Chapter 759: Sister Visit
I was actually grateful for the big hound's presence when I grunted my way into the lotus position in the center of the family pentagram. Sure, I could have used magic, but I found doing so lately sometimes woke the nugget's need to try his own hand at spinning power. A very disconcerting experience from inside my womb.
Triggering his magic interfered with mine. I'd had a few giggle and groan worthy moments over the last few months when the baby tried to help-I had the distinct feeling that was his intention despite the results-turning a patch of damaged grass bright purple when I meant to encourage it to grow. Thanks to his curiosity during another instance, I almost started a new ice age when I tried to cool my coffee half a degree before drinking it. Since then I'd pretty much kept my magic use to a minimum, just in case.
My luck, if I tried to use power to sit like this, we'd end up floating off into orbit.
I patted Galleytrot's heavy shoulder as I settled, lower back twingeing all over again, just adding to my irritation.
"Thanks," I said. Actually meant it through my annoyance. "Now beat it."
He swiped my cheek with his very wet tongue before chuckling and bounding back up the stairs. I wiped at the nastiness with the sleeve of the pup tent.
So. Gross.
And yet, the baby giggled.
We'd see how much he liked being slobbered by the big hound.
My stomach churned, turned over. Settled. Damn it, everything made me feel nauseated these days. I was lucky not to have had a pukey pregnancy at the outset, but I was more than making up for it the last month or so.
You're eating too much meat, Shaylee sent.
No, my demon growled, she's not eating enough.
You need to drink more water, sent my vampire.
Water. Nice of her to remind me. I'd just gone to the bathroom before Lula arrived. And, wouldn't you know it? Had to go again.
I ignored my bladder as the girls grumbled their advice in the background. Drew a deep breath-as deep as I could with a bowling ball sitting on my diaphragm-and exhaled.
My eyes closed on their own, the powers inside me settling. Tried to, anyway. My swollen ankles made it hard to find a comfortable position, not to mention my chest was about twice its normal size and hurt. All tender and swollen. Nasty. I'd given up on bras about two weeks ago.
Screw that. Let them sag. I'd have Lula magic them back to perky when this was over.
Another poke from my lower back pulled a soft groan from my lips. This was it. No more freaking kids for me. But even as I had the thought, two things happened. Nugget stirred all over again, murmured, hugged me with his power. And I remembered I still had future daughters to mother.
Sigh.
Maybe a girl would be different. Though, I had to admit, I was very lucky all along, not a sniff of trouble to be had. I'd breezed through the first three months, still in my favorite jeans until the start of my second trimester. Though if one more person told me I was all baby, I was going to punch them in the face.
With all the support for the baby and myself, I really didn't have anything to complain about. Except finding myself floating over my bed in the middle of the night. Or reaching for a carton of milk in the fridge only to have it disappear the second I touched it.
Yeah.
And yet... so worth it as the baby woke from his brief nap, his babbling quiet for once, and touched my mind like he was fully aware of who I was.
A. Maze. Ing.
I loved this part. The moments we had alone together, so few and far between with the magical interference of my family a constant companion, as constant as the beautiful boy inside me. Everything went away when his mind touched mine. My body didn't exist, my aches and pains and discomfort long gone. Only the nugget and me. And the girls, all together.
Curiosity. Contentment. A budding need to understand who he was and where. His purpose. All tied to the simmering earth power of the Sidhe.
And, for the first time, others. I hadn't felt them before, so strong was Cian's influence. But as I sat there, hugging my child with my arms and my magic, I finally felt the powers blossoming inside him.
Vampire. Witch. Demon. Creation. And yes, the blackness of sorcery.
I drew a breath of awe and sudden worry.
I was going to give birth to a maji child.
He burbled happily, his powers mingling. But no, he didn't have enough, at least not yet. The magicks I sensed were trace, bits and pieces. Reminded me of the wild magicks, the souls of the fallen drach. Slivers of power. Wound together with Cian.
Making something entirely new.
Whatever power my son had access to, I knew I had enough of my own to guide him. Just as long as I didn't screw him up in the process.
