21
Kassius
My eye never healed. Zenon’s claw had damaged the tissue too badly for it to be repaired, even with magic and in the end, I was blind in that eye. Halo had taken it harder than I did - blaming himself - but it didn’t bother me so much. I convinced Halo it wasn’t his fault and that I didn’t mind after the initial adjustment period. And besides - Iknewhe thought the black leather eyepatch was sexy.
I’d used the time Halo spent in the Death’s Peak cavern to do some serious homesteading. With the leftover money from four centuries ago being worth a hell of a lot more in the present day, it was enough to buy us a new home, and Halo was excited to see it. It was a red-brick home, like the old style of house in our time, cozy and sitting atop a hill surrounded by a garden.
“It’s beautiful, Kass,” he had said.
After Luce was taken to the hospital and began healing, the foxes nicely settled into Cinderhollow. I was glad to see them become part of our tribe, especially after all they’d done for Halo and I.
He’d been exhausted from the battle with Zenon, and after the adrenaline faded, he was utterly exhausted for a week straight.
Well, the fact that we had a lot of sex during that time probably didn’t help, either.
* * *
It was a cool morning,three months after our final battle, and I found Halo struggling to put the apron over now substantially swollen belly.
“Damn apron,” he muttered. “Why don’t they think about pregnant omegas when they make these things?”
I chuckled and helped him put it on, although it ended up stretched and ill-fitting. “What are you doing, anyway? I’m supposed to be the one makingyoubreakfast.” I gestured to a kitchen chair. “Come on. Sit down.”
“No way.” Halo tied the apron string, then grunted as he bent over to root around the cabinets. “I’m so sick and tired of just sitting around and not doing anything. It gets boring.”
I sighed with a smile. Halo was stubborn as a mule sometimes, but it was one of the things I loved about him. I gave up and took a seat.
“Fine,” I said. “So, what’s it going to be for breakfast, then?”
He smirked. “Pancakes. Big, fat, fluffy ones, dripping syrup.”
“Given up on healthy eating?”
“Yes,” he said, scowling. “Screw the baby’s healthy eating habits, I’m eating formefor once.”
I chuckled. But as Halo strained to reach the sack of flour, he suddenly gasped. The pan in his hand clattered to the floor.
“Halo?” I asked, immediately getting up.
Halo groaned and pointed to the floor. A puddle formed - one that leaked all the way down from his legs. His water had broken.
“Shit,” I muttered. I rushed to him. “Come on. I’ll carry you out the door.”
“No, I can walk by myself,” he began to say, but then he buckled under his own weight with an embarrassed yelp. I quickly caught him, and he sighed. “Okay, maybe Idoneed some help…”
* * *
“I’m sorry - Halowho?”
My mate’s face turned red from anger and embarrassment. “Fire-Eater,” he ground out in a tone that made it very clear he was done talking about this.
A growl built in my throat. I was getting pretty tired of the man at the front desk and his unprofessional behavior.
“But - that can’t really be your name, can it?” the man stammered. “I mean, he’s a legend and all…”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed my hand down on the counter and snarled, “Look, my mate’s water broke and he’s already in labor. If you don’t get him a room and a doctorright now- ”
“What’s going on here?” a stern, familiar voice demanded.
