“Those are supposed to be hung up,” I told him.
“And eaten,” he agreed, inhaling another mouthful.
“I wouldn’t call this relaxed,” Vox said slowly, looking around at all the decorations and the mass of bags they’d just brought home with them.
I frowned. “What do you mean, this isn’t relaxed?”
“It’s… sort of busy?” he replied, deepening my frown.
Did he not understand the point of the holidays? “Titus?” I asked, pointing at the dull orbs wrapped around the nearest pillar. “Could you light those for me, please?”
He arched his brow but didn’t ask me why I hadn’t done it myself. Instead, he obeyed and flicked his fingers, sending the swirl of orbs alight. Cyrus silently activated the second one, giving the room a complement of fire and water that made my shoulders relax.
“See?” the Healer asked with a smile. “That makes you feel better, doesn’t it?”
I nodded, sighing. “I’ve always liked decorating for the holidays. That doesn’t mean anything.” I leaned in. “So, you’re telling me I’m past the ‘incubation’ period and now I’m nesting. How can I be nesting if I’m only a week pregnant?”
Well, technically, ten days since I apparently slept for three of them.
She patted my hand again, this time more forcefully. “Your pregnancy will be similar to that of a fae, not a human.” She glanced at my pointed ears. They had transformed years ago after I had accepted the fae side of myself. “You’ve lived in the Elemental Fae realm for quite a few years now, and you have fae mates. Therefore, it makes sense for your pregnancy to run a similar course to a fae’s.”
I glanced around the room and found that none of my mates would meet my gaze. Finally, I zoomed back in on the Healer. “And what does that mean, exactly?” I demanded, suspecting this was the part my mates had “forgotten to mention” to me.
She chewed her lip before appeasing me. “You say that a human pregnancy lasts for nine months? Well, a fae one runs a bit shorter.”
“How much shorter?” I pressed.
Cyrus took pity on me and massaged my shoulders. His gaze said that he took full responsibility for this situation, being the one who’d impregnated me. “You’ll likely be delivering our child in about two months, little queen.”
My entire world screeched to a halt, and my stomach dropped.
“I’m sorry… What?”
“NINE WEEKS.” Claire repeated those two words over and over again, her feet moving swiftly over our bedroom floor as she paced back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
“Nine weeks.”
More pacing.
More mumbling.
I glanced at Exos, and he gave me a look that said, “What did you expect?”
I had expected her to understand and believe she was more fae than human. I had also expected her to be pleased that she would come to term in nine weeks, not nine months. Who would prefer nearly a year as an incubator when they could be done in roughly two months?
Of course, I wouldn’t say that out loud now. Not with Claire in her tender condition. My usual go-to of pushing her to accept fate wasn’t going to work this time. She might not feel it yet, but her hormones and body were already changing. Adding more stress to that transition wouldn’t be helpful for either of us.
So rather than speak, I wrapped a blanket of mist around her and allowed the droplets to tease her exposed skin. She wore a cute little skirt and button-down shirt that I very much wanted to remove from her body. But something told me that would not be welcome in this state.
I also adored her hairstyle choice. It was a damp braid commonly worn by Water Fae. All she needed was her crown to fit her role as queen of my kind. She didn’t wear it often, only to formal events. But I sometimes fantasized about her wearing those jewels… and only those jewels.
Something about this woman always sent my mind to my groin, which perked up with interest as she turned around to reveal her dampening shirt.
No bra.