Smoke Dance

by Samantha Cayto

  His stomach had settled somewhat, as if getting over its ‘mad’ at his unexpected situation. It wasn’t exactly happy, but he’d found a formula that worked to keep food down. The fatigue wasn’t as great, either. He hoped that he’d defied expectations and had moved on from something that Val and Harry had expected to last months.

  As much as Mackie was uncomfortable being in the medical space, Val practically vibrated with his displeasure. If he’d had his way, they wouldn’t be there until absolutely necessary. But Mackie had a plan to make his husband less frightened of their situation and, hopefully, if the Gods were smiling on them, enthusiastic about it. Having a baby was supposed to be exciting, something joyful, even when plagued by morning sickness. So far, Val had only experienced the bad parts—the vomiting, and shit, the dying—which Mackie absolutely wasn’t going to do.

  That wasn’t going to be enough for Val, the original Mr. Doom and Gloom. It was Mackie’s job to turn that perpetual frown upside down. He didn’t want to spend the next several months simply enduring the pregnancy and reassuring Val that it would turn out fine. He wanted to start experiencing the happiness of child-bearing right now. He knew that was easy for him because he could feel the effects of it all, while Val knew it only in academic terms. It was time to use modern medicine to bring Val further into the event, like other twenty-first century fathers.

  Unfortunately, he’d had to use a bit of subterfuge to get his husband there. He’d stated it in health terms, as in ‘we need to see how the baby is doing in order to be sure everything is all right’. Harry, bless him, had backed the idea. And it was a good one, but Mackie suspected Harry only wanted to play with his new toys.

  Mackie steered the reluctant Val to the cheery room opposite the one Elliot had spent time in. This one held all kinds of equipment. Harry was already waiting for them and greeted them warmly.

  “Come in, gentlemen. This is going to be exceptionally fun for all of us. I haven’t had a chance to use this ultrasound before. I thought I was being precipitous in buying it. I’m very glad to have been proven wrong.”

  Mackie was excited and concerned at the same time. Now that they were here, he was afraid the plan wouldn’t work. What if seeing their baby, healthy and secure where he needed to be in Mackie’s body, didn’t ease Val’s worries? There was nothing to be done, however, except soldier on and put his trademark Mackie spin on things.

  “I can’t wait,” he replied. “This is so exciting, isn’t it, Val?”

  Val merely grunted. “It will be good to see that everything is as it should be.”

  “And fun to see our baby.”

  “Fetus,” Val corrected.

  “Baby,” Mackie insisted. Maybe it was easier for Val to think of their child in clinical terms, but that wasn’t how Mackie wanted it to be. “Do I need to take my pants off?” he asked Harry.

  “No, no. Hop up here and push down the waistband. You do have a full bladder, yes?”

  “Yes,” Mackie confirmed. “I am extremely uncomfortable, so I must have drank enough.”

  “I’m sorry it’s necessary in the early stage. Once your womb is larger, the amniotic fluid will do the job of the water. Val, please stand on the other side.”

  They did as told, Mackie grabbing Val’s hand, because he wanted that connection and the reassurance. He might be doing this for a particular purpose, but it didn’t change the fact that he was nervous. Please, let everything be okay.

  Once Mackie’s softly rounded belly was bare, Harry squeezed gel on it. “I know it’s a bit cold.”

  “It’s fine,” Mackie quickly assured him before turning his head to look at the screen.

  Harry, bless him, wasted no time. Pressing the wand on the spot where Mackie’s miraculous womb was supposed to be, he turned on the machine.

  At first everything was shades of gray and the noises sounded like a person’s ears after getting water in them. Mackie squinted but couldn’t make anything out. Then something happened that caught his breath. He gasped and turned his face to look at Val.

  “Do you hear that?”

  Val blinked a few times as he watched the screen. He switched his gaze to Mackie. “Yeah, I do. Sure, I do. Holy fuck, Doc, is that a heartbeat?”

