16. Drew

“Idon’t want to go.”

I grinned at Sebastian. “I’ll be fine,” I said for probably the fourth time, trying to reassure him. “I’m feeling so much better. The tea is helping, I’m eating small snacks every couple of hours, and I have tons of things to search for online for our baby.” I held up the tablet that Sebastian had gifted me. It not only had games to play on it, but of course, there was the ability to shop. I hadn’t yet purchased something on it, but I was great at saving items and sharing them with Sebastian when he checked in with me.

My morning sickness had become the all-day kind of sickness. The kind that required me to get the sleepy-time tea. This wasn’t how either of us had ever anticipated pregnancy being, but it was what we’d been given, and we had to make the best of it. That meant I’d spent the days since we’d returned from our travels either on the couch or in bed. Sebastian was always close by, but now that he was returning to work, I was going to be on my own.

“I can ask for more time. Master Edison will understand.”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m fine. I spend most of the day sleeping anyway. We know you have work. I’ve already agreed I wouldn’t be going back. You need to go back.” I pointed to my head. “I’m keeping everything open. All feelings, thoughts, all of it. If I need you, you can be here in a blink. I’m not going outside; I’m not even planning on going upstairs. I’ll be right here.” I pointed to the ground. I was currently situated on the couch. I had already had my morning tea with a little breakfast. I had a nice pillow, a thin blanket, the remote if I wanted. There was water, juice, crackers, and fruit within reach. I was set.

But it was time for Sebastian to go back to work. “You need to go in to work. They need you. Who else is going to rescue Benjamin from all of those meetings?” I asked seconds before I yawned. Benjamin and Eli had visited us twice in the days since we’d been in the house. Once with their twins and another time without. They were cuties, and I couldn’t imagine having two at once. I’d immediately become worried that was why I was so sick, but Sebastian had assured me there was only one baby. One tiny little thing that was making me incredibly sick. Little booger.

I yawned again, and Sebastian tilted his head and sighed. “Are you sure?”

I yawned again and nodded. “Seb, I love you. At least, that’s what I think these feelings are. I’ve never experienced it before. But there’s lots—”

“You love me?”

I grinned. “Don’t act surprised or try to say you don’t feel the same. I know you’ve been waiting for me to say it so you can. Which isn’t right. You shouldn’t have to hide things just so I feel comfortable. That’s not how being mated works, is it?”

“Did you really just tell me you love me, for the first time, I might add, right before I have to go back to work? Seriously?” Sebastian sounded irritated, but he was smiling.

“Yes, I absolutely did. Because I wanted to tell you in person. But all I do is sleep anymore, and I promise I’m going to sleep the morning away while you sit around here and be bored and worry over me. Go to work. Be amazing. And know that I love you and will reach out later to tell you through our bond for the first time.”

Sebastian grinned. “I love you too,” he said. He moved from the coffee table he’d been sitting on to where he was kneeling on the floor in front of me. He took my hand and held it tightly. “I’ve wanted to tell you since we were in Spain, but I didn’t want you to feel pressured to say anything.”

“And I don’t. I have all of these crazy emotions that center around you, and I think they’re love, but I’ve never really seen what that is. I see mated couples and how they look at one another, but I don’t know them. You know?”

Sebastian nodded while his thumb rubbed over my fingers that his hand was holding tightly. “I understand. That’s why I haven’t said anything. I knew how you felt about me and would share when you were ready.” Sebastian kissed my hand. “I just wish you wouldn’t have done so right before I’m headed to work. Now I really just want to stay home and cuddle you all day.”

I wanted to kick myself. I should have told him last night. I had been thinking about it and was going to do so. But I’d not drunk enough of my tea or had eaten too much at once last night, and I’d spent the evening sick. When I finally got my stomach calmed enough to sit upright for more than a few seconds, I’d been exhausted, and Sebastian had put me to bed. I’d passed out almost immediately and hadn’t woken up until Sebastian woke me this morning with another tea.

