“Go get your damn nestblossoms. Grab a handful and go take your boy home and breed him right.” Hallr waved his hand at the two of them dismissively.

  “But…wait—” Suyin blinked rapidly when Bryn galloped off into the grass and plucked a few of the flowers, rushing back to push them into his hands. The scent made Suyin’s pupils blow wide.

  “Take me home, Drake.” Suyin yelped as Bryn hefted the Dette into his arms and grinned, obviously very proud of himself. Suyin was not large, but he was not small for a Dette. Bryn seemed content with him though.

  Sacha took over the crying pups, distracting from the moment as they sniffled down and mewled, whining for Leo. “I need so many tissues,” Sacha grumbled as Hallr moved to sit down, moving Aren into his lap. Cinder, distracted, looked at the stitches on his father’s arm and poked at them. “Papa bite?” Cinder looked up, sniffling a little. Hallr pulled Cinder into his lap with Aren.

  “Yeah, Papa bite. I was being a meanie,” Hallr sighed, glancing around. “I smell Leicester. Is he around?”

  “Sunning himself around the side.” Gaelin jogged over, fastening his pants as he did so, sighing with a little distant huff. “It’s only me and Stefan now. I think it’s for the best though.” He nodded as Stefan came up, leaning against him.

  “You two are the sharing-is-caring sort?” Sacha asked, and they glanced at one another then nodded.

  “We’re not stag, but…” Gaelin pursed his lips and Stefan’s cheeks pinkened. “We would like to share a Dette.”

  “If you have to add a ‘but’ to it, you’re a stag,” Leicester added as he sauntered up, stretching. Despite his detest for clothing, he observed the pants or scales rule in the house and when pups were present.

  “Alright, whelps, why all the tears?” Leicester stiffened, and the pups sniffled, blinking up at him, their gamut of blue and green eyes a sea of disappointment.

  “Papa’s butthole got teared open, and he’s gonna die,” Storm cried.

  Hallr’s face contorted into a mixture of pain, amusement, and disgust, all playing havoc across his face. That furrow in his brow might become permanent after this.

  Sacha blinked. “Storm, who told you this?” Sacha pulled the boy up to him and kissed his white-blond hair.

  Storm pointed at Gaelin, whose eyes went wide.

  “I never said th—” Gaelin started and stopped.

  “Oh my gods,” Stefan muttered beneath his breath. “Pups, Papa just got a booboo. It’s fine. He’s sleepy and angry. He’ll be up here again soon.”

  Hallr glared at Gaelin, still fighting laughter. “What did you ffff—freaking say?”

  Gaelin shrugged. “I said that Leo got torn a new one, and it was rough. I was talking to Stefan.”

  Storm broke down crying again.

  Sacha growled. “Hallr, go thaw some rats and we’ll get the pups calmed down. Some scale time and cuddles will set everything right.”

  “I want Papa,” Cinder wailed, and Leicester plucked him up. As the favored uncle, he got Cinder to calm down quicker.

  “Hush now, little omega. What are you doing?” Leicester poked Cinder’s nose.

  Cinder pouted. “Want Papa. Papa is hurt.”

  “No, Papa is cranky. Doctor Marc made sure that he’s not hurt. Do you want cranky Papa?”

  Cinder nodded.

  Of course. Cinder would take Leo in any state of mind.

  “Noooo. Let Papa get some snacks and a nap, okay? He’s sleepy. Takes a lot of energy to make an egg in your tummy. Now you’re waiting for your baby brother. Do you wanna be the big brother, Cinder?” Leicester cooed and Cinder’s little green eyes went wide.

  “I get to be big?”

  “Oh yes. You’ll be a big brother. Uncle Ryan is having pups, too. You’ll be bigger than them.” Leicester poked Cinder’s nose again, and the pup gave a soft coo of awe.

  “I’m gonna be big,” he said again.

  Hallr raised an eyebrow. “He really is Leo’s clone. Sheesh.”

  “That’s right. Now, everyone, look at me!” Leicester called the pups in as Hallr stood and slipped off to go thaw some rats. “Story time!”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Leo

  Leo stirred from his nap and clutched tighter around his egg, yawning before blinking up a few times. “Babies,” he whispered.

  Gabriel patted Leo’s shoulder and sat up, watching as Leo scavenged the nest for pants and a shirt. He looked from the egg to Gabriel, to the door and shivered, uncertain scales prickling his arms.