  Harry grinned from ear-to-ear. “It is indeed. And if you look here”—he pointed at the screen—“that fluttering is the heart. And see?” He traced around parts of the image that were darker than the rest. “That’s him.”

  At some point, Val had put his hand on Mackie’s shoulder. He squeezed it now, and Mackie squeezed Val’s hand in return, the only outlet for his excitement. “Oh, Val, it’s his little head. And is that a tail?” He glared at his husband. “Did you put a lizard in me or something?”

  Harry chuckled. “That is perfectly normal development for both our species. It’s early days, Mackie. Give the poor boy a chance to grow.”

  Mackie blinked back tears. “It’s definitely a boy, then?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Annika said it was.”

  “Did she really?” Harry asked. “Well, she would know, I suppose.” He pulled the wand up and wiped the goop off Mackie. “Everything looks perfect. Your pregnancy is progressing exactly as expected.” He patted Mackie’s hand. “I will deliver your son in due time and you shall both be fine. This is my promise to you, to both of you,” he added, looking at Val.

  “Thanks, Doc.” Val’s voice was thick, and the obvious emotion in it gave Mackie hope. It had been Val’s aloofness that had scared him the most.

  His plan had been a success, for both of them. Everything was more real now. He gave a watery laugh, his emotions starting to run amuck. “I guess there’s no denying I’m really pregnant.”

  Val raised one eyebrow. “The endless vomiting wasn’t sufficient proof?”

  Mackie frowned. “It could have been food poisoning or a stomach virus.”

  “Yeah, right.” He got serious. “How are you feeling? Do you need blood?”

  “I’m fine, Val. I think the worst has passed.”

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it can come in waves. Poor Lucien could go a whole week before the sickness came back.”

  “Thanks for the pep-talk, Doc,” Val practically growled. “Don’t listen to him. You’re doing great.” There was a pause, then, “I love you, and I love that you’re carrying our child. You’re so fucking brave, Mackie.”

  “Throwing up is hardly a portrait in courage. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

  Val bent to kiss him, nothing too passionate. It was more than they’d done in days. He would take what he could get.

  Harry pushed a few buttons on the machine and handed a picture to Mackie. “There you go. We’ll do one of these every couple of weeks, just to reassure us all.” With a pointed look at Val, he left.

  Val huffed out a breath before bending to kiss Mackie again in the sweetest, gentlest way possible. This one had a little more oomph to it. “Thanks, baby, for pushing me into doing this. It has helped. And I’m sorry I’ve been such a cold ass these last couple of weeks. I was scared.”

  “Oh, Val, I knew that. I just hated that you shut me out,” he admitted. “It hurt my feelings, and I was worried that I was losing you. And,” he added with the meanest frown he could manage, “I really hate that you went out and put yourself at risk all those nights.”

  Val kissed him for a third time. Wow, we’re on a roll. “It wasn’t that many and I was never in any real danger.”

  “Nevertheless,” he intoned. “Demi said that Trey was apoplectic about the whole thing. Plus, you took risks and could have ended up on the losing end. You are not invisible, Val.”

  Val put his hand up. “I’m done with that and have apologized profusely to both Duncan and Paz. It won’t happen again, because I’ve found a new way of letting off steam—beating the crap out of Willem.”

  Mackie raised his eyebrows. “Really? That’s not how I heard it went down.”

  “I drew first bloo
d, but okay, so it’s a fifty-fifty thing about who comes out on top. The point is, it’s a healthy way to work out my natural aggression.”

  Mackie gave his husband what he hoped was a coquettish look. “I can think of a better way.”

  Val furrowed his brows, then shook his head. “No. No way. We can’t play while you’re pregnant.”

  “We can if we’re careful.” When Val opened his mouth again, Mackie jumped in to elaborate. “I cleared it with Harry. No beatings, natch, but a little bondage isn’t going to hurt me or our son. And, Val, I’ve missed our playing so much.

