Chapter 89

Chapter 89
2 months later
He put the diaper on Lola and turned to watch Lucy finish up with Keith. She beamed at him before groaning.
“How did you finish first? You never finish first,” she said, making him chuckle.
“Well, Keith really helped me with his blowout,” he responded, leaning over to tickle his ribs.
She swatted at his hands. “Don’t encourage them to have blowouts,” she chided. “Before I rub this shit on your face!”
He howled with laughter as she jogged to the bathroom to wash her hands. She came back minutes later, wiping her hands on her pants. She sighed and a look of sadness crossed quickly over her face before she smiled, clapping her hands.
“Come on, you guys. Time to get you to Dragão for your visit with your daddy.”
He watched her weave her spell around them before picking up the bag that held their egg surrounded by their fire. He held his hand out to her and she took it without hesitation, curling her fingers around his. She smiled up at him.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Josh. Thank you for everything.”
He nodded and lifted her hand to kiss the back of it. “Always, baby.”
She opened a portal to Dragão and he followed the last bassinet through it. They came out in the dining hall and the smell of bacon and fried potatoes made his stomach grumble. He helped Lucy guide the bassinets to their places before going over to make them both plates while she greeted her aunts and uncles. He carried their plates over to her and set hers in front of her. She smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
He got lost in her smile and groaned before leaning down to kiss her, making her giggle.
“I think you might kinda like me.”
“Maybe a little,” he agreed.
They sat down while they listened to their aunts and uncles discuss pack issues from around the country. Beside him, Lucy sighed, already resigned to another weekend of working.
“So, we are going to have to send someone to Rodan’s pack to solve their territory dispute with the Emerald Clan.”
Lucy heaved another sigh. “I guess we’ll do it.”
He took her hand, smiling. “Actually, we won’t be.”
Her head snapped around to look at him. “We’re not?”
He shook his head and cupped her face. “I think it’s time that I reminded you of something so I wanted to take you to Golden.”
Her eyes widened before she nodded. “Okay! Can we go now?”
“Finish eating.” He put his hand over her stomach. “You’re going to need your strength.”
She smiled at him. “You’re silly. I’m not pregnant.”
He grinned at her with his eyes twinkling at her. “Not yet, you aren’t.”
Her mouth made an ‘O’ and he took the opportunity to stuff bacon into it. “Save that for later.”
She choked and reached for her orange juice to help pass the food.
“We’re in front of my family,” she said, flushing.
“They all know how babies are made.”
He was slapped in the back of the head.
“Don’t even think about it, boy. I will whoop your ass.”
Everybody laughed and hers was cut off when the doors opened. Amerald froze in front of them before taking a step back.
“I’m sorry. I thought you had left. I…”
He fell silent as his eyes landed on Lucy. She jumped to her feet and opened a portal.
“We were just leaving.”
She ran through it while Josh slowly got to his feet, watching the emotions that passed over his face. He sighed and let his eyes move to the bassinets. He took a step in their direction when Josh got in his way.
“I need to speak to you.”
He narrowed his eyes on Josh. “What about?”
“Lucy.”
He growled lightly. “Is she okay?”
“Can we talk?”
“No. Let me just spend what time I can with my children, please.”
He stepped around Josh who turned around to watch him go over to pick up Nomad.
“And what if I’m offering you more time?” Josh asked quietly.
The entire atmosphere changed. The large room fell silent and Amerald tensed.
“And how would that work?”
“You accept a coven and have a stable home. It’s your choice which coven.”
Amerald put Nomad back in his bassinet. “And why would I do that?”
“For your children. For Lucy.”
Amerald put his hand on the edges of the bassinet and his knuckles turned white with the force of his grip on it.
“Our children are too young to know how much time I spend with them, so it doesn’t.”
“For now, yes. What happens when they start to crawl or walk or talk? You will miss out on so much of their lives without choosing a coven.”
“I knew that was my fate when I chose to bring a family into the world with someone who was already mated,” Amerald replied.
Josh sighed. “Just think about it. I know Lucy would love it if you had a home. She does still care about you. She wants the best for you, for all of your children.”
His shoulders sagged. “I had a home, Josh. I had a home that I cherished above anything else in my life. I had a home where I could be at peace, where I could be content with domestication. I don’t have that anymore.”
“Amerald, I-”
“Josh? Are you coming?”
He hesitated before nodding to Lucy who stood fidgeting in front of the portal. “We’ll finish this later.”
He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth again. “Come on, sweetheart. We have a reservation.”
He led her through, draping his arm over her shoulders. She walked quietly by his side to the hotel. He got their key and led her up to their room. She sat on the bed with her head down.
“Why did you ask him for that?” she whispered.
He sat next to her with his leg pressed against hers. “I know how you feel, Lucy, and I understand how he feels. Seeing you with him was the hardest thing I ever did. I thought that maybe if he chose a place that maybe we could be more like a family…”
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “No matter how much I want that, it wouldn’t work. It would hurt too bad and I don’t want to hurt him but thank you.”
She got up, kissed his cheek and walked into the bathroom. He sighed.
“I’m going to fix this, baby. I promise you,” he murmured. “I have to.”