  “This is why you don’t have another clutch while you still have pups.” Gabriel smiled softly and watched Leo’s instincts war.

  “Want me to go check on the pups?” Gabriel offered.

  “No, everyone’s already up there, but they’re upset,” Leo whined, tugging at his hair. “I have to make sure egg is protected. Have to comfort pups. Have to…no cry… Pups bad for egg. Pups could crush egg.” Leo’s words devolved into muttering nonsense and Gabriel shushed him.

  “What if I protected the egg and you went and comforted the pups for a few minutes?”

  Something clicked in Leo’s head, and he brightened. “I—that—” Leo didn’t know if it’d work, but his dragon trusted the notion. Leo stood shakily and huffed. “Do not leave that egg for any reason. Please.” Leo whined for a second before limping to the door, a hand rested against his sore belly. With his last clutch, he wanted to be in scales. He didn’t understand why he could do skin so often with this clutch as he rose to the surface in the elevator and stumbled through the foyer and entryway back through to the glass doors. Leo, pale and limping, locked eyes with Hallr, a thawed bag of feeder rats in his hand.

  “Leo, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Leo?” Hallr dropped the bag with a wet splat and ran over to Leo, kissing and patting over him.

  “Pups upset. Dad’s got the egg. Pups need.” Leo’s breath was husky and light. He really shouldn’t have been even standing. It’d not even been twenty-four hours since he’d laid. Hallr tried to scoop Leo up, but Leo swatted him away.

  “The egg is okay, right?” Hallr kissed Leo’s temple.

  “Egg is fine. Come on.” Leo shuffled weakly to the glass doors, hand still holding his slackened belly. He grunted, pushing it open, and happened upon a sweet scene of Leicester, Gaelin, Stefan, and Sacha, all in scales with the curled-up and sad pups. “Aww, boys.” Leo shuffled over to the pile, to the excited gazes of all eight of their pups, and sank down to his knees against Sacha’s flank. “Gentle, boys. I’m sore.”

  Storm was the first to approach Leo, shifting then petting his papa’s belly curiously. Leo hissed and winced, laughing halfheartedly. “It’s okay, boys. I’m fine. I’m just a little sick. You all have been sick before.”

  Eight unhappy pups curled and snuggled around Leo with worried mewls, all sniffling and snuffling. “It’s alright, boys. I need some big naps and I’ll be fine. You guys gotta learn to be very careful once I bring your little brother up. He’s still in his egg and he’s fragile until he’s done.”

  “But when can he come out?” Storm whined.

  “When he’s ready. He’s like a cupcake. Remember when Marten made cupcakes with you guys? What happens if you take them out before they’re done?”

  “They spill everywhere and are bad.” Storm blinked up at Leo with a sudden dawning look of horror.

  “Right. So he has to stay in his shell and warm for the right amount of time, okay?” Lots of nods circled around. “Alright. Let’s get all our huggles and snuggles we can for a few minutes and then I have to go back downstairs.”

  “We can come, too, please?” Storm blinked up sweetly.

  “Not yet. Papa’s bitey and having bad dreams. Don’t want anyone to lose a tail or a finger.” Leo took Storm’s hand and pretended to nibble his finger with a squeal of protest.

  “Now, I think I saw Daddy with a bag of rats. Anyone want a rat snack?” Eight sets of eyes went wide and snapped toward Hallr and his dripping cloth sack full of thawed rats. “Go line up nicely. Don’t forget to share with your uncles and grandpa.” Leo shook his head and smiled before hoisting himself up. Sacha nudged Leo’s back to help him stand.

  Smell blood, Sacha projected, and Leo glanced over his shoulder and sighed. Sacha shifted and scrambled around for some pants before taking over the rats from Hallr and sending them off downstairs.

  Leo blinked sleepily once Hallr had him in his arms. Hallr was warm, smelled right, and all his little aches and pains became insignificant in Hallr’s grasp. “Sorry about the bite.”

  “Ahh, it’s alright. Shouldn’t have said what I did.”

  “I wanted to wait for more pups, but I don’t mind the one more. Though threatening a dozen more was too far.” Leo leaned up to catch a soft kiss from Hallr’s lips as they entered the elevator and Hallr swore, jerking back when Cinder bolted past the closing doors.