  “Please?” He wasn’t above begging. “Tie me up, Val. Those complicated Shibari knots you use. I don’t want to be able to move one muscle. I want you to drench me in your cum, then you can jerk me off while I suck your blood. Or, I don’t have to come. That’s your call, totally, Master. Please, sir, remind me that I’m your boy.”

  Without saying another word, Val scooped him up and carried him out. Instead of heading to their bedroom, however, he strode to their playroom.

  Yes!

  * * * *

  Mornings had become surreal. Will and Annika still came down for a wonderful breakfast prepared by Damien, only now the family chef had started his day waking in Will’s bed. They’d slipped into the routine without much fuss the day after the Bran debacle. Will had worried when he’d sat his daughter down to explain that he and Damien were a couple and that Will had invited him to live with them. She, naturally, was ahead of them.

  “Certainly, Father Willem. Papa,” she’d corrected. “For he shall be Father Damien from this point on, and I do miss having someone to call Papa. I always knew you’d be together. It was obvious that is where you both belong.”

  “You understand that I will always love Luuk. He was my first love, but Damien must be my second and last one. I intend to spend the rest of my life with him, and he has graciously agreed to do the same.”

  “And will you give me sister queens?”

  Will had dropped his gaze because he didn’t have a clear answer for her. “We have discussed it as a possibility. It’s too soon for any decisions to be made. Matters aren’t yet resolved with Dracul.”

  “They will be soon.”

  “Do you know something the rest of us don’t?”

  Rather than answering, she’d kissed him sweetly on the cheek and had skipped off with Babette at her heels.

  Seeing Damien toiling in the kitchen as he and Annika descended the main stairs did funny things to Will. Part of him didn’t want his lover, his partner, to act like a servant. The other loved the sight of him in such a domestic setting. Despite the rest of the family swarming to be fed, it was as if Damien did all of this just for Will and Annika. And he was a tremendous chef. Plus, it made him happy to do it. He was whistling as he pulled quiche out of the oven.

  “Good morning, Father Damien.” Annika raced to her usual seat at the counter.

  Will followed at a more leisurely pace, his eyes on Damien, looking for any sign that Annika’s labeling him her ‘father’ bothered him. He’d said it didn’t, yet it seemed premature for a young man to enter such sudden parenthood. Except his face lit up at Annika’s arrival. He poured her a glass of chocolate milk and handed her a fat muffin of some sort.

  There were more smiles where that came from. Damien flashed one at him as his boy handed him his mug of coffee. Will responded with a kiss, nothing more than a peck, but better than any hit of caffeine. The morning was bright and happy and gave Will an unexpected sense of optimism, until he caught sight of Alex flying down the stairs. Val was right behind him, while Quinn and Mackie trailed at a more sedate pace.

  None of them looked happy.

  “What is it?” Will’s barked-out question caught everyone else’s attention.

  Neither Alex nor Val said anything. The grim factor was off the charts, and if either of them retained molars after all of their teeth-grinding, it would be a minor miracle.

  “What’s going on?” Damien asked, as he set his latest dish on the range and took off his oven mitts.

  Will put his arm around his shoulder and went to stand beside Annika. “Nothing good, baby.”

  “I would not say that, Papa. This is the beginning of the end, and we must pass through it for the new beginning to start.”

  “That was quite a mouthful, honey.” Damien grinned at her.

  “It will all work out. You’ll see.”

  Damien nudged Will. “She’s kind of reassuring, especially because Alex and Val look like World War III has started.”

  “I expect it rather has,” Will responded, then immediately gave him a reassuring side hug.

  Alex had the remote and was bringing what looked like his email onto the smart TV. “I received a message early this morning.”

  A video came on screen and the image immediately froze Will’s blood. He instinctively pulled both Damien and Annika closer to him.

  “Is that—” Damien started to ask.

  “Yeah.”

  “Dracul,” Annika clarified unnecessarily. “He isn’t nearly as impressive as I’d pictured.”

