Page 7 of A Drink of Destiny
“Why wouldn’t he come home before departing?” I asked, slipping onto the sofa and reaching out hopefully toward the baby. My innate abilities meant babies often slept soundly in my arms. Pierce looked over my head at Crilus who in turn looked me up and down as if I might eat his baby instead of rock her. A second later, he tossed me a bottle of hand sanitizer and leaned his head back against the sofa.
Pierce made me show him my hands to prove they were clean enough before he passed me his little daughter all bundled up in her little yellow blanket that smelled like a garden. I was no stranger to little ones and had a handful of adult kids all living their own lives in various corners of Earthside. I’d invite them all to the mating feast of course but they didn’t need to know my life had gotten messy. I was always the one who was put together after all. I held the baby to my chest and silently prayed that the video didn’t leak out online. If it did, my kids would never let me hear the end of it.
Baby Hex looked up at me with big, inquisitive eyes. Her little fingers curled into a fist and pumped in the air. I settled the arm down back under her little, yellow blanket and scooted backon the sofa. It was only a matter of time before I had another baby now that I’d met Raiel. Maybe he’d sire my first little girl. All mine had come out big-headed brutes. I hummed under my breath to the baby and let my magic seep over her.
Rest. Rest, little one. Time to close your eyes and sink into the safety that is home. Rest.
My magic ran over her, clouding her little active mind until she gave the biggest yawn a little girl had ever given before those big eyes of hers started to drift closed. I rocked her a bit before falling still and looking around at the others. Crilus smelled in awe, Pierce had fallen asleep in the armchair across from the sofa, and Raiel was grinning like he already had thoughts of putting a baby inside me.
“She’ll probably be out until morning,” I said to Crilus.
“Thank the old gods,” Crilus said and sank deeper into the sofa. “I love my baby. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me but I am so tired.”
I settled in against the back of the sofa happy to hold the baby longer before setting her into her little bassinet on the other side of the room. I might’ve held her until my arms fell asleep if not for the banging on the door and the bear growl that followed. Baby Hex wailed and Crilus snatched her from me, jumping over the sofa in a sleepy but smooth motion before crouching down. Poor guy was running on instinct more than anything else.
Pierce moved toward the door, but Raiel beat him there. On the other side stood a sleepy omega bear, clutching a ball of fur to his chest.
“Mori’s having a break down at Beal and Nic’s place. I need a ride,” he said.
“Shit,” Crilus swore under his breath.
“Looks like I’m driving,” Raiel said.
“You two just met---” Pierce started but I let my magic run over him and his daughter. All three of them needed rest but I didn’t dare try that trick on Crilus. I was lucky he wasn’t pecking out my liver for using it on his baby. The elf narrowed his eyes on me but didn’t say anything.
“It’s for the best for now,” I said to him as Pierce walked back to the chair and slumped back in it. His eyelids slipped closed as soon as his head touched the plush back.
“Are you sure you want to come, Preston?” Raiel asked.
“He’s my twin. I have to,” Preston sighed.
I opened my mouth to tell him that whatever mess was going on was at least partially my fault. Had I known of the wolf’s work with spirits I wouldn’t have slapped him so hard. Probably. Raiel shook his head and looked over to Crilus with a quiet question.
“Andy can stay here, if you want, Preston. Might be easier than taking care of two crying babies,” Crilus rolled his eyes.
I let out a long, quiet sigh. This was karma and it had come around to bite me on the scrot. I slapped one rude ass wolf, and it changed everything. He had warned me that he was changing my destiny.
Preston considered his cousin’s offer for a long moment and shook his head, “There’s room for his car seat. I can sit in the back with him. Maybe if Mori sees Andy he’ll calm down.”
“Do you know what’s crawled up his ass this time?” Crilus yawned, sitting back down on the sofa.
Preston eyed me and I bit my lip.
“I shouldn’t have slapped him, but he did dump his drink on me,” I admitted.
“Not that, but I should box your ears for it,” Preston said and Raiel stepped in front of me. The bear turned his attention back to his cousin. “You guys had Nic hire him instead of Mori.”
“He’s a sleep specialist,” Crilus said.
“Yeah, but Mori had it in his head that eventually someone would ask for his help,” Preston sighed. “Either way, it is what it is.”
“Mori should’ve offered to lend a hand,” Crilus said. “That’s on him. Besides, we’re exhausted from the baby. He’s helping with Andy and honest to crows I thought he’d be too tired to take on anything else.”
“Let’s just go. No hitting my mate,” Raiel said, pushing the front door open and holding it for both of us. “Guess you’re going to see where I stay on Earthside after all.”
When I passed him, I tensed the tiniest bit ready for him to touch my ass, but he didn’t. Maybe he had been serious about no fun until he finished his catly courting ritual.
“I’ll book you guys a suite at one of the hotels, okay?” Crilus called out behind us before the door shut.
