by Stormy Glenn
“Don’t touch me,” Beauregard snarled as he ripped his arms away from Sebastian. “You don’t ever get to touch me again.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Sebastian looked so confused, so horrified by Beauregard’s behavior that he couldn’t help laughing, but it was a cold laugh. It held nothing but contempt for the man he once thought he loved.
“There’s nothing wrong with me that won’t be cured when you’re gone.”
“Beauregard, I don’t understand—”
“You don’t understand?” Beauregard sneered. “I’m a rabbit, you asshole. My gestational period is forty days. Forty days!”
Beauregard watched the blood drain from Sebastian’s face as the truth hit him. His eyes widened and a pained expression entered them. Sebastian’s hand came up and reached for him. Beauregard stepped back until Sebastian lowered his hand.
“I never lied to you,” Beauregard whispered.
“I didn’t know, Beauregard.”
“You didn’t ask.” Beauregard’s jaw tightened. “You never even gave me the chance to explain. You just assumed I was guilty and kicked me out like I meant nothing to you.”
“Oh, bunny, I—”
“No!” Beauregard clenched his hands. “You don’t get to call me that anymore. You no longer have that right.”
“I’m sorry.”
“And you think that makes it all better?” A sob escaped Beauregard. “I thought things would be different here, that I’d be accepted, that I’d have someone to love me as much as I—but it’s even worse than living in the colony. They ignored me most of the time, but at least they never gave me hope.”
“Please, I—”
Beauregard turned his back on Sebastian and walked over to look out the window again. It seemed like he looked out the window a lot. “I’d like you to leave.”
Beauregard held himself together until he heard the door close behind Sebastian. He sank down to the floor and leaned against the wall as anguish filled every cell of his body. Deep, racking sobs shook his body as tears flowed so freely down his face that his vision blurred.
Grief and despair tore at his heart, making it hard to breathe, to move. He didn’t even have the energy to protest when Galan lifted him up and carried him out of the room and down the hallway to the staircase.
When Galan carried him into Sebastian’s quarters a few minutes later, Beauregard started to struggle. This wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He’d been kicked out of these grand rooms.
“Sshhh, little one, you’re going to upset the baby if you continue on like this.”
“I want to go back to my room.”
“This is your room, little one.”
Beauregard shook his head. “This was never my room.”
“Well, it is now.” Galan set Beauregard down on the bed. “You need a safe place to have that baby, and this is the safest place in the entire castle.”
“But—”
Galan squatted down in front of Beauregard. He smiled as he reached out to push a lock of hair back from Beauregard’s face, tucking it behind his ear. “You need to think about the baby now, Beauregard.”
“I’m not supposed to be here, Galan.”
“This is exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
“He thought I lied to him.” That knowledge twisted and turned inside of him until his head grew foggy with pain. He was suddenly cold. His teeth chattered, and his body began to tremble. “I’m tired.”
“Come on then.” Galan helped Beauregard lie back on the bed then pulled the blankets up over him. “You just go to sleep. I’ll make sure all of your stuff is brought here for when you wake up.”
“I need blankets.”
“Are you cold?”
“No.” Beauregard shook his head. “I’m going to start nesting pretty soon. I need blankets and pillows.”
Galan smiled. “I’ll see what I can get my hands on.”
Beauregard grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled it up to his cheek. “I don’t want to see Sebastian.”
“He truly is sorry, Beauregard. Maybe you should just talk to him.”
“I have nothing to say to him.”
“Beauregard—”
“I’m tired. I’m going to sleep now.” Beauregard closed his eyes and prayed that it was true, that sleep would take him right away. He wanted to sleep for as long as he could so he didn’t have to face life without the man he loved.
* * * *
The gifts started arriving the next morning. When Beauregard woke up, his room was filled with bouquets of flowers in every color imaginable. Beauregard carefully placed them outside his room.
After the flowers came the boxes of jewelry—a diamond necklace, a ruby bracelet, even a ring with a huge emerald in the middle of it. Beauregard looked at each one then closed the boxes without touching them. He placed them outside his room.
On the third day, chocolates arrived, boxes and boxes of them. There were silver boxes, gold boxes, boxes with rabbit-shaped chocolate. It was like chocolate nirvana. Beauregard placed them outside his door.
On the fourth day, a beautiful white fur cloak with matching knee-high boots and gloves arrived. Beauregard couldn’t prevent himself from stroking his fingers along the soft white fur. A quick look at the label assured him that it was fake fur. Beauregard’s heart ached a little when he carefully placed the fury gifts outside his door.
On day five, Galan arrived with a large white box in his hands. He just shook his head as he set it down on the bed. “You know, you’re going to have to talk to him at some point.”
“No, I don’t.”
“He messed up, Beauregard. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
“He can’t buy my affections.”
“I don’t think that’s what he’s trying to do, little one. I think he’s trying to show you how sorry he is.”
“Like I believe that,” Beauregard snorted.
“Now who’s being unreasonable?” Galan asked, right before he walked out of the room.
Beauregard sighed. He was tired and cranky, and he knew it. And he couldn’t chalk it all up to pregnancy hormones. He was still angry at Sebastian, and no amount of gifts was going to change that.
