Page 45 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

“Every pregnancy is different,” I said, dropping to the floor below. Now that we were putting the roof on, next would come the wood flooring.

Father dropped down, and we went to get another log we had cut for the roof.

“Yes, but your mate is…so very large, my son.”

I stopped and looked at my father. “Is there something you aren’t saying?”

“Just that sometimes, unexpected things happen. Things we cannot explain.”

“What does your dragon say, Father? Mine and Konrad’s both insist there is only one baby.”

Father bent down and picked up his end of the log. As dragons, we could easily carry them alone. But it took both of us to secure each one.

“My dragon says your mate is carrying two.”

I froze and shook my head. “No. He…there is only one heartbeat.”

“That you hear. But what if the other baby is behind his brother? Shift, son, and go scent your mate.”

“I have. My dragon says one.”

Father started walking, pulling me back to the cottage. I climbed the ladder first, then walked along the previous logs. We placed the log, then secured it as we had for the others. Just a half dozen more, and then we could put the clay we would mix in between them, sealing the gaps in the sides. We would use woven together sticks and thick grass for the roof before we would cover it with a thick clay as well. It wasn’t perfect, but it kept us dry and warm.

I thought about what Father said as we finished placing the logs for the roof. Could there be two? Was that why Konrad was so miserable? Already, he tired easily. He did not wish to venture too far from the cottage, even with me accompanying him. But he had experience with someone carrying twins, and even his dragon insisted there was only one. We were preparing for one baby. Not two. I looked at the small cottage and was suddenly worried about the size.

“Did you wish to start with the clay?” Father asked after we had the last log secured.

I looked at the skies, then the direction of the cottage where Da and Konrad were. “No. I think I should return to my mate.”

I jumped down from the roof once more. After we secured our tools inside, we left for the other cottage. The snow was knee-high now, but we had a path worn from our trips to and from, making our trek easy enough.

We heard laughter as we approached, Father placing a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “There are more than two inside.”

That was what I thought. I could distinctively make out Da’s laughter as well as Konrad’s. But I too heard other voices. They sounded…familiar. And the lingering scent. I’d smelled it before.

Father’s dragon was close to the surface; his mate was inside with someone he did not know, but I had heard that laugh before.

“Elias?” I asked absently.

“What?”

“The one voice, it sounds like Elias. We left him in Berlin. How did they arrive here? The other sounds like Wilhelm. They wished to be left with Wilhelm’s family in Berlin.”

We stomped our boots, then opened the door. Immediately, my nose was met with the scent of my mate. My happy and pregnant mate. Once our coats were hung by the door, we walked to the back of the cottage and spotted our mates sitting at the table. Elias and Wilhelm were indeed here. With them was… He smelled like a warlock.

“Elias? Wilhelm?” I questioned. They turned and smiled at me.

“Aleric! Surprise,” Elias said. He had a huge smile on his face,

I walked over to the table, leaning down and kissing Konrad before I placed a possessive hand on his shoulder while staring at the warlock. Why was he here? Wait…that scent. I looked at Elias but could not see him fully as he was sitting down. When I stared at the warlock, I noticed a claiming bite low on his neck. A quick glance back at Elias showed a smiling dragon. He had not looked nearly that happy the last time I saw him.

“Do you want something to drink, Aleric? Or something to eat?” Konrad asked, starting to stand. I pushed on his shoulder, keeping him seated.

“I can get it, mate. No need for you to get up. I am fine though. What I would really like is to know who the warlock is.” I sat sideways, straddling the bench Konrad was sitting on, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and pulled him a little closer. I stared at the other pair at the end of the table.

“I apologize. I should have introduced myself when you entered. I am Claude. I am Elias’s mate.”

I gathered they were mated; I simply did not know Elias had a mate now. There was no way to have known. We had not seen him in months. I looked to Wilhelm, who held his hands out in front of him.