“I don’t think that’s how---” Mori started but stopped. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or not?”
“This is why I didn’t tell you. You can’t just say congratulations and move on,” Preston said and flopped onto the sofa.
“Well, unless you’ve evolved to impregnant yourself, there is a second person involved,” Mori said.
“Thanks, Commander Obvious,” Preston rolled his eyes.
“Did the medics finish with you?” I interrupted, trying to give the pregnant bear a break.
“I’m calling our parents!” Mori groaned.
“No,” Preston shook his head. “Or you know what call them. Tell them. Then I’ll tell them about how you kept a lot of your little paranormal things from them. Mori, remember, I know where your skeletons are buried.”
“You make me want to bang my head on the wall!” Mori growled.
“Come on,” Crilus said, slipping his arm through Mori’s. “You’re making an ass of yourself. Yelling at my dad. Shouting while my mate was between you two and now, you’re harassing a pregnant bear. We’re getting out of here for a while.”
“Crilus, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “Not with everything that’s happened.”
“Don’t you start with me. I’ve faced monsters without you, and I’ll do it again. If you want to be helpful, stay with Preston. We’ll finish our conversation later. I’m saving Mori before he breaks every relationship he’s ever had. If Teddy arrives while we’re out, tell him to find us.”
“Where are you taking him?” I asked.
“For a walk,” Crilus shrugged.
“I’ll make snacks,” Creon said and then sighed. The kitchen was currently off limits.
“I’m okay,” Preston said as Crilus dragged his brother out the front door. “You should get some sleep if you can.”
“Okay. Just shout if you need anything,” Creon said. “And congratulations if that’s really what’s in order.”
“It is,” he nodded.
I wasn’t sure what to say to Preston after Creon disappeared deeper into the house. So, I sat down in the armchair next to the sofa.
“You’re wondering about my scent,” Preston laughed. “There are these little pills you can take to hide what stage you are in your cycle. They were invented to tone down the scent of heats and ruts but they totally cover up a pregnancy. I’m also a bear. The baby is a bear. That takes nine months to come about. So, I’m showing but not under shirts like this. Not ones this loose.”
“If you’re happy with the situation, that’s enough for me. The only questions I have are do I need to drag the other guy in here and make him be a dad and do you think he’s the one behind breaking the windows.”
“Not him,” Preston shook his head. “We met on Pheromone Swap. We hooked up for a weekend and now I’m pregnant. He’s not ready to be a dad. I am. I’ve made it clear. He’s not showing up when the kid’s a teenager and expecting to magically be a ‘dad.’ He says he doesn’t want any part of it. He offered to pay for an abortion. I’m not against people making choices for themselves but I want my baby. His mother on the other hand is livid. Like seeing red livid. Is that offensive? I don’t know if vampires really see red. I’d never ask anyone—” Preston said, tripping over his words.
“Not offensive to me,” I shook my head. “Why is she so mad?”
“She thinks either I should’ve done away with the pregnancy or come to live with her so she can have the baby. I’ve told him. I’ve told him so many times to call her off, but I don’t think hecan. It’s like she’s some evil witch who thinks she’s entitled to her son’s first-born baby.”
“Is he a bear too?”
“Yeah. No, not related to Philip McCoy from the GGB. Everyone asks me that,” Preston laughed and leaned back against the sofa. “I haven’t told anyone because I’m waiting for her to calm down. My carrier would kick her ass. My sire would freak out and try to drag my hookup into my life. I don’t want any of that. I just want to live my life and have this baby.”
“I can’t make any promises about your parents but if his mum is behind this, that will be taken care of. Why didn’t you say anything before?” I asked.
“Because I wasn’t sure it was her. I didn’t think she’d try to blow up the bar with me in it. I certainly didn’t think she’d come to London just to attack me.”
“I think we need to reach out to the leaders there in the GGB. She’s one of theirs. Maybe they can wrangle her. If not, maybe we can reach out to the Council of International Magic Users. If offing her is still on the table but I’m not sure that’s the way you want to go.”
“I don’t know what to do. She thinks she’s entitled to the baby because they’re part of her bloodline. They’re magical too,” Preston sighed.
“Eh, fuck her. It’s your baby. If the baby’s sire wanted to be part of this, I’d have to keep my mouth shut but she has no right to your baby. No right to try to command the direction of your life or where you go with your kid,” I frowned.
