Page 76 of Sapphire Seas

One by one our dragonets sounded off, waiting, encouraging that final luff that would complete the hatching. Papa was eagerly and patiently waiting to hold his boys and should wait no longer. I passed them to him with tears still dripping down my cheek, kissing each one as I passed them over. Not that my arms stayed empty long, as Caspian, wet cheeked himself, passed me our little Trinity over to hold for the first time.

“Welcome to the world, sweet girl,” I said as I kissed the top of her head.

Crackkkkkkkkk!

A jagged line split one side of Sapphire’s shell, her egg wobbling.

Caspian gasped, then sat on his hands to keep from making the same mistake I almost did, while we held our collective breaths.

Craaaaaaccccckkkkkk!

Another jagged split, but still no missing pieces.

I stroked Trinity’s hair, eye glued to our final egg. Then the front flew off, powered by two adorable sapphire dragon feet. She’d literally busted the door down in order to enter the world. But was she hatched? She still sat in the shell with the back and dome over her head. Caspian squirmed. I bit my lip. Her eyes shimmered like sunshine glittering off a calm sea, before she threw her arms and wings wide.

The dome, the sides, the back, everything crumbled but the piece she sat on.

“I can hold her now, right?” Caspian asked, turning to look at Mattias with a pleading look. “Sitting on a shell fragment doesn’t count, does it?”

“Nope, I don’t think it does.”

The words didn’t fully leave Mattias’ lips before Caspian had her in his arms, squeals of joy coming from him as he hugged her.

“Luff.” Sapphire said, completing the sound off.

“Love indeed,” Upalo said, wiping a tear from his eye. In his hand he held a camera, having captured this precious moment for us. “I couldn’t be happier for you. Thank you for sharing this moment with me."

“Luff you,” I said, grinning at him.

He had to wipe another tear away after that. “Luff you too.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Caspian

“Um, as precious as this moment is, can someone please carry me to the springs?” I’d been in labor all day but with the eggs cracking I wasn’t about to leave until they met both their Daddies and their Papa.

“Oh, snap!” Odem popped in right on time. “Upalo and I have this. Papa and Daddies, head out and bring us our last two girls.”

The second Mattias scooped me up, Odem and Upalo replaced us in the nest, fawning over their new nieces and nephews. As much as I hated leaving our newborns, I knew they were in good hands. Mattias had my clothes off and me in the water moments later. Shifting was the most natural way to deliver Seadragonets and in doing so, my water finally broke.

Mattias and Kes remained in their human forms and joined me as I swam around waiting for the girls to emerge.

Autumn, Summer, are you ready to meet your Daddies and Papa? I was hoping a bit of encouragement from the Daddy in labor would help move things along.

Anxious was the best way to describe what they sent through our bond.

Sweet girls, Papa is right here, waiting to hold you. Mattias said in the sweetest voice.

I can’t believe I almost missed all of this. I was a fool for signing back up for patrols this soon. I belong here with you and the babies, Caspian.

Poor Kes, I hated how down on himself he always was.

You’re here now, mate, and that’s all that matters.

I had no problem with him taking the occasional patrol shift, but while the babies were young we needed to raise them as a unit.

Emerson’s head popped around the corner. “Would it be too invasive for me to be here? I’ve never seen nor read really anything on Seadragon pregnancies or deliveries.”