Blown Away (Rogues Shifter Series Book 4) (26 page)

“Now, where was I?” He kissed my lips sweetly, then reversed his previous path, kissing my stomach  and then resting his head just below my ribs to stare in wonder at the slightly rounded dome that covered Charlie. Feeling peaceful, something rare in my crazed world, I closed my eyes and stroked Garrett’s thick hair as he sang a French lullaby to our baby son. When the song ended, his kisses and caresses grew passionate. We shared our bodies, our love and our magic and then clung together whispering, as we made plans for our new family.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Liam made me breakfast as usual. The plate was loaded up with extra pancakes and sausages and yet I somehow managed to eat every bit. At this rate I was going to gain enough weight to feed quadruplets.

“Sit down with me Liam?”

“I’m actually going to join you, since I haven’t had time for breakfast yet today.” He sat with a plate holding only half the amount of food as mine. He grinned when he saw my annoyed expression. “You’re eating for two and the quickness of the gestation will drain your energy much faster than usual.”

“Fine, but if I grow larger than Heinrich, I’ll lodge a complaint with the fae Elders.”He laughed. I caught his eye and said, “I want you to know first, Liam.” There was a slight tightening of his jaw as his eyes glowed with apprehension. “Garrett and I are going to raise our son. We’re naming him Charles after Garrett’s dad.”

His expression grew softer. “A courageous decision for you both, and I’m not surprised at all.” His warm smile disappeared after only a moment. “Keep your son out of Faerie, Jackie.”

“Why? What are you saying?” I put down my fork, feeling slightly concerned by his comment.

“They have big plans for him and Aedus’ daughter. A possible betrothal of course, but more than that, they want him raised as fae and not as a shifter, just as I was raised fae and not human. I looked like a fae, and my people have always treated me as one of them, but I was taught nothing of my human heritage or ancestry and only learned more about it when I came to stay here with Garrett and he had dealings with humans. I would observe them and ask questions when I could. My mother was told not to tell me anything and so she hasn’t.” I could see the hurt in his eyes. “I’ve managed to dig up some information on my own, but not too much.”

“You should ask Sinc or William to help you. They can find out a lot online, if you’re looking for any of your human ancestors.”

His eyebrow arched in surprise and he smiled. “I will, thank you.”

“So should we be concerned? Will they try to kidnap him?” The fae were more powerful than other supernaturals, except perhaps demons, so my question was not unreasonable.

I was relieved to hear Liam laugh. “You’re both official allies and so no fae can interfere in your lives for any reason whatsoever. It’s quite ironic since it’s my father, who made you both allies and the Elders are the ones who are doing all the talking about Charles being raised in Faerie.” He seemed quite smug about their dilemma. “I’ve actually moved out. I don't want to participate in all the political maneuvering. ”

This was surprising. “And where are you staying?”

“In a hotel for now, but I’ll be getting my own house soon.” He looked excited.

“You’ll stay here, silly.” I frowned at him, annoyed that he hadn’t immediately come to us.

“I can’t inconvenience you and…”

“You’ll stay upstairs in the big room with the balcony.”

“Garrett may not want…”

“Don’t make me hurt you!” We both grinned at each other for a moment, but then the reality of the situation hit. “I’ll feel safer with you here, Liam. I don’t understand what raising this baby here in Crescent City with Garrett will mean to the fae, and I’ll need your advice.”

“Still, Its a little crowded...”

“The vamps are moving into their own house in a month. And you’re here all the time anyway. And Kellaine can visit whenever she wants or she can stay here too.” I was speaking very quickly, trying so hard to get him to agree.

He was silent for a few moments, then smiled, saying, “I’ll stay if you need me.” His tone was more subdued.

I studied him more closely because it appeared that his earlier excitement had dissipated. He’d wanted his own place and I’d insisted that he stay with me. “I’m being selfish. I’ll help you look for a house this week. But until we find you a place, will you check out of the hotel and stay here with us?”

His grin grew wider. “Yes, of course.”

“You need your own space. I get that. I’m sorry for being such a…”

He took my hand and interrupted. “Jackie, I can be here in two seconds if you need me. And as you say, I’m here all day anyway.”

I sighed and squeezed his hand, jumping when I felt the baby kick. I saw Liam look at my belly so I placed his hand over my rounded stomach
so he could feel the movement. He looked so excited when the baby danced beneath him. “We’re naming him for you too. Charles Liam Cuvier.”

He looking genuinely moved. “I don't know what to say.”

"That's a first." He laughed as I thought about what he’d mentioned earlier. “You know, if he doesn’t go to Faerie once in a while, then he won’t understand his fae heritage at all. That wouldn’t be right either.”

“I’ll teach him everything he needs to know, including the language, and when he does visit Faerie, I’ll be his escort. I won’t leave his side.” He pointed at my food, wh
ich was starting to get cold, so I obediently took another forkful.

After I swallowed I said, “You’ll be his fae sponsor?”

I saw the excited gleam in his eye. “I will accept the honor of being Charles’ sponsor with great pleasure.” He gave a formal nod and then grinned, looking more like his usual adorable self. "It will annoy my father to no end." He winked.

Making him my son’s sponsor instead of asking Lord Caelen, gave Liam a lot more say in the child’s upbringing if Garrett or I were out of the picture.

I smiled mischievously, enjoying his fun. “It’s Charlie.”

He laugh
ed and shook his head. “Charlie, of course. I’m sure Garrett loves that.”

“Too bad. I’m the mom.”

He looked at me sadly. “So young to be a mother.”

I sighed and shrugged. “S
hit happens—you know—and then you just have to deal with it. And, to be honest, I don't think I've ever felt my actual age.” I looked down at my hands, feeling suddenly tired.