Nervous much?
We will never allow that, my vampire sent. And neither will you.
I actually smiled, confidence returning as the nugget stretched, pushed against me with his mind and his body.
Regardless of whether that was true, we didn't have much choice. He'd be coming out eventually and I'd just have to deal.
Maybe this new need to understand meant he was ready to be born. But was I ready to let him go? In moments like this...
Not a chance.
I hugged my belly harder, feeling tears trickle down my cheeks, those same cheeks aching from the huge grin on my face. The family reached for me at that moment, feeling my joy, and I let the coven in, all of them. Allowed them to feel my son, his sweetness and brilliance, the expanse of his magic. Showed him who they were and impressed on him how important he was to us.
And the family embraced him back, showering him with love and adoration. Excitement to see him, to feel his uniqueness and the powers he possessed.
Peanut sighed, muttered something and hugged them back before slipping back into sleep.
The family left me then, with murmurs of encouragement and leaving behind the compression of their love for me. I wiped at my tears, all irritation gone, rubbing soft circles around my expanded belly, feeling the bumps and lumps of my son through my skin.
Soon.
I looked up at the touch of demon magic, felt the veil part, the heat of Ahbi's power as my demon grandmother's spirit said hello. I embraced her with my energy as the family had held me before releasing her and focusing on my sister on the other side.
While Ahbi giggled and cooed over the sleeping nugget.
"How did your exam go?" So much anxiety mixed with anticipation in Meira's voice. I grinned at my sister through the veil where she sat on the edge of her desk, the Demonicon sky visible through the window behind her.
"Fine," I said. "No change." A hint of frustration returned as I jealously eyed Meira's tall, slender demon form, her gorgeous figure prickling my vanity. "What else is new?"
She must have sensed my annoyance because she smiled and sent me a soft hug of power. "I'm so envious," she said, cutting my own envy out from under me. "He's going to be an amazing boy, Syd."
Grumble mumble.
Grin.
Yeah.
"Did you open the gift I sent?" She leaned forward eagerly, taut, flat stomach exposed, shining black horns curving back from jet curls cascading over her shoulder and down almost to the floor. Damn it.
"I did." I caught myself still stroking my belly as I answered, wondering if mine would ever be so smooth again. "The booties are darling." Made from some kind of Demoniconian creature's fur, so soft they felt like air. "Thank you, Meems."
She smoothed the front of her gold-threaded skirt hanging low on her thin hips and bounced a little in place. "I have a whole outfit for him for winter," she said. Beamed, white teeth bright against her red-tinted skin as her amber eyes flared with fire.
"You're the best auntie." Totally meant it.
"I'll do my damnedest." She winked. "Though he has the most amazing and beautiful mother ever. So he really doesn't need me."
My lips twisted in a wry smile. "If you're into bloated and gargantuan," I said.
Meira rolled her eyes, poking a finger in my direction. "You have no idea how gorgeous and glowing you are," she said.
I suddenly felt old despite her words, way older than my twenty-two years. I'd ignored my birthday this year, choosing to focus on the peanut. But in doing so I almost forgot Meems also had a birthday, not so long ago. Shenka saved my ass with a nice present-a new pair of platform boots made of chrome, Meira's favorite. But at fourteen, she looked older than me, thanks to her time on Demonicon and the hyped up nectar Sassafras's mother hooked her on a few years ago.
Wow. Was it years?
Old. Yup yup.
Meira's smile faded as she leaned back, arms crossing over her chest, biting her bottom lip. "I wish this was just our daily social call," she said. "But I have some news."
Okay then. "I can take it," I said, even as my hormones chose just then to go wacko, a giant lump rising in my throat. Because I just knew what she was about to tell me.
And I wasn't going to like it.
Not one little bit.
"Your official invite will come from Dad," Meira said, lips turning down into an unhappy frown, "but he asked me to warn you ahead of time. So you can prepare Mom."
Damn. It.
I knew it.
"He's finally picked one," Meira said, a snarl in her voice. "And the betrothal ceremony is in about a month."
One.
A new wife.
Oh, hell.
***
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