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“We all love having you around, Istil,” Leo said.
Kai turned the latches on the transport box and pried off the sealed lid. “This is great timing! I pulled a guy out from a riptide this morning. Real big shot from the mainland, and he gave me this bottle of human firewater as a gift. Whiskey, it’s called. You made some tea, Istil? Let’s crack this open and mix up some luyu.”
Dragon firewater was safe and even encouraged as a tonic for a healthy pregnant omega—but I knew it was the complete opposite for that human tonic known as alcohol. Istil, it seemed, didn’t know—he was already getting out the cups.
“How does it taste?” he asked.
“No idea,” Kai replied. “Never tried it.”
Makoa pulled the cork and sniffed the bottle. “Hooo. Definitely smells like good stuff, eh?”
He poured some of the whiskey into the teapot and swirled it around.
Istil held out his cup. “Well, pour me some!”
“Istil,” I grunted.
“What?”
I shook my head, but he didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to tell him. Kai picked up the kettle and was about to tip it into Isti’s cup. I grabbed his wrist.
“Ari, what the hell?” Kai demanded irritatedly.
“He doesn’t need any,” I said. “It’s not safe.”
“C’mon, man. Don’t be such a stickler, it’s just a little bit of luyu, yeah? He’ll be good to fly back.”
“Ari doesn’t like flying,” Istil said.
I felt my face go hot. “Istil,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s notsafe.”
“Can you believe this?” Kai said, shaking his wrist free. “You sure you want to live at the main house with this guy around? He’ll be there to tell you the proper way to wipe your ass.”
“Mmm… Well, on second thought,” said Istil, scratching his head.
“Hey, don’t let him ruin our fun,” Kai said as he filled the cups.
I only had one option. “Istil’s pregnant,” I announced.
Makoa had a dumb grin on his face. Leo looked up from his crab. Visir stared at the table. And at first, Kai laughed it off until the realization set in that I wouldn’t joke about something like that.
“What?” he said.
“I had a feeling something was different,” Leo said.
“But with who?” Kai asked.
Istil and I looked at each other. Makoa broke into belly laughter as Kai’s expression rapidly cycled between something that looked like shocked confusion and amusement.
He jabbed a finger at me. “You’re fucking kidding. Ari?!”
“I thought we were trying to keep it a secret, but… Surprise?” Istil said.
“I couldn’t let you have that drink, it’s not safe for the baby,” I said.
“Visir, did you know about this?” said Kai.
“Istil confided in me, and I promised him not to share with anyone.”