  “Cinder!” Hallr growled warningly, raising his voice. Hallr never yelled at Cinder, not in anger, and he cowered, trembling, his little gold tail tucking between his legs. He had a rat’s tail hanging from his mouth and whimpered. Leo shushed Hallr and slid down. “I can’t pick you up right now, buddy, but why did you follow us? I told you we have to wait and you have to learn to be careful first.” Leo patted over Cinder’s head, and he dropped the tail, pushing it toward Leo. The tails were his favorite part.

  Leo caught the words in his head, Cinder projecting hard. Want to share with little brother.

  And Leo came undone. He broke down into heavy sobs, pulling Cinder up against his legs. “Cinder. You’re going to be a good big brother. It’s not your fault you don’t understand yet. It’s only been a little while since you started sleeping in your own beds at night. You still try to sneak into ours or come into the nest. Come on. Peepaw is in there napping with your little brother and you can meet him for a minute, okay? Then he’s going to take you upstairs.”

  Gabriel, hearing their voices, sat up, blinking sleepily. The egg pressed close into him. Leo’s mind honed in on the egg and his father, his dragon snuffling happily in his mind. All was well. Family. All family.

  Leo slipped into the nest and Gabriel shifted to the side, letting Cinder see the egg.

  “Ouch,” he whispered.

  With the foul-mouthed Drakes and slips of tongues that frequently happened around a home that cultivated nestblossoms…the pups picked up on a lot. Leo thought the questions would be hard, and sometimes they were; sometimes they were awkward, but the worst thing he ever learned about his body were the things he was supposed to be ashamed of. He never let the pups be ashamed of much.

  Did it hurt? Cinder sat down at the edge of the nest and stared at it.

  “Oh yeah.” Leo nodded. Cinder stared at it in contemplation.

  Did I hurt? Cinder blinked up at Leo curiously and Leo smiled.

  “You were the smallest egg. Didn’t feel a thing.”

  Is that why I’m the favorite?

  Leo blinked. “Buddy… Don’t get ahead of yourself. Love you all the same.”

  But egg needs more love right now? Cinder stared at it.

  Leo nodded. “Only until he hatches and learns how to play with you.”

  Cinder slipped around the egg, curling his whole body around the enormous thing. Leo and Gabriel yelped with a start and Hallr moved in to grab Cinder. He snapped at Hallr for good measure.

  “Boy…” Hallr said warningly.

  Protect egg! Cinder snapped again, his tail twitching.

  Gabriel and Leo shook their heads. “I really need to nap with the egg. Okay? You head up with Peepaw. Daddy and I need some cuddles and kisses before he can come up to play, okay?”

  Cinder grumbled, nuzzled over the egg for good measure, and retreated, his tail tucked.

  “I’ll be up to play tomorrow. And if I can feel better in a week or two, I’ll start bringing the egg upstairs to nest. Okay?” Leo pleaded and Cinder seemed to accept the compromise before snorting. “Come on, Cinder. You’re too big for me to pick up in scales.” Cinder stared up at Gabriel with a grin of appreciation and shifted. Hallr handed Gabriel a pair of shorts for Cinder and Gabriel waved, heading toward the open door and the elevator for Hallr to slip in with him.

  “You alright?” Hallr asked once they were out of earshot.

  “You can smell that I’m not.” Leo didn’t bother denying it.

  “Marc?” Hallr offered. Leo nodded and shrugged out of his pants, which seeped blood. “I’ll send a text and you just focus while I try to give you some healing.”

  Leo curled about his egg and sighed as Hallr held the phone to his ear and worked his hands over Leo’s backside and thighs, the touch alone sending Leo into limp sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Gabriel

  “Leo took a little longer to recover than we thought.” Marc pulled a pair of gloves off as he sat splay-legged in his office chair, staring at Gabriel. “But he’s from strong stock.”

  Gabriel’s belly had grown considerably in the two weeks since his heat ended, and all the symptoms of gravidity heralded what Gabriel already knew.

  “Well. Good news or bad news?” Marc sat an ultrasound machine up while Gabriel and Sacha made fretful eye contact.

  “Bad,” Sacha said, steeling himself. Good news softened the bad.

  “Yeah, I’m not feeling any blanks. None.” Marc slathered a generous amount of gel over Gabriel’s dragon’s belly.

