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Being carried downstairs in Bayer's arms made me feel simultaneously cherished and ridiculous. I buried my face against his chest, inhaling his comforting scent of pine and earth.

"This is embarrassing," I mumbled against his shirt.

"Getting used to it might be wise," Bayer replied, his voice rumbling through his chest. "You're going to be seeing a lot more of this in the coming months."

I groaned. "I'm going to be an invalid."

"Not an invalid," he corrected, gently laying me on the couch. "A precious cargo carrier."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling as he arranged pillows behind my back and draped a soft throw over my legs. "You're enjoying this far too much."

"I'm enjoying taking care of you," he admitted, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. "Even if you make it challenging."

Emery bustled in with a tray of snacks and herbal tea, his expression a mixture of concern and excitement. "Gemma just texted. She's about thirty minutes out. And yes, before you ask, I've already prepared the guest room for her."

"And alerted the guards?" Phoenix added from the doorway.

"Of course." Emery nodded. "Though she knows the drill by now."

I accepted the tea Emery handed me, grateful for its warmth between my palms. "Has anyone told her about..." I gestured vaguely at my midsection.

"Not the details," Emery said carefully. "Just that you'd had some health concerns."

"Great," I sighed.

"If anyone will take it in stride, it's Gemma," Emery reminded me. "She barely batted an eye when she found out about shifters."

That was true. Gemma had an uncanny ability to adapt to the bizarre. When she'd discovered Emery was pregnant last year, she'd simply asked if he needed more calcium in his diet and offered to knit baby booties.

The next half-hour passed in a flurry of preparation. Despite my protests, Bayer refused to leave my side, even when Phoenix called about Gathering arrangements. Instead, Phoenix brought the discussion to us, spreading maps across the coffee table until Emery kicked them into the study just as we heard Gemma’s car.

Not because I didn’t trust her, as she’d babysat Tia with me last year when Em had been kidnapped and Phoenix had gone to rescue him. But I missed her like a hole in my heart, and I needed the three of us to have some alone time.

My heart leapt at the sound of the car door slamming, followed by Gemma's distinctive laugh carrying through the open window.

The front door opened, and Gemma's voice rang out. "Where's my favorite drama queen?"

"In here!" I called, pushing myself up slightly against the pillows, wincing at the twinge in my lower back.

She appeared in the doorway, her wild red curls escaping from a messy bun, dressed in her signature overalls and combat boots. Her green eyes widened when she saw me.

"Danny Jacobson, horizontal and not complaining? You must be dying." She crossed the room in three strides, dropping her duffel bag to the floor before carefully sitting beside me on the couch.

"Not dying," I assured her, reaching for her hand. "Just...growing things."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Growing things? What, like fungus?"

Emery snorted as he settled into the armchair across from us. "Not exactly."

I took a deep breath. "Remember how Em got pregnant last year and we all freaked out because he's a dude and that's not supposed to happen?"

Gemma nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Well," I continued, gesturing to my stomach, "surprise! I'm joining the male-pregnancy club. Membership apparently includes morning sickness, hormonal breakdowns, and bleeding from places that shouldn't exist."

Gemma stared at me for a full five seconds before turning to Emery. "Is he serious?"

"Completely," Emery confirmed. "Twins, actually."