19. Kai

Chapter 19

Kai

"Come to Daddy."

Albie was learning to walk, and he toddled a couple of steps from where Dante was holding him into my arms. Gideon and Seymour were on the sidelines cheering, ready to catch our little boy if he toppled over.

I hugged our son, his unique scent washing over me, and he kissed my face all over. Albie's slobbery kisses were the highlight of my day.

But as I sat on the floor holding our little boy, the room spun around. Gideon, who was closest to me, must have sensed something was wrong, and he whisked Albie into his arms and tickled him.

Seymour helped me to my feet as he held up two fingers. "How many?"

"How many what? People? Babies? Fingers?"

"You're fine," he decided.

But as I headed to our home office, I wobbled, and Dante caught me.

"You've been working too hard. A nap is what you need." He helped me up the stairs and put me to bed.

Maybe he was right. Albie had been sleeping well, so I hadn't been woken ten times a night. But I had been spending long hours in front of the computer, even taking the laptop to bed.

My mates, being shifters, could sleep through any disturbance whether it was a storm, the TV blaring, me tapping on a keyboard, or the neighbors arguing. And yet, they always woke when Albie cried out during the night. Funny how that worked.

I didn't expect to sleep and scrolled through work messages on the phone, but the next thing I remembered was Dante standing beside the bed with a tray.

"What time is it?" I mumbled.

"Eight."

"At night or morning."

"Evening. Albie's asleep." He placed the tray over me. "We cooked pasta."

My mates had made a creamy sauce, and the pungent aroma of blue cheese wafted off the food. My stomach lurched one way and the other.

"Kai, your face is greenish."

"My belly doesn't feel so good."

Dante took the tray and yelled down the stairs, "Kai is sick."

My Number Two and Three mates bounded up the stairs. "What's wrong?" Gideon held my hand, and Seymour put a hand to my brow.

"Might have eaten something bad."

My mates studied the food Dante was holding.

"Not that food. Something earlier today."

"You cooked breakfast." Seymour jerked his head at Gideon.

"You helped," Gideon snarked in return.

"And Dante made you sandwiches before we left for work." Seymour side-eyed my wolf-shifter mate.

"Guys, it's no one's fault." Being a human and prone to injuries and sickness shifters weren't, my mates were very particular when prepping my meals.

"It's someone's fault," Dante added.

I glowered at him because I didn't want any of my mates to blame themselves.

"But can someone remove that pasta? I'll throw up if I see that creamy sauce."

Dante bustled out of the room.

Gideon asked, "Would you like some tea or crackers and?—"

I slapped a hand over his mouth. "Don't finish that sentence." There was no and. Just plain crackers.

My Number Two mate disappeared to get crackers, leaving Seymour holding my hand.

"Is there anything else I can get you?"

"A new body." My current one was achy and hurt, and I wished I could exchange it for another one. Just for a while. I loved my body because it had given birth to Albie.

"Oh no!"

"What?" Seymour tensed, his arms outstretched, as if ready for an emergency.

"I'm exhausted."

"And you're in the right place for sleep." He patted the mattress.

"And nauseous."

"The icky pasta is all gone, and you can enjoy a meal of crackers and crackers." He made a face, and while it didn't sound appealing, it was all I could stomach.

"And my body is aching."

"Can I give you a massage?" Seymour wiggled his fingers.

"Get Dante and Gideon here, please. Quickly."

Blood drained from Seymour's cheeks. He stood at the top of the stairs, yelling, "Emergency."

With Mates One, Two, and Three standing by the end, I said, "I know what's wrong with me. Or should I say what's right with me."

They looked at one another while Dante mumbled that it was human speak.

"Care to explain?" Gideon asked.

"I'm pregnant."

This was weird. When I'd announced my first pregnancy, I'd had one mate: Dante. The baby was his. There was no question. What if we had two little wolf shifters and my bear and dragon mates were upset they hadn't fathered children?

Dante, Gideon, and Seymour whooped and hollered, hugging me and each other.

"We're going to be fathers again."

"Albie will have a sibling."

"We need a bigger house."

I put a finger to my lips, shushing them in case they woke our little one.

"What do you need?" Dante put his face close to mine.

"Crackers, hot tea, and more sleep."

"Sorry!" He flew out the door. "I forgot the crackers."

Gideon tapped his phone. "We need a shopping list. Another crib, a double stroller, more onesies."

"Guys, we have plenty of time and most of the stuff." Albie had already grown out of three sizes of clothing. Or was it four? My brain was mush. Another sign of pregnancy.

Dante arrived with another tray containing a pot of tea and a plate of crackers. My mates studied it and made faces.

"Yum," Dante said.

"Looks good." Gideon inspected one and screwed up his nose.

"Wish I was having crackers for dinner." Seymour slapped on a fake smile.

"There's no need to pretend. Go and eat the pasta, and I'll enjoy the boring crackers."

"We can eat our dinner here so you won't be lonely." Seymour looked so proud of his suggestion.

"You're green again." Dante shuffled my other mates out of the room. "We got the message loud and clear."

"I love you," I shouted after them. "But don't come back until you've brushed your teeth." There had to be no lingering cheesy smell. Gross.

The crackers and tea soothed my belly, and as I ate, I thought about the baby growing inside me. This little one would be born knowing I wasn't going anywhere. Not to Pineville and not to another universe.

"I can't wait to meet you and introduce you to your brother."