The other two miniature chimelings did the same and soon the three of them were gobbling jellybeans as fast as their tiny jaws could bite into them.
“Wow, look at them go,” Avery said doubtfully. “An all-sugar diet. These are going to be the first chimelings in the history of the realms with diabetes.”
“Avery, don’t say that,” I exclaimed. “I’m sure they’ll be just fine,” I added, for Jalli’s benefit.
“Well, I’m mostly still worried about Mr. Seahorse.” Kaitlyn was still watching her pet anxiously.
He was still perched on the tree branch by her head, but he had stopped holding his pouch open. Instead, his little arms were folded neatly by his sides again. I thought he looked normal, though his rounded tummy was sadly deflated.
“Will he be okay?” Kaitlyn asked Jalli. “I mean, chimelings aren’t one of those animals that, uh, die after they give birth, are they?”
I could see the tears glimmering in her eyes as she spoke and knew how very worried she was.
Suddenly the door to the castle opened again and Ari came rushing out.
“L’lorna, what’s wrong?” he murmured, coming to put an arm around Kaitlyn. “I felt your distress through our bond.”
“I felt your worry as well, my Witch Queen.” Suddenly Griffin was there also—he seemed to slide out of the shadows as silently as though he was a shadow himself to stand at Megan’s side.
“Hail, hail, the gang’s all here,” Avery said dryly before either Kaitlyn or Megan could answer. “For all you Blood-bonded lovers, just calm down. Nothing bad has happened. It’s just Mr. Seahorse giving birth to about a hundred babies.”
“He what?” Griffin asked blankly. “But I was under the impression that Mr. Seahorse was male.”
Of course, then we all had to explain all over again what Jalli had said about chimelings all being male and being born pregnant.
“And I’m so worried that now that he’s had his babies he’ll…he’ll die.” Kaitlyn’s voice broke on the last word and I saw Ari’s arms tighten around her.
“Dios, sweetheart—you don’t have to worry about that,” he reassured her. Chimelings live a long time—years and years.”
“But they only spawn once—so it’s a big deal. Look, Ari!” Jalli held out her hand triumphantly where the three spawnlings were still contentedly eating jellybeans. “Aren’t they adorable?” she asked him. “I’m going to name them Jelly Belly, Sweet Tooth, and Spike.”
Ari grinned at his little sister.
“Excellent names. And with three chimelings of your own, your luck will be second to none.”
“I don’t even care that they’re lucky—they’re just so cute.” Jalli peered into the palm of her hand at the tiny creatures—who already looked a bit bigger, I thought. They had started out being about the size of unshelled sunflower seeds. Now they were at least as large as plump raisins. I wondered how long it would take them to reach their full adult size—which was about the size of a woman’s hand, not counting their large, diaphanous wings.
“Darling, don’t you think you ought to be getting back to the dorm if the show is over here?” Griffin asked Megan. “You wouldn’t want to be caught out after curfew.”
“You’re right.” Megan yawned. “It’s getting late.”
“Especially for those of us not lucky enough to be Blood-Bonded to the man of our dreams” Avery put in. “Guys, are we ready to go?”
We all murmured that we were—except for Jalli, who was still locked in rapt contemplation of her three new pets. I kind of wished that I had thought to bring a treat so I could have caught one myself. But really, what would I have done with it? I still lived half my life in the human world, thanks to my job at the I Scream diner. How could I have explained a flying seahorse sitting on my shoulder to my boss or the customers?
“Come on, guys—let’s go,” I said, and yawned also.
Soon we were all yawning as bright little sparks of the spawnlings flew away and the night grew quiet. Even Mr. Seahorse seemed to feel the drama was over because he flew back to Kaitlyn’s shoulder and nuzzled her cheek affectionately before promptly falling asleep and starting his squeaky snore.
“Aww, poor little guy,” Kaitlyn murmured. “Look, Ari—he’s all tuckered out. It’s hard having a hundred babies all in one night.”
“I know how he feels.” Ari yawned too. “I mean about being tired—not about having a hundred babies. I love you, L’lorna. But now that I know you’re safe, I’m going back to bed.”
“I will as well. Good night, my Witch Queen.” Griffin kissed Megan and then slid away into the shadows as silently as he had come.
The rest of us trooped back inside as quietly as we could, making certain the heavy wooden door didn’t slam behind us. I had to physically guide Jalli with one hand under her arm. She literally couldn’t drag her eyes away from her new pets long enough to see where she was going. That was okay, though—the shining, transcendent expression of joy on her pretty little face made me think of a kid on Christmas morning.
It was absolutely adorable to behold.
4
“Well, that was quite an adventure,” Kaitlyn remarked, collapsing on a couch when we finally got back to the Norm Dorm.
“Never a dull moment around here,” Avery agreed.
“Well? What happened?” Saint popped his head out the door and looked at us expectantly.
“Mr. Seahorse had about a hundred babies,” Jalli told him. “And look, Saint—I got three of them!” she exclaimed, holding her hand right under his eyes so he could see them.
But the minute the miniature chimelings got near the big Drake, they all chimed in shrill terror and scattered in three different directions.
“I was afraid of this.” Saint looked upset. “They fear the Blood Drake I hold within me.”
“Oh, no!” Jalli wailed, looking anxiously around. “Where did they go?”
“They should come back to you—I hope,” Saint said. “Here—I’ll go back into my room so they feel safe again.”
“Hold the door, roomie—I’m coming too,” Avery told him. He looked at Megan and me. “Can you help Jalli round up her babies?”
“I think they’ll be okay,” Megan said. “Look, they’re already coming back.”
Indeed, the three miniature chimelings had grouped together in one corner of the common area room and were eyeing Jalli as though they wanted to come back to her but didn’t quite dare, even though Saint was no longer visible.
“Offer them some more jellybeans, Jalli,” I suggested. “That might bring them around.”
“Oh, good idea!” She dug in the pocket of her robe again and came up with three or four more jellybeans. Holding them out, she crooned softly. “Come on, little guys. Come on Jelly Belly and Sweet Tooth and Spike—look what I’ve got for you.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the three chimeling babies at last flew back to her hand and began gorging on jellybeans once more.