15. Dimitri

Chapter 15

Dimitri

I felt a sense of déjà vu when I ran into Reinhold once more on my way into the council building.

"Fancy meeting you here."

I chuckled. "I seem to recall meeting you like this a week ago," I replied. This time, it was me who swiped my badge and input my code. When the door clicked, Reinhold pulled it open, and in we went.

"Good morning," Slater said. "Hey, the two of you came in together last week, didn't you?"

"We did," Reinhold said. "With both of us living in the same area now, it'll probably happen more often."

"Huh. I didn't think about that." Slater scanned my badge before handing it back. "Have a good day," he told us. We walked off, both of us heading toward the cafeteria it seemed.

"How is Caspian feeling? I heard from his brother that he was having some issues with pregnancy sickness."

I sighed. "He's doing better but still feels poorly at times. I am thankful he can finally keep food down. He sleeps a lot though, and although I was given an extra week to spend with him, I feel like I didn't do anything helpful."

Reinhold offered a smile. "I remember those days. Chase hates tea. To this day won't drink it still. He did drink the magical tea though. That was the only way he kept anything down, I'm sure."

"Did it get better?"

"Eventually. I know that despite him feeling better toward the middle of his pregnancy, he still had days to the end that he didn't feel well."

I sighed. That was not what I wanted for my mate. "I thank you for being honest. We have gotten a lot of ‘ it will get better ' from others. I have seen it firsthand how he is able to keep more things down now, but he is sleeping almost continually."

"Yeah, that happens. It'll be like that in the last trimester as well. But by then, he'll have a bump at minimum and will be irritable because he's over being pregnant."

I sighed. "I believe he is already there. He says he's happy to be having a baby with me, but I know he's not exactly thrilled with how things are going. Not that I blame him. I would not like to be sick all the time either. I would, though, for him and our child."

Reinhold smiled. "We all would. I would do the same for Chase as well. Unfortunately, all we can do is cater to their needs and try to spoil them as best as we can."

I nodded. "I try. I feel bad though. I left this morning, much like last week, and he was still sleeping. I did make him a tea before I left though. He drank it, then promptly went back to sleep. I left some crackers for him for when he wakes. I do not know what else to do for him though."

Reinhold shook his head. "Not much you can when he's at that stage, I don't believe. Love him, take care of him, try to be supportive and understanding."

"I am all of those things," I told him as we entered the cafeteria. We made our way over to the buffet line, and after grabbing trays and plates, we started piling them high with food.

"Did you not eat because you didn't want to upset your mate with the scent? Or some other reason?" Reinhold asked.

I looked at the other dragon's equally piled-high plate of food and filled bowl and raised an eyebrow at him from across the buffet table.

"Really? You have a mate at home as well. Yet you are eating here."

Reinhold snorted. "Yes, but I did eat at home. Well, sort of. The twins were fussy, and when Da arrived, he sent me on my way." Reinhold stopped to shrug and grab a few more pieces of bacon. "I was in the middle of eating my breakfast when he all but pushed me out the door. I'm not sure why, but I wasn't going to argue."

I shook my head. "I left without eating because I didn't want to upset Caspian's stomach with the scents. Unfortunately for me, cooking meat seems to be an issue for him."

Reinhold's eyes widened. "All meat? Or just certain ones?"

"So far, all."

Reinhold looked offended on my behalf. "Please tell me you aren't serious. I've heard of egg aversions and sometimes certain meats. But all?"

I nodded. "I wish I wasn't, but sadly, it is true. I cannot cook meat without him feeling sick. Sometimes he gets sick, so I have just taken to not cooking. Whatever he eats, I'm happy with. If we're eating nothing but crackers and fruit, then that's what we eat."

Reinhold shook his head. "Chase was never that bad. I feel for you. I hope he's feeling better soon and you can get back to eating. At least if you're here, you can eat full meals."

I nodded. Caspian felt terrible about it all, but I wasn't going to have any of that. It was outside of his control, and I absolutely did not blame him for anything.

It got to the point where I couldn't fit anything else on my plate or tray, so I left the buffet line and went to the drink station. After I poured myself a large mug of coffee, I went over to an empty table. I was a bit surprised to see so many in the cafeteria, but the council was growing, and that meant more single enforcers.

I had just sat down and reached for the coffee when another tray was placed on my table. I looked up at Reinhold as he sat on the chair across from me.

"Is this all right?" he asked. "I guess I should have asked before I simply invited myself to your table."

"Ja." I took a drink of coffee and closed my eyes. When I opened them, it was to find Reinhold staring at me. He chuckled and then picked up his fork and started eating. I did the same but at a somewhat slower pace. I was busy looking around, noticing that there were quite a few new people in the cafeteria who I hadn't ever seen before.

"Who are they?" I asked as I indicated the group of eight that were sitting over at a pair of tables they had pushed together.

"Those are the new fae alphas that joined the council. They seem nice enough. I know they feel a bit out of place and they pretty much stick to themselves. But I've not heard anything but good things about any of them. I've met them in passing; we were all introduced to them, and they seem nice enough. A few brought family with them, but I've not met anyone outside those eight."

