We’d perfected the routine when my mate had to use the bathroom. I got into the nest, making sure I had contact with the three eggs. Ford would leave the bathroom door open while I narrated what was happening, which until now, was a big nothing.
“And they’re on the final straightaway with Egg 1 nudging ahead. Number 1 hasn’t changed their position in weeks and doesn’t seem inclined to reach the finish line.”
Ford giggled as he washed his hands.
“Egg 2 looks comfortable, but we’re certain once they start moving, they could overtake Number 1. And as for Egg 3, they seem settled in the blanket folds and have no intention of catching up to their siblings.”
“I’m back, babies.” My mate clambered into the nest and snuggled with the eggs. He outstretched one hand, and I claspedit. We sat in silence, something we’d enjoy little of once the eggs hatched.
“Who’s that?” My mate’s shifter hearing was better than mine, and he’d picked up a vehicle on the road. “If it’s some guy who’s signed a lease on this place, please turf him out.” He grinned.
“Maybe I should have done that with the first omega to feed me that line.”
My mate rolled his eyes and blew me a kiss.
Before getting up, I waited until the car slowed and bumped along our driveway. Peering through the window, I recognized Asher’s truck.
“It’s Alpha and Weston.”
“Okay.”
My mate was fine with visitors because sitting and willing eggs to hatch was a slow business. We wanted to meet our babies but didn’t want to hurry them.
“Hello.” Alpha clasped my hand. He held up a bag. “We come bearing gifts and plenty of ready-to-heat dinners.”
Soreena asked if we had eggs and were we going to eat them.
“These are special eggs.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she grabbed Weston’s leg. “Why?”
“Because they have babies inside them.”
I didn’t have to insist that they pick up their daughter so she didn’t wander close to the nest. She put up her hands to Weston,and he picked her up. Alpha and his mate tiptoed into the second bedroom.
“They’re bigger than I imagined,” Asher noted as he followed me into the kitchen, and I placed the meals in the freezer with one in the fridge for later.
This was my first time seeing dragon eggs, and I admired my mate even more because he’d carried and pushed them out.
“They are pretty.” Soreena pointed at the iridescent purple one.
We had one purple and one yellow egg, just like their papa whose scales were the same color. The third egg was a green that matched Ford’s beast’s eyes.
“Can they play with me?” Soreena was trying to get down, but Weston told her the eggs were precious and needed quiet time. She pouted and her eyes teared up, and Ford offered to let her touch one egg.
“Very gently.”
Weston got on his knees at the edge of the nest and leaned forward. I held my breath because little ones could be unpredictable, but she stroked the yellow egg, and her dad pulled back.
“Thank you.” She hugged Ford.
There was a slight movement from Egg 1, and I held my breath. Was this it? Were we finally going to meet our babies? Seconds turned to minutes, and when nothing else happened, Alpha and family left, and I heated up one of the meals. I was enjoying not having to cook or shop for ingredients.
“We have another visitor, and I know whose car that is. Mr. Sampson.”
Mr. Sampson was back working full-time in the store during Ford’s paternity leave. I greeted him on the porch and took the huge bunch of flowers he’d brought and helped carry in a rocking chair Ford had ordered.
He was worried he might break the eggs if he walked close to the nest, but my mate assured him the shells could withstand that. He tiptoed around the nest, telling us how beautiful our eggs were. Egg 2 rolled to one side, and the older man slapped a hand over his mouth.
