Maximus kept his arms tightly wrapped around me as he gently lowered me to the ground. The laughter and conversation around us burst back into my consciousness and I realized no one was paying attention to us, everyone was chatting and eating and enjoying themselves. I could stand here for a few more minutes staring into his eyes like a lovesick idiot. I had known for a long time that I loved Maximus Compass. Even during the months of denying our relationship and wanting to hate him for all the pain he'd caused me, I'd loved him.
The moment to say it wasn't now, so I said the next best thing.
"I know we're a day early, but happy birthday. Sorry about the no presents. There just wasn't any time to get you a gift." I'd panicked when Jessa had arrived in the nursery earlier, startling me awake with talk of what to get the boys for their birthday. Both of us realized there was no time to organize anything with the Guilds, so I'd suggested the surprise party. It had come together pretty quickly after that.
Maximus buried both of his hands in the hair at the nape of my neck, brushing his thumb across the bare skin below. "You've already given me far more than I deserve or can repay. But since I am selfish when it comes to you, I do want one more thing … "
My breath stuttered a little as I sucked in deeply. I don't think I breathed or blinked in the few seconds it took him to speak again.
"Stay here with me. Live in the pack house with Jessa and the boys. You're our family, you're my mate, and we all want you here with us."
Do not cry. I was ordering my tear ducts to obey me this one time, but I was pretty sure I was going to lose it anyway. I loved their house. From the first moment I'd walked into it to meet my sister I'd wanted to stay. I never thought this warm pack home would be for me. All of the love and joy and hope … that was never for me.
The intensity of his gaze didn't waver. It was as if I was the only person in the whole world. As if he cared for no one else but me. It was a powerful feeling, one which had the words: "Yes, I would love to live here," blurting from my mouth before I could stop them.
Still, once it was out it felt right. A smile ripped across his face as he wrapped those long arms around me again and spun me around. The rotation was enough for my stomach to lurch in an uncomfortable manner, but I didn't care.
"We'll grab your stuff tomorrow. You can just sleep in one of my shirts tonight. Or nothing." He winked.
Gosh, golly, gee. Looked like Jessa was right about me needing some new curses.
All I could think about was being naked. With him. Shit. I wasn't going to look like I did the last time. My hand dropped onto the rounded belly and almost instantly knew it didn't matter. Our daughter was the reason for my new figure and I'd never be ashamed of her. And if I knew Maximus at all, which I liked to think I did, he wouldn't care one bit.
"We should just kick everyone out," I half murmured to myself, but he heard. A wicked smirk lifted his lips, and I couldn't help but reach out and lace my fingers through his. He tempted me in the worst kind of way.
"So, something tells me we are about to lose a second daughter to the Compass household."
I spun around to find my parents, arm in arm, smiling at us both. Maximus loped his left arm around me, pulling us closer together, before reaching out to Jonathon with his right hand. My father responded immediately and they did some sort of handshake thing. Not like humans did; theirs involved grasping forearms and some other stuff.
"I'm sorry I haven't been there for Mischa over the past few months," Maximus said, his tone serious. "But I plan to rectify that by protecting her and our daughter with my all. We're a family. A pack. Mischa is my true mate and I offer my soul to hers."
Okay, swollen heart, please don't burst in my chest from an overload of emotions. To hide the fact my love for him was leaking everywhere, I forced a lighter tone, teasing him with, "What about what I want?"
His eyes seemed extra bright as they ran across me. "I'm going to make you so happy you're never going to want to go anywhere."
He. Was. Destroying. Me.
And I was okay with that.
Lienda stepped forward and I could see so much joy and happiness on her face. Reaching out for me, I moved into her arms and she held me tightly. I'd had more hugs from her today than in a long time. "I'm so sorry, Mom," I whispered. "Sorry for not trying harder to understand your sacrifice, for not thanking you enough."
