“I know, the clearing. That’s where I have to build my nest.”
“Pax, that’s where I was hatched, and Garrett and Anderson and everyone else in my family.”
I elbowed him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because a nest is personal to the pregnant omega. You’re the only one who can make the decision.”
My mate drove us to the clearing. As soon as I got out of the car and breathed the air that hinted of smoke and ashes, the doubt was washed away.
“This is it.”
Dray explained the eggs would need shade and temperature control, and most of all, protection, which his family could provide. I placed my hands on my bump and whispered to my eggs that no marauding coyote would come within a hundred yards.
“But if you’re not okay with my family being here, it’ll just be you and me.”
I told him I’d love them to be with us. I was a little sad that my family couldn’t be here, but the consequences of letting them in on our secret would be catastrophic, not only for our family and community, but for the world.
Everyone arrived as I was wandering around scouting out locations.
After I identified the place, Dray and his dad planned a structure that would be built at the edge of the clearing. It would be part shelter and part nest. There’d be space for me to move around and plenty of light, while protecting me and the eggs from sun, wind, and rain.
They used cut wood piled in the clearing, and it went up quickly. I could have gone home or to the office, as there were invoices that needed sending, but nothing was more important than witnessing the building.
Pops got food from the café, and Aunt Raine brought blankets and pillows. Garret hollowed out a depression in the soil where I’d lay the eggs.
“Dragons like the eggs to be close to the earth.”
Everyone checked in with me at each stage, making sure I was comfortable with the progress and that I was okay to squat over a hole when laying the eggs.
I’d been saying for months that I had eggs, and they had to come out and eventually hatch, but with the nest close to completion, the reality hit me.
Eggs! Me, a human, had eggs inside me, and when the time was right, I’d lay them.
I asked Dray’s dad how he knew what to do regarding the laying of the eggs.
“Your body will tell you. Much like a human’s will let them know the baby is ready to be born.”
Stephen arrived and gave me his favorite stuffed dragon. “The babies will know they’re dragons when they see the toy.”
I hugged and thanked him and said I’d keep it close by.
Over the next few days, I arranged and rearranged the blankets until they were the way I wanted them. I sorted through the supplies the family had bought, that included water, crackers, fruit, and cereal bars. My folks texted, asking how I was, and I sent pics of my bump, omitting the essential detail that I was carrying eggs.
Dray boiled water over a camping stove, and the family brought meals three times a day. His dad took over his projects so we were able to stay here and forget about the rest of the world.
I couldn’t sit still. I paced around the clearing and went back to the structure and sat in the nest. But five seconds later, Dray would have to help me up, and I’d go and pee in the porta-potty Dray used on construction sites.
I rubbed my bump and talked to the eggs as my mate held my arm and we wandered around the clearing. Dray pointed out scars on the earth where first-time shifting dragons had had an oops.
“How are you feeling?” We were watching the sun set and he was rubbing my back.
“As though something is about to happen.”
He took my hand and placed it on my belly. “Maybe it won’t be long and we’ll see our eggs.”
We’d discussed how we’d manage if I laid twelve eggs, but Dray assured me his family had small clutches.
“Sometimes there’s just one egg, as in Anderson’s and also Stephen’s case.”
