Page 31 of Bitten in the Wild

“They’re going to think we’re working them to death,” Fred laughed.

“No,” Marsin shook his head. “They’re probably glad for something to do. There isn’t a lot to do around there most of the time.”

“Besides, most of them haven’t met their mates either,” Elio pointed out. “That’s something I bet they want to do.”

“No luck with any of the magical types back home?” Izora asked.

“No one’s heard of them,” Sunny shook his head. “My carrier has everyone researching too. His theory is that that group started out so far from where we are the news never traveled all the way to us or if it did, it was so long ago and no one ever bothered to write it down. Ironically, I think if someone didbother to write it down it was probably lost in one of my sire’s wars against the elves from the Other World.”

“Probably,” Fred nodded and flashed Sunny a knowing grin.

“At least we have another thing to look up,” Elio sighed. “Let’s get back on topic, though. Any thoughts on baby names?”

“Probably something like Ruby or Pepper. My mom’s growl name sorta sounds like a mix of those two,” I said.

“I like them,” Izora shrugged. “Either will probably fit in around here.”

“Minter, Caxton, and Pepper or Ruby,” Elio said the names of the kids born of the Moonies aloud.

“Pepper sounds better with the group names,” I said. “Maybe I’ll think about that too.”

“Well, either way, the kid will have the stars and the moon,” Izora grinned, and I wondered how much wine he’d had from the bottle Castor brought to the shower.

“One glass,” Izora said, picking up my thoughts.

“Good. No drunks around my baby,” I teased him and leaned over to steal a kiss.

He tasted like wine, and I might have went in for a better, longer kiss but we had guests and kids around. I’d get around to kissing him once they cleared out.

Chapter Thirteen

Izora

At six days our egg stopped growing. When I stood up next to it in the nest, its apex reached my navel. Nycto and I spent a good amount of time polishing and fussing over it. He wanted it fingerprint free, and I wanted measurements of every step of the way. All the most recent photos on my phone were of Nycto and our egg. I didn’t think this time would fade from my memory any time soon, but I wanted to show Ruby or Pepper all the photos of them inside the egg when they were older. I wanted them to know that their carrier and I loved them before we even knew who they were.

“Getting sappy again, huh?” Nycto teased me.

“Maybe you’re not sappy enough,” I laughed.

“I’m plenty sappy. At least I’m not fingerprint-y,” he shook his head, but he was grinning.

“What can I say? I’ve lived a long time without having a kid and now that I’m more or less retired I’d like to focus on the one about to hatch.”

“Eh, in two days or five days,” Nycto shrugged.

He tried to play it cool, but his thoughts always circled around our soon to hatch baby.

“Are you hoping for a Ruby or a Pepper?” I asked.

“I’m hoping for a baby that can get itself out of the egg regardless of which name we choose for them,” Nycto said.

“Fair enough,” I nodded.

“You should get some rest and stop staying up so much to watch the egg. Believe me, when the baby comes out of there, you’re going to miss these days of the endless possibility of naps and romps.”

“I’ve been a doctor a long time, Nycto,” I smiled at him. “I know how much work babies are.”

“Then you should come cuddle with me and lose the pants,” Nycto said, stretching out behind our red egg.

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