Nero and Nishiki exchanged a glance, both of them raising a single eyebrow. The whole scene was funny so I kept a laugh to myself.
"No," they both said at the same time.
"If anyone's the source of the troublemaking genes, it's definitely you, Dad," Nero said, crossing his arms.
"Agreed," Nishiki added. "After all, youarethe source of all the trouble we've encountered lately, what with all the alphas and omegas and shifting and all..."
"Ungrateful youths," Nautilus muttered, but it was lighthearted.
"I, for one, would like to thank you, Nautilus," I said. As I spoke, I took Nishiki's hand. "Without you, my fated mate wouldn't exist, and I wouldn't be pregnant with my twins."
Despite being all scales and teeth, the dragon's face softened. "You are welcome, Weston the osprey. And I would thank you in return for being the partner the fates chose for my son."
Nautilus was silent for a moment, as if thinking something over. His long, ribbon-like whiskers billowed behind him. In the quiet seconds, I was struck by what a magnificent being he was. It wasn't difficult to notice that Nishiki had inherited some of that otherworldly beauty. It still awed me that my fated mate was the son of a water spirit.
"No," Nautilus finally murmured, shaking his head. His comment seemed to be for himself, not us. "I think I will leave that as a surprise. But... there is one more thing I will tell you."
There was a sudden serious aura about Nautilus. It seemed best not to speak.
"I am not the only one," Nautilus said slowly. "There are others like me. Others that may influence your heirs."
None of us knew what he was talking about but we didn't have a chance to ask, because Nautilus was gearing up to disappear back into the water's surface.
"Go, now, my son and his mate," Nautilus ordered as he dove, his muscular body arching mid-air. "Go and tend to your growing brood!"
With that final comment, I braced myself for the splash of water that would erupt from Nautilus's body hitting the water. But there wasn't one. He simply disappeared into the lake as if he were never there--or rather, like he was one with its waters.
I shivered, not from cold, but like something magical had just happened. Nishiki automatically put his arm around me.
"Apparently, both my parents like to speak in riddles," Nishiki mumbled good-humoredly.
Nero snorted. "Seriously. What the hell was that all about?"
"With Father, who knows." Nishiki sighed then leaned his head against mine. "But it's all right. That was the best first meeting with him I could've ever asked for."
We made our way back to the shore. I was already drying off while Nishiki wrung the water from his hair.
"Well, now that I know you're safe, I should get back to my family," Nero said. "Remmy and Zach have been waiting for me for a while."
"Oh, Nero," Nishiki murmured, his brows knitted in sympathy. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause such a big fuss."
"It's okay, bro. I had to know you were okay. You're family, too, remember?"
They embraced a final time before Nero turned to me and went to shake my hand before changing his mind and giving me a hug, too. "It was great meeting you, Weston. Thank you for existing and being Nishiki's fated mate."
I smiled and patted Nero on the back. "You're welcome."
When Nero turned to leave, he called, "Hey, just so you know, you two are welcome at the pack any time. So don't be strangers, all right? I expect to see my nieces or nephew or whatever pops out of you as soon as they're born!"
