“Ay, that’ll work, too,” Brian said, turning his head as he heard the sound of a noisy engine idling outside the cottage, followed by a loud knocking on the door. “That’ll be the incubators…I’ll get it.” Walking to the front door, he opened it, only to be greeted by David flying into his arms.
“I’m so happy for you!” said David, hugging his friend tightly.
“Thank ye,” Brian replied. “And thank ye for yer help in rescuing my mate and babies.”
Letting go, David looked over at the sea dragon eggs. “How are they doing?”
“Guid.” Backing up so everyone standing outside behind David could enter, Brian said, “I think we need to go house huntin’ soon.”
Standing to greet their guests, Reif was surprised to see Oracle among the throng that continued to fill the small cottage, and he knew Nessie was right about doing some serious house hunting.
Pushing through everyone, Ian approached the eggs, placing his palm on the one closest to him. “Looking good,” he said. Then, glancing at Reif, asked, “How are you doing?”
“A little tired but otherwise fine,” Reif replied. “Are our babies really okay? None of that crap they gave me hurt them, did it?”
“I don’t think so but I brought a portable ultrasound with us so I can take a look inside,” Ian said.
Looking around, Reif wondered where it could go since the cottage was packed with their friends. “Nessie,” he called, “any idea where the doc can set it up?”
Before Brian could get a word out, Kieran stepped up. “Don’t worry guys, I got this.Macushla,bring in the ultrasound and put it in the bedroom, make sure you push the bed out of the way. Zane and David, you’re in charge of the eggs, bring them in one at a time so Ian and Colton can do their thing. Slate and Norm, you’re in charge of bringing in the new incubators one at a time so the eggs can be transferred to them once Ian is finished. Fionn, you help me move the sofa so we can make more room for the eggs. Reif and Brian, into the bedroom you go so you can see your babies. Dakota and Theo, you guys make lots of coffee. C’mon everyone! Chop! Chop!” Kieran ordered, clapping his hands.
“How can I help, Kieran?” asked Oracle.
Pointing to a chair near the bookcase, Kieran said, “You can sit here until the baby Nessies are taken care of.”
Taking the seat, Oracle smiled as everyone jumped into action, following the Shaman’s commands to do their assigned tasks. Taking a cup of Earl Grey tea from Fionn, she snacked on some lemon cookies while watching the show, especially noticing her son Slate, and the changes he’d undergone. She saw not only how he couldn’t keep away from Dakota—always detouring to touch his mate—but also the closeness he’d developed with the rest of the Blackwood Pack, teasing and joking with them while bringing in the new incubators. She sent her thanks to the Fates—not only for bestowing on Slate a perfect mate—but for bringing him out of his self-imposed solitude by giving him a big family that loved him and who he loved in return. Smiling, she sipped her tea.
Chapter 42
Sitting on their bed next to Brian, Reif kept looking at the ultrasound pictures Colton handed to him after each of their eggs were examined. “Our five babies, Nessie. Can you believe it?” he asked.
“Ay, and they’re all healthy, too,” Brian replied, his voice breaking slightly as he gazed at them. After his discussion with Colton last night, he feared his mate would blame himself if something had happened to the babies, but the gods and Fates had smiled upon them.
“Have you thought about any names?” Reif asked Brian.
“Naw, nae yet. Have ye?”
“Uh-uh. That’s okay, we have time,” Reif murmured, running his finger over one of the images. “When I first found out the babies would arrive in six months, I thought it was way too soon; I wasn’t ready to be a daddy that quickly. But now I can’t wait to see them, and three more months seems like forever.”
“I thought yer goin’ to fuck my brains out before they come,” Brian smirked. “If that does nae make the time pass quickly, I dinna know what would.”
“You’re right,” Reif laughed. “Three months of nothing but fucking should make time fly.”
“Sounds guid,” Nessie said. “But I think we should spend some of the time searching for a bigger house.”
Sticking his head in the doorway, Logan said, “Hey, Oracle wants to speak to you guys.”
Rising, Reif took Nessie’s hand, pulling his mate up. “Let’s go see what she has to say.” Rounding the hallway corner, Reif was impressed with the job Kieran and Fionn had done, rearranging the living room furniture to makeroom for the new incubators. Grinning at everyone standing around the perimeter of the living room, he and Nessie sat down on the sofa. Glancing at Nessie, then reaching for his hand, Reif interlaced their fingers before looking at Oracle.
“I have a message from the Fates for you, Reif,” Oracle said. “Do you mind if everyone stays to hear it?”
Shaking his head, Reif said, “No, go ahead.”
“As promised, I related to the Fates what happened to the sea dragons and also asked my friend Mystia about it, thinking it might be a spell the witches had cast over Angelopoulos, to prevent your people from finding Fated Mates. She assured me no witch’s spell could ever block the power of the Fates, but did raise the question of whether the witches used black magic. During my discussion with the Fates, they confirmed their power trumps a witch’s spell…”
“But what about a black magic spell?” asked Reif. “Doesn’t that include summoning demons or other evil spirits? Is that what prevented sea dragons from finding their Fated Mates for so long?”
“Yes. The Fates tracked down a demon who confessed to his role in the scheme, and they ordered him to remove the spell,” said Oracle.
