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“In,” Duke said, nodding to a spot opposite of Blithe and Cord.
“You got it,” Terrick said and then scooped me up.
I eeped and blushed at how high-pitched the sound was. Terrick chuckled and carried me into the nest. This time he didn’t use his vampyric speed but took each step slowly and deliberately as if he were afraid of spooking the first time partially draconic sire waiting for his egg to hatch.
We settled into the nest with Terrick sitting behind me and me leaning back against him with room to stretch my legs out.
“How long have they been scratching,” I asked, wiggling around to get my baby bump comfortable.
“A few hours,” Syre grinned and pointed out one spot on the egg that was definitely chipping away.
“It’ll take a while yet,” Duke said. “They keep stopping to take little naps.”
“I bet it’s hard work to get out of an egg like that,” I said.
“Probably,” Duke nodded, “but we’re staying put until they’re out.”
“Have you guys thought about names yet?” Terrick asked.
“Duchess for a girl and King for a boy,” Syre said. “Both of our names have noble or royal title associations. So, we wanted to keep that tradition going.”
“I like it,” I smiled and glanced down at my belly.
“You guys are going to have to think of four names, huh?” Syre chuckled, shaking his head.
“Yeah, but don’t worry. We won’t steal the one you guys can’t use today,” I laughed. “We haven’t even started thinking about names yet.”
“I bet you guys will need eight of them,” Blithe said, leaning back on his free palm.
“What? No! I’m only having four babies! Don’t curse me like that, brother!”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Blithe laughed, and Cord hid his face in his shoulder to laugh too. “A lot of times with that many multiples they’ll stay in their little shifted form and that makes getting an idea for names harder, if you know what I mean. So, that means four names for girls and four names for boys.”
“No,” Terrick shook his head. “It just means we need to find four names that no one associates with any underwear parts.”
“Underwear parts?” Duke arched a brow without looking away from his egg.
“Yeah. We name our kids based on what’s in the diapers,” Terrick shrugged.
“Someone is breaking out of his little coven culture box,” Duke laughed.
“Probably was never fully in it. All I want is four healthy kids and to be around to see them,” Terrick said and the mood sobered.
We took turns napping as the day wore on. Bit by bit the baby kicked or scratched their way out of the egg. I didn’t need to look at my phone because by evening I was starving. Cade brought us down food his mate and his brothers had made. We ate up, but Terrick only picked at his food. I thought about asking if he wanted a bloodshake instead, but then it hit me. The moon would rise soon. I held onto his knee as I bit into my cheeseburger. The realization killed my appetite but if I had to fight Frost, I’d need all the energy I could get.
A furry foot appeared out of the egg and Duke nearly dropped his whole plate. Blithe caught it and set it aside. Duke pet the furry paw and examined the tiny claws.
“Coyote,” he and Syre announced at the same time.
The paw disappeared and a feather poked out of the hole.
“Winged coyote?” Blithe blinked.
“Likely. Think about my inner dude,” Duke shrugged and stroked the feather too.
A whine sounded from inside that broke my heart in two. The baby was tired and wanted out to meet their parents. Duke’s fingers trembled. He knew as well as I did that it was best to let babies get out of their own eggs, but it was heartbreaking to watch.
The basement cooled as the sun sank lower into the sky. Terrick wrapped his arms around my middle and held me tight. He kissed the top of my head as a rear end pressed up against the crack in the egg. Another piece cracked off. Whining, the pup backed out butt first and tumbled onto her side panting as soon as she was free. Her new baby scent filled the room speaking of her coyote and dragon.
