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“True. None of us were with the council yet. But Frederick was. So was Benjamin and Atticus. They’ve all talked about it and said it’s similar. We can all expect to be going out on assignments that unfortunately will last longer than a week.”

I glanced over at Lewis, who suddenly looked concerned. I placed my arm around his shoulders and pulled him close for a moment. “Even if I’m on assignment, I’ll be back here in a blink if you ever need me. Both Frederick and Evan can get me home in seconds,” I told him.

“Absolutely,” Evan said. “Don’t worry, Lewis. I’ll watch after your mate.”

I felt Lewis relax beside me. I pulled off his hand, and when he looked up at me, I leaned down enough to kiss his nose. “I love that you are so concerned, but I can take care of myself. I’m pretty impenetrable in my stone form.”

“I still haven’t seen that,” Evan said.

“Me either,” Lewis replied before looking back up at me. “I’m sorry, Vaughn. I know you can take care of yourself. I’m just afraid that you’re going to be gone when the baby is born.”

I shook my head. “Not going to happen. I’ve already requested leave starting a week before you are due, but Chief Daegal said that wasn’t necessary and that I could just be on duty here at the council around your due date.”

Lewis frowned. “When did he say that?”

“This afternoon when you were taking a nap. It’s still super early in your pregnancy, but I gave him the April due date like Dr. King said. I told you when you woke, but you might have still been a bit too sleepy to really comprehend.”

“Oh, when are you due because Beau, come to find out, is due March fourteenth. He hid his pregnancy from me for a while, which I’m still trying to figure out how he did that,” Evan said.

“I’m due the first of April. Well, unless I’m pregnant with a gargoyle. Then Dr. King said I would probably deliver early since those tend to be more difficult pregnancies.” Lewis looked at me. “I remember you saying that now.” He sighed. “I guess that’s another thing that I can just thank my pregnancy for. I can’t remember much anymore.”

“It’s all right, cutie. I know you aren’t doing it on purpose.”

“How are things going?” Evan asked, his tone changing. He was now in “big brother” mode, and everyone at the table knew.

“I’m good. I have some pregnancy sickness, and I’m tired, but that’s it. So I don’t think I’m carrying a gargoyle baby.” Lewis gave me a sad look. I pulled him close and kissed his messy hair again.

“I love you and our baby no matter what. We can have a house full of little fae, and I’ll love each and every one of them. I do not need to have a gargoyle child to feel as if my life is meaningful.”

“You have a good one there, Lewis,” Lukan said. “But we already knew that.”

I looked at the others and nodded my thanks. I would do absolutely anything for my mate, and I truly didn’t need to have gargoyle babies from him. I was going to adore any and all children we were gifted, because all children were gifts from the goddess.

“Names picked out? Plans for more?” Evan asked.

Lewis groaned again. “No and yes, but not yet. Right now, I want to eat my nachos so I can go over and get a bowl of chili from that booth over there that I just spotted. And then I need to go to the bakery booth and get some cinnamon something. I don’t care what, just something.”

“I can get that for you,” Lukan said and left before Lewis could even answer.

“Don’t worry,” Evan said. “He was going to go get a chili bowl anyway, and you just gave him another excuse. As for the bakery, I’ll leave that to you to take care of because Beau is working it.”

“He is?” Lewis leaned around, looking for the bakery’s booth. He started to stand, but I gently tugged on his hip.

“No. Eat first, please. Beau will still be there, and if you don’t eat, you’re going to get sick.”

Lewis sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.” He picked up another nacho and started eating. Lukan came back then, carrying two bread bowls filled with steaming chili and topped with a mound of cheese.

“Oh, that looks so good,” Lewis said as he pushed the nachos to the side and took the chili. “Thank you, Lukan.”

“You’re welcome.” He winked at me. I was incredibly thankful that my mate had a family here to watch over him before I found him. Even if they tended to annoy him at times, I was still glad he had them rather than being completely alone. That was never a good place to be.

We all settled in with our food and talked about the plans for visiting the various booths after we were finished eating. It was going to be a great night, albeit a bit chilly, but that was all right. I had plenty of ways to warm my little mate up once we were back home.

Chapter 16

Lewis

“Icannot believe you’re here,” Beau said. “How’s Vaughn doing? He looked so reluctant to leave this morning.”