“I almost second-guessed the decision to serve fish when I noted your condition,” James said, the first time he’d addressed Kylo directly since they’d sat down. “As your cat didn’t complain, I decided it must’ve been all right.”
“My condition?” Kylo chuckled under James’ intense eyes. His eyes were the single biggest indicator that the man was so much more than what they could see. “You’ve lost me there, I’m afraid. My cat doesn’t object to anything I eat, so long as I remember to actually eat. That’s not always easy when I’m busy, but Conrad is good at reminding me.”
“Your condition. The infant you’re carrying.” James pointed directly at Kylo’s stomach. “I only recognized the energy vibrations because it has happened to me, too. Didn’t your cat tell you? Did I say something I shouldn’t have done?” He turned to Wyatt, who grinned and shook his head, his hand a caress on James’ cheek this time.
“No, no. It’s fine. Congratulations?” Kylo didn’t know what else to say, still stunned, he was carrying a child—a child neither his cat spirit, nor Conrad had said anything about.
“James is carrying our twins,” Wyatt said proudly. “Kelvin’s kraken has agreed to help us with the birth when it’s time. You might want to get in touch with Duron and see if there’s a shifter friendly doctor in your area, too, although Ajani reckoned that when Marvin gave birth, it was all pretty simple and over really quickly. Marvin didn’t even know he was pregnant, and he gave birth in a parking lot.”
“They are both hybrids, though,” Kylo whispered.Pregnant!Even as he thought it, a mass of little random incidents fell into place to create a bigger picture. How sensitive his nose had become to Pete’s cologne in the office, when it had never bothered him before. The way he’d switched out his coffee for herbal tea the week before because his morning cup of coffee tasted weird. The particularly attentive way Conrad—his mate who was now watching him as if he was an unexploded bomb—had been caring for him more than he usually was. Like asking him every five minutes if he wanted anything to eat while Kylo was working, and insisting Kylo put his feet up when they got home from work in the evening.
“It is time for you to go,” Wyatt’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I don’t want to rush you off, but James struggles with having others in our territory, and he’s been very well controlled so far. He deserves to be rewarded, and you will not want to stick around for that.”
Kylo nodded and got up, Conrad resting his hand on Kylo’s lower back. “It was interesting,” he said, meeting James’ eyes for a brief second. “And appreciated.” He tilted his head to include Wyatt, too. “Your faith and trust in me are not misplaced.”
James and Wyatt didn’t follow them back down to the beach. Conrad helped Kylo into the boat, untied it, and got them underway. Kylo shivered as the brush of wards ran over his skin as the boat cut through the water, but he waited until they could no longer see the island before asking, “Why didn’t you tell me about the baby?”
“Ours?” Conrad checked the sea in front of the boat and then looked back at Kylo over his shoulder. “The arrangements were already in place for me to take you to meet James when I realized. Would you have honestly felt comfortable going near someone with James’ history, if you’d have known about the precious life you’re carrying?”
“And yet, you knew and took me, anyway.”
“I have a reason to trust in Wyatt. You didn’t.” Conrad looked out across the waves for a moment, and then added, “You needed this today so we can build our lives together without ‘what ifs’.”
Kylo considered the words. “I know, I did. Thank you. Are you happy about our child?”
Conrad’s grin spoke volumes. “You have no idea how happy I am about that.”
“Actually, I think I do know.” It was as if now Kylo had become aware of it, all that Conrad had been hiding came flooding through to him. The pleasure, hope, and happiness, it was there in their bond, loud and clear. Resting back in his seat, Kylo turned his face up to the sun, truly content.
Goodbye, James.
Epilogue
Kylo
Mountain top resort - three weeks later
The vacation had been amazing. A glass bedroom over the jungle treetops was incredible—like sleeping in the trees while still being comfortable. The resort staff were discreet, and efficient, delivering food and anything else they’d asked for without being intrusive. There were no phones, no internet, nothing at all except peace, quiet, and fun times with his mate.
“I’m going to miss this,” he said, as Conrad came over with a couple of bottles of water for them. They were sitting outside, the sun just starting to set. “Although there’s a part of me that’s looking forward to getting home, too.”
“Mom is going to have a fit when she finds out she’s going to be a grandmama,” Conrad said with a chuckle, plonking down on the couch seat beside him. “I’m glad we were able to take this time to celebrate in our own way, before the family finds out about it.”
Kylo’s cheeks heated as he thought about the various ways they’d celebrated over the past three weeks. “It’s our last evening, on our first vacation together. The sun is setting over one of the most beautiful places in the world.” He held up his water bottle. “I feel we should have a toast, don’t you think? Something to mark the closing of one chapter and the starting of another.”
~/~/~/~
Conrad
With Kylo’s face catching the golden hues of the setting sun, Conrad thought his mate had never looked so radiant. The combination of meeting James, there being absolutely no secrets between them anymore, and being away from work and family responsibilities had done wonders for his often uptight mate.
Looking out across the jungle, Conrad thought of the massive changes in his life. There were so many, but they could all become condensed into one common thread.Family. I have a family now. People who genuinely love me and a mate who accepts all of me with his whole heart.
His gaze dropped to Kylo’s gently swollen belly, and the buzz of excitement that never failed to thrill him came at what was coming. He was going to be a father… hold a child that was his to protect, cherish, and love. Fierceness came from his animals, who were all in accord—they would never put Kylo or the baby at risk.
What had come before—what they had created within him—they couldn’t ignore it. The beast within was a part of all of this. Without it, they could all be dead, and what Conrad had now would not have existed.
Kylo’s head tilted to the side as he watched him as he waited for him to answer.
