Page 29 of Arthur

Patrick made a face.

“What?”

“Do you have no preference at all?”

I thought about it a moment before shrugging. “I’m of the same mind as you. I would suggest staying away from a lot of the trendy names. No Brayden, Caiden, Jayden. None of the Aiden names.”

Patrick made another face, but this one was completely different. It only took a moment before he started laughing. I quickly joined him, and after several minutes of fits of laughter followed by what I could only describe as silly looks, we finally seemed to get ourselves under control. Well, that and the fact that Constantine came knocking on the doorframe.

I quickly composed myself and did my utmost best to become serious. “Yes, Costas. What can I help you with.”

Constantine seemed as if he were arguing with himself. He finally found his voice though. “Nothing, Master Arthur. I was simply checking in on the noise.” Constantine’s eyes left mine where they moved to Patrick, then down quickly before returning to me. The gesture was fleeting, and if I’d not been watching him as closely as I had, I would have most likely missed it.

“You might as well come in, Costas. And please close the door behind you,” I told him. I moved to the edge of the couch before I stood. I wasn’t going to have this conversation with our coven’s doctor while I was sitting on the couch. I moved to my preferred position: standing in front of my desk and leaning against it.

“Is something wrong, Master Arthur?”

I sighed. “You and I have been friends for how long, Costas?”

Constantine slowly sat in one of the plush armchairs that I had in front of my desk. I did my best to make the men and the few women who were part of our coven as comfortable around me as possible. I liked to think that I’d more than proven my abilities to be able to be coven master and hoped that they didn’tsimply feel that I’d been given everything in my life because of who my carrier was.

“A very long time,” Costas said.

“Yes. So why themaster? I thought we were beyond that?” Constantine glanced toward Patrick, and I rolled my eyes. “Patrick is just as much your friend as I am. Perhaps more so. And if you’re going to be weird about it, yes, Patrick is carrying our fourth child, much to both of our surprise and elation.”

Immediately, Constantine relaxed. I sent Patrick a quick look and found my One grinning. I knew he had just said he wasn’t ready to make an announcement or share the news just yet, but Costas was our coven’s doctor, and he had obviously sensed the baby’s aura already.

“I didn’t wish to speak about something you weren’t yet sharing. Congratulations to the both of you,” Costas said.

“Thank you,” Patrick said. He was still all smiles, which made me happy. My One being happy always made me feel as if I was doing something correctly.

“Yes, thank you,” I told him. “You were correct though. Patrick wishes to hold off just a bit longer before making any sort of announcement.”

“Of course,” Costas said. “I wouldn’t make your announcement. But with all of the babies that seem to be happening in the coven lately, others are more in tune with what’s going on, and keeping the baby a secret won’t be possible for long.”

“I don’t want to keep him a secret,” Patrick said. “I’d just like to tell our other children and Arthur’s dads and siblings before we announce anything.”

“Understandable.”

“I did have something to bring up with you,” I said, hoping to change the subject. “I was thinking that perhaps we could get you some help.”

Costas looked at me, confusion on his face. “Are you unhappy with the services I provide?”

“Not in the slightest. But if we were to get you an assistant, a nurse or maybe even another doctor that could help lighten your caseload, then you wouldn’t be so overwhelmed.”

Constantine looked torn. In the end, he simply smiled. “Thank you. I hope you don’t feel as if I am unable to continue my tasks.”

“Not in the least. I just know that with the growing coven, and now that you are helping the clowder, things can be a lot at times. I only wished to help. If you don’t want an assistant, I can simply not look.”

“An assistant would be most welcome,” Constantine said. His phone chimed in his pocket, and he sighed. “Case in point. I will be out for the evening, I believe.” Costas glanced at his phone and nodded. “I apparently have a patient in labor. I’ll be at the clowder if I’m needed here.”

“Best of luck to the parents-to-be,” I said.

“Yes,” Patrick added.

Constantine nodded, and then he left. I met Patrick’s eyes, and he winked. “That’s going to be us soon.”

I couldn’t help but grin. We were a bit out of practice, but it would all come back to us quickly enough. And now things were so much more advanced than when we had our other children. “True. Who would you like to tell first?” I asked.