Page 89 of The Accidental Dragon Baby

“Remember: when we walk the Circle, wehaveto have one foot on our own circle at all times, and our hands have to be joined.”

“Foot on ground, holding hands. I can do that,” Ivo said.

They waited for all their guests to arrive in the chamber. A hushed silence fell.

Ivo tensed again, drawing a sharp breath. Another contraction.

“Are you sure?” Ace asked worriedly. “We can wait.”

Ivo rubbed his belly. “I—I think we have time.”

“Okay.” Ace kissed his temple and led him to the Circle. He took the outermost circle, standing on Ivo’s left—because that was where Ivo’s blind spot was, and Ivo trusted Ace to protect him there. “Ready?”

Ivo took the next largest circle, pressing his foot carefully against the deep groove. “I’m ready.”

Ace breathed in deeply. In a booming voice, he said, “Once for luck.”

They walked together, slow steps because Ivo could not see his feet—he had to navigate the groove with his toes, and Ace made sure to hold him steady.

Halfway through the first lap, Ivo tensed; he clutched Ace’s hand tightly.

Worry whispered down Ace’s veins. “We could still stop now. But we shouldn’t stop when we’ve activated the Circle.”

Ivo shook his head. “I think we have time.”

“Okay.”

They kept walking. The moment they completed the first lap, all the circles glowed a faint blue, and a light breeze swirled through the chamber.

“Twice as a promise,” Ace rumbled.

Two steps later, Ivo froze. “I think my water broke.”

Everyone gasped. Ace fought down his panic. They still had two more laps to go. When he looked down, he saw a droplet of clear fluid trickling down Ivo’s leg. “Fuck.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to say that during your bonding ceremony,” Harvey whispered loudly.

“Keep going,” Thomas said.

Ace straightened his shoulders. “C’mon, sweetheart. We can do this. I want to be your mate.”

Ivo blushed bright pink, and they kept walking.

Twice more that lap, contractions hit Ivo, each stronger than the last. When they completed the lap, a gust whipped through the chamber and died down.

“Three times for a future well-told,” Ace said, glancing worriedly at his mate.

Ivo was waddling more awkwardly now. “I—I think I can feel our baby descending,” he gasped.

“Double fuck,” Ace said. “C’mon, take bigger steps.”

“I don’t want to open my legs so wide! What if Ace Junior falls out?”

“I’ll, uh. I’ll catch.”

“You can’t let go of my hand!”

Ace reached over with his other hand and bent forward slightly so he could reach under Ivo. Then they took another step, clumsy and awkward.

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