I nodded while looking around. I happened to notice another new face, this one sitting with Raiden. I could ask him once we were in our office since he was on my team. He looked to be just as tall as Raiden and his brother while sitting, so I had to wonder if he was a gargoyle or dragon.

"How's my favorite brother-in-law," Sebastian said as he suddenly sat down beside me. "More importantly, how's my brother? I'm surprised you're at work. But since our fathers are here now, I imagine that Papa will be by today to fuss over him."

I looked over at my mate's brother, my brain still processing what he'd just said. "Arturo is here?"

Sebastian nodded. "You didn't know?"

I shook my head. "I do not think that Caspian knew they were arriving. He hasn't talked to your parents in a couple of weeks. When he is awake, it is usually only for short spurts, and he eats something small before falling asleep again."

Sebastian's face showed concern but also something more. Understanding, perhaps? "Drew was sick like that. It only lasted around a month though, which was a good thing for him, I guess. I'm not sure how long it'll be like that for Cas though. How is he doing? Seriously."

"Not bad, considering. In the week since Dr. King saw him, he has gotten ill only once. He sleeps a lot though. The tea makes him incredibly tired, and although he tries to stay awake to spend time with me, he usually falls asleep within half an hour of drinking it." I didn't mind. I spent a lot of time sitting near him. My dragon wanted to watch over our mate, and I wasn't going to argue with him. "Your fathers are here?"

"They arrived a couple days ago. We've seen them for supper, but beyond that, they're still working on getting settled into their new place. Father was supposed to start this morning, as far as I know, so I figured that Papa would be up here at some point to check in not only on Drew and Flora but Caspian as well."

I wasn't sure what to think about all of that information. I knew they were moving to Treasure Ridge. Arturo had mentioned that when we were in Madrid. I had not had any contact with him since though, and I knew that Caspian's had been very little.

"Does he know where our cabin is?" I asked, suddenly wondering if he would even know where to look.

"You're not in mated enforcer housing?" Sebastian asked. He looked up at someone, and when I followed his gaze, I found Benjamin walking around the table and setting his tray in the spot beside Reinhold. I glanced at Reinhold, who smirked.

"You're the one who mated into a family of warlocks. They just help themselves to wherever it seems."

"Welcome to the family," Benjamin said. "We have to have a get-together. My dads are itching to welcome you to the family, and you, of course, need to invite your grandparents."

"I will talk to Yéye."

"Not Alpha Sergei?"

I shrugged. "Dedushka will come if Yéye tells him there is a dinner. Does your family not work like that?" I couldn't imagine Rainier not doing what his One, étienne, had planned for them.

Sebastian touched my arm. I looked back over at my brother-in-law. "Ja?"

"You didn't answer my question. Do you not live in mated enforcer housing? I thought the two of you moved to the other side of the neighborhood or something."

I shook my head. "Your brother fell in love with my cabin. We live next to him," I said as I pointed to Reinhold.

When Sebastian looked at Reinhold, the other dragon was chuckling. "You can't blame him. The cabins for the thunder are a bit more isolated, and some of them have amazing views."

"You don't live near us?"

"He's a fifteen-, twenty-minute walk, Seb," Benjamin said. "And it's not like you can't pop yourself and Drew over there in a blink."

Sebastian scowled. "But I thought Caspian would live near us. Why did he have to live elsewhere?"

"It's not far, Sebastian," Reinhold said. "Nowhere on the mountain is, really. And you're a warlock, like Benjamin said. Just use magic to go over to visit."

"Your brother looked at a house with me. It was next to yours," I told Sebastian. "He liked the cabin my family had for me more." I was a bit surprised about it as well, but if Caspian wanted to live in the cabin, obviously, that was where we would live.

I went back to eating my breakfast, and when Benjamin noticed, he gave me a sympathetic look. "I was there before. Probably will be again if and when Eli becomes pregnant again."

I nodded while eating my eggs and sausage. "I did not wish to wake Caspian with the scent of cooking food when I could just as easily eat here. The scent of all meat cooking has made him ill so far. I am happy to forego eating it at the house for his comfort."

Sebastian touched my arm again, and I looked at him, then at where his hand was touching me, and then back up at my mate's brother. They were certainly a touchy family. I, of course, didn't mind Caspian touching me at any point in time, but it was going to take some time to get used to the rest of his family doing so as well.

"What do you mean?" Sebastian asked finally. He dropped his hand, and I took another bite of my food before answering.

"Your brother cannot handle the scent of cooking meat at the moment. All of it makes him ill to his stomach, and he must rush off to the bathroom. We have tried all meats, and they all have the same reaction from him."

Sebastian's mouth opened a bit. Benjamin shrugged. "Eli couldn't handle the scent of a lot of things when he was pregnant with the twins. I imagine it will be the same the next time he gets pregnant." Benjamin pointed his fork at Sebastian. "Drew was sick. You know what it's like."

"Yeah, but I didn't think Caspian would be."

