“We’re here, sweetheart,” I said to Aidan.
Gloria didn’t wait for us to get out of the car. She crossed the parking lot in her wedge heeled boots and opened the backdoor next to Aidan’s feet.
“You’re letting in the cold,” he pulled the blankets up a little higher.
Gloria climbed inside and felt his forehead.
“I’m not sick. I’m knocked up,” he slapped her hand away and sat up.
“Any trouble on the way here?” She finally looked at me and asked in lieu of properly introducing herself.
“We were alone on the roads. I think my apprentice might beat us to your house.”
“I told Zera not to let anyone in except for Titus. He’ll just have to wait outside if he does. Does he know about the prophecy?” Gloria narrowed her eyes on me.
She was a woman on a mission and took her brother’s safety just as seriously as I did.
“No, he doesn’t,” Aidan answered before I could speak. “You two need to knock off the cave-Alpha crap. I don’t think anyone’s going to care whether or not our family comes back. Hell, most people outside of the Midwest probably won’t even notice.”
“We can’t be too careful,” I said.
Gloria nodded her consent.
“I’ll go grab the food. I think we should eat in the car or back at the house.”
“I can eat on the way. Just hurry up, because every minute you two stand here playing bodyguards is another minute someone has to kill my program!” Aidan growled.
“I’ll be right back,” Gloria said and started to slide out of the car.
She stopped short and pulled Aidan into a bear hug.
“Congrats, brother,” she whispered.
A few minutes later Gloria returned to the car with enough food to feed an army. She handed the food and drinks to Aidan in the backseat and rounded to the driver’s side window to talk to me.
“Do you know the way?” She asked me.
“I made this drive before you were born,” I nodded.
“Good. Let’s take the most direct route. Keep your eyes open.”
“You know I’m not going to let anything happen to him, right?” I asked her.
“There aren’t many humans left, but even a handful can cause trouble if they have the right weapons stashed away,” Gloria said and walked back to her own car.
In the backseat Aidan was oblivious to our conversation as he dug into his first real meal in over twenty-four hours. I glanced at him in the rearview mirror as I pulled out of the restaurant’s driveway.
“Gloria needs to cool her heels,” Aidan said between bites. “She’s drawing more attention to us. I mean, we’re a Gilmore and a Montero in a car. The locals will definitely notice, but she’s acting like we’re moving a bomb across the county line.”
“She’s just worried. Does she always overdo things?” I asked.
“She works security for a living. She escorts clients to and from their holiday homes. Gloria was getting omegas out of Chicago when Chicago was still really wild and not just mildly wild like it is today. Got them out under the guise that she was running a matchmaking service. Promised a lot of assholes a lot of money. When they showed up to collect their money there was just a dragon waiting for them.”
“She sounds a lot like Rosa,” I said.
“She tries to live up to Grandma’s reputation a lot,” Aidan nodded.
The last half of the drive passed quicker than the first. Whether or not he wanted to admit it Aidan relaxed once we met up with his sister. With him calmer my wolf sat down and didn’t pace as much. Instead he watched the world with intent eyes.
Driving down the Gilmore House driveway was akin to driving backwards in time. Not much had changed since I last visited Rosa here years ago. A few new trees lined the walkways, but outside of that the neat lawn with its ornate marble birdbaths and harpy statues were all still in place. Zera peeked out the attic window and waved to us when the house came into proper view.
“Not a thing has changed,” I smirked.
The house was done up proper for the upcoming holiday. Lights and tinsel hung from every inch of the roof. Atop was Bellanoir standing proud. Before Aidan’s explanation I figured her for just another Yuletide harpy. Now, her crimson cloak symbolic of the blood of those who died in battle stood out as the centerpiece of the decoration.
Hope you’re enjoying the Other World, Rosa.
Only Rosa didn’t die in a battle. She walked through her door surrounded by her family and holding the hand of her true-mate. That was the only happy ending option in real life. Everything else was tragic and meant either you never met your true-mate or lost them in some horrible accident or maybe to a disease. Where was Bellanoir’s mate? Did she search him out every Yule season and gathered the souls of the helpless along the way? I shook my head. The thoughts weren’t entirely mine. All Monteros learned to shield their thoughts over mate links. It was part of Montero 101 since our line’s continuation depended on successful true-mate relationships. No one ever taught us how to keep thoughts out. Though, I didn’t mind hearing Aidan’s musings.
“He’s probably waiting at home for her cooking Yule dinner,” I said trying to ease his worries for the maybe real maybe mythical Bellanoir.
When I pulled the car to a stop behind Gloria’s Aidan didn’t wait for me to help him out of the car. Gloria killed the engine and was at his door before mine cooled. Walking up to the house we flanked him. Aidan looped an arm through either of ours and grinned. I watched him out of the corner of my eye. Gloria watched the rest of the world.
Zera opened the door. She stood behind the massive oak entryway, but I caught a glimpse of red feathered wings as we approached. Gloria glanced around, but Aidan broke free of our little three link chain and pulled the harpy into a big bear hug.
“Congrats!” She squealed almost picking Aidan off his feet as I stepped inside followed by Gloria.
