15. Mav Begins His Courtship （Part 2）

15

MAV BEGINS HIS COURTSHIP (PART 2)

Telos’ heart pounded. He leaned in with great trepidation and made himself look.

On four of the seven test kits, two lines showed up.

It couldn’t be possible. He turned his focus inward, trying to see if his body was the way it should be. Just that he sensed something new, low in his belly. It was nothing he recognized.

It pulsed with life, though.

“Fuck,” he said.

There really was a baby in his belly. It was Mav’s.

Telos wanted to run home, hide the baby, and raise it with all his love. He touched his abdomen, his heart thumping.

Mav rumbled and turned, watching Telos intently. “We’ll talk about that soon.”

His gaze dropped to Telos’ abdomen and lingered for a long time. And a muted thrill came through their connection, something like excitement.

Mav wanted their baby. Telos stared.

Didn’t Mav only want babies from his One True Love? Maybe holding Estie had made him desperate for his own.

“Congrats,” Crush said enthusiastically.

“That’s amazing,” Hilly-Billy said, all starry-eyed.

“The first baby from our generation,” Hadley sobbed, pretending to wipe a tear with his handkerchief. “We’re all going to be uncles!”

“Nice,” Ace said. Raptor nodded and pulled out his phone, typing fast into it.

Telos frowned. “Are you telling somebody?”

“The rest of our friends deserve to know,” Raptor said. “They’re... very invested.”

Telos rolled his eyes. “You’re all a bunch of nosy-ass jerks.”

“Team.” Duke snapped his fingers. “The mission is too dangerous for Telos as-is. We can’t put you at risk.”

Mav and the others nodded in agreement.

Telos scowled. “We don’t have time to call for backup. They’re being moved tomorrow.”

“I could call Uriel,” Mav said.

Telos remembered the muscular mage back in the forest. “He has a baby. He’s not going to put himself at risk to help.”

“But he can write us some spells like what he did for you,” Mav pointed out. “He doesn’t have to be on-site.”

Duke nodded. “Call him.”

Mav dialed and put his phone on speaker. Uriel picked up after a few rings. “Hey, Uriel. Sorry to contact you again this soon. We had a situation come up.”

“What is it?” came Uriel’s tinny voice across the line.

“We found the kidnapped babies and omegas. But we also found out that Telos is pregnant, and we don’t want to put him in unnecessary danger. Would you mind coming down to help us with some spells? You can sit out on the rescue itself.”

Uriel drew a slow breath. “He’s pregnant?”

“I’m still an alpha,” Telos said loudly.

“Oh.” Did Uriel sound... disappointed? “We could be there in a few hours.”

“Yeah, that’ll be great. We’ll compensate you for your time. Thanks,” Mav said. He ended the call and looked at the team. “We should probably get a new plan together.”

“Just as well that the rescue is scheduled for nightfall,” Crush muttered.

They sat down around the table, Mav still holding Estie because she was still a bundle of flame. Telos tried to come up with good modifications to the plan. But for the most part, he secretly watched Mav with Estie, Mav letting her gnaw on his fingers and grab his shirt.

Every time Mav looked at her, his eyes went soft.

He’s going to be a really good dad, Telos thought to himself. Hell, Mav might already be the perfect dad for their baby.

Was he going to say Telos wasn’t good enough?

As though he could hear Telos’ exact thoughts, Mav turned.

Telos narrowed his eyes to communicate, Stop spying on me.

Mav raised an eyebrow. Telos crossed his eyes, which only made Mav snort. The rest of their team looked over.

“Could we have your attention, please?” Duke said sarcastically.

Ace and Raptor snickered.

Mav looked back. “You have my attention. We don’t want to ruin date night, after all.”

Ace, Raptor, and Crush all lit up, eyes bright with excitement. Duke frowned. “It’s not a date. For anyone.”

Telos nodded solemnly. “Of course not.”

Mav shuffled closer though, pressing his thigh against Telos’. Telos stared. That was new.

And Mav didn’t move his leg away.

Does this mean he wants me? Telos debated breaking the contact between them. Except Mav dropped his large hand on Telos’ thigh, looking at their team like he hadn’t just... initiated intimacy. In front of their friends.

Telos’ heart skipped. Mav’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t a cruel smile.

