I did as instructed and slid Marcello’s phone from his pocket. It wasn’t locked, and after I found Master Vincent’s number, I touched the screen and put the phone up to my ear.
“Marcello, ciao.”
“Umm…it’s Abel,” I said. I pulled the phone away and held it up to my mate, who shook his head.
“Tell him that they need to get Naldo somewhere private so he can be magicked back here immediately. Mazzi is in labor.”
I nodded, but by the time I put the phone back up to my ear, it was obvious that Master Vincent had already heard. “I will do that,” Master Vincent said. “Has it just started?”
“Yes, if you’re asking about labor.” I looked at Marcello and Mazzi. “Why didn’t Mazzi tell him through their bond?” I whispered.
Mazzi smiled at me but then grimaced when another contraction hit. And then there was the sound of water dripping to the floor. “Oh, that’s unfortunate,” Mazzi said.
I looked at the mess that was running down the front of Marcello, as well as dripping from Mazzi. “Umm…yeah, Master Vincent. But his waters just broke, so I’m not sure how much time is left. You might want to get Naldo home right away.”
“We are pulling over now so that can happen. Naldo happened to be driving, but I’m going to contact Rio now.”
I nodded and realized that Master Vincent couldn’t see me, nor did he know that Rio had just walked into view. “No, he’s here,” I said. “He just walked into the room.”
“Please pass the phone to him for a moment.”
I nodded again and took the few steps to where Rio was and held out Marcello’s phone. He looked confused but took the phone anyway.
“Ah,” Rio said after a moment of silence. “I understand. Yes, I will be right there. Let me get Mazzi sorted, and then I will be there to assist.”
Rio handed the phone back to me, took Mazzi from Marcello, nodded once at my mate, and then disappeared. Marcello turned toward me and pulled me into his arms.
“You did amazing,mio angelo.”
“I didn’t do anything really,” I said before I looked up at my mate. “Is Mazzi going to be all right?”
“He is,” Marcello said. “Babies are born all the time, remember? Did the council’s doctor not deliver babies all of the time?”
At the mention of the council, I felt a pang in my chest but nodded. “Yeah,” I said. I moved closer and laid my head against Marcello’s chest and closed my eyes. The sound of his heartbeat always soothed me, and now was no different. Imissed Montana, but I was trying my best to be accepting that home was now Italy.
“Come with me,” Marcello whispered. “I want to show you something while we wait for news of Mazzi and Naldo’s baby being born.”
I looked up at Marcello. “It’s going to take something like two minutes,” I said, remembering all of the babies born in Montana.
“Probably, but I still want to show you something.” Marcello pulled me toward the stairs, and about halfway up, I began to tug back. I wasn’t really in the mood to go have sex right now. Mazzi was in labor, and I wanted to be around for the news.
“I’m not…I don’t want to have sex right now, Marcello.”
He stopped and gave me a hurt look. “That wasn’t it,” he told me.
I stared at my mate for a moment before I started walking again. He led me the rest of the way up the stairs, and instead of stopping at our room, he took me to the one next door and pushed it open.
“I hope you love it,” Marcello said as he stepped out of the way, and I could see into the room. It was smaller than the one I shared with Marcello and had been where my things had originally been stored when they’d first been brought here. The room looked completely different now though. It used to look much like the one next door, but now…no.
I entered, my mouth open in shock. Inside the room, where there were once warm-colored walls and tiles, had now been transformed into a winter wonderland. Not literally, but yes. The room was cool and calming, and for the first time in a month, my fox took notice of something. I was standing in the middle of the room on a super-plush white rug and turned to look at my mate. “You did this?” I asked. “For me? For our babies?”
Marcello smiled as he closed the distance between us. “Yes. Mostly for you because I know the babies are going to sleep inour room for the first several months, but yes, this nursery is for them. For you. I hope you like it.”
My eyebrows rose. “How could I not?” I spun around, looking at all of the things. There were snow-covered mountains and ice, snowy trees, and water with frozen ice blocks floating on it. There were polar bears beside penguins and, of course, a bunch of arctic foxes. I looked over at Marcello.
“There are no polar bears where there are penguins, Marcello.”
Marcello smiled at me and shrugged. “I was informed of that, but they’re cute. At least here in the nursery. What do you think? I know it’s not home, it’s not Montana even, but it is supposed to sort of represent part of you. Do you like it?”