With a wave of the witch’s hand I heard every lock on the doors and windows clang shut. She really was ready for a battle.
“We’re not even sure yet,” Aidan smiled, but was already pulling away before Zera had time to answer.
He shed his coat, shoes, scarf, gloves, and hat as he made his way down the hall. Zera exchanged glances with Gloria, but I left the women to their own devices to follow my mate. He walked down a long winding hallway and finally into an office.
He raced to the desktop computer, but I stood back observing the ongoing situation. The printer beeped emitting high-pitched noises and shot out papers faster than any I seen before. The computer’s monitor faced away from me, but the look on Aidan’s face told me he didn’t like what was happening on the screen. His shoulder’s hunched and his scent was pure unadulterated rage.
I scooped up some of the papers and shuffled through them. They were filled with various matches and updates to the program. Nothing stood out to me. Then again, I didn’t have the slightest clue what I was looking for. Gloria and Zera hovered by the doorway. Zera shifted her weight from foot to foot as if she was prepared to fly away at the first sign of danger. Gloria narrowed her eyes on the computer as if it might burst into flames.
“Damn it all!” Aidan growled and slapped the desk.
“Aidan,” I said softly and scooted his wheeled office chair back so I could step in between him and the infuriating machine. He looked up at me with wolf eyes and a snarl. I touched his cheek as the technical ecosystem around us fell quiet. He heaved a sigh of relief and rested his head against my stomach.
“Hey, where’s Barric and Max?” He looked up at me a second later.
“I’ll call them and find out if you’re okay,” I said and ran my fingers over his blonde locks soothing away his hat hair.
“I’m okay. It’s stopped. Maybe I can figure out how they’re doing this before they start up again,” Aidan nodded. “If he wrecked that car…”
“He’s probably stopped off somewhere for lunch,” I stopped Aidan’s words
by placing a gentle finger against his mouth.
I stepped away and the printer beeped again.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”
I reached over to turn the monitor off and ask him to wait on Titus, but as soon as I crossed between him and the screen the room fell silent again.
“Don’t move, Alpha,” Aidan gripped my arm. “I think you’re some sort of magical shield for the computer. It’s an all-in-one and you’re protecting it when you’re close by.”
Gloria and I exchanged a glance. Her expression was as readable as her dead grandmother’s. If the cyber-attack was magical it was more our forte than Aidan’s. She stepped closer and leaned around me to see the screen. I watched her expression, because she was more familiar with Aidan’s program than I was.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Zera spoke for the first time since entering the room. “The computer technically has four sides, you guys. Luc is big, but not that big! He can’t block it from every angle.”
“Do you have it?” Gloria grinned at me.
Until today we hadn’t met in person, but we studied with many of the same people even if she studied with them later than me. The Gilmore and Monteros were off and on alliances depending on the mood and political climate of the day.
“Have what?” Aidan asked.
I grinned at him and dug around in my pocket until my fingers found the small vial of black powder. As I shifted my weight away from the computer the attack resumed.
“Magical reveal. All magic leaves traces around. Direct spells or connections to enact changes leave literal lines behind,” I explained to him.
“So, that coal dust is going to tell us who’s hacking my business?” Aidan curled his lip skeptically.
“Not exactly. It will give us a trail to follow.”
“Then we eat him,” Aidan said.
“You don’t eat anyone until we find out if you’re pregnant or not. Eating a jackass can’t be good for pups,” Gloria said.
Zera laughed, but the she-wolf was serious.
“Scoot back, sweetheart,” I said to Aidan stepping closer to the computer again.
I carefully unscrewed the vial. What Aidan called coal dust took months of simmering, marinating, and dehydrating to perfect. One tiny mistake and the whole batch was rendered useless for its purpose.
“A little more,” I said and dumped some of the magical reveal powder into my hand.
Gloria grabbed the back of the office chair and wheeled Aidan back out of the way. Then she hit the lights. Zera’s wings rustled as the bright monitor and the little electronic lights flashed and took over the room. Once the others were out of the way I tossed a handful of the black powder into the air. It rained down towards the floor covering thin golden lines running from the monitor towards the hall. I turned following the lines with my eyes until they ended with Aidan.
“What the hell?” He asked looking down at the lines running to his fingertips and other energy points.
“It’s you,” Zera was the first to speak as the shock wore off.
“I’m not hacking my own program!” Aidan stood up.
“You’re not hacking anything. It’s your program,” Gloria said.
“It makes sense, mate,” I put a hand on his shoulder to calm his scent. “Our magic is bound up in our thoughts and feelings. For a long time, your company has been your sole goal in life. Your magic is awake now. It was waking up before, but you didn’t show the signs because it was busy doing this. When the servers went offline your magic went haywire and you broke the headboard.”
“Didn’t need to know that,” Gloria said from her doorway post.
Ignoring her I continued, “When your magic woke up it had learned new things about the process of finding and meeting your true-mate. That’s why it increased our matchability. Then as things progressed: the claiming vow, learning about each other, and other things your magic sought out small changes to the program trying to make it more accurate.”
Another page shot out of the printer and landed at Aidan’s feet. Grumbling in disbelief he stooped over and picked it up. The machines fell quiet as Aidan read the page.
