Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Elowyn groaned, hand on his belly.

He needed to get to the towels he liked best, but some tall alphahole had put them on the top shelf. He couldn't reach them. He couldn't stand on his toes anymore.

"Hmm…" He waddled to the kitchen, heading for the tongs. He bet those would work, and if they didn't, the sound when he threw them would be prodigious.

Being pregnant was…well, he knew it was supposed to be a joy. And it was in so many ways. The wonder he felt every time the babies moved compared to nothing else in his life ever. But he was tired and huge and his ankles were swollen, and he was so afraid if something happened he wouldn't be able to protect his girl, Leilani.

He knew in his heart that the attack on the heights not too long ago had been a scout from Triton and Cerran's old keep. They wanted that stone back, and they didn't care if Leilani died because of it. And that would be an agonizing death for a baby, to waste away because their stone was taken from them.

It had almost happened to Leilani once already. And he loved her so much that he couldn't bear that thought.

It was easier now that Cerran had made good on the promise of moving Leilani in with them for the time being. He could wake up and hear her breathing and go back to sleep. And Triton and Cerran were watching his food and water intake carefully, spoiling him with milkshakes and sundaes.

Still, he worried, and it rode him all the time like a heavy package that rested squarely on his shoulders. He felt…bowed under the weight of it.

A knock sounded at the door just as he was tonging a towel off the shelf, and he yelped as he dropped the stupid things and they smacked him on the head. Dammit.

At least they weren't heavy.

"Coming!" He went to the door, tongs still in hand.

He peeked through the viewer, surprised to see Cain standing there. He opened the door, smiling. "Seer. What a pleasure."

"Sorry, Elowyn. I know I should have called first. May I come in?"

"Of course. Come in, please. Would you like some tea or water or anything? The alphas are working."

"Only if you would like something. I just wanted to talk to you, so that's fine." Cain gave him a gentle smile, but those silvery eyes were still unnerving sometimes.

As soon as Cain sat, he settled, hands on his belly. The twins were having a ball, rolling and shifting. He was panting by the time they settled, but Cain didn't seem terribly concerned.

"Thank you, Elowyn. I appreciate you seeing me."

"It's fine. I was just wrestling with towels."

One eyebrow winged up. "Entertaining."

"Totally. It's tough, living with tall dragons."

"I imagine so." Cain gave him a faint smile. "So. I hear you've been having a rather rough time."

"I'm scared," he admitted, the words pouring out of him. Cain had that effect on him. "They want Leilani's stone, and they could have it, except it's hers. She didn't do this. This isn't her fault, and they're never going to stop hunting her."

Cain nodded, his gaze hooded. "They will continue coming for her unless we can negotiate with them. Or unless we can show them we won't be intimidated. I've talked with your alphas, and their opinion is let them try to come and take her."

"What?" He stood, suddenly needing to hold the baby, to snuggle her and keep her close.

"They want to be able to make a point."

"And you're not going to stop them?"

Cain followed him to the hall while he went to the bedroom to get Leilani. "Well, it is their choice as her soffaren."

"But—" He stopped, because he supposed it was. He wasn't her father. He was…something else. "Of course, you're right."

He stared down at her, then covered her up. She was sleeping hard. He didn't want to bother her.

He stepped out of the nursery and closed the door quietly. "She's sleeping. I just needed to see her."

"Of course. I understand." Cain made a face. "Insofar as I feel responsible for everyone here. I know it's different to be her father."

He offered Cain a smile, but he didn't feel it, so he simply led Cain into the main area. "So, what can I do for you, Seer?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about the situation. Perhaps allay your fears somewhat." They sat back down, Elowyn easing himself there as gently as he could.

"It's a hard situation." And he would worry about Leilani the rest of her life, no matter what.

"It is. But there are things we can do. I have increased the wards around the keep. Boone has added extra patrols. We're tweaking our process for vetting employees. We're a large keep now, and I'm acting on that."

"Thank you. I appreciate it, very much." He felt as if he'd been hit hard in the chest, and he didn't know what to do.

Maybe tonight he would visit Rowan once Cerran and Triton were home. Talk to his brother about why he was so hurt by the idea that he wasn't Leilani's father.

"I'm sorry. I'm not making it better, am I?" Cain sighed. "Let me tell you what I see then."

"Of course. I'm sorry. I mean no offense. u, none."

"No, of course not." Cain leaned over to take his hand. "I'm handling this poorly. I really am a seer, and I grew up very isolated. My social skills are shit."

That made him laugh, surprised.

"Well, I think you're better than that."

"Oh, thank you." Cain chuckled. "I am really accustomed to people coming to me for answers, but not to having to make conversation."

"So, tell me what you see."

"That they will come for her one more time, and then they will not come for her again." Cain seemed to be looking inward as he talked.

"Really?" What did that mean? He'd always been told he would never have an alpha, and now he had two. Did no one coming for her again after the next time mean they would get her when they came? Or kill her?

Elowyn gave Cain a doubtful glance. "That's good, I suppose."

Cain snapped back into himself. "I think so, yes. I See her being a great sister to your twins."

That was more encouraging than anything else in the conversation. "Oh, I'm so glad."

"Yes." Cain grinned. "Would you like to have lunch?"

He tilted his head. Was Cain lonely? "Do you mind if we invite Rowan?"

"Not at all. I would be delighted." Cain beamed at him. "What shall I order us while you call him?"

"Anything but fish. Creamy things for me. Yogurt parfait, perhaps."

"I'll get a variety, but nothing stinky."

"Thank you. And no black tea, if you don't mind. I can't abide the smell. Still."

