Page 38 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

“I don’t care if I get burned,” Telos growled. “I don’t want to drop her.”

“She’s less vulnerable when she’s like this,” Mav said. “Fire changes shape. Hers isn’t quite solid.”

Telos wanted to hold her, to make sure he wouldn’t drop her when she was burning like that, but he was also... nervous.

Mav rocked her for a second longer. “Want to hold her?”

Telos wet his lips. “I should.”

He hesitated in stepping forward. Mav huffed and closed the distance between them, tugging Estie’s clothes over her exposed flames. “It’ll be easier when she’s in a onesie with mittens and booties.”

Carefully, Mav handed her over, making sure Estie’s hands and feet were held away from Telos. His fingers brushed Telos’ chest. Then he stepped back, to let Telos focus on Estie.

She was much lighter in this form, almost too hot to hold even through her spelled clothing. But she was placid, looking up at him with a smile.

“There,” Mav said, his lips pulling into a half-smile. “You did it.”

“I’m just holding her,” Telos grumbled. “Not bathing her or anything.”

“We’ll figure that out sooner rather than later,” Mav said. He reached over to touch Estie’s flames, and a phone camera clicked.

When Telos looked over, he found Hadley with his phone raised.

“A commemorative picture,” Hadley said proudly. “I’m sure everyone will want to see it.”

“Don’t,” Telos growled, nervous again. Aside from Hilly-Billy, no one had known about his feelings for Mav. He really didn’t need this spreading through his entire family.

Mav scowled at Hadley, and something passed wordlessly between them.

“Fine,” Hadley grumbled.

That was the third nice thing Mav had done for him, in the span of minutes.

“Are you being possessed by someone or something?” Telos asked.

Mav raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to be?”

“It sure feels like you’re a whole other person.” Telos eyed him warily. “Quick, say something so I know you’re the real Mav.”

“Pterodactyls suck,” Mav said.

“That’s better.” Telos breathed out. “This is just too weird. Don’t you think so, baby girl?”

Estie opened and closed her mouth, but she didn’t speak in this form.

Telos rocked Estie in his arms until he calmed enough to think again. Then he looked back at Mav. “Do you want her back? I don’t think that was two minutes.”

Mav raised an eyebrow. But he opened his arms, and Telos carefully handed her over, savoring Mav’s strong hands against his own, Mav’s warmth soothing when he was so close.

He took a step back so his heart would stop pounding. Then he took another step, and another.

When he was a safe distance from everything, Hilly-Billy slid up to him. “Sorry,” Hilly-Billy whispered, nodding at Telos and Mav’s room. “I know it worked out, kinda, but I’m still sorry anyway. I didn’t mean to fail you.”

“Nothing happened,” Telos muttered.

Hilly-Billy huffed. Hadley looked over and smirked. Ace and Raptor coughed. And Mav was watching Telos from the corner of his eye.

Telos turned away hurriedly.

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