The gifts Sebastian was sending him were very romantic. Beauregard was sure most anyone would have been thrilled, but they weren’t him. They didn’t speak of his personality or that the giver had put any thought into them. They were gifts anyone would give.
Knowing that the last gift delivered had to be much the same, Beauregard picked up the box to carry it outside his door. He didn’t even want to look. The sudden rattling inside the box caught his attention, however, and curiosity made him open the box.
Beauregard’s eyes widened when he started pulling box after box of beads out of the larger box. They came in every shape and size. Next were the boxes of charms and jewelry-making tools.
By the time he was done, the bed was covered in everything Beauregard would need to make hundreds of charm bracelets and necklaces, maybe even earrings. Beauregard sat there and stared, dumbfounded.
Beauregard smiled for the first time in days and reached for the first box of beads. Sebastian had found his one weakness, the one thing guaranteed to get through to him when nothing else would. Beauregard just had to wonder if his gift would get through to Sebastian.
Chapter 11
Sebastian sat behind his desk, the new one that had been put in since Derek’s attack, and took another sip of his whiskey. He wished he could drink himself into a stupor, but he wanted to be alert in case something happened with the baby.
The baby—now there was something to give him another reason to take a drink. He was going to be a father. He had no idea when he mated Beauregard that it was even a possibility. Now that he did, he was still in a state of shock.
Sebastian set his drink on the desk then cradled his head in his hands. He didn’t even have the joy of sharing Beauregard’s news with
him. He’d ripped that away from his mate and left an open, bleeding wound in its place.
He had fucked up so bad Beauregard was never going to forgive him. Sebastian’s throat ached with defeat. He was never going to forgive himself. How could he even begin to think that Beauregard would betray him? It wasn’t in his personality.
Sebastian had just jumped to the first conclusion when confronted by Beauregard’s announcement. What did it say about him that betrayal had been his first thought? What did that say about the world he lived in?
He’d been trying for days to come up with some way to get Beauregard to agree to see him. He had sent gifts, all of which had been returned. He had hovered outside Beauregard’s door. He’d even taken to sleeping on the couch in the hallway in case Beauregard needed anything in the middle of the night.
He was pathetic, and he knew it, but he couldn’t think of any other way to get through to Beauregard beyond forcing his way inside and demanding Beauregard talk to him. Sebastian chuckled and leaned his head back on his chair. Maybe that was the way to go?
“Come,” Sebastian called out when someone knocked on the study door. He knew it wasn’t the one person he truly wanted to see.
Galan walked in, one hand held behind his back. “I have something for you.”
Sebastian frowned and sat up straighter at the wry twist on Galan’s lips. He nervously moistened his lips. “What?”
Galan held out a small patchwork bag with leather ties. It had more colors on it than Sebastian thought were in the rainbow. He took it, confused, and immediately noticed that it was weighed down. There was something inside.
Sebastian’s curiosity took root. He untied the bag and peered inside. The light in the room shined off of something silver. Sebastian reached in and pulled the item out, surprised to find a bracelet in his hand.
“It’s a charm bracelet,” Galan said.
“I can see that.” And he could.
Colorful beads decorated the bracelet. Sebastian recognized them as the beads he had painstakingly picked out at the bead store. He also picked out the charms he’d given Beauregard, but he hadn’t chosen the charm dangling from the bracelet.
Sebastian held it up to the light to get a better look. When he did, a chuckle escaped his mouth. It was the first joyful sound he had uttered in days. The charm hanging from the bracelet was small and white and shaped like a bunny.
“Will he see me?” Sebastian looked up at Galan, hopeful. He felt his wish plummet when Galan shook his head.
“No, not yet.” Galan smiled. “But it won’t be long.”
Galan started back for the door, pausing when he reached it to look back over his shoulder. “He’s coming around, but he needs time, and you need to give him that time. I’m not sure I would have it in my heart to forgive my mate if he did to me what you did, but I’m not Beauregard, either.”
Sebastian nodded. He’d give Beauregard whatever time he needed if it meant he was allowed back into his mate’s life. He just hoped his mate hurried. He was losing his mind being away from Beauregard.
He couldn’t even use the mandate given to him by the elders that they had to consummate their mating at least once every twenty-four hours or lose their ability to shift permanently. According to the doctor, that had been negated when Beauregard became pregnant. It would start up again a little while after the baby was born, but until then, Sebastian had to wait on Beauregard’s forgiveness.
It was going to be a long, excruciating wait.
* * * *
Sebastian arched an eyebrow when Galan walked into his office the next day, his hands at his sides. Galan had no little patchwork bag in his hand. He knew. He looked. Sebastian’s shoulders slumped with disappointment, and he sat forward in his chair.
“What can I do for you today, Galan?”
Galan grinned and held out his closed fists. “Another gift from your secret admirer.”
Sebastian opened his hand, surprised when Galan dropped a small charm into his palm. He held it up to the light. It was a black dragon. Sebastian chuckled and held his wrist out, the one that he wore the bracelet on.
“Would you mind?” he asked as he held up the black charm.