“I’m sorry. I was going to tell you last night after supper when we were cuddling. Because we’ve started cuddling here on the couch. But…” I sighed.

Sebastian kissed my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t apologize. I’m not really upset. I just feel bad because I want to stay with you, but I know I really do need to go in.”

I grinned. “I’m seriously going to sleep the day away. I have an alarm set to wake me up for tea at noon, and by the time I need it again at six, you should be home. I’m set. Seriously. Check in with me. If I’m awake, I’ll chat with you.” I yawned again, and although I wanted to see Sebastian off to work, I was losing the battle with the effects of the tea.

“All right. You’ve convinced me. But I’ll probably be home early.” I nodded. I slid down to where I was lying on the couch. Sebastian helped me get situated on my side. He fussed over me for several moments before leaning down and kissing me on the forehead. “I love you too, Drew.”

I grinned up at him. “I know you do. I won’t be afraid to share my feelings with you anymore. Well, I’ll try not to be.”

Sebastian chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere if you struggle from time to time. Like we’ve been talking about—everyone is different.”

I nodded. Now that I was lying down, sleep was calling heavily. I sighed, wiggled my shoulders, and felt Sebastian lean down and kiss me again. “Love you,” I managed to get out before my body gave up the fight. Sleep won.

I woke hours later, wondering at first what had woken me. Then I heard and felt it again. My phone was under the pillow. I didn’t remember putting it there, but when I pulled it out, I saw it was eleven, and I really needed to work on getting my tea ready. It didn’t take long to make, but I was making it myself, and I knew I didn’t want its calming abilities to lapse.

“Did you have a good nap?”

I grinned. “Did you put my phone under the pillow?” He had to have. I know it was on the table when I sat down at the couch earlier.

“I did. I thought that was most likely the best spot for it. You would feel the vibrations and probably hear them. Are you feeling all right? Here’s a tea for you so you don’t have to fuss with making it.”

I was still lying on the couch but had pulled the phone from its spot under the pillow. In front of me, a mug suddenly appeared, and I grinned.

“My nap wasn’t bad. I just woke, as you obviously know. Are you really able to do that?”I pushed up into a sitting position, wondering how my stomach was going to be. It had been hours since I’d last had anything, even water, and that usually wasn’t good, come to find out. “Send me tea, that is.”

I heard Sebastian chuckling through our bond. “Yes, I can send you tea. Did you need something else? Toast? More crackers? Soup?”

I reached for the tea when I felt a familiar uneasiness in my stomach. I took a big sip, hoping I wasn’t going to end up running to the bathroom. My bladder was going to start protesting in a few minutes, but I had enough time to get my tea down. Maybe.

“I’m okay for now. I’m going to sit here, drink my tea, and then once I know my stomach isn’t going to protest, I’ll go to the bathroom. Then I’ll eat something. Promise.”

“I know you will. I’m going to come home for lunch in a little bit. I can make you some soup if you’d like.”

Soup had become my favorite thing over the past few days. I wasn’t sure what it was about Sebastian’s soup, but it tasted wonderful. “Yes, please.” I took another drink of tea and closed my eyes. I needed to focus on getting it down and not the ache in my stomach. “How has your first morning back been? I slept the morning away, so I’m sure you’ve had a more eventful morning.”

“It’s been meeting after meeting. Nothing too exciting. We’re working out schedules for assignments. Teams that used to be four or five are getting divided. We’ll be going out in twos, possibly threes. We are going to be traveling to various other packs and prides. Covens and others. The word about the council finally seems to have gotten out enough that there have been complaints that have made it back. My cousin was doing that right after I met you.”

“Benjamin went out, then?” I couldn’t remember him mentioning it, but I didn’t doubt it.

“No, Frederick. Although Benjamin has gone out since we’ve claimed each other as well.”

Frederick. That’s right. He had two cousins here. They weren’t first cousins, or maybe they were. I needed a family tree to try and keep them all straight still. I finished my tea, and once I scooted to the edge of the couch, I was able to place the mug on the table.

