Page 383 of Never Kiss a Fae
Then Christmas and Winter Solstice decorations made up the third pile. Christmas was just around the corner—plus it was my favorite of all the holidays—so I liked to start sneaking in hints of tinsel and garland wherever possible.
I started wrapping the pumpkin lights around one of the pillars in the living room, then took to the other with one of the Christmas silver stars. I finished off the third and fourth with standard fae lights, although they were more like dull orbs since I couldn’t access my magic to activate them.
A problem to deal with, um, later.
I had nearly finished up with the kitchen when Titus, Cyrus, and an unknown fae walked in. They all stopped in their tracks and openly gaped at me. I’d just scrambled up the countertop to put the finishing touch on the room. I’d dragged a massive red ribbon in tow, determined to affix it to the arch that ran along the ceiling above the stove.
“Claire!” Cyrus shouted, his tone panicked. “Get down immediately!”
Ignoring him, I kicked off my shoe and hooked my toes into one of the unused shelves, gaining a bit more height. “I’ve almost got it,” I insisted out loud. “I survived the end of the world. I can survive tying up a bow.”
“Vox!” he yelled, turning to the Air Fae, who had just walked in with Sol on his heels. “Help me get her down.”
Titus rubbed his temples. “Will someone talk some sense into her before we yank her down with Vox’s faulty magic?”
“My magic is fine,” Vox replied, glaring at the Fire Fae. His element only acted up when he became stressed or emotional—a side effect he’d never quite gotten over since mating with me. And given the panic flaying our bond, he was definitely feeling a bit emotional right now.
Exos entered last, his smirk a sharp contrast to the looks of raw panic from my other mates.
“Well, it looks like I was right,” he said, sounding amused. “Claire has officially entered phase two, and the child is definitely a troublemaker.” He slapped Cyrus on the back. “Well done, brother.”
Vox worked a careful strand of wind magic, swirling pressure around my body to give me a lift. The extra boost of height allowed me to loop the ribbon’s tassel through the slat, and I secured it before Vox guided me to the floor.
“There!” I said, slapping my hands together as I surveyed the finishing touch on my decorations. The massive red ribbon brought it all together. “Perfect.”
I turned, and the smile on my face melted when I saw that my guys most certainly didn’t share my festive enthusiasm, except maybe Exos, who was still pleased with himself.
The unknown fae—who I assumed was the Healer—cleared her throat. “Well, suffice it to say, I do think your mates are right. You’re exhibiting all of the typical phase two traits.”
I blinked, then glanced around at my still-displeased mates. “Yeah, so, will somebody explain to me what all these phases mean? Where I come from, there are three trimesters, and I’m definitely not in the second one. I’m only, like, a little over a week pregnant. That’s hardly enough time for anything to happen.” Not to mention there were certain concerns yet to address.
Cyrus took one of my hands and placed a kiss on my knuckles. The gesture made me soften a little. “Little queen, things are going to move fast now. Once the Healer checks you out, we really should start making preparations.” He glanced around the room. “While I’m sure the faeling will appreciate a festive atmosphere, we should be focused on the nursery. We don’t have a crib, clothes, or any of the items we need for a newborn.”
Exos crossed his arms. “It’s important to keep Claire happy. Plus, fae furniture is just fine.”
I propped my hands on my hips, catching a loose strand of tinsel in my fingers. I looped it around my throat like a necklace. “We have nine months before we have to worry about any of that, so will you all just simmer down and let me celebrate the holidays?”
My guys all took on various expressions of shock. Sol went pale. Vox’s mouth parted. Exos and Cyrus shared a long look, and Titus tightened his jaw.
My fire mate nudged the Healer forward. “You’d better have her sit down,” he said, his voice coming out strained. “I think there’s a human-slash-fae difference we all forgot to consider.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
The Healer released a nervous laugh as she took my hand and guided me into the living room. She paused, staring at the array of festive pillows shaped like Christmas ornaments before managing to clear a space for us both to sit down.
She waited until I was fully seated and all my guys had followed us into the room before she spoke. “It seems there is a key detail your mates may have failed to mention,” she said, her tone scolding as she glanced at the male fae.
Cyrus folded his arms. “She’s a Halfling, but she’s also a queen and a goddess of the elements. Informing her of all the possibilities seems presumptuous on our parts.”
I glared at him. “Presumptuous?” I turned back to the Healer. “What is it that you’re trying to tell me? Is there a huge difference between fae and human pregnancies?”
The Healer gave me a weak smile as she patted my hand. “You’re exhibiting all the signs of a typical fae pregnancy. There are three phases. The first is incubation, which happens while asleep. From Titus’s testimony, you’ve already surpassed that during your three days of rest, although usually it’s only twenty-four hours—”
“Three days?” I repeated. “I’ve been asleep forthree days? When was somebody going to tell me that?”
Cyrus gave me a sympathetic smile. “We thought it best for Titus to be there when you woke up. It’s normal, I assure you.” He gave the Healer a nod. “Please, continue.”
She cleared her throat. “Right, well, the next phase is nesting, which I would say by all the, uh, decorations, you’ve officially started.” She turned my hand over. “May I?”
