“Whatever,” my Earth Fae mate growled back. “She’s not invited.”
“Are you talking about Thanksgiving?” Zephyrus asked.
“Thanksgiving?” Sol repeated, his dark brows drawing down. “That doesn’t even make sense as a word.”
“But Thanks Day does?” Zephyrus countered.
“Seriously, I want to know who wins,” Titus said, his forest-green eyes on Gina. He drew his fingers through his red hair and gave her a beautiful smile. “It’s me, right.”
She just grinned. “Well, it’s been great. I’ll see you all next month at the nesting party.”
“Baby shower,” Zeke said as he pushed to his feet beside her, his motions fluid and somehow regal, even while being blind.
“Yes. Right. Baby shower,” she agreed.
Not that I was paying attention to them.
I was too busy gaping at the table.
Except, what had they just said? “Baby shower?” I repeated on a squeak.
“Yes, but fae call it a nesting party,” she replied, already walking away with her mate, his hand on the small of her back. “Oh, and you’re going to need the Hell Fae to agree. I suggest you meet with one of Lucifer’s Hellhounds. But don’t let Cyrus near them. If he douses their flames, they won’t agree to your proposal.” She gave a little wave, then started toward the exit.
“Hold on,” I called after her.
But she didn’t listen, instead turning the corner before I could ask what the hell she was going on about. I almost chased after her, but she had already stepped through the doors, disappearing into the snowy beyond. She’d be in a portal in the next few seconds, traveling to wherever she wanted to go.
No wonder she’d recommended eating at the restaurant by the border.
She knew this was going to happen.
Damn Fortune Fae!
“Someone had better start explaining things to me,” I said, not in the mood for any more word games.
“I already did,” Exos replied calmly. “We want to have a baby, Claire. And rather than ask you to choose who gets to be the first father, we’ve devised a series of trials to help determine a winner.”
I gaped at him. “What if I don’t want a baby?”
He didn’t even bat an eye, saying, “Then we won’t bother with the trials.” Except I felt the pain instantly spike through my bonds, all my male mates suddenly concerned that I might turn them down.
Even Vox had a wary note to his silver-rimmed gaze.
Aflora cleared her throat again. “Uh, I think, we’re just going to, uh, go…” She spoke so softly I almost didn’t hear her. And as rude as it was, I couldn’t even reply. I was too consumed by the emotions thriving through my bonds.
My mate-circle had spoken about children several times over the years.
Cyrus needed an heir for the Water Kingdom.
Exos also required an heir for the Spirit Kingdom.
Vox had chosen a profession in teaching because he enjoyed philosophical studies, but he also possessed a soft spot for children and watching them learn.
Sol wanted a little one of his own to nurture and grow.
And Titus, well, he tried to pretend that practicing the art of mating was all that interested him, but I caught the flickers of excitement in his thoughts around having a little fae to play Fae Ball with.