Callum is another who found his mate through the group home. Nat came with a baby in tow; she was an unlucky one and had a really bad placement. Her human foster brother took advantage.
Callum actually had a soft spot for Baby Hugo before he met Nat. Not only did he ask for her hand, but he also asked to legallyadopt Hugo. I’m still unsure if Nat knows, but baby Hugo's sperm donor will never violate a female again. Personally, I’m surprised he will be able to walk again after some therapy.
Xander also met his mate in Ignatious’s assistant, Jimmy. Jimmy is a little clumsy and fell down three flights of stone stairs at Ignatious’ office, and he called Xander to help. I think Xander's place was stripped of sharp edges by the time Jimmy moved in, and after a little whoops, Jimmy is now banned from the medical area.
Trent hasn’t found his mate and I regularly find him rubbing over his heart where I suspect his mark is, Cin took him for a walk a few weeks ago and things have been better since he explained it could be his mate hadn’t been born yet and he has an Arya somewhere in his future, other than a comment of maybe someone less troublesome please he has been okay.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
JACE
On Christmas Eve, Ember's waters broke thankfully for the second and this birth we weren’t all kept in the dark and knew what was going on. We all decided to let Ren be with her for all the births; his Alpha instincts were going to be the worst to control, not knowing if she was okay. Three hours after they went into the room, Ren exits and hands a little boy to Darby,
“Ember picked Ryuu as a name.” Darby nods, but from the tears in his eyes, I’m guessing he doesn’t trust himself to speak. Ren then hands a lilac bundle to River.
“Hello little Melody” he mumbles sinking into a chair next to where I’m sitting, slipping an anklet on the baby like we had to with Bishop, Ren dips back into the room and then comes out with two more bundles passing one to me and then the other, I feel Creed step behind me and gaze down at the nearly identical girls, the only difference is the hair colour one has my blonde hair the other Embers fiery red hair, they have letters on their blankets,
“Meet Mia,” he strokes a blonde head,
“And Lexie,” he strokes a red-covered head,
“You guys can go back in. Ember has changed, and we’re ready to sleep”
The birthing room is set up with a main bed and some fold out beds, and a few hospital cots, Miles always calls them fish tanks, but we invested after Harley was born in his alter form, after we feed the babies and set them in their tanks, we all giveour amazing mate kisses, I slip into bed with her and hold her until our babies wake demanding to be fed and changed, then we switch who has snuggles with Ember, there are a lot of ‘loveyous’ on our lips each time we fall asleep.
EMBER
Six months after Ryuu, Melody, Mia and Lexie are born. The police turn up at our door looking for me. River leaves in an instant to grab Ignatious, which the two officers are not happy with when he walks in, seems Jameson, my asshole of a social worker, isn’t done interfering, and I have to appear in court, why I needed armed officers instead of a letter is beyond me. The fact that Ignatious barely held in his hysterics when he noticed Ren and Dante in matching stances with their arms crossed and scowls firmly in place, he even snapped a photo of them while the police were still present, and I will admit Dante is so cute when he goes all Grumpy Alpha.
The morning of the court case, I found out I was yet again pregnant. The guys have been getting the injection as soon as they find out which of them is the baby daddy of the hour. This time I’m thankful it’s a single baby, so hopefully an easy run.
Miles dressed me in dark grey wide-legged trousers, grey Converse and a navy off-the-shoulder t-shirt. My hair was half up, half down with the slide Kodi made for me, and I had a navy/gray crochet wrap/shawl type thing in case I got cold.
Ignatious and Jimmy bracketed me as I looked around. I noticed not one human, which I let Ignatious be aware of, and that seemed to make him nervous.
It is an open court so there are spectators in the docks here for whatever entertainment came from the day cases, none of the people I recognised, as Jameson enters I noticed a very young succubus who was dressed like a romance novel receptionist, ruby red lace bra and all, there was also an older male vampire who looked rather smug, I noticed a few of the jury shuffle and then glance back at Jameson and his lawyers.
“The female is sending out influence, I can tell it’s hitting the Jury, but not if it’s affecting anyone else,” I whisper to Jimmy, knowing Ignatious will hear too. I also notice the guard in front of me tenses and glances at the Female.
“Your honour, I would like for Mr Porter's assistant to either stoptrying to influence the room or be dismissed from the room.” Ignatious voice Booms through the room. The Judge, an elderly dragon/incubus hybrid, looks up from the file before him and nods,
“Miss you either put on a magic cuff or leave if you can’t be trusted, Mr Porter, you know better in my court! Cover yourself while you’re at it. This is a courtroom, not a second-rate porn scene.” his voice sounds bored, but I can tell by his gaze that it wouldn’t take much for him to throw them out. I can feel Jameson watching me, but I’m frozen as a female nightmare appearsbehind the Judge, accompanied by Saint.
SAINT
I’m livid when I realise it's Ember’s case we were requested to ‘help’ show the true past; I step to the judge's side.
“Your honour, the Female is my mate; do you wish me to leave?”
I’ve used my shadows to hide my voice from all others, but he shakes his head, the female to my side keeps brushing against me and its pissing me off, at our mating ceremony Ember gifted us withrings like humans have to show her claim even to humans, I made sure this woman had seen it but she wasn’t taking the hint, I notice Ember say something to Ignatious and he nods.
“Do either you, Ms Ashes or Mr Jameson recognise any of the Jury?”
Jameson is quick to answer.
“No, your honour.” LIE.
Ember stands and gets another nod from Ignatious.
