Page 116 of King of Tides

“So what was your excuse?”

I glare at Bourne as he bursts into giggles. He’s been sitting with Eddy, playing chess at a table Papi brought out. I roll my eyes and ignore them both.

I want to see Bourne laugh once Eddy beats him. Then again, the last thing we need is for him to turn into a titan after losing. Damn, the kid is a sore loser. We’ll be working on that.

We spend another hour talking and laughing as Mack dotes over me and the boys. Hudson and Dracon have been taking advantage of the gym as they try to look normal. There are only a few people in today.

Suddenly, the air shifts in the gym as the scent of Cuban food fills the air. Ardan stiffens next to me. I turn to find Carson has walked in with bags of food and beer.

I reach to place a hand on Ardan’s knee and give it a squeeze. He stops growling in my head and turns to look at me. I shake my head at him.

I’d rather leave than cause a scene. It doesn’t escape my notice that Beck and Bourne have stopped to glare in Carson’s direction. They are now watching him cautiously as if ready to attack if provoked.

“Carson,” Mack croons. “Now all my family is here. Come meet your nephews.”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Beck says.

Bourne turns his attention back to the chessboard and acts as if nothing else exists. This isn’t good. I may have my issues with Carson at the moment, but I hope we’ll resolve that and get back to normal.

“Come on, little buddy. I’ll show you to the bathroom and we can get cleaned up for dinner,” Mack says to Beck.

I watch as Beck takes his hand and follows him just like I did the night he found me. I can’t help remembering how safe I felt in that moment for the first time in … I don’t think I felt safe before that.

“Are you okay?”Ardan mind-links me.

“Yeah, just thinking.”

“Do you want me to get you something to eat? It doesn’t have to be his food. I can make it look like Hudson or Dracon went to get you something.”

I laugh in my thoughts. “You don’t have to do that. I don’t think he would poison me.”

“Do you want to take that risk with our children? They are still very small, demigods or not, if he?—”

“Oh my God. You’ve known? So I am pregnant?”

“I knew from the time I planted them in your womb. You are carrying our sons. Have been for about a month.”

“And you weren’t going to tell me?”

“I wanted you to sense it for yourself first. I will always know when I have gotten you pregnant the moment it happens. I didn’t want to rob you of that moment when you figured it out.”

“Next time, I’d like to know too, buddy.”

Before I can fully get the words out through our link, he has my lips crushed with his. He drinks from my mouth like he desperately needs my air to breathe.

“What was that for?” I ask breathlessly.

“Next time?” he says and lifts a brow.

“Oh, these two and Bourne and Beck, that’s all you want?”

“We can have as many as you want and can take,” he replies, looking at me lovingly.

I slide closer and snuggle into his side. My stomach growls, reminding me of his initial question. That food does smell good.

“I’m going to make a plate, you want one?” I ask.

“Billy, I told you I would make you one,” he says and frowns at me.

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