Page 23 of A Hatchling for Valentine’s

With a smile, Vic reached across the blankets below the nest and clasped Kellan’s fingers. “You’re such a good daddy. But you’ll make yourself sick if you don’t get some rest and that won’t help Erik either. Why don’t I sit with him a while so you can close your eyes and take a break?”

“I don’t know…” He was exhausted, but it seemed wrong somehow. But Vic will be watching him. “Okay. But wake me up if anything happens?”

“Of course, sweetheart.” Vic’s eyes widened a fraction. “I just realized something.”

Kellan inclined his head. “What?”

Vic broke into a grin. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Kellan’s chest filled with warmth. “Oh, Vic. Happy Valentine’s Day, our very first one.”

“First of many. You know what else?”

“What?”

“Erik is a Valentine’s baby. He was fully hatched after midnight.

With a satisfied smile, Kellan snuggled against his pillow, facing their little shifter with Vic still holding his hand. His eyes fluttered and before another thought had the chance to form, he was asleep.

* * * *

Resisting the urge to pet the downy covering of the cygnet wasn’t easy. Thankfully, Kellan had been asleep for two hours, and although the grey light of dawn had begun to filter beneath the curtains, the room remained dark except for a small nightlight in the shape of a swan plugged into the wall.

The nap Vic had taken was wearing off and drowsiness was beginning to take hold again. He’d been teased already by everyone at work about what it would be like once the baby arrived, that he could wave goodbye to a full night’s sleep for a while. Despite his concerns regarding their hatchling, he didn’t regret a thing. Having a family—a true one—was worth any sacrifice. Even when things turned out differently than they would’ve wished, they were in it for the long haul.

Some frantic wiggling started up next to him and he figured Erik might have shifted back to a wolf and be ready to eat again. Instead, when he glanced down, he was met with the hooded eyes of a tiny person. Not a wolf. Not a swan. A regular baby.

Yup. Definitely a boy.

Right as he was about to wake Kellan up, the baby did it for him by letting out a piercing wail. With a start, Kellan jerked to a sitting position.

“Wha—what’s happening?”

Vic turned on the nightstand lamp so they could both get a good look at their screaming newborn.

“See for yourself, sweetheart.” Vic grinned at the sight of Kellan cooing at and cuddling their clearly infuriated baby.

“Vic, can you get some more formula? And a diaper?”

The baby continued struggling, his arms waving around and his legs going kick, kick, kick as his face turned red from his lusty cries and Kellan fought to get him wrapped in a blanket.

From Vic’s point of view the diaper was the more urgent item to retrieve. They would run out of blankets in no time otherwise. After he’d handed one to Kellan, he hurried to the kitchen to make more formula for his son.

My son.

He teared up as a wave of emotion washed over him. A year ago he’d been going through the motions, having long given up on ever having his true mate—let alone a child. The gods had blessed him with the most perfect and beautiful mate and now, with a sweet, healthy child. He had all he’d ever wanted.

His son wasn’t getting any quieter and clearly uninterested in his father’s sentimental musings.

After checking the temperature of the formula with a few drops on his wrist, he carried the bottle into the bedroom. He handed it to Kellan but couldn’t tear his gaze from his baby.

“Closer. I can’t reach, Vic.”

“Huh?” He reluctantly looked away and realized Kellan was stretching as far as he could to get the bottle Vic still gripped. “Oh, gods. Sorry.”

He placed their baby’s breakfast into Kellan’s open hand then traveled to the other side of the bed so he could climb in and join them. Vic released a satisfied sigh as he watched Kellan feed their now-contented infant, his strong and steady pull on the nipple of the bottle yet more reassurance that all was well with their child.

Now that he’s awake, I can touch all I want without bothering him. Vic figured that was the case, but it still felt like he was about to touch a delicate piece of crystal. He used one finger to pet Eric’s head. So soft. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the fine strands of hair lying flat against his baby’s scalp.

“Kellan, look. He has a patch of pure white hair over here, black across the top then some grey down the other side. I thought the white was his scalp, but it’s actually hair.”

“You’re right.” Kellan inspected Erik as well. “He really is made up of both of us.”

Vic pressed his lips to Kellan’s temple. “He certainly is.”

Vic scooted closer to his mate and child, wrapping an arm around Kellan’s shoulders so they could lean against each other. Kellan adjusted their little bundle so that Erik’s head remained in the crook of his arm and his feet rested on Vic’s lap.

In that moment, Vic knew everything would be fine.