Chapter Four
J ennel looked at her arm band with its wrapping to make sure it would scar up, and she held Day-ek’s hand as he was marked as married to her.
Nylora smiled when Day-ek asked, “Can you make sure it will scar up bright? I want to make sure Jennor is pissed because he has to wait for all the dignitaries to come to the mansion. Reymark is wearing her bite, I get the scar, and Jennor has to wait for Jennel’s nose ring to get bigger.”
Emily snorted. “I have worked on orcs before. I am actually taking a strip of flesh out for you, Speaker.”
He grinned. “Nice.”
She finished engraving him, sealed the wounds with magic, and then put a wound wrap on it. Non-stick gauze was a wonder.
They had all gotten something done, and Emily was going to have to make a bank run. They had tipped handsomely, even if she did the work on family.
Nylora felt the four marks around her belly, and she smiled.
Since the moment she had first discovered her pregnancy, she had been looking forward to holding her baby in her arms. Until this moment, she hadn’t been sure she could go through it and survive.
Now, she knew she wasn’t going to be alone.
She rubbed her belly and smiled.
Isocar hugged her and grinned. “Feel better?”
“So much. If Jennel didn’t have to hold Day-ek’s hand, I would hug her, too.”
Dia grinned. “What about me?”
“I have been hugging you off and on all night. I can’t hug Emily while she’s working.”
Emily cleaned up and then stripped off her gloves. “Now you can hug.”
Nylora hugged her and felt the taller woman’s hug in return.
It was after six. Day-ek was off duty, and his team and Jennel’s were waiting in the front room.
More hugs, and in some cases, careful hugs went around, and Day-ek provided the design for Corit for his eighteenth birthday. They would bring him there before any of the clan festivities. It would be an event to remember or forget if you were drinking.
As they all trooped out with Jennor sulking that his official claiming of Jennel had to be a public wedding, another XIA vehicle pulled up.
Emily smiled as Neekil walked toward her.
Nylora chuckled. “You are working on dark elves now?”
“Sure. Why not? He is coming for a test, and his buddies might get cartoon aliens or something.”
All three agents were walking toward the house when the door to the house next door opened, and a young boy bolted out and said, “Emily! Guess what? My head comes off!”
Neekil’s companions stopped, and one turned slowly to watch the child run up to Emily and pull his head off, white-blue flame seared the neck hole, and the head was still talking excitedly.
“It happened last night, but it was too late, and Mom said you had a bunch of ladies there, so I should wait, and you aren’t working right now. So, isn’t this neat?”
The boy’s mother came over and grinned. “He’s super proud, but now, we have to go get him registered before school so they can look into training for him.”
Nylora looked at one of the men, who slowly reached up and lifted his own head off, tucking it under his arm.
“The key is to keep a secure grip on it, as your friends at this age will want to kick your head around like a soccer ball. Keeping a grip on it is the first thing you learn.”
The boy’s mother was staring at the Dullahan as he turned so his head was facing her. “Ma’am, where’s his father?”
“There was a friend’s wedding, and I got a little plastered. I found a groomsman, and then nine months and a week later, Jerrik emerged.”
“How long ago?”
“Uh...”
“Was it Terrel and Gennifer’s wedding?”
The woman changed colour and then burst into blue-white flames.
Jerrik put his head back down. “Mom? What’s wrong?”
Nylora watched the woman wrestle her emotions into calm, and the fire disappeared.
Emily said, “Iris, why don’t you get Jerr to school? This is a lot for the first thing in the morning. No one is moving away, so you can get some tests done before anyone freaks out.”
Iris nodded and said, “Hey, Jerr, let’s get going, or you are going to miss soccer practice.”
She looked at her son, and he said, “But Mom, he’s like me.”
The agent reached into his vest and handed her a business card.
“Mom, give him one of yours.”
She went into her back pocket and handed him a card that was slightly curled at the edges. “Sorry. I left the other ones in my uniform.”
He looked down, smiled, and put it in his pocket. “Thanks. I will be in touch about that test, not that it is necessary. I definitely remember you.” He crouched down. “And Jerrik, I will definitely see you again. I am the only other Dullahan in town.”
Jerrik beamed and stuck out his hand. Kairek shook his hand, and then Jerrik’s mom got them over to their house and in the van on the way to soccer.
Nylora smiled. “That was cute.”
