Page 47 of The Manny's Fiery Dragon Bond

“What was that look for?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t give a look.” Mal took a bite of his toast.

Oh, he so gave a look.

Everyone started showing up around noon, and the first thing the little ones did was race to their aunt’s egg and give it a kiss.

“Baby. Baby,” each of them said as they caressed the egg.

It was beyond adorable.

We ate lunch, chatted, read books to the kids, and turned on music. Once the cake was in our bellies, we took everyone outside, including my precious egg, which was in the sling. The weather was absolutely gorgeous.

I loved watching the little kids run around in the grass on a good day, but today, it was so much better because all of their grown-ups, except for me, had let out their beasts, and the little ones were frolicking with the animals of those who loved them most.

And that was when I felt it. The first move of my egg.

Initially, I was sure I imagined it. How could my egg be moving? But then another wiggle. And another.

“Everyone, let’s bring this inside—to the nest.”

They all shifted back to their human forms, and excitement crossed everyone’s face. They knew what was happening before I even told them in so many words.

I rushed inside as they worked on gathering the kids and their clothes. I placed our egg down in the nest. Once they started to crack, it was best not to mess with them—but it was so hard. After remembering what it was like to break open that ostrich egg, I was getting nervous about what our baby was going through.

“They’ll be born with talons.” That was what Mal had said. Which was great, if they weren’t a mouse. Mice didn’t have talons.

But both the clan doctor and my mate had said I could be having a mouse, and if I was, then we were in for a world of hurt, because there was no way they were getting out of that egg. It was far too thick for that.

“You look terrified. Tell me what’s worrying you.” My mate wrapped his arm around my waist.

“You’re gonna laugh at me.” I buried my head in his chest.

“Absolutely not. If it’s distressing you this much, I will not laugh at you. I promise.”

“I... I’m worried our daughter is a mouse, and they won’t be able to come out.”

Tavian came over and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “That’s not how it works. Each animal, each beast, is able to get out. What you can’t see from the outside is that the inside of the shell has been thinning all day long.”

I blinked. “So it’s... not much stronger than an Easter egg at this point? And I was carrying her like that in the sling.” Horror filled me at all the what-ifs that could’ve happened.

“Little mouse, the baby was always fine.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “And now it’s time to wait.”

It was funny watching a group of adults staring at an egg, willing it to move—to give signs of hatching. They were so bad at it. The kids, on the other hand, they were staring too, but they didn’t have the same impatience. It was like opposite day when it came to that.

But eventually the movements became closer together—became a rocking. And then there was tapping.

Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap tap tap.

I clenched my fists at my side, trying to force myself to restrain, knowing that “helping” the process wouldn’t be helping at all. My mate’s warm arms wrapped around me, holding me to him.

“She’s got this, little mouse. Trust me. She’s got this.”

We heard it first, and then it appeared. A crack being formed.

And then another.

And then another.

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