Luna's Lovers [Beyond the Veil 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Honor James

  “I’m sure,” he said with a smile. “I thought you tasted different yesterday but I was exhausted so paid it no mind. Best guess,” he licked his lips and made some smacking noises. “I’d guess you are roughly three weeks along. And, no matter what, we will keep you and our little miracle safe through this fight. You need to be there for it, we both know that, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be anywhere near the thick of it. You and the little one will be safe and, when we have your crown secured, we will worry about picking out truly horrific names for the poor thing. The baby I mean.”

  Luna laughed, tears in her eyes. She threw herself into Volker’s arms and hugged him tightly. When she pulled back she did the same to Kristjan. Holding both of their hands she was happy, so much so that it fairly vibrated from her. “Good. For a moment I thought you meant the crown,” she teased. “Now, about those brownies?” She really did want her brownies, gosh bless it all. “I’m starving, so let’s get them made so that we can eat, please?”

  “Brownies it is,” Kris said, shaking his head. Sliding an arm around her shoulders he squeezed. “I’ll get the other food warming up while you and Volker tackle the brownies. We can pop them in the oven once our lunch is heated.”

  “Oh, good idea,” she said with a grin and nodded. “Thank you,” she said to Kris and leaned her head on his shoulder. “And I don’t want to know which one of you is the father until we have to because to me, you are both daddy.” She teased them. “That’s the way that it was with my fathers, then again they were all Spirytes so I’m not sure how this will work.” Shrugging she added, “As long as our wee one is healthy and happy I’m happy.”

  “We don’t have to know anything until the child is born,” Volker said as they entered the kitchen. “Though if it’s a Vhampire you’ll naturally increase your red meat intake. And it will be on the bloody side of things.”

  “True. With an Ahnjel,” Kris said moving from her to the fridge. “There’s really no indication until the child is born. Then there’s usually a bit of down along the spine that molts off within a week. It’s very fine and hard to notice unless you are looking for it.”

  “Well so far I haven’t wanted anything bloody. I’ve been starving constantly though,” she admitted. “And also, as Kris will attest to, I’ve been hornier than anything at all. So I don’t know if that means anything or nothing, but yeah.” Even right now, she could easily jump both of her men without even hesitating.

  “Just means you’re pregnant,” Volker said. “You’ll be pretty damn horny the entirety of the pregnancy. Sorry, love.” He grinned at her. “Most of the ‘symptoms’ of a Vhampire baby wouldn’t show up until you are in your sixth month. Unlike Luhpyne pregnancies both Vhampire and Ahnjel average around the eight to nine-month mark. Boys being born sooner than girls for whatever reason so that won’t really help us with much either.”

  “Unless it’s twins,” Kristjan said. “Then it will be right on the eight-month mark no matter what for both races.”

  That had her laughing. “Oh lordy. That’s priceless. It’s better than a Spiryte pregnancy I guess.” Ten months, to the day. It was not good to be a Spiryte and pregnant. “At least our baby will be healthy, no matter what. We will do everything we have to.” That had her frowning and she asked, “When should we go to see a doctor? I know most humans wait until their tenth or eleventh week, so what about for us?”

  “Completely up to you,” he said with a shrug. Setting the containers down on the counter he had in hand he turned to look at her. “We should, for sure, get you looked at by the end of the second month, so eight weeks. You’ll need various vitamins for either baby. A little more iron if it’s a Vhampire but the doc can keep that on the down low if you don’t want to know one way or the other.”

  “Sounds good. We will do whatever it takes for our little one to be healthy and safe. And I honestly don’t care if I know before the babe is born. If I know it just means that I will be taking care of myself better and you will both be looking out for me as well. Keep in mind there is a great deal I don’t know about being pregnant.” Like they did, she snorted internally at her own jest.

  Volker chuckled and shared a look with her.

  “Okay, seriously, it’s a little disturbing that both of you know what’s in her head and I don’t,” Kris muttered.

