Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,67
At least I don’t have time to get nervous about this. I do hope my mate remembers to materialize me a coat.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Zeus had always been aware that various animals carried their young for differing lengths of time. He didn’t realize that shifters were the same. He had thought it was possible Paulie wouldn’t be pregnant for as long as Hades had been, but that was more due to the fact Paulie was a lot smaller physically than Zeus’s brother. Knowing that Paulie would give birth in a matter of weeks rather than the nine months Zeus was using as a benchmark, increased his urgency in getting them settled in a home that Paulie would feel safe in, especially when he had to attend to matters on Olympus.
It was cold in Scotland – bitterly, and while Zeus could admit the barren landscape bathed in the browns and dark greens of autumn was pleasant enough if you liked that sort of thing, he didn’t like the fact Paulie started shivering as they waited for someone to answer the door. Normally, Zeus would have manifested the pair of them into the house, but as Owen was a high-level god from another pantheon, he was prepared to be respectful. Besides, he’d visited Owen and Baby recently and the sight of Baby naked bent over the couch moaning obscenely as he was being shafted by his mate wasn’t something Zeus wanted to see again.
“Uncle Zeus.” Baby opened the door with a bright smile and messy hair. “You knocked. How unusual of you.” He winked and then noticed Paulie. “Oh, my goodness, you poor thing, come in. Couldn’t my uncle be bothered to rustle you up a decent coat?”
“I was just about to,” Zeus snapped.
“I’m fine,” Paulie said, shivering in his thin shirt as he stepped inside the door. “You have a lovely home.”
“Owen loves the chilly air; it reminds him of his own domain.” Baby chuckled, swinging the door closed again after Zeus stepped inside. “Come on through to the living room. The little ones are having a nap, so we were…”
“Is he dressed?” Zeus held Paulie back as he followed his nephew. “After what I saw last time – Paulie doesn’t need to see all that.”
“Hence the door knocking this time.” Baby laughed as he carried on walking across the hallway. “Maybe we should try the same thing with our new neighbor. She’s forever hanging around. Mind you, if she saw my Owen naked, we’d never get her to leave. Come through, your innocent’s eyes are quite safe.”
Baby’s words didn’t stop Zeus from making sure he was in front of Paulie as they entered into a large comfortable sitting room. Owen, as Baby claimed, was dressed, although the flush on his cheeks let Zeus know he’d interrupted the pair – again. Owen tilted his head slightly and nodded at Zeus although he didn’t get up.
“Twice in a month, we’re honored, Zeus.” Owen waved to the couch opposite him. “Is this the missing Paulie you were ranting about last time you were here?”
“This is Paulie, my mate, yes.” Keeping a hand on Paulie’s shoulder, Zeus led them over to the couch, indicating Paulie should sit. “I believe he’s one of your kin, somewhere well down the line. We were hoping you might give us some idea on who my mate’s father is, was, or whatever.”
“Only if it’s no trouble,” Paulie said quickly. “I’ve never met him, so I don’t know him, but…”
“You are one of mine,” Owen said slowly, his sightless eyes devouring every inch of the young tiger. If Zeus hadn’t realized what he was doing – seeing – he’d have been annoyed. “Baby, come here please. Take my hand. Can you see what I see?” He explained to Zeus, “I’m teaching Baby how to identify auras and the messages in them.”
Baby bounced in, carrying a tray. “I made tea, although there’s whiskey there too if you want some. What are we looking at?” Setting the tray on the table, he plopped himself down next to Owen, and took his mate’s hand. “Oh wow, you’re a bright one, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Paulie said hesitantly, and Zeus realized he wasn’t helping his mate’s nerves by standing over him.
Sitting down, he took Paulie’s hand, hoping it didn’t disturb what Owen could see. “You’re an innocent, you have a pure soul,” he said to Paulie quietly. “It means your aura will shine brighter than most.”
“Too pure for you, Uncle,” Baby laughed. “Maybe