Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

H awk loved being able to go out in the front of the house as well as the back. The only direction he couldn't go was to the Land of Summer, where the fae relatives were.

He'd tried. He just ended up back in the house.

That was all right.

He didn't mind. He had the opportunity to make trades and friends with the others, and he felt… satisfied on a bone-deep level. And when it was time to meet his father-in-law, he had no doubt they could arrange it in the house somewhere.

They would be able to get him in and out.

Or meet him at the door, if need be.

Regardless, he was hunting his mate, who didn't seem to be in the house.

He had to be in the house. He'd promised not to go out to either land without someone—Hawk or one of his brothers.

Mate?

Hmm?

Where are you?

In the basement.

The basement. Just where his hugely pregnant mate should be.

Why?

I'm curious.

Hawk headed for the basement, talking as he went to try to triangulate Cosmo's location. About what?

Whether or not the cave-in blocked everything.

So… you're down in the caves where there are falling rocks?

Nothing is falling at the moment…

Oh that was too damn coy. He hastened his pace, because if Cosmo got stuck in there, Hawk was going to spank him, pregnant or not. Fear made a great motivator.

What's wrong? That was Corbin, the eldest brother so damn sensitive.

Cosmo is in the basement. Where the cave-in is. He wasn't above tattling if Corbin was closer.

Oh, that little shit. Cullen and I are with Mom. She's making a baby buggy.

I'll find him. He would, too. And if he needed help, he'd call to the dragons on the other side. Or see if Bakli or the gnomes could assist.

Holler if you need me. I'll be right there.

Thank you.

He reached out for Cosmo again, trying to make sure he was still okay. He heard humming. Cosmo was clearly in a good mood, at least.

He headed down into the basement, following the sound of his lover, who was wandering and moving rocks.

"Cosmo…" he called out softly, wondering if he should have brought cookies as a lure.

"Here, love." Cosmo's pleasure wrapped around him like a hug.

"There you are." At least Cosmo hadn't tried to crawl into the narrow tunnel.

"I wanted to see how bad it was. See if I could get through."

"Well, I think that's a monumentally bad idea. Let's tie Cullen to a string and send him."

"Yeah?" Cosmo chuckled softly. "I'm a little bored, you know?"

"All you had to do was say so, love. I would have found something to keep you busy."

Cosmo rolled his eyes. "Would you now? And how would you keep me busy? My great big old dragon."

"Old?"

"Ancient."

"Now you're just being mean." Hawk leaned down and rubbed noses with Cosmo. "Come back up into the light, love. It's… it's dark down here."

And he wanted Cosmo out of these caves. There were just so many opportunities to get hurt or lost or overwrought or something. He wanted his pregnant mate not down underneath the ground.

This was not unreasonable.

"Okay, I'll come with you." Cosmo rubbed his belly, stretched. "Your son is heavy. He's very heavy today."

Hawk wisely did not point out that was because Cosmo was the size of a house. He thought that would go over poorly. "Is he going to be a big bouncing baby boy?"

"I think so. Our Elliot is going to be amazing. On the order of Arielle and Sebastian and Lia."

"You know you've cursed him now to be—" He stopped, and his head tilted. "Honestly, as far as being difficult children, Arielle is the top."

"You only say that because you haven't spent as much time with the twins."

Hawk grinned. "Which ones?"

That cracked Cosmo up. "Well, I was talking specifically of the special Ks, but point taken. You know how we multiple children?—"

Cosmo stumbled on a loose bit of gravel, almost falling, and it was all Hawk could do not to just growl and say, "See? This is why I didn't want you down here!"

It wouldn't help, so he didn't do it. He absolutely wanted to though.

"Can we stop for a minute?"

"I'd really like to get you upstairs," Hawk answered. "It's not very much farther. I could carry you."

"My back hurts. I just need to take a second and rest, all right?" Cosmo's frown was deepening, and that worried him.

"All right, of course." He wasn't going to argue.

If the pain kept getting worse, he would just carry Cosmo upstairs, dammit.

There had been a lot of talk about their baby being born over in the dragonlands where there were midwives and professionals, but Cosmo was absolutely unmoving about this particular subject.

Their baby was going to be born in their home.

Corbin insisted that he had read and trained and practiced. He had even bothered to go and attend births in the dragonlands with other midwives just to make sure he wasn't going to do any damage.

Hawk guessed that Eagan had done it the first time without anything, so if Eagan could do it, then so could Corbin.

Eagan was a little… fussy.

"Are you ready to move on?" Something was in the air. Hawk could taste it. He wasn't sure what. But it was urging him to get Cosmo to safety. His protective instinct was on high alert.

"I—" Cosmo looked up at him. "Help me?"

"Oh, love." He lifted Cosmo gently, and then he hastened to get him back up to the house.

"Don't feel so good." Cosmo clung to him, fingers digging into his shoulders.

No, no, he could tell. He had to move faster now. Corbin, I think something might be wrong.

What, did the rocks fall?

No, no, listen to me. Cosmo doesn't feel ? —

Cosmo cried out a sharp, hard sound of pain. And then? Hot liquid seemed to just pour from him.

I think my water just broke.

I think so too. In fact, he would lay money on it.

His water just broke. I think we need towels. And sheets and hot water. I'm sure hot water needs to be involved. Hawk babbled, not wanting to do this alone.

Hawk. Chill. Where are you? Was that laughter in Corbin's voice.

Hawk realized that he wasn't sure that he knew. He was walking, and they were heading up somewhere in the basement.

Oh my. A light. It appeared like magic at the top of the stairs. And there was Corbin, staring down at him. You're in the basement, dear. Come up. Let's get you cleaned up, all of you. All right? Cullen's getting the bedroom ready for you.

