Page 83 of How to Hide Your Angel Kid

“It might be my favorite, too,” Galent said.

“You’re such a sap.” Pinks beamed. Then his smile fell when his contraction hit him.

Galent growled and crowded closer to his mate. He didn’t like to see Pinks in pain. “Sweety-Pinks.”

“I’m fine,” Pinks panted.

Galent walked with Pinks as he waddled around the room. Sen and Thomas, the flight’s elders, came in to check on them every so often.

When his contractions grew more frequent, Pinks shifted into a gray wolf and lay on his side. Galent curled around him in hishuman shape, rubbing Pinks everywhere he could, to ease the tension in his muscles.

“What if I helped,” Galent said suddenly. “If—I don’t know—if I reach inside to help you stretch?”

Pinks tilted his head sideways like he was confused. Then he slumped against the bed and rolled his haunches, in a gesture that said,Go ahead.

So Galent slipped his hand into his mate, slowly, carefully so he wouldn’t hurt their pup. His heart skipped when his fingers bumped into a small, warm shape. “Is that—”

Maybe he should’ve read up on thisbeforedoing it. Both Pinks’ and their pup’s heartbeats sounded normal. Galent gently got his hand around their pup, easing it toward the exit, little by little so no one would get hurt.

“I think someone might come in here and yell at me,” Galent whispered.

Except their pup slipped out of Pinks easily, a lump of gray, bedraggled fur, so small and precious that Galent’s heart swelled. He severed the umbilical cord with his dragon teeth and brought their pup to Pinks’ snout so he could lick him clean.

“You did great,” Galent said, choking up. Pinks and their pup were so beautiful.

Pinks licked their pup until the little one took his first breath. Then he shifted back into a human, and scooped the pup into his arms. “I didn’t do much. You did most of it, to be honest. This was a lot easier than the time I had Zarrie.”

“Guess we know how we’re doing the next births.” Galent wrapped himself around Pinks, dropping kisses all over Pinks and the pup. “Mine. All mine.”

“Ours,” Pinks said.

“Ours.” Galent laughed, nuzzling them both. “Welcome to the world, Cruzel. You’ve got a big sis, Zarrie, and a godfather—his name isn’t actually Handsome, but we don’t know what it is. And we have a trusty shopping cart, Limesicart, who will be so happy to rock you to sleep.”

Cruzel whimpered, rooting against Pinks’ chest and latching onto his nipple. He was so tiny. But he would grow, and with time, he would be strong like Pinks, and just as amazing.

“I can’t wait to bring all of you home,” Galent whispered.

Pinks smiled, leaning closer. “Same here.”

EPILOGUE

“Are you ready, kids?”Galent rumbled, stretching his wings under the starry sky.

“Yeah!” Fourteen-year-old Zarrie bounced on her heels, her feathery wings snapping open with all their regal plumage.

Thirteen-year-old Cruzel roared, his dragon form small, but he was the best flier among the kids.

“I wanna race,” eleven-year-old Hilpin said. She wriggled and flapped her leathery wings, going up to Galent and bumping their bellies together. “Papa belly!”

Pinks laughed. “Don’t knock yourself over, Hills. Papa’s belly isbouncy.”

“Hey,” Galent said, grinning. “Where’s the littlest one?”

“Here, here!” Ten-year-old Stevie raced over on his short little legs, hopping as he shucked the last of his clothes. Then he shifted into a sapphire dragon, too, and spread his wings. “See?”

“You’re doing so well, kiddo.” Galent wrapped his wing around Stevie, thumping him on the back. “Is everyone ready?”

“Think you’re maybe forgetting something?” Pinks said dryly.

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