“Tea is gone. Now I’m going to go to the bathroom. You said you’d be home for lunch?”

“Yes. I need to go into another meeting here in about five minutes, but it’s promised to be short. I’ll be home after and will make you soup.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you soon, then. Enjoy your meeting.”

I heard Sebastian chuckling as I hurried off to the closest bathroom. Thankfully, there was one just outside the office door, which was on the far wall here. I would have some crackers to tide me over until Sebastian came home, but after last evening, I wasn’t in a hurry to eat a whole lot. I had been quite consistent with drinking the tea on a good schedule. But I’d been enjoying supper last night and had eaten more than I probably should before drinking enough tea. It was something I wouldn’t repeat, that was for sure.

After I relieved my bladder and washed my hands, I went back to the couch and grabbed my little bag of crackers. I snacked on a few of those while trying to think of things to do this afternoon. I knew I’d end up taking another nap, but I would most likely spend more time awake this afternoon than I had this morning. I wasn’t sure what was in that tea, but the fae really knew how to put a magical touch on things.

I had just eaten my last cracker when a blur of red ran across the deck. It was back seconds later, and I realized it was a fox. I grinned when it spun around and then took off in the direction it had come from.

It was unusual to see foxes in the daytime, and it took entirely too long for me to realize that most likely, that wasn’t an ordinary fox.

“Shoot. Eli,” I said out loud and rushed over to the door. I opened it, hoping to see him out there somewhere, but I found myself all alone on the deck.

“Sorry about that!”

I glanced over toward Benjamin and Eli’s house and found him in his human form, pulling a shirt on over his head.

“Sorry about what? Did you want to come in?” I didn’t know where the twins were, but if Eli was running, that probably meant that they were being watched by Benjamin’s omega father.

Eli glanced to the side, seemed to say something to someone, and then disappeared. I figured he needed to get back to his twins, so I closed the door and went back to the couch. I had just gotten myself situated again when Eli was once again on our back deck. This time, he was in his human form. He waved, and I quickly got back up to let him inside.

“Hey,” I said as I opened the door to let him inside.

“Hi. How are you feeling? I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was out running and playing for a few while Benjamin is home. He’s dealing with a tantrum at the moment.” Eli sighed. “Actually, he’s taken over dealing with a tantrum for the moment. I’ve been dealing with them all morning because all of a sudden, our two don’t want to take a quick morning nap. Which is fine, except they get super cranky and then fall asleep during lunch. Which puts them awake before they should be in the afternoons. Then, they are cranky at night and fall asleep too early. Let me just say that five in the morning should never be the wake-up time for a pair of eighteen-month-olds.”

I winced, and Eli gasped. “What?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to worry you. It’s probably just our two. Don’t think you’re going to have issues like this.”

I chuckled. “I’m not. Did you want to sit down and chat for a few? Let Benjamin deal with them for a bit?”

“Fates yes. Did you need anything? I was going to come over earlier, but the twins weren’t cooperating. étienne even couldn’t get them to stop fussing. It’s been a morning, and I’d love a bit of quiet.”

“We can sit on the couch and just meditate if you’d like.”

“Do you meditate? Does it work? Maybe I should try that when the twins start acting like they are.”

Eli and I both stared at one another for a moment before we both started laughing. “I’m not sure how you do it. I was terrified I was carrying two when I started getting so sick. Sebastian promised there was only one in here. I’ve affectionately started calling him or her a little booger since they’re making me so sick.” I sat on the couch with Eli sitting not far away.

“There are certainly better days than others. But I adore the boys and really can’t wait to have more.”

I smiled. “I’ll be happy with this one for now I think.” I know I had said I wanted several, but the thought of being this sick again, I wasn’t looking forward to that again in the near future.

