"Yes."
Nautilus nodded slowly as if thinking about something. "I see. A koi and an osprey... what a fascinating combination."
Nishiki and I exchanged a glance, smiling at each other like we shared a private joke.
Nautilus reached a hand towards me. Although sharp claws lined the tips of his fingers, the action wasn't threatening at all. It had a gentle quality about it. "May I?"
I didn't know what exactly he wanted, but I nodded regardless. I trusted Nishiki's father.
Everyone was silent as Nautilus hovered his hand around my chest and abdomen. He closed his eyes for a moment. The only movement was the light sway of the waves and Nautilus's whiskers flowing in the breeze.
Nautilus finally withdrew his hand and smiled, revealing all of his pointed teeth. "Wonderful indeed."
"What's wonderful?" Nishiki asked.
"It seems the fates have a sense of humour," Nautilus said.
"Dad, stop being so cagey and just tell them," Nero called from behind.
Nautilus raised an eyebrow, which looked comical on his serious face. Even Nishiki stifled a laugh.
"As I was saying…" Nautilus cleared his throat. "As you might know, your mother's ability to sense a pregnancy early is something I taught her."
Nishiki stopped laughing immediately, his body tensing up. "What are you saying?"
"Your fated mate, Weston, is pregnant. but not just that." Nautilus's toothy grin got even wider. "I sense not one, but two. A pair of twins."
Both of us were stunned into silence. I slowly turned to Nishiki, who did the same. The excitement broke out all at once. He threw his arms around me, burying his face in my neck as I laughed into his golden hair. I even heard Nero hollering joyfully in the background.
"Twins!" Nishiki cried. "I guess the fates or whateverdidthink they were being funny with that one."
I didn't know how Nautilus could have known so soon after conception, but it must've had to do with the fact that he was a powerful spirit. Either way, I was ecstatic to find out this early, and from a realistic standpoint, it would make the whole pregnancy easier to plan now that we knew that detail.
"Twins," I murmured, glancing down at my belly.
"Just like me and Nero, huh?" Nishiki said with a smile.
"I suppose they do run in the family." I leaned over to kiss him, not at all self-conscious that his father was standing--or floating--right in front of us.
To hear from a powerful spirit that my suspicions about Nishiki being my fated mate were confirmed was a wonderful feeling, but even more so was knowing we were blessed with not only one, but two children. I didn't consider myself to be an overtly sentimental man but I couldn't stop the hot pinprick of tears from beading in my eyes. I leaned against Nishiki, who put his arm around me lovingly.
"Oh, Weston, don't cry," Nishiki said, but I saw the joyful tears mirrored in his own eyes. He laughed softly and wiped mine away before he did the same to his. "I'm really happy. What about you?"
"More than you could ever imagine."
And it was the truth.
Splashing sounds came from behind us. "Twins, you guys! Congratulations!" Nero cried. He grabbed his brother in a big hug. For once Nishiki didn't even seem to mind that his hair was getting all wet. He was too caught up in his happiness. "Just like you and me, bro!"
"Yes." Nishiki smiled. "Although I hopemychildren grow up annoying each other less than we did."
Nero chuckled and ruffled Nishiki's hair, which my mate promptly fixed. "Doubt it. I'm pretty sure siblings are destined to annoy each other, whether they're twins or not. Oh, wait. Hey, Dad. Are they gonna be fraternal twins like us, or identical ones?"
The dragon-headed spirit gazed down at me, like he was seeing deep into my future. A mischievous glint sparkled in his sharp eyes. "I cannot say."
Nishiki put an amused hand on his hip. "As in, you don't know? Or youdoknow but you don't want to say?"
Flicking the tip of his fur-tufted tail, Nautilus haughtily lifted his head. "You two are a couple of trouble-makers. It must be the human in you."
