OKAY, so there was a benefit to this whole pregnancy thing—amazing sex. And also, just my mates in general.
They had never been more attentive than they were now, which was saying a whole heck of a lot, considering they always seemed to bend over backward for me.
Such as now, with Titus helping me decorate the main meeting room of the chancellor building on campus. Cyrus had said to expect a few fae to drop by to discuss the Interrealm Fae Academy, and I’d gone into interior designer mode.
Holidays made people happy.
And I needed these fae to be happy.
Which was how I found myself in a sea of sequins, glitter, and festive winter décor. It covered every inch of the meeting chamber for today’s guests. I just couldn’t focus on the paperwork or potential negotiations, not until the room was properly prepared.
The term “nesting” repeated over and over again in my head, only driving me into a frenzy to make everything even more right.
But everywhere I turned, I found an empty space that needed a Santa statue. A blank wall that was missing a splattering of glitter. A staircase in desperate need of more tinsel.
“Candles,” I declared with a clap of my hands. Oh, yes, a sea of flickering lights would do the trick.
I needed my elements, even if I didn’t have full access to them.
Yes, yes. Definitely candles.
Titus studied me as I used one of the already lit candles to carefully light the others one by one. He appeared ready to say something, when a stray puff of fake snow drifted through the room, nearly catching on fire. He arched the flame away from it with a sweep of his hand, his eyebrow inching upward at me.
“Thanks,” I said shyly, hating that I was having to rely more and more on my mates to keep me from setting rooms on fire.
“Suddenly afraid of a little heat?” he asked with a sexy smile, planting a kiss on my lips. I indulged in the taste of him before I wriggled away to keep on with my work.
“I’m just being extra careful,” I replied, meaning it.
“Yes, I can see that.” He followed as I surveyed the room for the thousandth time.
The decorations seemed to take precedence over preparations for my impending meeting. However, Titus didn’t point out my lopsided priorities.
Aflora and a few other fae would be walking through the door lined with holly any minute now. The rest of my mates would be joining as well to keep an eye on me. Cyrus in particular was protective as of late, understandably, and Titus was probably feeling the pressure to keep me safe as well.
“Do you really need to give me a heart attack again?” Titus asked woefully, catching my side as I wobbled on a ladder. “Just tell me what needs to be hung up, and I’ll do it. Or we could grab Vox.”
“No,” I replied, stubbornly taking each step up the ladder with Titus’s hands firmly on my hips. “You wouldn’t do it right.” I was the only one who knew where everything had to go. Except I couldn’t really explain that absurd sense of certainty to my mates.
Titus’s warmth escalated out of frustration as I adjusted one of the snowflake streamers.
Usually, I would have used a little wind magic to cinch the tall loops into the ceiling, but my element wouldn’t come to me.
That should have been concerning.
And yeah, I probably should have said something.
But the Healer had told me I might feel a little off my game as the faeling grew. And it wasn’t like this Halfling pregnancy came with an instruction manual or anything.
So rather than fret over it, or unnecessarily worry my mates even further, I’d decided to stay calm and do what I could to make this feel more like a safe space.
Hence all the decorations.
A room full of festive cheer gave me the sense of calm I needed.
“Yes, there we are,” I said, satisfied as I snagged the streamer swaying in between complementing layers of autumn leaves and pumpkins.
“Are you finally done?” he asked, his voice going up with a hopeful lilt.