  “What?” Sacha spluttered as Gabriel’s eyes went huge.

  “Yep, four. No blanks. Single yolkers, all of them. Hallr knows what he’s doing. Say what you want, but that boy loves Dettes.” Marc gestured toward a screen, letting Sacha and Gabriel stare with wonder at the oblong shapes.

  Sacha, staring openmouthed at the screen, took a deep breath and stumbled back, crumpling to his knees.

  “Did he faint?” Marc stared down as Gabriel scooted his hips.

  “You’re the doctor!” Gabriel caught Sacha’s disbelieving expression and laughed.

  “I did not faint. I…I felt a little light-headed. Four.”

  “Did you miss the part about there not being any blanks?” Gabriel huffed. “Suppose I shouldn’t be picky.”

  “Four pups, Gabriel.” Sacha pulled his naked lover in for a lingering hug and permitted himself to rub his hand over the convex surface of his belly. “You didn’t even have to give us one, but four? You know Mike and Raff are going to be so excited.”

  “You sure Leo’s not going to feel like we replaced him?” Gabriel whined.

  “Gods no. The sweet thing is more likely to come help you nest and celebrate. Even I know that,” Marc scoffed as he cleaned up from the exam. “Now put some damn pants on. This isn’t Zane’s den.” Marc wandered off, muttering something about Leicester.

  “Let’s go home and visit Leo and the pups. We can break the news, pick up the twins, and get you home to work on your nest.” Sacha caught Gabriel’s soft lips for a lingering kiss that reminded him just how much he belonged to Sacha and Sacha alone.

  “Also, we need to talk about something I noticed when we were running Leo’s DNA. I was curious about his coloring and I have to say, you two were a perfect match for a recessive gene on scale color. You two likely won’t ever have a gold pup.” Marc grinned at the two, who blinked in surprise.

  “But they’ll be Dior, right?” Sacha swallowed hard.

  “Well, yes, but you won’t get any gold babies out of you two, not solid ones at least. So, just something to remember on hatching day.” Marc winked and shooed them out of his office. His tongue stuck out.

  ***

  “Is Leo still downstairs nesting?” Sacha yawned as Hallr strolled up to their car. Gabriel slid out and smiled up at Hallr sadly.

  “All well?” Hallr nodded at Gabriel.

  “He’s worried Leo might feel replaced.”

  “Hah, unlikely. I think you’re going to have to fight him to get the twins back. He’s loving having the little scamps nesting with him. Gods, it’s so nice to have him calmed down. This is going right into my notes. Give a nesting Dette some yearling pups and they quiet right down.”

  Gabriel fidgeted guiltily. “Do you think he’d mind watching them for an evening? Sacha and I might like an afternoon alone together. It would be nice to have some alone time before I lay.”

  “By all means. The tots are fine. Cinder is having a ball practicing being a big brother, too.” Hallr slipped off to the elevator to let Sacha and Gabriel down.

  Leo, all silver scales and cold eyes, glanced up at them from his curled spot in the nest. The egg nestled safely against his heart while the pups napped in the crook of Leo’s neck. They slept a lot more these days and had even grown a little in the past few weeks. Civilized life suited them.

  Leo shifted and stretched, slipping on pants before encouraging the pups back to his side. As much as he loved them in the nest, there was nothing to love about clumsy tots near an egg without full supervision.

  “So, I think I have an inkling. Hallr’s excited about something.” Leo yawned and drooped a little.

  “Four pups,” Sacha said, breaking the silence.

  Leo nodded sagely and half grinned. “Sweet. Egg sitter. I really need to get back to the shop to check things out.” Gabriel’s stiff posture relaxed as Leo invited him into the nest. “Promise we haven’t been boning in the nest.” The mention of that made Gabriel’s nose twitch. He reconsidered climbing up.

  Michael and Raphael climbed up onto Gabriel, happy to see their papa again.

  “So, we watching those two snotlings for a few days so you and Pops can get some alone time finally now that everything’s calmed down?” Leo patted over the egg’s shell and grinned.

  Gabriel half smiled. “Yeah. I think we need just that.”

  “Good. Gimme my brothers back now. Go home and get cozy. Relax. We can figure out how to be a functional family once you’re over the worst of the brooding.” Leo’s grin met his eyes fully, despite how pale and thin he was looking.