"Anything you wish." Cain bowed his head, looking so pleased, and Elowyn felt bad for being so worried about him coming to the door. Even if he was still…angry at his mates. He would have to talk to them about this not being in on decisions.

He needed them to understand he was just as much a part of these things as they were.

Then Cain was calling for lunch, and he breathed deep, trying to let it go.

It seemed as though everyone could use a friend today.

Cerran had a feeling something was wrong.

Oh, Elowyn wasn't admitting it, but he kept…staring at him and Triton, his gaze haunted when he didn't think they were looking.

He didn't think it was about Leilani. Well, at least not about Elowyn's worry for her. No, he thought this was about something else. And it was something Elowyn had tucked away, had hidden from them. Whatever it was, he couldn't see it when he went to his mate's emotions. To his mind.

So he went to Triton to see what his mate thought.

"I think Elowyn is hiding something," Triton told him as soon as he walked into the kitchen.

"I think you're right." Cerran sighed. "I can't get in to see what he's upset about."

"Neither can I." Triton poured him a cup of coffee. Elowyn had made them breakfast, then taken Leilani to visit Rowan. With hardly a word to either of them.

"So what do we do?" Cerran asked.

"I suppose we must actually talk to him about it."

"Hmm." Cerran poured syrup on a stack of fluffy pancakes. "We could drug him and listen to his rambling thoughts instead."

"Cerran!" Triton stared at him, shocked, until he laughed uproariously.

"I was teasing, mate!"

"Oh." Triton buttered his own pancakes. "No. We must ask him. He is our hailee, not our housekeeper. And he's pregnant with our babes."

"He is." Cerran shook his head. "This is far harder than just the two of us."

"It is, but it is worth it."

"Yeah." He ate his breakfast with Triton, and they went their separate ways to do their various jobs, vowing to speak to Elowyn that night when they got home.

As it stood, he returned home late, and he found Triton waiting for him, his face like a thundercloud.

Uh-oh.

"What is it, grak'gra?"

"Elowyn has gone to bed early. I told him we wished to speak with him, but he said he was tired and not feeling well."

How odd. Elowyn was usually so accommodating.

"Did he eat?"

"No."

"Then we will make up a tray and go eat in the bedroom. With him. Make a strawberry ice cream sundae."

"You make us plates."

Ten minutes later, they walked into their bedroom where, oddly enough, Elowyn was not asleep. He was sitting as cross-legged as he could on the bed, meditating.

"Hailee. We hope you will dine with us."

Elowyn opened his eyes, frowning slightly. "I'm meditating."

"But you didn't eat," Triton protested.

"I'm not hungry."

"Hailee…"

"What? Am I not allowed to make this decision either?" Elowyn snapped.

He glanced at Triton, surprised by the sparks in Elowyn's sherry-colored eyes.

"What's wrong, Elowyn," Cerran asked. "You've been angry since last night."

"No. I have been angry since yesterday morning." Elowyn crossed his arms over his belly, glaring at them.

"Why is that?" Triton handed Elowyn his sundae.

He took it, grudgingly, but at least he started to eat.

Then again, maybe that was to avoid speaking to them.

Once they'd eaten, Cerran tried again. "What is it, Elowyn? We cannot make it right if you do not tell us what's wrong."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not part of this family anyway."

"Whaaat?" Triton's disbelief had it coming out in a roar that made Leilani whimper in her little crib.

"Stop it." Elowyn stared them both down. "I talked to Cain. He told me how you had made decisions about Leilani and the old keep trying to get to her. You never even discussed it with me! And Cain made it clear that you are her soffaren, not me. I don't count."

Stunned, he put down his plate, turning to really face Elowyn. "That's not true, love."

"Isn't it? I still feel like I'm just the hired help."

"Elowyn." Triton had lowered his voice, but it still sounded like two stones being rubbed together. "You are our mate. We made some decisions without you because you were making yourself sick with worry, not because we do not care about your feelings."

"Oh, please. You're alphas. You think you deserve to be the ones to make all the choices." Elowyn wouldn't meet his gaze when he said that, and his shoulders hunched. Cerran hoped it was because he knew that wasn't truly fair.

He had a point about Leilani's situation, however, and Cerran knew it. "Regardless of our motives, hailee, you're right that we should have talked with you. But Cain is wrong. You are her father too."

"Yes." Triton nodded. "We are not so deep in grakke that we don't know that."

That was so true. They might be old-fashioned, but they were not so steeped in dragon tradition that they couldn't learn.

Elowyn glanced up at them, his lip quivering. "I'm so tired. I don't know what to think."

He touched Elowyn's leg, pushing love through the contact. Know that we love you, and we want to make this right.

I love you too. Elowyn flung himself at Cerran, who caught him as gently as he could, that big belly hitting first. He would swear he could feel the twins protest the rather rough treatment.

Triton cleared his throat, and Elowyn laughed through a sniffle, going to hug him too. "Promise me you won't do that again."

"I promise we will try," Triton said, his arms full of sweet omega.

Cerran watched them with a fond smile. "And we will speak to Cain so he knows that you are very much a part of Leilani's parenting."

"Good. Because I need you to trust me."

"We do, love. With our lives. And with Leilani's."

"Thank you." Elowyn leaned on Triton, then drew him in, always so generous, even when he was still more than a little mad at them. It was just his nature to be loving.

"Finish your supper, loves," Elowyn finally told them, drawing back to sit against the headboard and scoop melted stuff out of his ice cream bowl.

He really did love strawberry ice cream right now. Thank goodness for that. It would probably end up saving his and Triton's lives more than once more before this pregnancy was over.

They were bound to make so many mistakes.