Aurum wagged a finger. “Not so fast, Mr. This Is Undoubtedly The Worst Idea Anyone In The History Of The Planet Has Ever Had.”
I turned to Crimson in confusion. My mate had a scrunched, pouty expression, like someone called out for a crime committed long ago. Meanwhile, the twin alpha dragons grinned expectantly.
“Well, Crimson?” Aurum crossed his arms. “Why don’t you tell Saffron what you told me?”
“You’ve clearly already told him,” Crimson grumbled.
“But we want to hearyousay it.”
After a moment of internal debate, Crimson let out a long, haggard sigh. But I noticed a tiny smirk in the corner of his mouth. “Fine. Thank you, Saffron, for this inane, asinine dating show idea. Despite its ridiculous nature, it allowed me to find my one true love, who is likely now pregnant, and—”
“Pregnant?” Jade, the one with glasses, echoed.
Thystle sputtered, his fluffy bangs moving to reveal both wide eyes. “Pregnant?”
Cobalt said nothing, but his stoic expression shifted slightly.
Ignoring the gawking twins, the three older brothers rushed over to congratulate us. From the corner of my eye, I saw Crimson flash a smug grin at the twins. He’d done a fantastic job snaking out of that public sibling argument. The two stewed silently for a second, no doubt plotting their later revenge, then dropped it in favor of joining in the family’s excitement.
“Welcome to the family, Taylor,” Jade said warmly.
“Yeah, it’s cool to have a tiger among us,” Thystle added with a grin.
When Cobalt spoke for the first time, the deep timbre of his voice surprised me. “Are you well? How is the baby?”
“We don’t know for sure if Iampregnant yet,” I admitted.
Crimson grinned, hugging me closer. “Don’t be so modest, my love. There’s a very distinct chance. And if not now, then...”
Aurum and Saffron groaned, then spoke at the same time. “We get it, you fuck.”
Jade chuckled. “Don’t mind the twins. They’re just as eager about you and the baby as the rest of us, but they have a score to settle with Crimson.”
I nodded. “I figured.”
Crimson slipped his arm around me. “It’s been a long day. Ready to head home?”
I rested my head on his shoulder in response. “Ready.”
Twenty-Two
Crimson
The next monthbrought two incredibly exciting developments.
First was the fact that Taylor’s belly began to swell with my egg.
Second was the delivery of Taylor’s belongings—most importantly, his completed quilts, supplies, and his beloved sewing machine.
Since Gaius frequently flew to and from Chromatimaeus Island, he took on the responsibility of arranging a shifter moving company to do the work. When Taylor’s belongings arrived, safe and sound, he cried silent tears of joy, rubbing them away on his sleeve so nobody would see.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured to his solid metal sewing machine, stroking its chassis like a lover.
“Should I be jealous?” I joked as Taylor set it up in its own corner of the bedroom.
He shot me a wry look. “They haven’t invented sewing feet that double as dildos, so no.”
“Very funny.”
