The Fractured World 5

by David Aries

  Trez groaned. “Seriously, how did my mom make this look so easy? I bet she never had to push babysitting onto some green goliath so she could make dinner. I’m just glad the rest aren’t here ye—and Brandon’s standing right there.”

  I waved my fingers as I came inside. “Hey, girls. Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

  “N-not at all, sweetie,” Akko said. “We’re just… preparing for tonight’s feast.”

  “Butchering tonight’s feast,” Trez said under her breath.

  “Didn’t Akko tell you to stop being so hard on yourself?” I replied as I moved over and brushed my fingers up her cheek, shifting a lock of snowy blonde hair out of her face.

  Besides Casella’s new hairstyle and me turning myself from a caveman back into a normal member of society, Trez was the only of our group who had seen her appearance really change since we’d moved here. She’d grown her hair long and was keeping it trapped in a sloppy ponytail for the time being. As for her figure… well, she was a mother now.

  A captivating, curvaceous mother I found more beautiful than ever.

  “You’re trying your best, and that’s all we can ask for,” I continued while looking deep into her sky blue eyes.

  “All you can ask for,” Trez countered. “I like not being a failure, thank you very much.”

  “A failure? You? No chance. You’re an amazing mother.”

  “Get real…”

  “It’s true. You can compare yourself to your mom all you want, but were you her first child? Do you remember how she coped when you were still a baby?” I shook my head. “You’ve been through some big changes, and you’re still adapting. Just you wait; you’ll be a super mom before you know it.”

  Trez chewed her bottom lip as her hands played with her apron.

  “Why don’t you take a break, sweetie?” Akko said while clearing away the burned food. “I’ll take things from here.”

  As much as I wanted to claim I’d done the most to help Trez adjust to motherhood, that crown had to go to Akko. She’d been a star who juggled helping around the house with her job narrating children’s books.

  We weren’t exactly sure how she got the gig—a recommendation from a resident of Ulium, we presumed—but it couldn’t have been better with our house coming with a recording studio. It meant Akko was never too far away to offer Trez a helping hand.

  If only they’d reward her by publishing one of her stories…

  The fact she was narrating other people’s work yet nobody was interested in hers was a subject we chose not to mention around the household.

  “I don’t know,” Trez muttered in reply.

  “It’s almost feeding time, yes?” Casella said as she poked her head into the kitchen. “You go. Faris, Sylvetty, and I will help here.”

  “Me?” Faris said as she was dragged inside.

  “I dinnae know how to cook!” Sylvetty complained, the last of the eavesdroppers pulled out of hiding.

  “But you both know how to clean, yes?” Casella replied.

  The kitchen was looking a little sootier than usual.

  I grabbed Trez’s hand. “That’s us relieved. Come on. Let’s go find our little girl.”

  Ordinarily, that might have seemed tricky in a house of this size, but Vay was babysitting.

  If there was one person it was never difficult to locate, it was Vay.

  Her loudness echoed through the halls, beckoning us to the main lounge. Inside, our wall-sized TV replayed Vay’s crowning moment while she rested her championship belt over our little girl’s cot.

  “Who’s my little champion?” Vay cooed. “That’s right… you are. You are!” She clicked her watch and started taking pictures. “Oh, you are too adorable. That’s right, smile for Auntie Vay.”

  Our precious baby giggled.

  Vay grabbed her chest. “Ah! My heart. How is it possible for anyone to be so cute?”

  “She takes after her mom,” I said as I waltzed in beside her.

  And I wasn’t lying. With the exception of her brunette hair, our little girl looked how I imagined Trez did as a baby. She was a sweet thing with pale skin, two tiny tails, and little furry bands on her chunky limbs.

  I couldn’t even begin to describe how much I loved her.

  Vay chuckled. “Look who it is, littlest one. Mommy and daddy have come to play.”

  “Play? When it’s Brandon, sure. With her, this is all business,” Trez said as she unfastened her apron and scooped our little girl into her arms. “There, there. Drink up. That’s our girl.” Bit by bit, the woe that had plagued Trez in the kitchen vanished. Her lips curled into the most radiant of smiles. “Our little girl—our little Emily.”

  Emily. It was a name that meant so much to me, and one I was beyond happy Trez had agreed to call our child.

  It had belonged to my older sister: the one I’d lost.

  Some would think that meant I viewed my child as a replacement for her, some sort of second coming, or a way to make amends. But that wasn’t true at all. It was simply a way to honor the person I used to love more than anyone else.

  Now I had a house filled with those who fit that criteria, including the darling little cherub who made my world brighter whenever I laid eyes on her.

  I couldn’t stop looking at her. It was like her cuteness hypnotized me.

