Bonus Scene
ATTENTION
If this is your first time reading the Galaxy Circus, I would suggest skipping this scene until you have read it in its entirety because it may contain spoilers for future books.
If you have already experienced this wild ride, then please continue.
Hopefully these new scenes add another layer of enjoyment to the experience
Echo
Maxsim and I couldn’t leave the room fast enough. The scent of the away party would be stomach turning at the best of times, but add in my pregnancy, and I’m dry heaving by the time we reach the lifts.
“Oh, my poor omega.” Maxsim rubs my back and purrs soothingly as I try to get my rolling stomach under control. Our sense of smell is sensitive, but that was downright unbearable. Note to self, stay away from dirty, unwashed bodies until these babies are birthed.
“I’m okay,” I rasp as we climb into the elevator, and I hit the button for the Aquilian pool floor.
“Are you sure? Maybe you should come back to our den and rest a little.” I hear concern in my alpha’s voice, but I wave a paw.
“No, I am fine. It was just the smell. I feel better now that we are away from it, I promise,” I assure him, cupping his cheeks with my paws and giving him a brief peck on the lips.
He rumbles and tries to pull me closer. He’s hoping to distract me from my mission, but I am determined to visit the pregnant merman.
I’m sure he is lonely and missing Lila, and Link says he is in the final stages of his pregnancy, so I bet he would like to talk to someone about it.
Lila would be here herself if it wasn’t for the fact that she wants to find her grandma.
She must be torn between her love for her grandparents and her developing relationship with Nikos and their babies, so I am going to do what I can to ease the burden.
Up until now, I haven’t been able to contribute much to the family.
I mean, I’m sure they appreciate us watching the children while they are on their adventures, and Max and I love it, but I can’t help feeling like I could do more.
Now that we know the warlock can magically protect us, I’m sure Max will insist on accompanying them on their missions, but with me being pregnant and an omega, I’m not naturally inclined toward violence or capable of it at the moment.
Being able to help Nikos makes me feel useful and not like a burden.
After all, I did egg-nap Lila’s eggs too—unintentionally, but I’m sure it wasn’t what she was expecting immediately when she committed to us. I’m just grateful she is so understanding and kind, because I’m beyond thrilled about these babies, and it would have been awful if she wasn’t.
“As long as you’re sure.” He sounds doubtful, but I just smile at him.
“Of course. I’m excited to speak to him about his pregnancy.
It’s sad that he can’t shift while he’s pregnant.
When I get closer, I won’t be able to either, and I’ll be confined to the den, so for now, I want to make the most of it.
I’m sure he has a list of things a mile long that the babies will need, and while everyone is busy with all the other things, I can at least help him with that.
Link said they will have to stay in the pool until the babies shift, but the water cribs the kraken babies used are also an option, and I’m not sure if he knows about them.
Wouldn’t it be nice for everyone if he could move into the suite with the rest of the family? ”
Maxsim grumbles a little, not happy with the way the merman deceived Lila in the ocean, but he is getting over it.
He just doesn’t like change, but I’m sure once he sees how happy Lila will be, he will come around.
After initially being gruff and aggressive toward her, he’s now one giant ball of fluff for her.
She just has to bat those pretty eyelashes, and he melts, or if she growls aggressively at him, then they angry fuck.
It’s hot and I love to watch it, especially when they both turn that focus on me.
“Okay, but stay away from the edge. You’re a little clumsier now that you’re pregnant, and I don’t want you to fall in.”
I scowl at him, and his lips turn up in a little smirk as the doors to the pool open. He goes to step out first, but I put my hand up.
“Pregnant beings like calm, and you are the opposite of that. I will be fine. Go check on the little ones. John is still recovering, and you know what a handful they can all be,” I suggest firmly.
He frowns but stays in the lift, and I feel a rush of pleasure that he is trusting me.
He’s been so clingy since I told him I am pregnant, and usually I love it, but I need a breather.
“Fine, but call me if you need anything.” He points to the communicator on my wrist, and I roll my eyes.
“I will,” I promise, and he points a finger.