“It matched us at one hundred percent certainty,” Aidan said and handed the page to me.
“We should frame this,” I grinned at him.
“Yes, but we already know we’re mates.”
“Your program didn’t. It used your experiences to perfect the program until it matched us. If I’m correct in my assumptions the program now has a perfect control variable to base its predictions on.”
“Oh. I didn’t even think of that,” he reached back for the paper. “My stomach’s at it again and I don’t feel much like celebrating.”
“Let’s get you vampire leftovers,” I laughed and reached out for his hand.
“Where’s Zera?” Aidan asked looking around the room.
“She took off a few minutes ago,” Gloria said.
“Zera?” Aidan called out but no answer.
“I’ll find the harpy,” Gloria rolled her eyes. “You take care of him and figure out where your runaway apprentice is.”
“Right here,” Zera said a moment later nearly barreling into Gloria as she turned into the room.
The she-wolf growled, and Baby Max cried somewhere down the hall.
“Sorry, Magi Montero,” Barric said walking into the office with Baby Max. “The store was packed.”
“Is he okay?” Aidan tilted his head and looked at Max.
“He’s been whimpering since we got to the front gate.”
“Give me that baby,” Aidan held out his arms.
Barric looked a little too relieved to hand of his baby brother to my mate. Aidan pulled Max close and pulled the edge of his little blanket over the top of his head as he cuddled him.
“It’s his nap time. Of course, he’s cranky,” Aidan said.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aidan
After my stomach settled down, Luc retrieved the pregnancy test from Barric’s many shopping bags.
“Buy out the store?” Luc asked him.
“Mostly stuff for Max. Some Yule gifts for my sisters too,” Barric said. “It’s not their fault my parents are assholes.”
“What’s going on?” Zera asked eyeing Baby Max.
Luc and Barric caught the women up and I snuck off to the bathroom. At least I tried to sneak off. The whole group followed me. How the hell was I supposed to pee on a stick with four adults and a baby listening in?
“Sing jingle bells?” My wolf suggested. “We’re pregnant, though. There’s no doubt about it. I’m hungry again and we ate all those burgers. I don’t even think Alpha had one. We are capital P pregnant.”
“Everything okay in there, Aidan?” Gloria called out through the door.
“Sheesh. Give him a minute. Not everyone can pee on command,” Zera said.
Baby Max whimpered as the women bickered.
“Don’t make the baby cry, you two!” I growled. “I can’t pee if I’m worried about how much therapy he’ll need to sort out why you two just couldn’t get along long enough for me to pee on a damn stick!”
Everyone fell quiet on the other side of the door even the baby. Someone stepped closer. I sniffed the air. It was Luc. I smirked to myself and turned the sink on. A few minutes and several choruses of Jingle Bells later I waited for the test to confirm or deny our suspicions. I paced the bathroom a few times, but it wasn’t long enough to ease my tension. What I really wanted was Luc, but if I opened the door everyone else might pile inside the bathroom too. I wasn’t up for that. The knob turned and Luc slid inside. He locked the door behind him. Gloria huffed on the other side but didn’t say anything.
“You read my mind,” I laughed as he pulled me into his strong warm arms.
“You think very loudly,” he said and kissed the top of my head. “Your scent is all over the place too. If we are pregnant, it’s a good thing, right?”
“Of course, it is!” I managed a nervous
grin for him. “I’ve been thinking about this moment for years. I’ve been obsessively checking for signs since right after our claiming vow. It’s all just a little overwhelming right now. My magic woke up and fake attacked my program. Baby Max might leave and go home soon, and I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not and I need to finish wrapping gifts before Yule shows up and slaps me upside the head. In the middle of all of this I’m standing in my old bathroom. I just peed on a stick that’s going to either tell me I’m pregnant or dying.”
“I don’t think those are the only two options,” Luc flashed me a sympathetic smile.
“I know that, but these hormones are making me irrational.”
“Exactly. You’re pregnant. Once the stick tells us as much we’ll drive up to the clinic and get you checked out.”
“Guys,” Gloria leaned her head into the bathroom.
As the living lead of the Gilmore Witches no door within the Gilmore House was ever truly locked to her. I was about to slam the door and tell her to go diddle herself, but she finished her sentence before I got the words out.
“Grandma Rosa didn’t trust hospitals or doctors. She had her own clinic here in the house complete with an ultrasound machine which she taught me to use before I even went to high school,” Gloria said.
“No clinic then,” I nodded.
To be honest, I didn’t like them anymore than Grandma Rosa did.
Luc opened his mouth to object but stopped short.
“Don’t make me give the ‘my body my choice’ speech, Alpha,” I put my hands on my hips and squared my shoulders as I spoke.
“Clinics have stuck around for a reason, but under the circumstances at home might be safer for now. We’ll find a doctor we trust later.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
The egg timer beeped. The sound echoed around the bathroom and bounced into the hall. Zera and Barric filed in with us as I picked up the pregnancy test. A blue plus sign stared back at me.
Mated for the Holidays: A Holiday Mpreg Romance in the Hemlock Mpreg Universe Page 14
