"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that, Kari. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. You're a good match for my son."
"Father, the reason why I'm calling is..."
"Hold on, your brother's calling on the other line, it could be elder business."
"Don't answer it! It isn't." Declan called out.
"I'll call him back. Why should I not answer your brother's phone call?" his father asked.
"Because I bet you he's trying to beat me to the punch."
"What punch?" his father demanded.
"Is Mother there?"
"Hold on." They heard the sound of footsteps then a loud bellow. "Catherine!"
"Good gods, Jedrek! I believe the queen herself might have heard you. What is all the fuss about?" a soft feminine voice asked.
"Declan's on the phone with his mate, Kari."
"What?" They heard more footsteps before his mother's voice became louder. "Declan, darling, is that you?"
Declan's smile was soft. "Yes Mother, I'm here."
"Kari, oh, Kari, it's so good to finally be able to talk to you. When are you coming to visit?" his mother demanded.
Kari looked at Declan, who shrugged. "We are still trying to get settled here. Maybe after that," Kari suggested diplomatically.
"The sooner the better. I can't wait to meet my son's new mate. Finally, I have a daughter." They heard a chirp. "Why is Rex calling?" she asked.
"Hold on, dear, don't answer it quite yet. Declan has something he wants to tell us. Don't you, son?"
"Yes, Father. I just wanted to let you know that Kari and I just found out that we are expecting."
A loud screech practically broke the phone. Declan was shaking his head at the decibel level. Kari smiled.
"Now, you really have to come out, Declan. Bring her as soon as you can. I can't wait to see her. What joyous news." His mother's voice broke, and then she began to cry.
"There, there, sweetheart. Don't cry; this is happy news." Jedrek comforted his mate. "Declan, look what you did."
"I didn't mean make her cry," Declan protested.
"Of course, she's going to cry, it's our first grandchild," Jedrek said gruffly. "Is it permissible to answer your brother's phone call now?"
"Yes. I'll let him go explain what's going on. He's calling for reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?" Jedrek barked the question.
"Father, gotta go."
"Declan, I..."
Declan hung up the phone.
"That was rude, Declan," Kari admonished.
He shrugged. "Rex will be able to fill him in. Besides, you're looking tired. You're with child; you need to rest."
"I am not a--" A large yawn interrupted her. Then her stomach rumbled.
Declan frowned. He looked from her stomach to her face to her stomach. "Doc said you should rest, but you need to eat!" Declan looked confused and slightly panicked.
"Maybe a quick lunch and then a nap. Getting healed from a witch healer always makes me tired," Kari suggested.
"Okay, we go get lunch."
She went to get out of bed, he stood and began frantically waving his hands in front of her. "No, wait, stop, don't move."
She froze. "What am I supposed to do?"
Declan began pulling at his hair. "I don't know!" he exclaimed. "Should you move? Should you get out of bed? I mean you were hurt when you fell down the tunnel. Now you're having a baby."
Kari sat at the edge of the bed, her feet dangling. She watched as her mate slowly began to melt down before her very eyes. When he spun around aimlessly for the fourth time, she hopped off the bed, walked over to him, and placed both hands on his chest. He looked down at her with a wild look in his eyes.
"Darling, I am hungry."
"Right, hungry, food. You need food." He swept her up into his arms and began jogging out of the infirmary.
Kari sighed.
Wonderful. He has known for less than an hour, and this is how he is.
She laid her head down on his shoulder.
And I would not change a thing.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When they were in Magnus' quarters, Kari tapped Declan on the shoulders, and he set her down. She looked at him, "You go inside. I will be there in a moment."
He nodded his head up and down. "Of course. I'll make you a plate."
"That would be lovely," she said. As soon as he was in the dining room, Kari walked in and sat down on the sofa in the antechamber. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.
"Hello," a familiar voice answered. "Kari, is that you?" he asked.
"Of course, it is me."
"Well, I'm not coming to get you. You need to stay there."