Galan grabbed the charm, carefully attaching it to the bracelet. Once he was done, he stood back and made a slight bow. “I shall see you soon, my prince.”
“Will he see me yet?”
“Soon,” Galan called out as he walked out of the office.
“Soon,” Sebastian grumbled, his mouth thinning with displeasure. “Soon better get here really fast.”
* * * *
Soon dragged on for days. Galan continued to bring Sebastian a new charm each day, attaching them to his bracelet. A small silver wish box with Celtic symbols engraved on it came the day after the black dragon charm arrived.
The shiny red apple he received on the third day made Sebastian laugh until his sides hurt. He started plans that day to plant Granny Smith apple trees in the spring.
The golden carrot charm arrived on the fourth day. Sebastian remembered Beauregard stating that carrots were an aphrodisiac for rabbits. The implications behind the charm made Sebastian squirm with need.
The white snowflake charm on the fifth day made Sebastian smile. The snow was still covering the ground outside. That day, Sebastian ordered more firewood be brought inside and then ordered another fur cloak, this one in black.
The silver baby booties Galan delivered on the sixth day made Sebastian clench his hands into fists and press his lips together until he could ask Galan to attach it without crying. After Galan left, Sebastian started shopping for a nursery.
The white pearl wrapped in silver filigree that arrived on the seventh day was confusing, but Sebastian knew it held some meaning to Beauregard, so he didn’t question it. He did order a handful of small pearls to go between each charm.
When a small silver charm in the shape of a broken heart arrived on the eighth day, Sebastian broke down and cried. That night, he put Galan on baby watch and drank himself into a stupor.
When he woke up the next morning, his mouth felt like it was filled with cotton, and his head was booming. Even breathing hurt. He sat under the hot shower spray until the water ran cold, then dragged himself into his temporary bedroom and got dressed. At least, he hoped it was temporary.
Sebastian was sitting on the side of his bed, tying his shoes when he heard a knock on the door. “Come,” he called out.
He expected Galan, so he was surprised when a set of small, fur-covered boots stopped in front of him. Sebastian’s breath caught in his throat as he looked up slowly. His mind barely took in the white fur cloak. All he saw was his mate.
“Beauregard.”
Beauregard held out a clenched hand. Sebastian paused for a moment then raised his hand into the air, palm side up. Beauregard dropped something small into it. Sebastian didn’t want to take his eyes off of his mate, but the small item was important enough for Beauregard to deliver personally, so he knew he had to.
Sebastian glanced down at his palm. Tears prickled his eyes when he saw the small gold charm in the palm of his hand. It was two hearts entwined together, two fully formed, unbroken hearts. He awkwardly cleared his throat and tried to find his voice.
“Would you put it on for me?” he asked as casually as he could manage.
He watched Beauregard with hungry eyes as the man took the charm out of his hand then expertly attached it to his charm bracelet. When he was done, Beauregard moved to sit on the side of the bed next to Sebastian. The lack of speech from his mate started to make Sebastian feel uneasy. The man hadn’t said a word since he walked into the room.
“Do you forgive me?” he finally asked when he couldn’t stand the silence anymore.
Instead of answering, Beauregard reached into his cloak and pulled out a binder and handed it to him. Sebastian frowned at first as he took the binder and flipped it open then his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
“How to Properly Care for
Your Bunny Shifter,” he read out loud. The book was clearly handwritten, but what was it? The book was separated into several sections—foods, health, pregnancy, entertainment, and even sex.
Sebastian was surprised at the small smile on Beauregard’s lips when he glanced over at him. “What is this?”
“You need to know how to properly care for your bunny.” Beauregard reached over and turned to the first page. “You will notice the disclaimer. This instruction booklet will only work for bunnies that are mated to dragon princes.”
Sebastian swallowed hard. He reached over and held out his hand, palm side up. He waited, hoping. Beauregard seemed to hesitate for a moment then laid his smaller hand in Sebastian’s, entwining their fingers together.
Sebastian closed his eyes and just breathed for a moment, relishing in the feel of his mate’s skin against his. He had never felt anything so precious in his life. He just had to figure out how to tell Beauregard how much he was cherished. He didn’t even care if he sounded like a fool.
Sebastian opened his eyes and scooted off the bed, turning until he could kneel at Beauregard’s feet. He bowed his head and brought Beauregard’s hand to his lips. He didn’t even kiss them, just held them against his mouth. A soft sob escaped his lips when he felt Beauregard’s other hand stroke through his hair.
“I’m so sorry, Beauregard. I was a complete ass and…and…” Sebastian felt tears well up in his eyes when he raised his head. “If you forgive me, I swear you’ll never be sorry. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
“I just want you to trust me.”
Beauregard’s voice was so soft Sebastian would have missed it if he hadn’t been listening so hard. His chest tightened. He had to make Beauregard understand that he did believe him, he did trust him. He was just an idiot.
“Beauregard, love, I do trust you. I swear I do.” Sebastian dropped his head as his shame overwhelmed him. “The mo—the moment when you told me you carried our child should have been a joyous one for both of us. Instead, I turned it into a nightmare. I can never take that back. I know that. But I…I…”