“I can understand that. And you say that now, but once the baby comes, you’ll fall in love and forgive them for the pregnancy sickness.” I looked at Eli and shook my head. “Notice I said forgive. Not forget. I still remember being sick. It didn’t matter what time of day either. The tea really helped. And then to learn I was going to have two at once, I was scared. But Benjamin is amazing.” Eli chuckled. “I actually reached out to him through our bond when he was on assignment. It had been a morning, and the boys were fussy. Then, of course, they both demanded to be fed at the same time. Ben made them bottles and changed them both for me with magic while he wasn’t even here.”

“They can do that?”

Eli shrugged. “I guess so. The boys are his though, so he can sense them. And I have his mating mark, so he can obviously sense me. But we have these charms that the boys wear on their ankles. Benjamin made them for them.”

“What are they?”

“Just cute little stone charms that are wrapped in soft rope. They’re magical in some way, and they help Benjamin always have that extra connection to them. So like when he was on assignment in South America?” Eli nodded at me. “He could have used magic to bring the boys to him if needed. He has that connection with me through my mating mark, so I don’t need one.”

“That’s neat. I wonder if Sebastian will do that for our baby.”

Eli shrugged. “When Benjamin made them, they were dealing with some pretty evil beings, and he wanted to make sure he could get me and the boys away no matter what.”

I hadn’t ever really thought about what the council was doing in all that much depth. I, of course, knew there were some truly vile paranormals out there, but I’d not really thought about them beyond what they’d done to me and what more of them wanted to do to me.

“I’m sorry. Did you want something to drink? A snack or something?”

“Naw, I’m good. Benjamin is going to have lunch with me before he goes back to work. He said they’re all in different meetings, and when one ends, another is already going, and then the next one starts. It’s crazy at the moment.”

It sounded like it. “Sebastian said he was going to do the same.”

Eli grinned at me. “Of course he is. He’s going to come home for lunch every day now. I’m surprised he went to work, actually.”

I shrugged. “He thought about not going, but I convinced him that I was just going to sleep all morning, which is exactly what I did. So he went in.” I pointed to the empty mug that was still on the coffee table. “He made me tea, though, and told me he’d be home after his next meeting.”

“See?” Eli grinned. “If you need anything, I’m almost always next door. You have my number, right?” I nodded. “Good. Sometimes the twins and I will go for a walk around the neighborhood. And now that they have a playground down at the other end, we go there sometimes. Most of the things are still too big for our boys, but they’re going to love that place in another year or two.”

I chuckled at that. I’d actually not ventured down to that side of the neighborhood yet. Sebastian and I had claimed each other, and that threw me into heat. We then spent five days doing that thing, and then after a day of recovery, we were off to explore gorgeous beaches. Then I got sick, and sadly, we had to come home.

“Hey, cutie,” Sebastian said when he suddenly appeared in front of us. “Oh, hey, Eli.”

“Hi, Sebastian.” Eli grinned up at my mate before looking over at me. “And that’s my cue to head home. I should probably go help Ben anyway.”

“You don’t have to go,” I told him.

Eli glanced up at Sebastian again. “Yeah, I do. Not only does your guy there want to spend time with you, mine probably really could use some help. We will have to get together soon though. Once your stomach is more accepting and you’re feeling better.”

“I can’t wait,” I said. “Thanks for stopping by, Eli.” I started to get up, but Eli waved me off.

“Don’t get up. Ben is going to do that thing,” he said and pointed toward their house. Then, he was simply gone.

I stared at the spot where Eli had just been standing. He was gone though. Then I looked up at Sebastian, wondering if all warlocks could do that. “Is that a ‘your family’ thing? Or can all warlocks do that?”

Sebastian chuckled. “It’s definitely a ‘my family’ thing.” He moved closer, leaned down, and kissed me on the forehead before he moved and sat beside me. “How are you feeling?” Sebastian asked as he ran his fingers through the hair on the side of my head.

“Much better now that you’re here. Is it possible to miss you even when I was sleeping?”

Sebastian smiled again. “Yeah, I believe so. I missed you too,” he said before he leaned in and gave me a kiss. I sighed at the sweetness of it. Sebastian was so very romantic.