Somehow, Telos got through the discussion, helping to work out the kinks in the team’s new plan. By the time they wrapped up, he was buzzing under his skin. Estie had shifted back into a human, asleep in Mav’s arms.

“We need to talk,” he said to Mav.

“Sure.” Mav handed Estie back, his hands brushing against Telos.

Telos swallowed. He pressed a kiss to Estie’s sleeping face, then tucked her into her crib and grabbed Mav’s arm. “Out. We’re not talking in here.”

He pointedly ignored the whistling of their teammates and butlers, dragging Mav out of the hotel to the next building over. Once they were beyond most people’s hearing range, Telos spun around, folding his arms across his chest.

“Why’re you doing... all of this?” He gestured at himself. “I know you said you wanted to try. But you don’t have to. I’m not an omega. It’s not like you need to—to like me or be nice just because I—”

The words lodged in his throat. He still couldn’t say it. Just because I like you.

Mav took a step toward him, grasping his hand. His gaze didn’t once leave Telos’ face. “I’ve been thinking about everything. Estie. The mission. Reinford.”

Telos spasmed involuntarily. “I don’t want to talk about Reinford.”

“We have to. You were a different person back then,” Mav said quietly, intently.

He took another step closer, backing Telos up against the wall so their chests were barely an inch apart. Telos couldn’t look away from those amber eyes.

“Remember Admiral Johnson’s request? My flight sent me to his castle because he asked for help, but gardening woes were such a trivial matter that it didn’t warrant a senior dragon’s attention. And you were there, getting in my face at every turn, trying to prove that you were better than me.”

Telos had been attracted to Mav at first sight, back then. He’d been young and stupid, trying to show off to an alpha the way he’d show off to an omega. He’d lifted statues and tripped Mav just to prove he was faster, stronger, thinking Mav’s annoyed reactions were a good thing because they were reactions to him.

He’d thought that maybe if he got Mav to scowl at him enough, to look at him enough, Mav would realize just how much of a catch he was. They’d begun sniping at each other, and he’d... stupidly assumed that Mav considered trading barbs to be flirting.

It had given him such a rush, thinking he’d succeeded in his courtship. Telos had envisioned a life ahead of them; he’d written to his parents, telling them he’d found someone to bring home.

He’d been so happy that, when Admiral Johnson’s garden flourished and the Admiral had held a ball to celebrate, Telos had immediately snarked at Mav to attend. Mav had sniped back. And Telos had assumed it meant Mav would be his beau.

He’d dressed in his best clothes and made his own bouquet. When he’d arrived at Mav’s chambers, he’d... heard sounds. Intimate sounds that shouldn’t have been there.

He’d barged in and found Mav in bed with some woman. Mav had curled his lip and demanded that Telos leave.

But what about us? Telos had asked.

Mav had looked confused. Us? You and who?

Telos had been so shocked, he’d walked right out. He’d hidden himself away in a corner of the castle, listening to the storm outside, trying to get a hold of his disappointment and anger. His shame at telling his parents about Mav, only for it all to be a misunderstanding.

It had taken him a long time to get over it. Thing was, their circles overlapped. Telos took to avoiding Mav as much as he could, except in doing so, he had to pay more attention to where Mav was at all times, and what he was doing.

Over the years and countless instances of avoiding Mav, he’d learned that Mav was an asshole, but a good person deep down. Mav liked horses and cars; he made friends easily, and his taste in friends happened to be the same as Telos’.

In the decades and centuries that followed, Telos’ awareness of Mav had slowly transformed into a helpless sort of love, the sort where he knew it would never be reciprocated, but it dug its roots into him anyway. He’d given in and turned them into friendly enemies, bickering with Mav because that was the surest way he knew to keep Mav’s attention.

“You were different, back then,” Mav said quietly.

Telos swallowed. “People change.”

“You were... bright. Ready smiles. That all disappeared suddenly.”

Telos looked away and shrugged. “Yeah, well.”

“What happened?”

Telos’ laugh was mirthless. “Please don’t ask.”

But Mav frowned. “Telos.”

“I was stupid, okay? I was a stupid fool who got myself hurt because I didn’t know better.”

“Who hurt you?” Mav growled.

“Me, because I expected things of someone who wasn’t on the same page!”

