meet those tiny fingers, toes, and sweet faces.”
“When you put it like that, I feel like a bad dad.” And there went his tears. “I don’t want to be a bad dad like mine was. I want to be like Otis.”
“Sweetheart, the fact you just said that already tells me you’ll be a wonderful daddy to my grandchildren. You’ve got this, Juni bug,” Mom kissed his forehead. “Now, let’s get those beautiful babies out of you so we can moon over them.”
“Did you hear that you two,” I rubbed his belly as I said it, “time to come out so we can spoil you.” They shivered through our connection, just as scared as their Daddy was. “You’re okay, little ones. You’ll see that just as soon as we get to hug you and love on you.”
The contractions went on far longer than I was comfortable with, but Nuri said when it’s time, we’ll know.
Our dragon finally stopped growling when she checked how far Juni was dilated but our poor mate was in so much pain.
I wished I could take it away but couldn’t deny how excited I was to see the twin’s eggs.
“Okay Juni, get ready to push with the next contraction,” Nuri finally said the words we’d been waiting for, and I breathed a sigh of relief until Juni had to push. “One, two, three, push!”
“Argh!” Juni groaned as he bore down and pushed with all his might.
“Alright, nice deep breaths. That’s it,” Nuri’s intent gaze was on the baby shoot. “Get ready and, push!”
Poor Juni was at this for hours before she finally said the magic word. “I see the first egg, a beautiful rich blue like his Papa. This time Juni, push until I tell you to stop. Now, push!”
Juni screamed and every muscle in his body contracted as he gave it his all. I’m not sure I could’ve handled watching from where mom and Nuri were. Seeing my mate’s body stretch like that would’ve sent me over the edge, and not in a good way. I’d be passed out beside him in the nest.
“Good job, Juni. Your son is nearly out.”
“Kael,” Juni panted. “A boy, Ky.”
“Yes, my love and a big one at that. You’re doing good. I’m so proud of you, mate.”
“He is a strapping egg. One more big push Juni and your son will be out. Now, push!” Juni cried this time as he did, a mix of excitement and pain I’m sure because our Kael was one of the biggest eggs I’d ever seen.
Mom wrapped the egg in a towel and wiped it down before she set him beside us. “My word, Juni. You make some big, beautiful babies. Just look at Kael’s magnificent coloring. He will be a strong alpha for sure.”
Our dragon was beside himself, fretting and worrying until we got a glimpse of Kael. Now he puffed up with pride.
Strong boy, like his Papa. Can’t wait to fly with him.
Same, dragon. Our mate did well.
Very well.
Juni sighed and attempted to cat nap, but Kael’s twin wasn’t having that.
“Juni, no rest, I’m sorry. Your daughter is much smaller and is already lined up to follow her big brother out. Get ready to push.” As soon as the contraction hit, he pushed and a good portion of the second egg came out.
“Oh my gosh, Kyson, she matches your chest,” Mom cried. “Our first granddaughter.”
“Kalliope,” Juni cried. “One of each. Thank the Goddess for that because I’m not doing this a...” he didn’t have time to finish that sentence before our girl came barreling out and right into grandma’s towel.
“Kalliope is gonna be a little omega spitfire like her Daddy,” Juni smiled when mom said that. “Congratulations to both of you. You did well, Juni bug.”
“Thank you,” he breathlessly panted. “Ky, they’re so beautiful.”
“As are you, my love.” My tears joined his when I kissed his parted lips.
“Let’s get Juni cleaned up and tucked into the blankets with the eggs,” mom suggested. “Kyson, he’s gonna be sore for a few days so you better take good care of my son-in-law.”