Chapter Twenty-Two

Magnus

“Harbor. I’m home. I got the pizza with anchovies you requested.”

No answer.

I checked the living room, kitchen, deck, and pool. No Harbor.

Strange. Sitting by the pool, even on cooler days, was one of his favorite things to do.

I set the pizza on the kitchen counter and headed upstairs. First, I checked our bedroom. Then the baby’s room. Nothing.

My home office was empty. The first guest room was silent, not even a dust mote floating by.

The second guest room, which Harbor had been considering turning into a children’s playroom for when they got older, held a familiar, heavenly, funnel cake scent. But nothing looked disturbed. The bed was neatly made, the curtains open and letting in the silvery afternoon sun.

Letting my nose lead me, I turned directly to the closet. It was a walk-in, so I knocked softly on the door.

No answer.

“Harbor? I know you’re in there. Can I come in?”

A rustling sounded from within. Bingo.

“Please?” I asked.

“Okay.” He said more words, but they were muffled.

I opened the door. Harbor blinked up at me from a pile of pillows and blankets. He had his tablet, his phone, and a water bottle by his side. The closet lights were off, and he shielded his eyes.

“Hi, Magnus. You found me.”

“I did. I have pizza.”

“Oh? Where is it?”

“Downstairs.”

“Oh.” He looked sad.

“What are you doing in here?”

“I just thought this was the perfect place for some peace and quiet. You know. I made it all comfy, and I’ve been playing games on my tablet.”

“In the dark?”

He nodded, frowning. “The light hurt my eyes.”

Nesting.

I already knew before my dragon said it.

I knelt down and smiled. My precious omega was nesting.

Dragons had many different nesting habits. But the one thing they all shared was they wanted a protected space that could be easily guarded. In the olden days, caves sufficed. We lived in modern times. No one raised their broods in caves anymore.

Though Harbor was a unicorn carrying dragon eggs, his instincts had become dragon-esque. I didn’t think he realized it.

“Would you like me to bring the pizza up here?”

“Yes, please. It’s okay if we eat some before Ayelet comes home, right?”

“It’s a snack. Besides, he called and said he was working late. We’ll have dinner later.”

“You’ll have some pizza with me though?” he asked.

“Sure.” I liked anchovies okay, even though I usually didn’t order them. Once he got past the morning-sickness phase, Harbor’s love for all-things seafood returned with a vengeance.

When I came back with the pizza, Harbor graciously made room for me to sit beside him in the nest.

“Can I leave the door open?” I asked.

“Yes.” He took the extra-large pizza box from me then said, “Oh boy, you got it from my favorite place.”

“Of course I did. I know who makes the best.”

Harbor sat a little hunched so I couldn’t quite see his baby bump. I loved how his body had changed. My handsome pregnant omega.

We got full after two cheesy, gooey pieces each. I closed the box and set it aside to pack up later as leftovers.

I put my arm around him, and we both lay back on the pillows. “It’s pretty cozy in here,” I said.

“It’s perfect. I took a nap and everything.”

“You feel safe here, right?”

He nodded. “Why do you say that?”

“Because of the eggs.”

“What about them?”

“Baby, I think you’re nesting. In fact, I’m sure.”

“Like a dragon?”

“Exactly like a dragon.”

“But I’m a unicorn. We like sunshine and rainbows, not dark corners.”

“Well, I guess you like both now.”

He giggled. “Well, I could decorate in here with rainbows.”

“Anything you want. We can get soft lights with all different muted colors. And maybe some stars that glow in the dark on the walls and ceiling.”

“I love that idea. Magnus, you’re the best. I’m so lucky that I have two alphas to take care of me.”

“We’re the lucky ones. All of us.” I kissed the side of his head. “Did I ever thank you?”

“Thank me for what?”

“For being our omega. For having our babies.”

He blushed beautifully, lowering his eyelids. “You’re welcome.” He leaned his whole body onto my chest, gazing up. “Can we really have glow-in-the-dark stars in here?”

“Anything you want, my love.”

Ayelet walked through the front door and straight into the kitchen. “What are we having for dinner? I’m starved. I worked such a long day.”

I turned from making the mashed potatoes to give him a hug. “Guess what? Harbor’s nesting.”

“What?” He sniffed. “Do I smell pizza?”

“We’re having chicken for dinner. But Harbor couldn’t wait. He had some pizza this afternoon.”

Ayelet nodded. “Did you just say he’s nesting?”

“Yep. Upstairs, second guest room, walk-in closet.”

“The closet?”

“He’s nesting like a dragon. But that doesn’t mean one of the eggs won’t turn out to be a gazelle. Or a unicorn.”

Ayelet grinned. “That’s so amazing. Gazelles, unicorns, dragons—it’s all good. I can’t wait. I love that we’re having kids so soon. Don’t you?”

“I do. Though I confess, I never thought about children the entire time I was in New York before we were mated.”

“Not once?”

“Nope. I didn’t actually care much for them or pay attention. Even to my relatives’ kids. But now that they’ll be mine—ours—I am in love with you two even more. The idea of our kids being raised in this house makes me happier than I ever thought I could be. I barely recognize myself anymore.”

“I do.” Ayelet slid his hand down my hip. “I recognize you. From the first time we met almost four years ago, I saw you. The person standing right in front of me. Not the dragon shifter obsessed with gaining more money, with hoarding. You showed me tenderness and openness that night. A vulnerability I couldn’t quite put my finger on. We connected. You may not realize it, but you showed me your heart. And it was so bright, it blinded me. I thought, is this the one? I’d never felt that way before.”

“I thought the same about you,” I whispered. “But it didn’t fit.”

“Back then, we couldn’t see how it would fit. Not until Harbor showed up.”

“It was all worth waiting for,” I said.

“Let’s go check on him,” Ayelet said, grabbing my hand. “Show me his nest.”

Dinner was almost ready. Everything was set, including the table. I could safely leave the kitchen for a few minutes.

I let Ayelet lead me upstairs to the closet where Harbor greeted us both with shrieks of delight. He started talking fast, filling Ayelet in about the stars we were going to put up for him, and the rainbows.

That night, after dinner, the three of us went shopping online and bought anything Harbor wanted for his nest, paying extra for overnight delivery. The first thing we bought was the basket to hold the eggs, a fancy, large one with silk pillows and a warming mat. Then we ordered a soft birthing mat with a washable cover of the ocean and sunsets. We went crazy for stuffies and squishies, stickers, and, of course, glow-in-the-dark stars.

Harbor clapped his hands when we were done. “We’re going to have the best nest ever for our babies.”

Neither Ayelet nor I could disagree with that.