“Gone. I ended him without a thought. I have never forgiven myself for failing to protect my One and unborn child.” Papochka must have known what Father and I were talking about because he suddenly got up, and after dislodging Camden’s hand from his fur, he came over and walked right up to Father.
“Hello, my heart,” Father said. He leaned his forehead against Papochka’s, and I nodded several times simply because I didn’t know what else to do or say while I stood and went over to my own One. My talk with Father wasn’t over, but I needed to hold Camden. I needed his comfort, in some way. Most likely, just as Father did.
I stopped next to Camden, and he smiled up at me. “I guess Lukyan needed to go see your father.”
I glanced back at them. “How about we go for a walk? It’s a very nice afternoon, and it will be good for both of us.”
Camden held out his hands and wiggled his fingers. I helped him stand from where he’d been sitting on the top step of the back deck. I laced our fingers together, and after I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed the back of it, I smiled down at him. “I love you,” I told him.
Camden grinned up at me. “I love you too.” We walked together for a moment. “Is something wrong? Did I do something to upset your dad?”
I shook my head. “I don’t believe so, no. I asked Father some questions, and for whatever reason, he answered. I’ll share with you once I ask if that is all right, as it’s not mine to share.”
“Ah. I understand that.” Camden sighed. “So much I understand that. Much like Charles and Anne and why they cut off my parents.”
I nodded slowly. “Very much like that. Charles didn’t mind if you shared with me though, but this is something I just learned, and I’ve not had a chance to ask Father if I can share with you yet.”
Camden smiled up at me. “I understand,” he said. “I wouldn’t ever ask for you to do something that would upset your dads. I really like them. A lot. Winston is funny, and Lukyan is just so sweet. I was worried they wouldn’t like me, and maybe I’m too hopeful, but I think they do.”
“My love, my dads love you. They both think you are the perfect match for me, which is exactly what you are. They have seen how happy you make me.” I shook my head. “In case you haven’t noticed, they’ve been here for a month. They were coming to visit for a week or so.”
Camden looked up at me with innocent eyes. “It’s stillor so. They have a grandbaby on the way. Lukyan said he was excitedabout the baby. He asked if we were going to have more, and I told him if we were lucky enough, yes.”
This was true. And Camden was due in eleven days. He should be happy about the baby and the possibility of having more. He didn’t need to be burdened with the tragedy that my fathers had faced over three centuries ago. I was young. Too young to remember. So I was what? Two at the most? Maybe three? Over three hundred and forty years ago, my papochka had been attacked by his own father. I looked down at Camden, and after closing my eyes briefly, I shook my head. I just could not understand how someone could be so cruel. Especially to their own child. I’d seen it too many times since joining the council.
“Do you think your dads will stay here for longer spurts?” Camden asked. “I know you said they were retired and enjoying life in Ibiza and all that, and your father is a warlock and can just poof in here and visit like you can, but do you think they’ll visit often?”
I wanted to tell my One that they were going to live here and be close to us and be part of our lives, but I couldn’t. My parents had left England a long time ago and hadn’t looked back since.
“I don’t know, my love. I know they enjoy their quiet days and nights on their little island,” I told him.
I knew he was mourning what was going to be the loss of his parents. After his appointment with Garin, we’d talked about things extensively. Camden talked to both Charles and Caleb and had decided that he was going to go no-contact completely. We were going to wait until after the baby was born, and we were going to do things on our terms, but Camden had come to the realization that the best thing for him and our children was to cut them off. His mother needed help, and his father had only enabled his mate because he was obviously miserable in their mating. It was sad.
“I won’t push, but I’d like them to meet our children. You know, there are a lot of kids that don’t have grandparents, and I get that. But I also understand that they did the baby thing. They raised you, and now they want to be alone in their retirement.”
How did I answer? “I’m sure that’s part of it. Until very recently, I was busy with work, and they knew this. They have visited, but they also knew that there wasn’t a whole lot going on in my life. Perhaps they’ll visit frequently once the baby is here.” What else could I tell him?
We’d made it to the main pathway that would lead us to the council building, and I made a production of turning us around and heading back toward the house. Camden laughed, and it was good for my soul. I smiled down at my One.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, changing the subject. “Is the walk too taxing?”
Camden did not look amused. “No, it’s not. I’m doing okay. I feel like I have a basketball in my stomach, and I can’t breathe well, and our little guy is definitely using my bladder as his pillow. I have to go pee every fifteen minutes, it seems.”
I didn’t have that issue and never would. But I could certainly sympathize with my One. I’d seen omegas that were much larger than Camden, and so had he, and many of them had those same complaints. At the end of the pregnancy, the enjoyment from it was just gone.
“Do you want me to take us back to the house? Do you need to use the bathroom urgently?”
Camden shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ll need to go when we get there, but we’re not far, right? It’s what? Five more minutes?”
“About.”
“Then I’m probably good. Besides, I’m pretty sure I could just push down my pants and go. We’re outside.”
I…that was probably true, but it wasn’t something I would recommend. I wasn’t sure how the enforcers who patrolled the mountain would react to that. I decided that I’d help us out, and one moment, we were walking back to the house, and the next, we were walking the last few steps to the front door. Camden gave me a look, but then he started hurrying to the door. I had us inside and in our bathroom upstairs with another thought, and he gave it only a brief glance before he pushed his pants down and sat on the toilet.
His sigh of relief with the sound told me he absolutely needed to go. “If it was that urgent, why didn’t you say something?”
“I honestly didn’t need to go this urgently until I was here at the house. Then it suddenly became a must.”