  “She was just thinking about how we’re such experts on the whole pregnancy thing,” Volker said. “She’s right, we’re going to need to study up on the topic. We need to ensure she’s doing everything right and that we’re not stressing her out during this process as well.”

  “This is very true. Oh hell, that’s very true.” Her face fell. “A female pregnant Spiryte is dangerous if she’s stressed out and not sleeping as she should. You know the shocks that I gave when I thought I was human? Think bigger, much bigger, and more like lightening and striking at anyone. I’m sorry boys, in advance.”

  “Well then you’ll just have to get your eight hours a night. We’ll keep your life as stress free as we can. Once we get your kingdom and crown back of course,” Kris said. “Until then, try not to electrocute your mates too badly. We love you but being extra crispy doesn’t sound like a good time.”

  “Yeah it doesn’t does it? Okay, so we will keep me as stress free as possible, and I will sleep lots and lots.” She smiled up at them, nodded and added, “We can do this. Right? I mean people have been doing this forever and have survived, right?” Okay so she was more than a little nervous.

  “Thousands of years,” Volker said. Reaching over he rubbed her arm gently. “Hell, women used to be out working the fields, pop out a kid and go right back to work. Personally I think that’s insane but, what do I know. Women are tough. Which is why the females of all the races are the ones to bear children and not the males. We’re pansies on the best of days.”

  “Yeah, don’t expect that of me. I might just have to hurt someone if they try to make me work before I give birth and after. As of right now I’m doing nothing more than us getting our home ready, getting my crown back.” Okay so she had those two things backward. “And then we will prepare for our baby. We will ensure that they know how loved they are.” She hesitated and then began to giggle. “Who is going to tell my brothers?”

  “He is,” they both said pointing at the other one. Then they glared at one another. “Fine,” Volker grumbled. “I’ll man up and tell them she’s pregnant. Though, really, she should be the one to tell them. They won’t beat her up when they find out.”

  “At least we’ve mated with her,” Kris said with a shrug.

  “Yeah, but you know they are going to insist on a big-ass wedding and shit when the crown and such is all sorted out.”

  “Shit, true,” Kris muttered. “I hate wearing a suit.”

  “Me too, but I’m sure if we ask our mate nicely she’ll find a way for us to get around that horror.” Both sets of eyes turned her way.

  “You could always marry me now, before they know. Have a Justice of the Peace come and marry us after we have applied for the marriage license,” Luna said practically. “It would be far easier on all of us. And this way I can remind them that the less stress for me the better and nothing would stress me out more than a huge wedding with all kinds of security issues and who to invite and all that joy. Yeah, I think my way is the best way.”

  “And no suits,” Kris said, sighing with a happy grin on his face. “I fully approve this plan. We can have a few friends over, have the justice do the ceremony and then have a little party to celebrate the whole thing. Once we have the crown back we can do a bigger party that includes a few others from your kingdom so they don’t feel left out on it all and to celebrate you retaking the throne.”

  “Sounds like a perfect time to me. We will have the brothers here as well. We can’t allow them to feel left out. And don’t forget, they will want to likely live with or near us.” She wanted that too. She had always been close to her older brothers and wanted to have them near n
ow that she recalled them.

  “You know,” Volker said suddenly. “If you retake the throne you’re going to have to live there, in the realm,” he said. “It’s not exactly a part-time gig, babe. You’ll be queen and you can’t just pass it off. Maybe for short periods of time but not for very long.”

  “I know.” Luna did actually sigh. “Which is why I definitely will want them close. With them close we will be able to take time to ourselves sometimes and not have to be overly worried about the realm. I know that I have to take the throne, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want my family with me.”

  “Which we totally get, love,” he said softly. “But that means getting a place on this side of the Veil isn’t exactly practical. It would be a waste really,” he pointed out. “Unless we want it sitting empty all the time except for the occasional and very brief visit of course.”

