The Unexpected Yuletide Baby (Starscale Mates #3)

Chapter Eleven

Clarence

Marria was a she bear and wouldn’t have been my first choice for Medwin’s new midwife, but at the end of the day, the choice was ultimately his. I’d have kidnapped the retired midwife and brought them back to work if that’s what it took to keep my mate happy.

All his time searching for his perfect midwife left me with more time to spend with Acadian. I was so busy when our firstborn, Cade, was young. A war kept us away from Sunny for most of his first year. This time nothing and no one was going to stand in the way of me spending time with Acadian.

I took phone calls and wrote emails while he slept on my shoulder. I changed diapers and did laundry while explaining to him the ins and outs of running a flight. He was a newborn. Of course, he had no idea what I was talking about, but even draconic babies enjoyed the rambling noises that came from their parents’ mouths. He was the perfect baby that way.

At night, I tried to beat Medwin up when the baby cried. We hadn’t switched to bottles yet but at least I could bring Acadian to him instead of making him get up and out of bed. Even the midwife wasn’t sure the milk would last forever now that Medwin was pregnant again, but we took that one day at a time.

Marria wasn’t a bad midwife, and Medwin was patient with her. She wasn’t like any of the others with decades of experience, but he tolerated her well enough. They’d never be bosom buddies, but Medwin had enough friends. At least, that’s what he said. In between her visits we checked in on our growing wolf pup ourselves. It didn’t take a rocket scientist or a degree to use the new portable machines.

Bit by bit, our wolf pup grew and so did Medwin’s stomach. Soon the flat plain where Acadian loved to nap disappeared, replaced by the slightest baby bump. I marveled at the change in my mate’s anatomy. Marveled at how his body was now, for the first time, growing a life that wouldn’t come out sheltered and protected inside of an eggshell.

My dragon paced inside his inner sanctum. He wasn’t fond of Marria at all. The scaly asshole wasn’t fond of many people outside of Medwin but that feeling increased with each passing day he was pregnant. Our grandchildren got a free pass as long as they didn’t rough house near him. Even the neighbors with their giant hounds that liked to run across our acreage got a pass. The dogs were menaces chewing and tugging at everything and everyone that passed by but they posed no danger to Medwin or the babies.

I started taking business meetings in the house were our staff used to live. I might’ve defaulted to the guesthouse but wasn’t ready to burden the ‘blue’ triplets with flight business just yet. Sure, I sent them on the occasional errand but kept the idiots away from them. They were as grown as they’d ever be, but my dragon didn’t agree with that. They were ours as much as their sire was and messing with them – even teasingly – wouldn’t have ended well for anyone.

I spent as much time with Medwin as I could. His presence or holding Acadian in the crook of my arm were the only things that soothed the beast inside me. By the end of Medwin’s first month, I convinced him that we should go to one of those birthing classes. Back in our younger days they were some hippy-dippy activities that we would’ve made fun of. It wasn’t like egg laying needed a whole class for that, but live birth was a totally different story.

“I’m glad you brought it up,” Medwin sighed as we got into the car to head to our first class.

I could’ve called a driver but if anyone started to tease about our destination, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t set them on fire.

“If you wanted to go you should’ve said something. I almost didn’t say anything because I thought it just might stress you out more,” I told him and squeezed his knee before starting the car.

I checked the rear-view mirror and double-checked that my mate had buckled up. A few days ago, I bought a special seatbelt extender that had a nice plush, gel-filled padding to it designed just for pregnant bellies. We weren’t hiding away like we might if we had an egg, and I wanted Medwin to be as comfortable as possible no matter what mode of transportation we chose.

“I thought you’d laugh at me.”

“I don’t think I have that cruel of a sense of humor. We were assholes back in the day about it. Then again, we’re dragons. It seemed like overkill when other dragons went to these classes that were started for live birthers. I still think that’s overkill but even back then if you had wanted to go, I would’ve gone. It wouldn’t have been the first time I made an idiot of myself for you.”

“I wasn’t afraid to lay eggs. Never have been. Not even the first time really,” Medwin said, looking out the window.

“I’m concerned too,” I nodded. “Marria has never performed a c-section alone.”

“Teal has,” Medwin said. “And between us, I’d probably trust him more than her for that. She’s one of us. Well, married into the flight, anyway. I like her. I trust her enough. Teal would have a family link to both me and the baby. I think he’d have a greater chance at a successful emergency c-section. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that but I think he would.”

“I feel as if I should secure a dose of Beast Out in case it comes to that,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road ahead of us. “That way I could put my dragon out if he became too much.”

“Don’t,” Medwin shook his head. “They don’t like giving that to pregnant or laboring people. My dragon would devour the world if he panicked and thought yours was dead or gone.”

“Fair enough,” I nodded. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Marria doesn’t think there is any reason to suspect that it will.”

“Have you discussed a birthing plan yet?”

“Not yet. You’ll be there for that. It will be at home. I know that much.”

I nodded and squeezed his knee again as I pulled into the parking lot.