  “How can anyone be so adorable?” Vay cooed, another victim of Emily’s magic. “She makes me want one of my own.”

  “Hey, there’s nothing stopping you,” Trez said.

  “Except my championship. I can’t defend it if I’m with child.” Her eyes turned to me. “Sorry, stud. We’ll have to wait for my retirement. Besides, this house will be busy enough without me joining the fun.”

  “Huh?” I said.

  Vay’s usual grin disappeared. “I meant… forget I said anything!” While forcing out a laugh, Vay made a quick escape from the lounge.

  After I watched her go, I looked at Trez. “What was that about?”

  Her eyes widened before looking away from me. “Erm… probably nothing. You know, Vay—total moron. She’s only good for fighting and babysitting.”

  I narrowed my gaze.

  Something fishy is going on here, but what?

  I’m going to get bottom of this before—

  Emily burped.

  Oh my word, so cute.

  And, just like that, I completely forgot what I was thinking.

  “Sounds like someone’s full,” Trez said while patting Emily’s back. “Better get this one to sleep. Don’t want her grouchy for when everyone shows up.”

  “I know Keith’s dying to see her,” I said while rubbing Emily’s chin. “I’m sure he’ll forget all about his own baby worries when he sees how precious she is.”

  “Millith’s only due in another five or so months, right?”

  “Something like that. They sure didn’t waste any time.”

  “Says the one,” Trez mumbled under her breath.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “Nothing. Just… nattering to Emily. Isn’t that right, sweetums?” She cooed and rocked her from side to side.

  Slowly, her eyelids drooped.

  My heart pulsed. I seriously couldn’t get enough of her. To think I’d ever be blessed with such an adorable child, not to mention the best partners and a house fit for royalty.

  Could anyone get luckier than me?

  “My Brandon!” Casella said.

  I twirled around and found not just her but all my mates crammed together in the entryway.

  “Hey, girls. Finished in the kitchen?” I asked.

  “Something like that,” Akko said as her hands fidgeted behind her back. “Everything’s cooking as we speak. They’ll be ready later. Before that… we, erm…”

  “We kinda wanna have a wee chat before everyone gets here,” Sylvetty said, doing likewise.

  In fact, everyone bar Vay appeared to be holding something behind their back.

  “We were debating announcing i
t at the party,” Casella said while smiling as wide as could be, “but thought it would be best to tell you first.”

  “Before Vay spoils everything,” Faris said.

  “I forgot, okay?” Vay replied while sulking like a scolded child.

  A seven-foot-tall scolded child with muscles that could rip a man in half.

  Second by second, my heart beat harder and louder, thumping against my ribcage. “What… what are you girls talking about?”

  Akko gulped. “Y-you see, sweetie. The thing is… we’re… kind of…”

  “We’re… well,” Faris began before her mouth dried up.

  Even Sylvetty couldn’t seem to get her words out.

  Casella, however, had no such difficulties. She giggled before saying, “My Brandon!” She pulled a small screen from behind her back that displayed a word my translator had no problem interpreting. “We’re pregnant!”

  In unison, Akko, Faris, and Sylvetty all revealed matching screens, right down to the same confirmation message.

  My mind and body froze as one.

  I guess that explains what Vay was talking about…

  It seemed things were about to get hectic, but it was a challenge I was all too ready to face. After all, it wasn’t one I’d be facing alone.

  It was one I would never need to face alone.

  Author Notes

  Hello, everyone. Thank you for making it to the end of this book and The Fractured World series as a whole. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed the experience.

  Want others to come along for the ride? Then make sure you leave a review. Would you commit to a five-book series without knowing if it was any good? I know I wouldn’t.

  If you spot any errors, please let me know at david@davidaries.com. If nobody tells me about any problems, I won’t know to fix them!

  And, finally, make sure to follow my newsletter so you don't miss out on my next series. It’s the only guaranteed way to hear about any new stories by yours truly.

  You can sign up here.

  With all that said, it’s time to wave goodbye to you all and The Fractured World. I hope you had fun and I’ll see you here next time.

  Tatty-bye.

  More From Me

  Did you adore this book with such outrageous fever that you won’t be able to survive physically without reading another? Then why not check out something else I wrote.

  Half-Breed Hunter

  Arrival (Book 1)

  Outlaws (Book 2)

  All Jake wanted was a normal life. So imagine his surprise when he’s plucked from his job by a naked demon-fighting catgirl and given an important message: he’s not human. He’s a half-human, half-demon hybrid who the real deal want dead.

  His only chance at surviving involves teaming with a trio of stunning demon hunters and working to tame the monster surging through his veins. With his beautiful companions helping him out, will Jake be able to liberate the dystopian land that he now calls home? Or will this new and dangerous world prove too much for Jake and his girls to handle?