Emily laughed. “Yes, Aunt, it was. So, Neekil, do we want to do that test?”
Kairek was looking like he had been struck with a club. Emmers clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a dad.”
“I... yeah. I remember that night. Wow, do I remember that night. I even remember thinking that the best part of the wedding was taking that damned suit off in such delightful company.” He mused. “Her dress was a purply red.”
“Burgundy. The colour is burgundy.” Emmers snorted.
Neekil looked to Emily. “So, yes, I would like to do a sample mark. I have it here.”
Nylora said, “Em, you good?”
“I am good. Have a great day. Wait. One more hug.” She reached out and hugged her, giving her a big smacking kiss on the cheek.
Nylora laughed, and her phone chirped a lot. “I think I need to check that. Solor is probably going a little nuts if he got off shift and I am unaccounted for. Well, we are unaccounted for.” She patted Bump and got into the vehicle. Jennel was already gone, and her guys were right behind her.
The ladies were on their way a few moments later, chasing the other cars until the previous two turned down to the minotaur mansion, and they headed to the other manor a few moments later.
Solor was sitting on the steps and waiting. Demuel was next to him. Nylora said, “Why do I feel like I just missed curfew?”
Dia laughed. Kaitha was going to take Isocar home, but it was time for her to meet Solor.
The introduction was rather fast. Kaitha was laughing because Solor was holding Nylora tight and nuzzling her neck.
Demuel was marginally better, but Isocar was grinning as she watched her sister being hauled off into the house by two relieved mates.
Nylora sighed and looked at both of them as Solor hauled her along. “You could have been more polite to my sister.”
“You haven’t responded to my texts all day.”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
He lifted her as he opened the door to his room. “Bother me.”
She smiled and kissed him. “Not when you are working. I also don’t answer texts while I am working.”
He sighed. “Fine. How about at scheduled times per night?”
“I could do that.”
“You seem different.”
“I am. I got something I really needed today.”
“What is that?”
“A village.”
He looked at her and nodded. “That is a very good thing.”
“It is. I got some new tattoos, too. They are going to keep me from losing my mind.”
He walked into his room and set her on the bed. “How so?”
Demuel was already shirtless, and Nylora kicked off her shoes. “The ladies with dark fae blood gave me a link to them so that I won’t run out during labour. I was really scared about dying, but now I can feel them around me, supporting me. It’s a load off.”
They froze. Demuel asked, “Seriously? You were worried?”
“I was planning for it. Dark fae always have some kind of family around who can help them, but I didn’t.
I didn’t want to put it on Isocar, but it was really complicated.
I also didn’t want to beg, but I sat the ladies down and explained my concerns, and they agreed to be my anchors.
So, my niece put the marks on, and now I can relax and enjoy the next three months. ”
She patted Bump.
Solor knelt next to her. “We could have linked to you.”
“You are the wrong flavour of energy. You don’t match me; you match the baby. Demuel’s nature binds his magic to his body. If I pull on it, his beast will pull back. It isn’t something that I want to sort out when I am otherwise occupied trying to meet my baby.”
They blinked. Solor said, “I want to help.”
“Then, support me now. Bump is going to start growing fast, and it is doubtful I will make it to full term. Talk to your HR reps and let them know that paternity leave is looming. Fill out all the paperwork now.”
Demuel paused. “We will have to register her as a domestic partner.”
Solor blinked. “Right. Damn. I forgot about all of that.”
“Well, whatever you learn, you can share with Kairek. He found out he’s the father of a ten-year-old. Today.”
Demuel blinked. “Whoa. How?”
“Well, my niece is the tattoo artist who made Jennel and Day-ek’s marriage marks last night.
We were there getting scars and tattoos until early morning when Neekil and his guys were getting off shift.
Emily’s neighbour’s son came running over to show her the new activation his body went through.
He’s a Dullahan. The mom came over, smiling at her son’s antics until Kairek lifted his own head off and gave the boy tips about keeping a grip on it.
That friends would want to play with it.
That’s when the mom turned grey and then white. ”
Solor’s eyes were wide. “He has a son? Holy hells.”
“Yeah. He and she are going to have to adapt, and Jerrik is going to deal with what happens after. Kids are resilient, and I think he will be fine. Emily is going to keep me posted.” She smiled. “I found my village. I just had to ask. Until I did, everyone thought I was fine.”
Solor hugged her. “It’s an eventful time.”