  “He isn’t looking his best.” Christ. Not only had Petru been right all along and the fucker was alive, but the trip he’d taken into the cistern had also left him as hideous on the outside as he was on the inside.”

  Dracul’s marred face still managed to convey a disdainful expression. “Greetings, Captain.”

  “God, he hasn’t lost any of his unbearable smugness,” Will observed.

  “Indeed,” Alex replied. “Notice the pause for dramatic effect.”

  “You’ve watched this already?”

  “Several times,” Val confirmed. “It’s not getting any better.”

  “Congratulations on the neutralization of both my older sons. You’ve saved me the trouble of rectifying my past mistakes.”

  “How does he even know that?” Damien asked quietly.

  “No idea,” Will replied. It was disturbing that Dracul still had his eyes and ears in the world. He shouldn’t have been capable of knowing any such thing. Perhaps he’d merely assumed that when Bran’s very public showing had abruptly stopped, that it had meant his death.

  Dracul continued in his oily voice. “Our numbers have dwindled considerably, have they not? And with no clear winner as of yet.” He paused. “I trust you aren’t surprised that I live still. Tell that fucking highlander that his sword wasn’t as mighty as he thought. I hope he’s enjoying my leftovers, though.”

  MacLerie growled and took a step toward the TV, as if he intended to rip it off its pedestal and chew it to pieces.

  Brenin stopped him with a hand on his chest. “It’s only words. He can’t hurt me anymore.”

  “So, I’ve been lying low, as you’ll have surmised, recuperating, regrouping, and I’m ready”—Dracul flashed his fangs—“to finish this. Are you?” He leaned forward. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to bother finding me. I’ll be coming for you.”

  The screen went black.

  Will liked to think he spoke for them all when he said, “Egotistical motherfucker.”

  Turning off the TV, Alex agreed, “Yes. The consistency is almost comforting. Well, at least we know where we stand. It’s convenient, actually, for him to do the traveling.”

  “Are we really going to just sit here with our thumbs up our asses waiting for him to what? Attack?” Val demanded.

  “In a way, yes,” Alex replied. “We don’t know where to find him, so it always made sense for this whole fucking mess to end here. And we’ll be ready. When are the others arriving?” he asked Val.

  “This weekend. They’re congregating at Christos’ in Greece and he’s flying them in.”

  “He’s another pilot?” Damien asked Will quietly.

  “Eh.” Will waggled his hand.

  “Then we’ll be as ready as we can be,” Alex declared.

  No one said anything for a good, long while.

  It was Annika who broke the silenc
e. “May I have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, Father Damien?”

  They all turned and stared at her. She smiled brightly back at them.

  “Why the hell not?” Will replied. “If we’re going to fight for the survival of the world, we may as well have chocolate chip pancakes.”

  “Exactly,” Annika agreed—and who was going to gainsay the Queen?

  Epilogue

  Annika had picked her favorite dress, the blue velvet with the lace-trimmed sweetheart neckline and the full skirt. It was perhaps a bit childish, but she knew it highlighted the color of her eyes. How she looked mattered in particular, given that she was about to meet the rest of her hive. Mackie had braided her hair in the perfect Elsa style. She felt beautiful and, for some reason, that was important today of all days. No, not some reason. She knew why. She was meeting the last of her drones and she wanted them to see her at her best for this first meeting.

  Her fathers stood beside her in the middle of the living room, both looking quite fetching in black pants and shirts, like matching book-ends. She couldn’t wait for them to make her a sister. With their similar coloring, they would create a queen far more traditional than she. That would be good. She wanted her hive to be happy and settled, whatever that took. It was sweet the way her fathers both acted as if she were in need of protection. That day would come eventually but not now. The males arriving from the garage at any moment would pledge their devotion to her. She would know if they were sincere or not, just as she had with the hybrid, Bran. And as with that male, any traitors would reveal themselves. They wouldn’t be capable of hiding it for long. Then her fathers would, as they’d already done, shield her from harm.