"That's right," I said. "He always spoke to me when I was alone."
Cloud gestured with his hand talons. "Is anyone else sensing a pattern here?"
It was Kamari who spoke up. Unlike the others, he seemed to retain a healthy mistrust of Animus. "I know what you're implying. That Animus is only interested in speaking to omegas, right?"
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. Aside from you, Kamari, he was interested in Farley and Ashe, wasn't he?"
"Yeah," Farley said, the tiny feathers on his chest puffing up. "He was civil with me, but he went out of his way to harass my alpha mate Quinn."
I crossed my arms, thinking deeply. What did it all mean? Why would Animus, a powerful spirit, seem to care more about omegas than alphas? Why was he sometimes causing problems for River’s family, and sometimes helping them? It didn't make any sense.
Farley looked at me. "Castor, did Animus want anything from you?"
I recalled Animus’s request for our fated mates magic, whatever he meant by that. I opened my mouth to reply to Farley when Nautilus spoke up first, his long whiskers whipping in annoyance.
"I've had just about enough of this conversation," Nautilus said curtly. "We do not owe that scoundrel any more attention."
Kamari nodded in agreement, but Farley exchanged a glance with me. I didn't know him well enough to understand his expression, but he seemed to think discussing Animus wasn't as much of a waste of time as Nautilus made it seem.
Still, I wasn't about to protest. Nautilus was the great water spirit. If he wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction, then I would by all means let him do it.
Nautilus glanced down at me and River, his eyes warmer now. "Besides, there is something much more important happening here. My grandson has found his fated mate."
We beamed at each other. River tilted his head so it was resting against my shoulder. I thought it was sweet that he was shorter than me, despite being my alpha.
"And not only that," Nautilus said with a knowing grin. "You two are no longer alone."
My heart fluttered. What did the spirit know?
Nautilus extended a hand towards me. I stood still as my heartbeat hammered away. I couldn't believe Nautilus, the water spirit, was speaking to me, let alone about to touch me. It only lasted a moment. His fingertip grazed my belly, igniting a warm and fuzzy sensation, then he pulled away and smiled.
"Just as I thought. Castor," Nautilus said. "You're pregnant."
I sucked in a breath as joy washed over me. River whipped his gaze towards me, smiling as radiantly as the sun. We were both speechless for a moment as we threw our arms around each other and embraced tightly.
"I knew it," River murmured into my neck. "I knew you were."
I stroked his silky hair. "I had a feeling, too."
River pulled back and shot me a snarky look. "Next time when you're pregnant in a dangerous situation, be a little more careful, will you?"
I laughed. After all this, River still had that sassy personality that made me fall in love with him in the first place.
"I will, I promise," I said before kissing him.
19
River
IntroducingCastor to my giant family was like learning how to swim for the first time. I just had to throw him in a deep end.
…Or maybe that was just how mer folk learned to swim.
In any case, everyone was ecstatic to meet Castor as soon as we returned home. My parents were the first ones we visited, of course. Cloud practically dragged us home, squawking with excitement like he was showing off a new toy. I had to remind him Castor was my fated mate, not his.
"I know, idiot," Cloud said with a grin. "Can't I be excited for my brother?"
As I looked at Cloud, I felt like I was seeing him for the first time with clear eyes. I thought back to our argument the day I got kidnapped and felt a hot flood of shame at my behavior. It was like River back then was an entirely different person. Now I knew Cloud was just being honest with me that day. He didn't mean to hurt my feelings.
