Page 41 of The Dragon's Emberlinked Mate
“Nothing.”
“And what if something goes wrong? What are you going to do about it?”
“Contact IT.”
It was so like my mate to go and be so logical.
“There you go. And that’s why IT is working tonight. They’re checking on it, and if there is an issue, they will fix it.”
“Will they call me?”
He shook his head. “What will you be able to do from here?”
“Fine.” I wanted to argue with him, but it was hard to argue with logic that was sound.
I grabbed a shower, and after my mate had his, settled into his arms, told the eggs a bedtime story, and dozed off before I got to the happy ever after.
I woke the next morning to discover that ClutchCare was the most successful shifter app launch of all times, and that there were already interviews being had. ClutchCare was a success,and it was something I never would’ve dared dream about trying if my mate hadn’t believed in me and given me the chance.
For someone who thought they were wandering aimlessly and not much use to anyone, I sure had managed to accomplish a lot. But my biggest accomplishment of all was starting a family with my mate… my best friend, my cheerleader, my one true love, and my long-time secret crush turned everything.
This was right where I was meant to be.
Epilogue
Rhythe
“Vexus is a liar.” I scowled at my mate. “He said they would be here by now.”
“He said he thought they would be here by now.” My mate was far more level-headed than I was, which was good. I needed that now. “I already called him. He’s on his way, and he assured me everything is fine.”
And while I wanted to believe Vexus, something told me that maybe he was wrong. From what I’d heard from the differentfathers and mothers that I’d interviewed while getting ready for ClutchCare, Vexus was a genius when it came to knowing when babies were coming.
We were two days past when he thought our little ones would be here. If he truly was as great at it as everyone said, why weren’t they here yet? Snapping and calling him a liar wasn’t helpful, but it was spoken out of fear. I did feel bad about that.
“They can come anytime now.” Emmen hugged me. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
I kissed each of the eggs and wrapped a blanket around the sides of them, propping them up the way I’d seen in one of the Dragon Parent-to-Be books I had sent over from the library at the academy. In hindsight, that hadn’t been my best choice to read all those books. They were to blame for all the “what-ifs” floating through my head.
I tried to keep my mind focused on the positive. The app was a huge success. My mate was on paternity leave, which for him looked like having his work at home, but it was a huge step because he was here all the time. And I’d fully healed from not only my accident, but also from having my clutch.
The twins’ egg had done a little number on my insides, and because I was stubborn and didn’t want to leave them, I hadn’t shifted as soon as I could. But when I did finally not only shift but go for a couple of flights, I was good as new… except my nerves. Those I blamed on hormones.
“Did he say what time he was coming?”
“Do you mean me?” Vexus was standing in the doorway.
My mate would’ve sensed him. He sensed any time anybody came or left. His dragon was much more in tune to that than mine I was.
“Yes. I know I’m being over the top and there’s nothing to worry about, but I would just feel better if you gave them a once-over.” I stepped out of his way, my mate behind me, his arms around me, holding me close… my back to his front.
Vexus touched the eggs, tapped the eggs, listened to them with a stethoscope, and then took out a machine that did a lot of beeping, and I don’t know what else.
He wasn’t very talkative today, instead really focused on the eggs. And when he looked up, I could tell that my daddy instincts had been right. Something wasn’t right.
“You know how, after your accident, we had you drinking that specialized tincture to help with your bones? Well, I hadn’t thought of it at the time, but it had a side effect. And these shells… they’re harder than they need to be.”