  “Crap, you are right.” She sighed and then shrugged, and grinned. “But that does mean when we come to this side of the Veil we will have to stay in a hotel and have room service and all kinds of fun stuff, right?”

  “Of course,” Kris said with a happy nod. “A big suite with all the fixings. Hell, you’ll be royalty, babe. That’s red-carpet treatment and brown-nosing all the way by hotel staff. You ask and they’ll jump to ensure it’s done fast for you.”

  “Oh now see, that’s the way that it should be.” She grinned and looked to Kris, “So does that mean you will get the brownies ready? Hungry. Pregnant. Come on, darling, want some food.” She was teasing him, but it was so delightful to tease him and him get that look on his face when she did.

  “Uh, no, I’m on lunch foods. You and Volker are on brownie preparation,” he reminded her. Grinning he turned to the dishes he’d pulled out and got them ready to go in the oven.

  Volker’s hand appeared with the box of brownie mix. “Here you go,” he said.

  “Thank you.” Luna winked at Volker and took the box from him so that she could start the mix up for the microwave. Humming as she mixed the chocolate she licked her fingers and wiggled them at Volker once they were clean. “That’s super yummy.”

  He just gave her a look, nothing really to it, but he didn’t blink.

  “He doesn’t like chocolate,” Kristjan said. “So he has no concept of just how amazing it is to those of us that like it. He can eat it, but he just doesn’t like it so there will always be more for us.”

  “Ah, well that just sucks for him because he doesn’t know how good it will be to drizzle chocolate all over my body and lick it from me does he?” she said with a grin. “But I guess that he could always use something like caramel, right?”

  “Vhampires do not generally like anything sweet. Our taste buds are different from your own, for obvious reasons,” Volker told her. “Sweets are too overpowering. It’s also why we have to be careful of spicy foods or anything with very strong seasoning. We prefer mild to medium flavors.”

  “Except for a few that are just weird,” Kristjan commented. He slid the pan he’d prepared into the microwave oven and shot her a look as he hit the start button. “Some, usually either really old or young and dumb, like to push the boundaries and go for all the stuff they would normally avoid. Super spicy foods, over-the-top sweet items with real sugar and so forth. No one knows why and none of them are talking that’s for sure.”

  “Ah, good point. Well whatever floats your boat. All that I know is that I like sweets from time to time so we will just have to ensure that I always brush my teeth after them so that they don’t bother you.”

  “A small taste won’t bother me,” Volker said. “Eating it is different from getting a hint of taste off your lovely mouth. Besides, you’re pretty sweet anyway,” he said softly. Grabbing her he pulled her in and kissed her slowly, sliding his tongue over hers in a slow sweep.

  Luna held onto Volker as he kissed her and when they parted she licked her lips. “Wow,” she whispered with a happy grin. Patting his chest she stepped back. “Okay, let’s finish food and then we will worry about everything else okay?” she asked with a grin.

  “Of course.” He nodded. Touching her cheek he moved to let her finish with the brownies going to speak with Kristjan about some work items.

  Epilogue

  Three months later - Realm of the Spirytes

  The day was warm and the breeze light with the scent of flowers floating to them. They were standing and waiting just outside the Council chambers. Volker was on her left, Kristjan on her right as well as several of the races from AEDA who called her mates friends standing with them in a protective detail. A wall of muscle as she’d called it when she’d seen them all waiting on the Spiryte side of the Veil.

  The journey to the Council chambers on the Spiryte plane had been uneventful and quickly completed. Then they got to wait and wait and wait a little more. The Council, members from all the races beyond the Veil, had come to the chambers and convened behind closed doors. She knew that they were all waiting for the Luhpyne and Spiryte security detail to bring in Alphonse.

  Kristjan touched her arm and passed her a bottle of juice. Her mates, ever prepared to keep her happy while they all sat and stood around. He winked at her and then put a hand on her neck, his fingers gently rubbing at her tense muscles.

