Page 40 of Flight of the Omega

JP let his eyes roll, then gave up a soft groan and collapsed. He tried not to wince with the impact, tried not to twist and roll around so as to show he was still conscious. Had he hurt the eggs? He thought again of them cracking inside him. No—they were too strong for that by now. They had to be.

He sprawled on the deck, going limp when Burr lifted him into his lap. The back of his hand hit the metal grating, and he had to force himself not to react.

Burr shook him, and he let his limbs flop. “Hey,” Burr said again. “Hey!”

“Oh, he fainted!” someone cried.

“Julius Peregrine!” his father barked.

“He’s fainted!”

“I can see that,” his father harrumphed, looming over him. “Get him out of here—call that damn vet.”

JP moaned a little, shook his head. “What …” He opened his eyes just slightly.

“Oh, you’re awake now.”

Burr frowned at him. He slid himself into a sitting position. “What happened?” he asked, blinking a couple of times as he looked at Burr.

“You fainted,” Burr replied, frowning.

“Oh,” JP murmured.

“He shouldn’t be up here,” said the friend of his father’s who had questioned it before. “Not in that state—too much excitement.”

“Right,” William grumbled. “Get him out of here.”

“But,” JP said, even as Burr hefted him to his feet.

“No buts,” William said. “Can’t have you tumbling around like that—you could hurt those eggs.”

He pointed at JP’s belly, and JP put a hand over his stomach protectively. He glanced up at his father, who jerked his head. “Go lie down.”

“I’m fine,” JP protested.

“Are you going to argue with me?” William’s face was getting redder and redder. “I said go lie down. Now.”

JP shrank back, then let Burr turn him about and hustle him toward the stairs. He had to duck his head to hide the grin threatening to take over his face.

Everything was going perfectly to plan.