“ Who? ” Mav’s teeth sharpened. He pressed Telos against the wall, shoulders bunched, looking like he was out for blood.

Telos sighed. “You.”

Mav recoiled, his anger melting into horror. “What? How?”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It was nearly three hundred years ago, Mav. Leave it.”

“I hurt you so much, it changed your entire personality.” Mav looked like he was trying to wrap his mind around it. “How?”

“It’s fucking humiliating. Please don’t.”

Mav frowned. “I... All I remember is you being annoying. Then one day, you stopped.”

“Do you remember when?” Telos asked quietly.

“The... After the ball. You... You came into my room while I was with someone, and I yelled at you. But it wasn’t any more than the usual.”

Telos pinched the bridge of his nose. “That whole time, I’d thought our bickering was flirting. I’d thought you were going to the ball with me. I was that stupid.”

Mav opened and closed his mouth, looking more horrified as the seconds dragged on. “Fuck. I—I didn’t know that. Holy fuck.”

“Yeah.” Telos breathed out a sigh. “Drop it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Telos scrubbed his face. “No one else flirts by arguing. Of course you wouldn’t know.”

But Mav’s gaze was still dark, his forehead furrowed. “I—I wish I’d known.”

Telos shrugged. “It’s not like anything would’ve changed.”

“You don’t know that.”

Telos met his eyes. “You didn’t even think alphas could get together.”

“I know that now.”

Mav wet his lips; Telos couldn’t help looking at his mouth, the way his lips glistened. Then he glanced up, wincing when he realized Mav had caught him staring.

Hesitantly, in a way Telos had never heard from him before, Mav asked, “You’ve felt the same way about me for almost three hundred years?”

Telos gave a half-shrug.

“What does that mean?” Mav asked.

“It means that’s not information you’re privy to right now.”

“Okay. Okay,” Mav breathed, taking a step back. “I’m sorry about everything.”

“I don’t want you to do anything with me, just because you feel sorry, ” Telos hissed.

Mav shook his head. He swept his gaze down Telos’ body and back up, slow and appreciative, finally meeting Telos’ eyes. “None of what we did last night was because I felt sorry.”

Telos’ breath hitched. “Well, okay.”

“Let me—” Mav licked his lips, stepping closer. “Let me get to know you. Properly.”

Before Telos could ask how, Mav caught his hips, pressing him up against the wall. Telos’ reality narrowed down to the two of them, Mav’s mouth on his neck, Telos’ heart thundering in his chest.

“You’re not stupid,” Mav murmured.

“You don’t have to try to make me feel better.”

“No. You’re really not stupid. You got us all the intel we need on the hideout. You’ve always made good points when there’s a rescue we need to stage. You know when to shut up.”

Telos felt a little mollified. “Does that mean you secretly like my pterodactyl form?”

Mav pulled back, eyebrows drawn low. “No.”

“C’mon, you’re a big, scaly reptile with wings. What’s the difference between that and a pterodactyl?”

“Well, I’m not ancient history.”

“You only choose to make dinosaurs ancient history. I’m very much alive in my dino forms!” Telos puffed out his chest.

Mav’s mouth twitched. “Yes, but there are no actual dinosaurs alive right now.”

“Technicalities. Dinosaurs ruled the world millions of years ago.”

“And are completely irrelevant today.”

“Says you,” Telos muttered, shoving at Mav’s warm, solid chest. “ Doc gave me a dino bag. It’s covered in all kinds of dinosaurs, and it has a huge pterodactyl face on the front of it.”

At that, Mav narrowed his eyes. “Why did Doc get you a bag?”

“Why can’t he? He said it reminded him of me.” Telos sniffed. “I put it in the middle of my mantle; it’s perfect. No one else gives me dino things just because they remind them of me.”

Mav growled. Something came through their connection, something sour and...

“Are you jealous?” Telos blurted, surprised.

Mav looked away and shrugged. But he was frowning, and... maybe he actually wanted a chance with Telos. “I’ll get you something.”

Telos’ heart skipped. He pretended to be indifferent. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“You will.”

“It can’t be a cop-out. No dragons pretending to be dinos.”

Mav rolled his eyes. “What about dinos pretending to be dragons?”