  The simple touch of her mates to the back of her neck had her calming more than a little. Taking a sip of the juice that he had passed her Luna sighed and closed her eyes. “Thank you. That feels wonderful.” The touch of his fingers to her neck, soothing the too-tense muscles, the heat of the men around her. She enjoyed it all a great deal. “How much longer?” She was ready for this to all be over, ready to simply finally find their home and take a nap. Dammit.

  “As long as it takes,” he said softly. “It will depend on how much resistance he put up when the security team arrived to arrest him and those he thought to be in his pocket. Plus you need to remember that the security team will also be releasing those that he’s been holding to use against their family members as leverage. There will be medical exams needed, reports made and statements taken. We could be here a long time,” Kris said with a shrug.

  “I certainly hope not,” she said with a sigh. “I truly hope that we aren’t here a long time because to be perfectly honest, I’m finding myself feeling all kinds of sleepy.” That and anxious. She was feeling more than a lot anxious because she was ready to get her crown back and more than that she was ready to see her brother tossed under the jails. She was ready for their lives to finally get onto their path of forever.

  “Volker, what is it?” Kris said.

  When she looked she saw Volker frowning in the direction of the main doors. “They are here,” he said getting to his feet. “They have your brother and mine as well,” he told them. Turning, he held out a hand to her.

  Placing her hand into his Luna adjusted the jacket she was wearing to ensure that her very tiny baby bump was hidden and protected with the dragon-skin fabric that Volker had demanded she wore. “Good,” she said softly. “I am very happy to have them both in custody.”

  “They also have many of the Palace security with them, in custody,” he said softly. “They are being taken in through the side entrance to the cage in the chamber. As soon as they are secured we will go in to have the evidence presented and judgment rendered. You ready to get your crown back, sweetheart?”

  “I’m more than ready,” she told him and squeezed his hand tightly. “I’m ready to get our home back. I’m ready to help my people, I’m ready to put my people back onto the right track,” she said firmly. “They will not be able to get out of the cage, correct?”

  “No, they won’t,” he said softly. “The cage is both locked as well as electrically charged. There will be Vhampire guards inside that will hold a net over the room to prevent any of them from attempting to jump, or flash or whatever you want to call it, out. There will also be many armed individuals in there between you and them at all times. On top of all that, I’m the only one authorized for an emergency ju
mp from the chamber, with you.”

  “Good.” She looked up at Volker and leaned her head on his shoulder. “And you are sure that if we had to jump it wouldn’t hurt our little bean?” She needed to ensure that their child was going to be safe no matter what.

  “As if I’d allow anything to happen to the little one,” he said giving her a glare. “You know better than that. Besides,” Volker shrugged and sniffed lightly. “It’s better to end up with a pair of horns after a jump than it is to end up dead because you didn’t bother.”

  “I thought that was just a rumor,” Kris commented.

  “Well, apparently there has been some new research done and the theory, while still a little shaky is gaining some ground.”

  “Huh, cool,” Kris grinned. Then he bumped shoulders with her and snickered. “Like you actually think that could happen,” he muttered throwing in a snort for good measure.

  “I never once thought that could happen.” Luna said with a snort. “I just had to be sure.” She grumbled and looked to the proceedings that flashed across the screen. “Why are they publicly televising this?”

  “Cause they can,” both her men said. Along with several of those around her acting as her protection detail.

  Volker chuckled and shot a grin over his shoulder. “They are doing it so that, if anyone else has a moronic idea like this in the future they realize just what the consequences are. We need not remain when they carry out the sentences. It actually may be a good idea not to be here given your delicate stomach.”

  “That’s a very good thing. Okay, I approve of this method then, especially if it means that it will quell any issues that we might have in the future.” They better not have issues in the future or she would have someone’s head on a platter, literally.

  “We can hope it will,” he said softly. “But there are no guarantees in life. While we are better advised and more willing to pay attention to our past and the errors made, we still screw up from time to time. And there is always someone that will want what everyone else has and will do anything to take it. This will be a good lesson to those that think they can without facing dire consequences.”