Page 69 of Sapphire Seas

“Thank you, Raven, sorry I snapped.”

She laughed. “Totally understandable. Now, let’s get these boys into the nest with their sisters.”

I tried my best to stay awake while Kes was in labor but kept fading in and out. When Kes screamed, I popped up a bit too fast and got wobbly. But Odem was there to help me out. Mattias had moved behind Kes at some point to help him push. Kes didn’t look good at all, paler than he normally was given he’s an ice dragon.

Kes, are you okay?

No answer was a bad sign and Mattias was nervous as heck.

“Mattias, do I have your permission to use magic to help your mate?” Having Raven ask that was a bad sign. Magic was only used in instances where an omega may not make it.

“Yes, please, do what you need to do to help him.” Kes wasn’t awake, wasn’t pushing or anything. Not answering in our bond. This was not good. What would happen to Mattias and I if Kes didn’t make it? We’d all die and our dragonets would be raised by the brothers. The whole line would weaken, we’d never win the war.

Calm down, mate, he’s breathing just worn out. Kes will be fine, I promise.

Tired as I was, there was no way I was going back to sleep until I could hold him. Kes was not only my mate, but my best friend. We’d spent countless hours holding each other, sharing stories and sweet kisses. I couldn’t lose him. We couldn’t lose him.

As soon as Raven got the boys egg out, Odem tucked it in beside us. Kes didn’t move when Raven used magic to lift us just enough for them to slide the plastic out from beneath us, nor when Mattias shifted and wrapped us in his wings.

I’m worried, mate.

As am I, my love. I’m not leaving either of you until I know you’re both well. I’m so proud of you. I love you, mates.

I love you and I love you too, Kes.

A faint, love you, came from Kes, easing our worries just enough for all of us to feel safe enough to rest.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Mattias

“They truly are a remarkable sight to behold,” Kes said, one hand caressing Sapphire’s shell while the other stroked the boys double egg and man, it truly was a rotund egg, longer and wider than any of the eggs that had come before it, even Hunter and Kane’s, since their egg had to share space with two others. I don’t know why the possibility of Kes’ egg being such an unusual size never entered my mind until Raven placed it in the nest beside Sapphire and Trinity’s eggs, but Goddess, it was huge. No wonder poor Kes had been so round.

“So are you,” I told him, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear.

He shrugged, having slipped back into being quiet and hesitant with me the way he’d been when he first arrived. Having been around Ronan, Alex and Emerson after they’d delivered their eggs, I knew there would be some hormonal changes now that Kes was no longer pregnant, but something felt off to me.

“Mate?” I said as I scooted closer and wrapped my body around his while he switched from stroking Sapphire’s egg to caressing Trinity’s. “Please tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Just thinking too hard. It’s nothing that matters.”

“Everything you think about matters to me, Kes,” I insisted, perhaps with a smidge more harshness than I intended, because Caspian twitched. For a moment I feared we’d woken him. When I addressed Kes again, it was with a lowered voice and tighter hug, since he truly seemed to need one today. “Especially when you seem so sad right now.”

“I am a little sad, but happy too and maybe a tad cynical as well, but that’s my default setting.”

“Okay, why don’t we sort out the sad part first, then you can tell me about the cynical part.”

“How about I start with how happy I am, because that part truly is easiest.”

“Alright,” I said, pressing a kiss to his shoulder while he continued to stroke the eggs, sweet snores coming from them while they napped.

Sleeping was a big part of growing and our little ones were taking advantage of the dark interior of their eggs to take frequent naps.

“I know Caspian still has to go through the live birth before we can hold all of our children, but I’m so glad they’re here. Every time one of them giggles inside their shell, I picture them playing hide and seek and giving away their position by giggling when they find a good hiding spot. That sound is never gonna get old.”

“No, it isn’t,” I said, chuckling.

When they were awake, they laughed right along with me. Each time was like being handed a precious gift.