Page 65 of My Orc Package Deal

Taking a deep breath, I knew what had to be done. “Milo.” I made my voice as commanding as possible—even though I was shaking inside—as I set him away from me far enough to hold his gaze. “Honey, you need to listen to me, okay? Your father is waiting for you right outside the access panel. You go out to him, tell him Jay is going to be okay. Tell him I’m going to take care of him, but he needs to call an ambulance.”

Milo was shaking, but he gamely nodded, rubbing his running nose with the back of his wrist. I winced, deciding this wasn’t a time for a hygiene lecture, and shifted so he could crawl over me.

“I love you, baby,” I told him softly. “I’m proud of you for being so brave.”

I heard his sniffling stop a bit as he crawled around the curve of the tower, heading toward the access panel and safety, and I breathed a little easier as I bent to scoop my other son into my arms. I needed to give Milo enough time to get to the panel and out of our way, and Jay needed to be awake.

“As for you, mister…”

Jay’s grin was rueful, reminding me of his father, even with his eyes closed and his breathing ragged. “I haven’t been brave.”

“You most certainly have.” Carefully, I brushed his black hair away from the gash on his forehead. If it was from a nail, there was a risk of infection, but thank the Lord he was awake. “Too brave.”

He made a sound that might’ve been a laugh, except he winced, and I knew his head must be pounding. “I fell, like a baby.”

“You are a baby, as far as I’m concerned.” I let him hear my love as I bent down to kiss his head. “Now pay attention, Jay.”

He forced his eyes open, and I smiled. “Good job, honey,” I whispered. “I’m going to tell you something important, okay?”

“Okay,” he whispered, squinting up at me.

“You don’t have to be the responsible one anymore, okay? You’ve been such an amazing big brother, but you don’t have to be anymore.” I remembered what Korrad had told me Friday night, about how Jay trusted me, opened up to me, and I realized I needed to use that.

“I’m the adult here, and it’s my job to take care of you—of both of you. I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re responsible for the weight of the world or Milo’s safety. You’re just a kid.”

“He’s my T’mak.”

I continued to stroke his forehead. “And he always will be. But that doesn’t mean the two of you won’t sometimes argue. Or you’ll go your separate ways in some things—like music and hockey. Milo is his own person, and he loves you so much, but you don’t have to always be the strong one.”

Jay’s dark eyes fluttered closed. “I’m afraid…”

I couldn’t let him fall asleep again, so I tightened my hold on him. “Afraid of what? Jay, afraid of what?”

His voice was weak when he confessed… “I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want you to go away.”

This time it was my laugh that sounded a little watery as I hefted him higher, trying to keep him awake. “We’re not going anywhere, Jay. You’re stuck with us. Eastshore is our home, and we love it here.”

His eyes opened again, finding mine. “Love you,” he whispered.

“Yes.” I realized I was crying as I kissed his forehead. “And I love you, and Milo loves you as much as your father does. And we love him too.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do!” It burst out of me. “How could I not love him? He’s wonderful.”

Jay’s lips curled into a smile as his eyes closed again. “Good,” he sighed. “Because you’re his Mate.”

“We talked about that, honey. It’s not possible to—Jay? Jay!”

I shook him but didn’t get an answer. Cursing myself for wasting time chatting with him, I rolled onto my hands and knees. I wouldn’t be able to carry him—Jay was almost as big as I was! Could I shuffle backwards, dragging him? Maybe if I went and got the old shirt, I could form some sort of sling…

No, I was going to have to carry him.

“Jay.” I made my voice stern. “Open your eyes. Can you do that, baby?”

“Not a baby,” he murmured, and I moved him into a sitting position, holding his head to keep it from lolling.

“You’re my baby, Jay,” I snapped. “I’m going to take care of you until you’re grown, and then I’m still going to fret over you.”