Cosmo smiled at Corbin, the expression a little pained. "I don't feel so good."

"That tends to happen when you're in labor. Well then, we get you in the bathtub. Water's supposed to help." Corbin looked at him. And you? I expect you to get your shit together. Sooner than later.

Hawk nodded. Yes. Of course. He was a dragon of action. He could do this. His mate was in labor. His son was coming.

"Are you mad, love?" Cosmo asked. "Don't be mad."

"How could I be angry, sweet? You're having a baby!"

Cosmo took a shaky breath. Let it out in a huff. "We are. Elliot's coming. I hope he's not pink."

"What? Why? You're beautiful. You're perfect. Why, I would love if he were pink."

"No, no, I don't want him to be pink. I want him to be just like you. I want him to be perfectly beautiful." Cosmo began to cry. Hawk told himself this was hormones. That and a touch of fear and some pain, and not to panic.

It was all a lie.

He was panicking. He hustled Cosmo into the bathroom. He got him stripped down and into a tub of hot water. Thank you, Cullen.

As soon as the water wrapped around Cosmo, he seemed to relax. The pinched look on his face fading.

"What can I get you? What do you need?"

"You? I need you. Also possibly some apple juice. But mostly you."

Hawk smiled, and he remembered what Tyson had told him, the big patriarch of the Estes clan. Tyson had looked at him, smiled, and said, "Remember. Every single baby that you have, this is the only time that this will ever happen. This is the only time this child will be born. Pay attention."

So he fought to do just that. He petted Cosmo and praised him, letting him know he wasn't alone. That he was special.

"Hawk. Hawk, it hurts." Cosmo clung to him, a little panicky.

Hawk wasn't sure what to say to that. Possibly, "You're in labor." Probably, though, he should just keep his mouth shut. "If you want me to rub your back…"

That was when Cosmo shook his head, and then nodded again. "This is less fun than advertised."

Corbin tilted his head. "It was advertised as fun?"

"No, asshole, that's the point!"

Those words were sharp enough, Hawk supposed. Corbin just laughed. "Good to know. Next time, don't get pregnant."

"I'm not going to let you be Elliot's favorite if you don't be good. And stop torturing his father."

"I'm only torturing one. I'm being nice to Hawk." Corbin dropped a kiss to the top of Cosmo's head. "I love you. It'll be over soon, and then you'll have your baby in your arms. Try to focus on that." Then Corbin offered Cosmo another grin, this one much more wicked. "Or you could just focus on how you want to castrate Hawk. That works too. One way or another, there's going to be a baby."

"Elliot." Cosmo blew out a hard breath. "His name is Elliot. Can you hear him, Hawk? Myk told me that. Tyson could hear the babies. Gareth said that Zeke actually called the babies out. Can you do that? Can you talk to him?"

Hawk had heard the little burbles and laughter and joy inside Cosmo. Of course, he hadn't done more than to just enjoy the sensation. He didn't want to interfere with the child's growth process, after all.

But if Cosmo wanted him to try, he would.

Elliot? Can you hear me?

There was a pause, then a bolt of curiosity like lightning.

"I think he's listening." Hello, love. It's your papa. I want to meet you.

"Of course he is. Tell him it's time, hmm?"

"I'm working on it." He smiled at Cosmo. "He's curious. He wants to meet us too."

Papa? That was the tiniest whisper in the center of his brain.

Oh. He nodded, tears stinging his eyes, smoke curling from his nose. I hear you, son. Come on out now.

A little buzz of worry answered him, then a rush of what he could only describe as determination.

Da is ready for you. He's tired. He cradled Cosmo to him, loving on him, nuzzling his neck.

Da. Another rush of will. Their son was going to rule the world.

"Yes, sweet. Da and I are ready. Come on, then."

"Good job, guys. I see his head. We've got baby head!" Corbin sounded stupidly excited.

"Oh, thank the goddess." Cosmo tried to breathe, but he was red-faced and looked like he was in agony.

"I have you, love. I have you both." And he swore, then and there, that he would spend his life making theirs good.

"Love you." Cosmo gasped it out, and that birthline… Goodness, it was splitting.

"Push! Push, let's do this!" Corbin was there, ready to catch.

"Okay." Cosmo whooped for air, and Hawk chanted his name and Elliot's while Cosmo pushed. He was working so hard. Doing so well.

It took forever and absolutely no time at all before it was over, Elliot screaming in his uncle's hands.

"Oh, loves. You did it." He wanted to laugh. To roar. He whispered it.

"Our son." Cosmo stared, his eyes wide. "Our son."

"Yes. Elliot." He stared at them, because Corbin had cleaned Elliot and handed him to Cosmo.

"Help me, Hawk. Close up the birthline with your heat when I tell you."

"It won't hurt him?"

"Eagan says it's natural as breathing. Don't worry."

"You can't hurt me, love. You're my mate." Cosmo's utter faith gave him the impetus he needed, and he reached out, sealing the birthline with some of his internal fire.

The sight of his mate, holding this healthy little baby, his scales a pale, silvery gray, made him smile.

"Look at you both," Hawk breathed, as proud as any dragon could ever be.

"He's beautiful. Our boy." Cosmo's sigh was utterly satisfied. "Our baby boy."

"He is."

Papapapapadadadada.

"I can hear him." Hawk was ecstatic.

"So can I." Cosmo laughed. "They can probably hear him in the dragonlands."

"That's a lovely thought." He sighed softly, shaking his head. "You're beautiful. You're so beautiful, Cosmo. Thank you."

"I love you." Cosmo held Elliot close and closed his eyes. "But I'm tired now."

"I'll watch over you, love. I promise. I'll keep you both safe."

"I know. I believe you. We're your clan."

"You're my family." And that he would never lose. Not now.

Cosmo had made him a believer.