“ No. ”

Mav made to turn away. “Maybe I’ll find a painting with a dino shedding its skin to reveal a dragon inside.”

“Fuck you,” Telos hissed, eyes flashing.

Mav grinned, all sharp teeth. He backed Telos against the wall, crowding close. “You know, you’re pretty hot when you’re mad.”

Telos blinked, a flicker of pleased surprise wrapping around his insides. Mav pressed their chests and hips together, leaning in so his breath fell on Telos’ lips.

“When we get back from the rescue, you’ll come home with me,” Mav whispered. “I’ll make sure you’re knocked up properly. Mark you up with my cum, let you wear it on your ass and thighs. Under your clothes. Make you feel like you’ve been properly bred.”

Telos’ breath punched out of him. “Fuck.”

Mav smiled, small and pleased. He reached between them and cupped Telos’ bulge, squeezing it like he had every right to touch Telos there. “Ever thought about taking my dragon cock?”

“It’s too big,” Telos said immediately.

“You know you can shift to take it, no prep necessary.” Mav’s eyes darkened. “I could knot you with it all night.”

Telos shoved his hand onto Mav’s mouth, pushing him away. “I don’t want to go back to the suite smelling like cum.”

Mav grinned. “Will you, if I keep talking like this? Make promises to stretch you good and hard, fill you up? Fuck you the way you deserve to be?”

Telos groaned. It was obvious, the way he swelled against Mav’s palm. Mav smiled and rubbed him firmly so his toes curled.

Then Mav pulled away completely, leaving Telos throbbing between his legs.

“Damn you,” Telos growled.

“Gotta give you something to look forward to.” Mav petted Telos’ bulge again, confident now. Like Telos’ body was his to pleasure.

It was stupidly attractive.

“You like it,” Mav murmured, pleased. “Will you get horny midway through the pregnancy? Beg for my cock every hour, needing to be stuffed?”

Telos narrowed his eyes. “Would you?”

“I put that baby in you.” Mav licked his lips. “I sure as hell would be happy to fill you again. Create a litter.”

Telos’ mouth went dry. “Shut up. Shut up, or I’m gonna pin you down right here, and ride you like a racing jockey.”

“That would be hot.” Mav grinned. He trailed his fingers up Telos’ front, brushing his knuckles over Telos’ abdomen. “We should talk about this, too.”

A blush crept up Telos’ neck. “You want the baby.”

Mav huffed. “I literally just described giving you more.”

“Don’t you only want babies you father with your One True Love?” Telos asked warily.

The other alpha shrugged. “Maybe I’m okay with this. You’re a good dad. Strong. Clever. Trustworthy. You care about Estie.”

Telos swallowed, his heart pattering. “You sure are complimenting me a lot today.”

Mav watched him lazily, his gaze half-lidded. “You want my babies. You’ll protect them with everything you have. I think you’ll make a good mate.”

“You’re not going to wander after the first omega you see?” Telos asked carefully.

Mav raised an eyebrow. “Casting aspersions on my character, Telos?”

It reminded Telos so much of their usual bickering that the unease in his chest faded, a little. “I’ll cast as many as I want,” he said loftily. “You know I only speak the truth.”

Mav snorted. “The garnished truth.”

“It’s more palatable than you. ”

Mav smirked. “I didn’t see you gagging when you took me. Both times.”

“That’s because there are no taste buds in my ass,” Telos sniped.

Mav reached immediately for his belt buckle. “How about you put your taste buds to use now?”

Telos’ mouth watered. He’d dreamed of this for so long—tasting Mav, choking himself on Mav’s cock, having Mav hold him down and fuck his face...

Before he could sink to his knees, his phone rang.

He snarled. “What are the odds that it’s a telemarketer?”

“I’ll bet it’s one of the butlers,” Mav said.

“Yeah? What do you get if you win?”

“You’ll suck me off.”

Telos swallowed and pulled out his phone, glancing at the caller ID. Hilly-Billy. He scowled and accepted the call. “What?”

“Boss-man wants you back here, now that you’re done with your heart-to-heart.” Hilly-Billy snickered. “You can do the hip-to-hip in your room.”

“And have all of you listen in?” Telos muttered.

“It’s not like you have anything going on between now and your rescue tonight—”

In the background, multiple panes of glass smashed, and everyone swore.