Realizing his cousin was right on the mark, Colton’s eyes narrowed as he growled. “Fucking assholes.”
Chuckling, Ian said, “Help me up, babe. I can’t wait to tell our mothers.”
“Whoa,” Mac said, handing copies of the ultrasound pictures to Colton. “Let me finish checking you over before you spread the good news.”
Ian could hardly contain his excitement as his vitals were checked and measurements taken of his baby bump. Then, with Colton’s help he sat up. “How’s everything?” he asked.
“Good,” Mac assured him, “but I want you to nap with your feet elevated several times a day. Your body is beginning to retain more water and it will only increase as they grow. Also, the sleep will do you and them a lot of good. Any more nausea?”
“No, thank goodness, I’m passed that stage. I don’t think I’d be able to get to my feet after throwing up with my belly this big,” Ian replied. “I can honestly say I’ve gained a whole new understanding of the many complaints I’ve heard from my pregnant patients.”
“Experience is always the best teacher…or so I’ve been told,” Mac smiled, scribbling notes on Ian’s chart before looking up. “Same time next week…okay?”
“We’ll be here,” Colton said, helping Ian down from the exam table.
“Oh, and one other thing,” Mac said, as he stood up. “This is your last week as the pack’s doctor. I’ve already cleared it with Jackson.” Holding up his hand to forestall any objections, he added, “Ian, this is a high-risk pregnancy. I don’t have to tell you everything that can go wrong, because you already know. But you can’t deny you’re getting tired more often…and I can see how hard it is for you to do simple tasks. The goal is to keep those pups in you as long as possible, so the focus right now is to take steps to prevent early labor. That way, your pups will have the best chance of being born without complications.”
Colton saw his mate stiffen briefly before the tension eased. He understood exactly how Ian felt; he was the same way when it came to practicing medicine. But he also knew his mate would never risk the lives of their unborn pups. Knowing what he had to do, Colton tugged Ian close to him, whispering, “How about we go tell our mothers the good news?”
Nodding, Ian let his mate lead him out of the room while he tried to come to grips with Mac’s orders. Just because he knew Mac was telling the truth, didn’t make it any easier to accept.However, Mac was right about the most critical thing. I won’t put our pups in danger. Thank goodness my mate understands how I feel.
~/~/~/~/~
Gazing at the family photos scattered around the room, Mystia saw the deep love Remy’s parents had for each other and for their children. It was that love that gave Remy the strength to rise above his low ranking in the magic world to become a person respected and loved by the many people she spoke to that afternoon. Her eyes finally landed on a photograph taken after the death of his parents—Remy hugging his three brothers. The griefreflected in the young faces nearly broke Mystia’s heart, but it was the look of bewilderment in Remy’s eyes, that brought back memories of seeing Jackson and his brothers for the first time after they became orphans—stumbling out of a van, shell-shocked, staring vacantly at her and Jimmy, trying to come to grips with the reality that their world had just been turned upside down. That was an image she’d never forget.
Taking them under her protection, she watched as they merely survived at first, then slowly begin to thrive as each of them found their Fated Mate, love and happiness—all except Carson. But that was about to change. Shifting her gaze away from the last photograph, she looked at Remy, carefully carrying a tray of tea and cookies into the living room before setting it down on the coffee table near her.
“If you’d rather have coffee,” Remy said, lifting off the tea cosy, “I can make you some. I usually don’t have it after four in the afternoon since my brothers like to get up early.”
“Tea is fine…thank you,” Mystia said, taking the offered cup and saucer. “I prefer it, actually.”
Sitting down across from his guest, Remy asked the question foremost in his mind. “Why are you protecting me? And from whom?”
“Do you know the Witches’ Governing Council is looking for you?” asked Mystia, before taking a sip of her tea. “Is that why you’re hiding here?”
“I’m not hiding from anyone,” Remy said indignantly. “And answering my questions with a question isn’t polite.”
With a wry smile, Mystia set her cup back on the tray before looking up at Remy and saying, “The last time alight sphere was detected, the Witches’ Governing Council searched for the creator for several years. When they were unable to find the magic user who made it, they gave up, deciding to wait until it appeared again. But as time passed, the fear that there was a magic user who had the power to conjure one up faded and the Governing Council moved on to other issues facing our world.
“But some did not forget. Through the years, there’ve been rumors of more spheres, but they were never confirmed…until now…until you made another one today. Once again it sent shock waves through our world,” Mystia said. “Now the Governing Council is instituting a new search. And this time, I fear others have joined in. Do you know what they will do to you if they find you?”
“I think you are mistaken,” Remy protested, inwardly quaking at the news that the Governing Council was looking for him. “I have only low-level magic ability…surely you know that…”
“Mon chéri,” Mystia murmured, “please, do not deny what we both know is true.”
Opening his mouth to protest, Remy quickly closed it when he heard his brother whimper, knowing what would probably happen next—another nightmare. Changing the subject, he asked, “How did you find me?”
“The first time you created a light sphere, many years ago, I created a spell that would help me find you.”
“Why would you do that?” asked Remy. “And more importantly…what do you want me to do?”
“I did it because I learned what the Governing Council was planning to do when they found the magic user who made the light sphere,” Mystia said. “I would not be ableto live with myself if I didn’t do everything within my power to make sure you wouldn’t be harmed.”
Remy feared the answer to his next question, but he had to ask anyway. “What exactly are they planning to do?”
“They will remove all your magic and then imprison you for the rest of your life.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Remy cursed himself for breaking the vow he made to his parents to never again make another light sphere.What the fuck am I going to do now?His eyes flicked frantically around the room, half expecting to see it filled with guards from the Governing Council, ready to seize him.Oh, my gods, what have I done to my brothers? How fucking stupid can I be? I have to leave…take them with me…but shit, where?“I have to leave,” he said, “my brothers and I…we have to go.” Rising quickly, he accidently knocked the tray off the table, spilling the tea and scattering cookies all over the rug. Staring at the mess, Remy froze, his mind suddenly blank.