Her arms shook and she pulled back to see me better. "It was no sacrifice. You're my child. It's my job to protect you above all others. I did the best I could at the time, but I should have tried harder. I know you'll be stronger for your daughter. I know you'll shower her in so much love she'll never hurt as you did."
Maximus' hand landed on my lower back, offering his support. "Our daughter will grow up in Stratford with her cousins and family. She's going to be a little hellion, and I for one can't wait to see that."
Lienda and Maximus locked eyes for a brief moment and something passed between them. An understanding maybe … or at least acceptance. She was handing her child across to be loved and cherished by another, and he was promising her that he would do right by me. I never thought I'd see the day where anyone cared enough to fight for me, for my happiness. Looks like I was wrong. My cup was running over. It was too much.
A sharp twang across my stomach took me by surprise. I clutched at the side where it was most painful, and waited a few seconds for it to fade away. I'd been getting little cramps and aches like this for the past few hours. When I thought back, they might have even started in Sinchin prison, but that one was the worst so far. I had to breathe through it for a second or two.
Three sets of eyes were watching me closely now, and when the discomfort eased I offered a reassuring smile. "Just pregnancy pains, nothing to worry about."
Maximus gathered me back into his arms, his hands running gently across my lower back. "Don't be brave about this. If you think the baby is coming, let me know so I can get the healer. Shifters don't tend to have many problems, but it has been known to happen." He growled a little. "I wish Louis wasn't out of town. It would be much better if he was here. His healing is of the highest caliber."
I patted his chest, sending warmth and reassurance his way. "It's going to be okay, women have been doing this for many thousands of years. She'll come when she's ready, and no amount of worry beforehand will make it any easier or less painful for me when it happens."
He gave a groan, dropping his head back to stare into the ceiling. "Seriously, I think the stress of seeing you in pain might actually break me." Lowering his gaze, he brushed my cheek with his thumb. "I hate the thought of you hurting, even if the reward is a beautiful little girl."
Before I could reassure him, he swept me away and deposited me onto the couch. He murmured something about me being off my feet and that he was going to grab me some food. Bloody thoughtful vampire. I owed the fates a nice gift basket. They had been extra kind to me this time around.
Jessa crashed down on my right side, Tyson dropped on to my left.
"Looks like you and Max sorted your differences out," the wizard said. "‘Bout freakin' time. I was two days from kicking his ass for you."
I chuckled, before giving him a one armed hug. "Thank you for looking out for me. Have you heard from Grace?"
His features locked down, and with a shake of his head he gave me a faint smile. "Nope, no word at all."
I knew that his heart ached for the healer witch to return. The way he spoke of her, it reminded me of the intensity of my first feelings for Maximus. I was extremely curious about the possibility of a true bond between them. I hoped she'd return soon so he could find out.
Tyson was distracted by someone on his other side, which left me facing a smug looking Jessa. We remained in a stare-off locked-eye position for some time, and I couldn't halt the rush of love I felt for her. She was my twin, the other half to my soul, the one who fulfilled me in a way that no other could.
"I really missed you growing up," I choked out.
She froze, her normally expressive features stilling into something unreadable. Then she threw herself at me, and as my arms wrapped tightly across her back, and she pulled me closer, everything felt right in the world.
"I missed you too," she whispered hoarsely, before pulling back so that we could see each other. "Even when my world was complete, when I had my pack, there was always something there, something in my soul screaming out for another. You're my soul-sister, and I don't want us to be apart again. When Kristoff took you from the land between … there are no words for that, Mischa. I'm not used to feeling so helpless, and the devastation … I wouldn't survive if I lost you now. Please don't ever make me live without you again."
Tears sprinkled her blue eyes, which had my own filling also. I rubbed away the wetness before it could trail down my cheeks. "We need to make a pact that no one ever separates us again. There is no force strong enough in any of the realms."
She nodded her head. "Agreed!"
We settled back together, our shoulders pressing close, each soaking up the twin bond. It was strongly flickering between us, and even though the mind barriers were in place to keep our thoughts private, when we touched like this, some of the thoughts still snuck through.