Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
It was an image so disturbing doubts twisted inside Beast all over again.
Magpie choked, moaned, dropped to his knees with a cry, but wouldn’t let go of the egg in his blood-stained hands. Somehow Beast imagined Magpie would have just patched himself together, regenerated like Vars, but when that didn’t happen, he let go of Laurent and got down to Magpie’s side. The demon’s face was turning purple fast, the bone still sticking out of skin, but he still passed the egg to Laurent when he too kneeled next to them.
“W-what can we—” Laurent uttered.
The voice that answered him didn’t come from Magpie’s mouth, but from somewhere deep down his throat. Lower, yet smooth like tar.
“Call Malachite, and leave me!”
Laurent gave Beast a hesitant look, hugging the egg to his chest.
Beast remembered that Gray had been treated to a miraculously quick recovery at Magpie’s, so maybe this was for the better. He nodded, grabbed Laurent’s arm and led him to the door.
What had they done?
Chapter 4 - Laurent
Blood still glistened on the egg when they walked away from the guest room in silence. Their baby was heavy in Laurent’s hands, even if small. Precious. A miracle worth giving up his mother’s brooch for.
Laurent took careful steps alongside Beast, his thoughts still a whirlwind, yet he had no doubts about just how right what he held was. This was no demon, nor ‘shadow dragon’, as his husband had suggested. The egg contained their child, made of their blood to create a human that defied earthly rules.
Whenever he thought about it, Laurent was filled such endless love for Beast he could barely breathe. Laurent had pondered what options the modern times offered to couples like them before tonight, and had been disappointed to find out there was no way to make a baby without a mother. But here they were, with the Pigeon Heart stored away for the right time, and their future encased in a ruby-dusted shell.
Beast was silent, but his warm arm resting on Laurent’s shoulders was all the support he needed. They had both made this miracle happen. It was ultimately theirs, with no other DNAs in the mix. Beast petted Laurent’s nape with a clammy hand as he opened the door to their apartment. The lewd party downstairs didn’t even bother Laurent, and when the three of them stepped through the threshold, Laurent wished to sing and shout his joy. He and Beast. Entwined forever in this physical manifestation of their love.
He yelped when Hound ran up to them, sniffing all too close to the egg and leaning forward in an attempt to lick it. Laurent held the egg up, but the dog only gave up once Beast told him to sit in his corner.
Relieved that their baby was no longer at risk, Laurent placed a soft cushion on the dining table and gently put the egg in the middle.
“Can you believe it?” he whispered, trying not to think about the moment of its birth itself and how the egg had rearranged bones and ligaments in Magpie’s face. It had been a gruesome sight, and it cost Laurent a substantial amount of willpower to focus on the shiny surface of the egg, not on the red imprint it had left on his shirt.
Beast shook his head. He was somewhat pale, so perhaps the spectacle they had both witnessed had gotten to him more than it had to Laurent. To be fair, Laurent had hidden his face in Beast’s shoulder for the worst of it.
He made sure the egg was secure on the soft cushion and jumped onto the sofa, grinning at Beast once they were face to face. He wrapped his arms around Beast’s thick neck and kissed him, savoring the warmth of the beloved lips. “I love you so much,” he whispered between one peck and another.
Beast swallowed hard and rubbed his forehead before leaning into Laurent’s embrace. “I love you too,” he whispered.
Laurent had grown to love Beast’s ragged voice. There was undoubtedly a bit of thrill to being with a man as dangerous, but it was also Beast’s sheer size that had Laurent giddy. When they’d first met, Laurent had thought Beast a brute, but now that he knew the truth about the man who had become his husband, nowhere felt as safe as in his arms.
He was gentle, thoughtful, sweet, and always went out of his way to make Laurent happy. There was no one else Laurent would rather have shared the joys of fatherhood with.
Beast sighed and rubbed his stubbly chin against Laurent’s cheek. His big hands were balled into fists, but nothing about the nuzzling felt violent. Laurent knew just the way to express his love to this big chunk of man, and he sank to his knees on the sofa, following one more kiss. He needed to be close now, to connect with his beloved and feel his strength.