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I sighed. “I don’t know. Everything has moved so incredibly fast. But that’s what I wanted, and it’s how things are done back home, and—” Vaughn cut me off with a gentle finger on my lips. I smiled behind it.

“Little mate, I’m thrilled about the baby. But even if there was never a baby, I’d still have an amazing and wonderful life because you would be in it. You are who makes me happy. Without you, I wouldn’t have anything else. There would be no baby on the way. Or an amazing breakfast just now. Please stop fretting. I swear, I’m excited for our little one, but I’m more so because you’ve been gifted to me.

I took a deep breath. You really couldn’t beat that, could you? Well, except maybe for a declaration of love. That was all right though. I could wait.

Chapter 13

Vaughn

Our mated bliss lasted for all of ten days. Eleven, if you counted the day we claimed each other, before Lewis’s heat hit. Those days were over now. It wasn’t that we were no longer happily mated. We certainly were. Life had hit us though.

I placed the tray on the coffee table and looked for my mate. When I heard moaning coming from the small bathroom, I closed my eyes and wanted to kick myself. I’d not been quick enough preparing his tea. I hurried to the bathroom and found him exactly where I expected to. He was on the floor in front of the toilet. Another round of retching started, and I knelt behind him to offer support. “I’ll get you a washcloth,” I told him. “And then you are going to the couch to rest, where you will remain while I fetch whatever it is that you desire.”

Lewis leaned his head to the side and rested it on his arm that was lying along the seat. “That sounds nice,” he said. “I think going forward, maybe we should have breakfast before we have morning sex.”

I nodded, but inside, I was wincing. This was my fault. I’d woken up, and of course, I desired my sexy mate. One thing led to another, and we were knotted together. That was over an hour ago. My knot did not want to release this morning for whatever reason. And that meant that now, Lewis was ill. He’d been feeling not quite the same, and that was expected, but he’d been doing well with keeping any type of pregnancy sickness away. But now he was hugging the toilet, and it was my fault.

I grabbed a washcloth from the stack we’d placed in here for this very possibility and turned on the cold water. After getting it wet, I wrung it out and returned to my mate. I first wiped the back of his neck and smiled a little when he moaned. “I’m sorry, cutie. I agree that going forward, we need to make certain we feed you before any sort of sexually fun activities. Unless it’s just a quickie while I’m sucking you off.” Lewis groaned. Perhaps he didn’t like the thought of that?

“That’s not fair. Now I’m thinking about you doing that, and I really shouldn’t be able to get hard. I just threw up bile.”

I winced. “Sorry, cutie.” I helped Lewis stand and then wiped his face. He went to the sink and rinsed his mouth out with the mouthwash we had also brought down just in case. Once he was finished, I held his hands until we were out of the tiny room, and then I picked him up. He sighed and leaned his head against my chest as I carried him to the back room.

“I don’t like being sick. I’ve gone twenty-three years without ever throwing up or feeling ill. I’m not a fan.”

I smiled at Lewis’s comment. “I can understand that. I cannot relate, though, as I’ve never gotten sick because I was pregnant. I’ve been sick before, but it was for other reasons.” It was unusual for any paranormal to become ill outside of an omega’s pregnancy, but it did happen. I carefully set Lewis down on the couch and handed him his mug of tea. He took it, and after a sip, he closed his eyes and sighed. I reached for the plate with banana slices and saltine crackers and held it out to him. Lewis smiled up at me when he opened his eyes and saw it.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Would you like something else, or do you want to wait a bit and see how your stomach does?”

“Waiting might be best. But I know the tea is going to work its magic because that’s what it does and is.”

I blinked at Lewis, a bit confused. “What do you mean?”

“The tea leaves. They’re from our realm and are tended to with magic. The magic seems to stay in them, and that’s how they are so calming and energizing. It’s magic.” Lewis gave me a wide smile, which was refreshing since he’d just been hugging the toilet only a few minutes ago.

I nodded slowly. That was interesting. “Is Dr. King aware of that? Not that I think it truly matters, but do they know that the tea is magical?”

Lewis looked surprised. “I’m not sure. Does it matter though? It won’t hurt anyone. The magic isn’t harmful, nor is it full strength at this point. It’s just there.”

I sat beside him and reached out to hopefully offer some comfort. “I didn’t mean it that way. I have no doubt that it’s not harming anyone. But I’ve heard other enforcers talking about their mates and how the tea is a huge help during pregnancies. Can magic be used to achieve the same results?”

“Oh. I mean, maybe. I’m not sure though. I can’t use magic on myself because it’s my own magic. Having to call for someone to come use magic on you every time you’re not feeling the best isn’t exactly realistic. I think that’s why we just used the tea. Each village has a tea garden. There is one family, usually one that goes way back, that tends to the tea. It’s a thing of honor, and it’s also known to not mess with the tea garden.”

That was quite fascinating. I didn’t know whether those who were sharing the tea here knew the full story or not, but Lewis was right. Did it truly matter? “I think it is wonderful that those in your realm are willing to share the tea with those in this one.” I did wonder though, could the same not be accomplished here?

“I know nothing of the agreement about the tea, but I’m thankful that it’s here. I’ve heard stories about what they were giving pregnant omegas, and it tasted horrid.”

I could not see how that was helpful for anyone. Lewis drank more of his tea and then started eating the banana. Once the fruit was gone, the crackers were next. One after another, they disappeared as if he’d not just been throwing up what little had been in his stomach. That made not only me happy, but my beast as well. He was quite obviously feeling better.

After the plate was empty, he started to put it on the table, but I took it and the mug. “I might be wrong in assuming, but I would guess that you are feeling better.”

“I am.” Lewis sighed and wiggled into the back of the plush leather couch. “The tea was great, but the banana and crackers made it the perfect snack.” He looked up at me. “What do you want for breakfast? Do you want to eat here? Go somewhere and get something? I’m up for whatever.”

I stared at my mate in wonder. How was that even possible? “You were just throwing up,” I said.

Lewis nodded. “Yeah. Then I had tea, which would have been enough to make me feel better. But then you were your sweet and amazing self, and you got me crackers and a banana. Both are calming in the stomach.” Lewis shrugged now. “It’s not like I’m sick-sick. It was just pregnancy sickness from not eating. The tea helps. But like you said earlier, we’ll make sure I eat something or have a tea before we get knotted together. Please don’t avoid morning sex with me though. It’s an amazing way to wake up.”