“Don’t be a brat. You know what happens to brat omegas,” he threatens, and I shiver at the thought. I do love to be punished, but no time for that now.
“Bye, I love you,” I call as the doors slide shut, blocking him from my view.
I heave out a sigh and turn to look around the pool.
The bridge over to the little houses is still active to allow Link to come and go, so I use that to make my way to the one Nikos and Nixie claimed as their own.
I don’t bother knocking, knowing he won’t be inside, then I walk through the light, breezy living area before stopping at the stairs that lead toward the pool entrance.
Will he be down there? I didn’t quite think this through.
How am I going to find him? I don’t mind a swim, but I certainly can’t hold my breath long enough to find him in a pool so big.
Then I hear a sound outside. A beautiful song drifts on the light breeze that blows through the open shutters.
I head toward a set of French doors that lead out onto a large deck.
Sitting out there on the edge of the platform is Nikos, his tail swinging playfully as he brushes his hair and sings a lullaby.
There is nothing physically compelling about his song, like I know the Aquilians can do, just a sweet melody. I clear my throat, and he looks up and smiles, his golden features alighting with joy.
“Omega kitty, you came to visit. Please join me.” He waves a hand at a sun lounger next to him with a large umbrella over the top, creating shade.
“I asked Link to arrange this when he told me you might visit. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable in the sun, which is set quite high for me and my babies.
” He cups his very large belly with one hand affectionately.
“That was kind of you, thank you, but the warlock gave me a charm to protect myself as well,” I assure him, and his smile becomes even more joyful.
“That is wonderful. Link tells me that you too are blessed with being claimed by Lila, and like me, you hijacked her eggs.” The last bit is said a little bashfully, and I share in his embarrassment.
“It just happened, and by the time I realized, it was too late,” I admit as I settle down in the lounger and lean my head back, closing my eyes. It’s nice being off my feet for a moment.
“I didn’t even realize. It wasn’t until a week or so after I returned home, and I was constantly sick, that Nixie thought to do a pregnancy test.” Nikos sounds ashamed, so I reach out and give his arm a squeeze. His hand falls away from his hair, his knuckles white on the brush in his anguish.
“It’s okay. It was out of our control. I’m not even sure we could have stopped it if we wanted to. I don’t know enough about male omegas to know for certain. I never expected to present as one, so I never thought to pay any attention to what my father went through regularly.”
One of my fathers is an omega, and while I knew he had heats, the idea of your parents having sex isn’t comfortable for anyone, so I really didn’t ask any questions.
I was an alpha for as long as I could remember, and for me to suddenly present as an omega was a shock to everyone.
As far as I was concerned, I thought you stayed as whatever you were born as.
Nobody ever explained that it could suddenly change.
When I asked my mother about this, she told me it hadn’t happened in so long that everyone just stopped talking about it.
She confided in me when we were recently home that she hopes it’s a sign of things getting better for our species, and that more male omegas and female alphas will present now that the danger to the omegas have been removed.
Our species will flourish if they do, and we will become stronger.
“Males bearing young is much more common among the general population of Aquilia, but my father was highly against it. He said it was beneath a royal male to be encumbered with such a task.” He sounds disgusted.
“He banned any discussion of it during my upbringing and schooling, so while I knew it was possible, I didn’t know it would happen immediately, otherwise I would have taken steps to ensure it didn’t happen with Lila.
I hate that due to my ignorance, Lila had no choice but to accept me. ”
I can practically feel the sadness radiating from him, and I quickly shake my head.
“No, that is not true. If she didn’t want you, she could have rejected you.
The mating scar would fade, and yes, it would be uncomfortable, but you both then could have chosen others.
You also could have coparented with an agreement,” I tell him earnestly.
“Instead, she chose to accept you. She already felt guilty about overreacting and sending you away. In her worry for her young, she panicked and said some things she regrets and wishes she could take back. She told me.”
His eyes widen with hope. “Really?” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Yes, really. I promise I wouldn’t lie to you, that wouldn’t be fair to either of you.