"Why?" Reinhold asked. "He's the carrier and can just as easily have pregnancy sickness as the next one." Reinhold looked my way and shook his head.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sebastian asked.

"Eli was sick too," Benjamin added. "And we all know Drew was."

"Yeah, and?"

"Just because he's your brother doesn't mean you should have expected him to not be sick," Benjamin said. "But Caspian is doing what he must in order to have a child with his One."

Sebastian looked as if he was going to argue but then stopped.

"I would gladly carry the baby for my mate if I could. I am trying to keep him as comfortable as I can, but there is only so much I can do. My dragon watches over him, and we enjoy having time with him even if he is sleeping. But I cannot take away the fact that he has pregnancy sickness. I am eating here, though, because I do not wish to cause him any more discomfort than possible," I told Sebastian.

"I do understand." Sebastian sighed. "I just never thought of Caspian as being sick. He's my older brother. He's always been so commanding and just…more. It is hard to put him as being ill. I understand it's part of it. Trust me, I do. Our fathers really struggled with the fact that I was busy taking care of Drew when we first were mated. Drew was sick, and I was too busy taking care of him to let them know I even met my One." He looked directly at me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that you had done something wrong. I just…thinking about Caspian being anything but my older brother who was incredibly full of life and this powerful warlock is difficult, I guess."

I nodded at him. "I understand," I told him. I did, to some extent. I hadn't known Caspian long, but what I had seen of his memories and had experienced firsthand before pregnancy sickness set in told me that he was a lot like Sebastian was describing.

I took another bite but wished I hadn't when a tall man walked up to the table. Reinhold stared at him while Benjamin and Sebastian grinned. The man—warlock now that he was closer—glanced between me and Reinhold, his gaze settling on me. I knew from scent alone that this had to be my father-in-law, which meant this was Benedict. I'd not gotten to meet him when Caspian and I had been in Madrid. Caspian had thought to go into the firm for partial days in order to turn things over, but after learning news from Arturo, he decided he was simply finished and was going to move his things in a blink and spend more time here with me. I wasn't going to complain.

"You must be my son's One," he said.

"Father, this is most certainly Dimitri. We were just discussing how Cas is doing."

"Yes, how is my oldest? I was a bit put out to learn the two of you were in Madrid but did not stop by the firm for so much as a hello."

I looked up at Benedict and nodded slowly before I picked up my cup of coffee and took a long sip.

"Caspian is doing as well as he can. The tea the doctor has him drinking causes him to sleep quite a bit. A lot of scents upset his stomach, so we simply avoid them. As for us not stopping in, that was Caspian's choice. He had a change of plans after he talked to his omega father."

Benedict was about to speak, but a hush came over the cafeteria, causing most everyone to glance around. Immediately, I saw why: Dedushka was quickly making his way across the room toward our table.

There was a sigh, and I turned to look at Sebastian. "What?"

"I was enjoying breakfast."

"And?"

"He's going to cause a whole thing."

I rolled my eyes. "As if your father isn't?" I asked. I turned and looked back up at Benedict before I slid my chair back and stood just as Dedushka arrived at our table. Immediately, I found myself pulled into a hug, and greetings were exchanged.

"Dedushka, this is my father-in-law," I said as I indicated Benedict. Benedict looked back and forth between us before his gaze finally settled on his son.

"Yes, Father, Caspian's grandfather-in-law is the created dragon. Have you truly not spoken to him at all?"

"No," Benedict said.

Dedushka nodded to Benedict before looking back my way. "Your parents are here. They are excited to meet Caspian."

I groaned. Yes, it was going to be a complete shitstorm. Everyone was now here, yet Caspian was still quite ill.

"He is not up for it," I said. "Perhaps in a few more weeks, but at the moment, he is spending around twenty hours a day sleeping, if not more." I could tell that Benedict wanted to say something but held off.

"It can wait. Whenever your mate is ready. But your parents would like to see you when you feel up for it."

I nodded. "Please have Yéye tell them I will see them as soon as I can. I will try for today, but I do not know how things will go with Caspian. He was still sleeping when I left."

"Chin can come by to see to him. Perhaps he will be able to help. He knows remedies that have worked in the past."

I nodded. "I will see what he thinks. Thank you, Dedushka."

"It is what family does," he told me before he turned to Benedict. "Welcome to the council, Benedict. I have heard good things about you, and if your son is any indicator, you have raised an amazing man, so I would hope that is a reflection of your own character."

"Alpha Sergei, I appreciate it. My One and I are thrilled to not only be near our sons but for the new chance here at the council."

Dedushka and Benedict walked away, talking about the council, among other things, and I told myself I would have to thank him for redirecting Benedict's attention. I sat back down, more than accepting that my breakfast was now going to be cold, but I found it to be steaming hot still. I glanced at Sebastian, who was busy staring after his father and my grandfather. When Benjamin caught my eye, he smiled.

"Cold eggs are never good, unless they are in a salad."

"Thank you," I told him. He nodded at me, and we went back to eating breakfast. There would be time for further discussions about things later. For now, Benjamin was right. Cold eggs weren't all that great, and I needed to finish mine before they became cold once more.