He rubs his hands together at the thought, and Luca is right—that is a scary expression.
Before Nix says anything, Jay knows Gideon will not like what happens next—none of them will—because there is no way Nix will let being pregnant interfere with his plan.
“No, I’m still doing it.”
Grayson jerks upright, his head still covered by the blanket, and he falls to the floor in a heap, hampered by the fabric. He flails until, finally, the cheese tray crashes to the floor.
It doesn’t stop him, though.
Standing up, he whips the offending cover to the floor like a cape.
“No—absolutely not.” He points at Nix. “You can’t be serious.”
Nix stands, too, ready to face off against his soulmate for the right to choose. “I am fucking serious. Right now, our baby is just cells. In the human world, I wouldn’t even know about them yet. Arlo nearly kicked my ass and gave birth the same day! I’m still me, Gray, and I’m still doing this.”
Jay wants to agree with Grayson—forbid him from risking his life and has even more to live for now.
But it’s his body.
It’s Nix’s right to choose, and if Jay has learned anything in the past four weeks, it’s that he needs to respect that decision despite his misgivings.
It’s a familiar refrain when Rowan joins Grayson. “You can’t be seriously thinking of letting him do this?” he asks, then turns to Gideon. “Gideon?”
Gideon sees that Jay will not interfere, and his expression shutters for the second time that morning. “Fucking dammit, kitten,” he mutters and storms off toward the kitchen, where there’s the angry slamming of cupboards, pots, and pans.
Finn rubs his hand along Nix’s back as he goes by, and Tsuki licks his hand. Together, they head into the kitchen to beard the lion in his den.
“Jamie?” Nix says as he places a hand on his wrist.
Jay scoops him up and sighs into Nix’s throat. “Whatever you need, baby boy.”
“I love you,” Nix whispers, his lips pressed against his ear like it’s a secret—and he’s further rewarded with a huge smile. He wiggles out of Jay’s arms, turning to address the room again.
“Okay. Anyone who can’t do this with me, I understand. I won’t make you go, and I won’t be mad.” He looks from mate to mate and even catchesGideon staring from the kitchen. “I won’t be mad, but you need to stay here. I can’t be worried about you doing stupid shit.”
Nix looks right at Grayson and Rowan, pointing a finger at them. “That means you.”
It’s quiet, and neither man denies being mad about Nix’s decision, but Jay is proud to see they are taking Nix seriously.
“Got it?”
They nod simultaneously, and Nix gives a short nod back. Then he spots the cooked chicken on the table, and within seconds, he’s gnawing on a chicken leg—like nothing noteworthy has occurred, let alone two life-changing things in such a short time.
“So. When do we leave?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Jay
Leo brings his considerable influence—and money—to bear, and the private aircraft company agrees to a late afternoon departure. Both pilots are familiar, which puts Luca and Gideon at ease. They’ve declined a cabin crew, as Rowan refuses to tolerate any outsiders near Nix, and avoiding any aggressive posturing at 30,000 feet seems like a helluva fine idea—especially since Grayson finds even Rowan’s blinking the epitome of aggravating.
The old tarmac is cracked with time, and nature has begun to creep in around its edges. It’s no surprise the pack is glad to put boots on solid ground again just as the sun begins its descent into the tree line. But more than anything, it’s Gideon and Nix who seem to relax further when they set foot on mountain soil.
“Feels like coming home,” Gideon says, stretching his arms overhead and working out the kinks.
“I was thinking the same thing. I’ve only been here once—with my parents and my grandmother—but it’s sunk into my bones, maybe? Might be the magic.”
Nix has a tiny, self-effacing smile on his lips.
Gideon’s eyes widen at his words. “Magic?”