She wants you and your babies, and I’m sure once all of her problems have been dealt with, she will go out of her way to reassure you,” I say and make a mental note to tell Lila about his concerns, because I doubt he will.
He’s desperate to be loved, but I don’t want him to feel like he’s settling because he has to. I want him to know he’s wanted.
“It will be nice to be part of a family again.” He sighs and starts to comb his shiny locks again. I can’t help but stare. He’s so pretty, shiny, and golden, he’s kind of mesmerizing. It’s no wonder Lila fell under his spell.
“But aren’t you and Nixie close?” I ask, closing my eyes and leaning my head back so I don’t start to perfume the air with my damn pregnancy hormones.
Lila was right, they really are no joke.
I’m constantly horny, and I’m sure I’ll set off Nikos too, and Lila is not here to help soothe them for him like Max does for me.
“Yes, we are, but she has chosen to stay on Aquilia to support our mother during the transition. I’m not even sure if she will return to the circus now. Mother named her as heir,” he mutters dejectedly.
“You don’t get along with your mother?” I ask, picking up something in his tone. “You were the heir, weren’t you?”
“I was until this happened, and don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I didn’t really want it anyway. I like travelling and performing with the circus. It’s fun and exciting. As for my mother, well, no, I think she looked at me and saw our father.”
I grimace. I’m not sure how. From what I remember of the last picture I saw of the Aquilian king, he was obese and unattractive, the complete opposite of the golden mer beside me. I’m not sure any two beings of the same species could look any more different.
“She treated me with apathy at best and downright hostility at worst. She even agreed with my father that I shamed the Aquilian people by getting pregnant without a mate. She won’t ask Lila for my return at all.”
Although he hasn’t said anything, I’m certain he’s happy his father was killed by the warlocks. I thought that maybe this was a positive change for the Aquilians with his mother now ruling, but the more he talks, the more my stomach sinks. I’m not sure if it’s going to get any better.
“Hopefully she doesn’t turn Nixie against me as well.” He sighs mournfully, and I decide it’s time to change the subject.
“Okay, enough of this sadness. Let’s talk about the babies. What do we need for them? We can start a list.” I jump and hurry back inside, grabbing the tablet Link left behind. I return to my seat and adjust the backrest so I’m sitting upright and open a program to write a list.
“Nothing to start with probably. We can’t leave the pool until their first shifts,” he tells me, but he scoots a little closer when I pull up an Aquilian website, which has parenting tips for expecting mers.
“Oh, look at this! Mer babies need a specific crustacean to eat when they are first born. It helps them cut their teeth.” I point out one of the suggestions.
“Do you have that in this pool?” I ask, looking out over the large expanse.
I can’t see beneath the surface, but Lila told me there is a whole eco system down there.
Nikos frowns and shakes his head. “No. I don’t have any destira fruit either, which I am supposed to have to help with the younglings’ development. I’m afraid I’m failing them already,” he says dejectedly, discarding his brush and lovingly cupping his stomach.
“Okay, well, that’s fine. I’m going to put both of them on the list and then have Link or one of the others help me track them down. I’m sure with our combined knowledge, it will be a piece of cake, especially if I involve the warlock.”
His eyes widen. “Do you think he will help me?”
I scoff. “The warlock is the biggest softy in the galaxy when it comes to our children. The baby krakens have him wrapped around their little tentacles, and I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before yours have him wrapped around their tiny fins.
He will go out of his way to find whatever you need, even if he has to swim to the bottom of the Aquilian ocean himself to get it,” I tell him firmly, and I see tears well in his eyes.
“Now let’s look at baby clothes. He will spell them so they don’t always destroy them when they shift, but it’s fun to shop for things for your babies.
I want to get some for mine too. When we’re done with that, we can talk baby names.
How does that sound?” I ask him, and a tremulous smile crosses his lips.
I tremble with pleasure. It feels good to be useful, and making Nikos happy is only going to make Lila happy.
That is a win-win in my book. Maybe she will stroke my tail and tell me I’m pretty when she returns, and that will make me happy. See? We are all winning.