My Guardian

Adriel felt a pang of sadness at the mention of the young witch. "We are sorry for your losses. We heard that young Keelan gave his life to save his unit, and Rowan died trying to save the city."

Meryn turned to frown at Adriel. "Keelan isn't dead; he's just not in his body right now," she refuted.

"I am sorry, what?" Magnus asked, a confused look on his face.

Bethy shook her head. "Never mind, Uncle."

Adriel felt his head spinning. "Excuse me for being blunt, but, what?"

Bethy clapped her hands together, and her eyes filled with tears. "You're finally getting mate! Oh! I'm so happy for you!" She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her face.

Gavriel stared at his mate in shock. "Beth, my love. What is wrong?" He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to his body.

Bethy just shook her head. "I'm so happy. He's been alone so long."

Magnus, Tarak, Kuruk, Sebastian, and every man of the Eta Unit stared, and Adriel knew why. Bethy never cried. Never.

Adriel stood and walked over to Sebastian. "Call the healer, something is wrong."

Magnus paled even further. "I want him here at once!"

Sebastian paused while reaching for the phone. "One moment." He hurried down the hall and out of sight.

Meryn looked around a frightened look on her face. "What? What's wrong?" Aiden looked just as concerned.

Gavriel gently rubbed Bethy's back trying to stem her tears. He looked up. "What do you know that I do not?"

"Bethy does not cry," Tarak whispered.

Kuruk nodded. "I have seen her break both legs, catch her arm on fire, and get impaled on a steel rod. She never even teared up." He choked up. "She must be dying."

"What!" Meryn and Gavriel exclaimed at the same time.

Meryn burst into hysterics, wailing she didn't want to lose her sister, which caused Bethy to sob even harder.

"Oh for heavens sake! She is not dying!" Sebastian said, striding back into the room. "Bethy my love, open your hand."

Bethy tried to catch her breath while she held her hand open. Sebastian dropped a medium sized stone in her hand that immediately began to glow bright enough to nearly blind everyone in the room. Sebastian gently lifted it from her palm. "She is not dying; she is pregnant," he said, choking up.

Adriel blinked. The sound of two loud thuds behind him had him turning in his chair. Tarak and Kuruk were both passed out on the floor.

The door stood open and two men walked in looking confused. "Who's pregnant?"

*****

Adriel watched as Broderick Monroe and Caspian Rioux took in the scene before them.

Caspian gasped. He looked from Sebastian to Bethy and back. "Bethy! Our Bethy is pregnant!" He screeched loud enough to rupture eardrums then launched himself at his daughter. "Oh my darling, I am so happy for you!" Caspian collapsed next to Gavriel and wrapped his arms around both him and Bethy and rocked them from side to side.

Broderick dove into the empty space beside his daughter and wrapped his arms around them from the other side. "Sweetheart, is this true?"

Bethy only sniffled now and was smiling wide. "If Sebastian says I am, you know it's true." She turned to Gavriel. "So?"

Gavriel was as white as a sheet and was absently being swayed back and forth by his two fathers-in-law.

Bethy looked closer. "Gavriel?" She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

He blinked then his eyes seemed to focus. "A baby."

She nodded. "Yes, what do you think?"

He blinked again. "A baby."

"A jackalope with fangs!" Meryn exclaimed, giggling.

"Meryn!" Laughing, Aiden put a hand over her mouth.

"Ohh! Ohh!" Caspian waved his hand in front of his face. "I am not gonna cry!"

"Too late, Papa," Bethy laughed, wiping his cheeks.

Gavriel turned Bethy to face him and swallowed hard. "Are you well? Hungry? Did the portal hurt you? Should you be resting?" He looked over at Aiden. "What do I do?"

Aiden pointed to Meryn. "It's not like I have a normal case to go by."

Meryn elbowed him in the stomach. "Just love her like you always do and feed her lots of chocolate."

Aiden nodded, rubbing his mid-section. "Chocolate cures all ills."

Gavriel nodded quickly, his eyes unfocused. "Right. Chocolate. I can do that."

Bethy took in the sight of her dazed mate and sighed. "Oh dear."

The sound of low groans had everyone turning to where Tarak and Kuruk were standing again and looking just as shell shocked as the expectant father.

Adriel didn't know who looked more terrified at the prospect of a pregnant Bethy, the Géroux brothers or Gavriel.

"Our present was finished just in time! It is almost like it was meant to be." Caspian beamed.

Broderick reached into a satin pouch and handed Bethy a small rectangular box.

She reached for the box, her face lit up with excitement. She lifted the lid and inhaled. "Oh Daddy! Papa!"

Meryn tried to lean as forward as she could in Aiden's lap. "What? What is it?"

Bethy immediately took out her gift and handed it to her father. "Daddy, would you?" She extended her wrist out.

With trembling fingers, Broderick worked the clasp of an intricate silver charm bracelet. He sniffled. "I'm no good at these things." He secured the clasp and raised her hand to kiss it. "Your Papa and I figured between two cities, you would need more keystones. This way you're safe in both cities. By having a necklace and a bracelet, it will free up the keystones dedicated to us for Lycaonia."