“
Why don’t you call Ethan when you finish your breakfast?”

Liam knew me almost as well as Garrett. “I will. And why don’t you go get your things at the hotel, take the room upstairs and then get together with Kellaine? You could use a day off. We’re fine here. No crazy fae lords or rogue weres lurking in the trees.” I took another bite and smiled in delicious ecstasy as I chewed and swallowed.

“Maybe I’ll take tomorrow off. You’re going out today to visit Sinc and then meet with Flynn. Garrett will be resting until around 2:30 today so I’ll stay until then. I'm already taking a week off next month and going to Carmel with Kellaine. It’s quite spectacular, right on the coast line. You two should come too. You and Kellie could get to know each other. She’s actually a lot of fun with a great sense of humor. She’s not a typical Fae Lady.”

“Of course she i
sn’t. Why would you love anyone typical?” I teased him.

"It wou
ld be good for Garrett too. He needs to put the old memories to rest and fill the place with good memories. We can help him."

"Yes. I
t sounds perfect. We just have to convince him to take a whole week off, which could be tough. I did mention a vacation, but he didn't really answer me.”

“Play the pregnancy card.”

“What?”

“I need to spend time with you before the baby comes and we’re never alone, etc…”

“Liam!” I pretended to be shocked.

“
You notice that Aedus is sticking close to home, right? Last night was his first night out of Faerie in a while. Philladre is nervous and wants him around. It’s impossible to say no to a pregnant female.”

“I guess it’s a little scary to be the first one to give birth in Cascade in seventy-five years. Do you have midwives or doctors?”

“We have magic. She won’t feel a thing.”

“Huh. Somehow I doubt that. You’re a typi
cal guy sometimes, Liam.”

He snorted out a laugh. “Charlie will come first, you know.”

“I'll have a shifter doctor who'll deliver him in the Crescent City hospital. We spoke to him last night. We've told him everything.”

“I’d like to be at the hospital too, if you don’t object. Just in case my father or another Elder happens to show up. I suggest that you make me his sponsor officially before he’s born. That way, I will be his representative in all fae matters."

Is there some fae ceremony?"

"No, you only announce it before the fae Elders, like my father did when he made you an ally. The next meeting is after Aedus' binding ceremony."

"Good."

"You know, he could end up a sorcerer, rather than a cheetah, if what your grandmother said was true about your father.”

“I’ve thought about that too. But then he’d have a shorter lifespan, wouldn’t he?”

“No, he’d be a sorcerer who was also half fae so he would live a very long life. As long as mine or my fa
ther's. He'll also be powerful, magically. And then there's the whole demon aspect which is a real wildcard. There's never been a child in our history with fae and demon blood.”

I put down the fork again and looked in Liam’s violet e
yes. “He’s not real to me yet, Liam, and it scares me to think that when he comes, I may not be able to—to love him the way he should be loved. Especially if he looks like Kennet. I might be really crappy at this whole mothering thing.” I managed to hold back the tears, but it took some effort.

“It will come naturally to you the moment you hold him in your arms. Kennet wasn’t born the monster he became. He
was shaped that way by a father who didn't want to raise him and fostered him out to the kind of people who were concerned only with the purity of bloodlines.”

“You knew his
birth parents?

“I have never met Finvarra . He is my grandfather."

“I don't understand."

Finvarra and Aine are the parents of my father and his twin sister, Fionna, the queen. Finvarra also had children by other females. Kennet and his sister were raised by his mother and another male. All of the Elders are children of Finvarra by different females."

"They all grew up at court?"

Liam nod
ded. “They asked permission of the Queen to leave and found their own Sidhe in Cascade. She granted it because as they grew more powerful, she became uncertain of her ability to hold onto her throne. She has a daughter now, who she hopes will inherit. The rest of the seelie court is made up of her sycophants, like Kennet’s mother.”

“W
hy did Kennet move to Cascade with your father?”

“There is little chance to rise in power at court, unless you are a favorite of Her Grace. Kennet had the proclivities, but not the personality. But it’s better if we don’t speak of these things. Go and make your call and I’ll clean up.” I didn’t argue with him, although his story had fascinated me, I decided to file
it away to bring up again at a better time.

Ethan was thrilled that I’d called, but his tone turned serious when I gave him the news about the baby.

Jackie..."

I cut him off. “Garrett and I are keeping him and naming him
Charles after Garrett's father, but I want everyone to call him Charlie. You’re gonna be Uncle Ethan soon because he’s due in mid September. Fae babies grow like weeds, apparently."

“
That’s—uh—great...” I could hear the uncertainty in his voice. “The fae didn’t push you into this did they?”

“You know that I don’t get pushed into anything."

"This is... I mean this is huge. You never..."

"I know
. I didn't remember that he'd—raped me." It was still such a hard word to say. "I'd blocked it completely, although bits and pieces are coming back now that I know for sure."

"How do you feel? I mean really."

"I’m not gonna lie, I’m scared shitless, but Garrett and I want to raise him and—and I think we can make it work. He’s going to be an amazing Dad. He’s singing to the baby in French already.” Just saying that stuff out loud made me feel a little more confident about our decision.

Ethan laughed softly.
“You’ll both be naturals. The little guy’ll have an awesome extended family. This is just a heads up, but I'm probably gonna spoil him rotten."

I thought about my team and Garrett’s nest and my fae friends who’d be a part of his life and I smiled. “Hmm, well that’s reassuring. It won’t only be me sending him running t
o a shrink when he’s an adult.”

Ethan cracked up. "We'll blame everything on his uncle Kyle.”

I giggled, picturing Kyle trying to give Charlie advice on how to hold his temper. "Kyle can teach him to play Mario Kart and give him self-defense lessons."