27. Pregnancy #4
They continued to walk. Someone hissed at the butlers for popcorn, but none of the footsteps headed for the kitchen. Instead, several people came toward the cavern, many of their heads popping into view just past the cavern’s entrance.
Emre’s attention was on Zenith though. He admired Zenith’s profile, his handsome, determined face, the line of his jaw and his full, red lips.
Who would’ve thought this was where he would end up?
Three steps later, Emre’s belly tightened again. This time, something popped in his belly.
Emre blinked, faltering.
“Sweetheart?” Zenith asked, concerned.
Emre was about to say he was fine, when fluid trickled out of him.
His mouth fell open. It couldn’t possibly...
“I think my water broke.”
Zenith paled. “Your water broke?!”
A louder gasp went through the cavern. Money changed hands.
“What do we do?” Emre squeaked.
“Get through the bonding first,” Zenith said. “But try not to rush. You need to keep your feet on the Circle.”
It was just a tiny bit stressful, following the circle with his toes because he couldn’t see it with his eyes. Emre clutched his belly with his other arm, gritting his teeth when another contraction rolled through him. Zenith squeezed his hand, his jaw clenching.
They were almost done with the second lap when Emre felt their baby moving through him.
“I think there might be some crowning,” he squawked.
Zenith made a choked sound. “C’mon, almost there.”
They crossed into the third lap, and a gust whipped briefly through the cavern.
“Three times for a future well-told,” Zenith rumbled, his hand tight around Emre’s.
Emre barely heard it. His body was squeezing again, pushing with such familiarity that Emre knew, somehow, that they didn’t have much time left before the pup was here.
“Zenith,” he squeaked.
He didn’t know what his face looked like, but it made panic flash through Zenith’s eyes.
“Maybe take larger steps?” Zenith squeaked back. “It’ll help you walk faster.”
“What if larger steps make the pup fall out?!”
“Okay, small but quick steps,” Zenith said. “But only as safe as you can make it.”
Emre reached behind in case he needed to catch the pup. All of a sudden, his loose lounge pants didn’t seem like such a good idea.
“Lose the pants, maybe,” Zenith said worriedly. “Carefully.”
“How do I focus on following the line and taking off my pants at the same time?” Emre yelped. “And keeping the baby inside?”
There came another contraction. The pup descended further, and Emre made a choked sound.
“Oh gods, oh gods, please don’t shoot out right in the middle of the Circle,” Emre chanted.
It was really fucking hard to follow a curving line while heavily pregnant and battling contractions. While also stepping out of his pants. More than once, Zenith had to correct Emre’s course. Emre gritted his teeth and finally managed to kick off his pants.
“I think the pup’s coming out,” he yelped during the next contraction.
Zenith swore and reached between Emre’s legs, his eyes bugging out. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. I can feel—”
“One of us, one of us,” his brothers chanted.
More money changed hands. Someone was playing climactic movie music on their phone.
Then the pup slid out fully, and Zenith yelped. But he caught their baby with one large hand, and their audience broke into applause.
“He’s so tiny! Hello, kiddo,” Zenith said, his hand sweaty around Emre’s. He couldn’t bring their pup up further; he and Emre were still connected by the umbilical cord. Zenith had to walk while he was hunched over, keeping their pup balanced on his hand as they took the last few steps.
Mostly, Emre was staring at their baby.
This child was just as important as Abbie and Bean, and just as beautiful. He looked so tiny in Zenith’s hand.
Even though this was the second birth Zenith had helped with, the alpha looked just as awestruck as he had when he’d glimpsed Bean. Emre’s heart felt so full.
The moment they completed the third lap, all the circles flared a bright blue. Magic swept from Zenith’s body into Emre’s, splitting Zenith’s lifespan between both of them so they would get to grow old together. At Zenith’s temples, a few of his hairs turned gray.
They turned to face each other, matching grins on their faces.
“I love you,” Zenith said. “This ceremony has been crazy, but I’d do it all over again with you at my side.”
“Me too,” Emre said, choking up. “Love you too.”
They shared a clumsy kiss, their noses bumping, mouths smiling wide.
“Here, hold him,” Zenith whispered. His eyes were wet. “You did so well and I’m so proud of you.”
Emre finally released Zenith’s hand, scooping their child into his arms. The new pup was tiny, but human-shaped because this was the form they were both in during the birth. “Hey, little one. Welcome to the world.” To Zenith, he added, “He has your nose.”
“And your mouth,” Zenith said.
Then Emre cleaned the pup’s face, and he began to wail.
Around them, the dragons were roaring in welcome. Sen and Thomas came up to them, pulling Emre, Zenith, and the new pup into a hug.
“Welcome to the family,” Thomas rumbled. “Bean and Abbie too.”
Emre grinned and looked up at his alpha. Zenith’s gaze was endlessly fond.
“Yours,” Emre said. Zenith kissed him.