Page 66 of The Monster's Mate

“Perhaps we should all be a little more mindful of the foul language?” I suggest.

“Good luck with that,” Veryn says.

“So, wait. How do I breastfeed a fully transformed baby dragon?” Charity asks as Sera’s little wings flap.

“I think she’s supposed to eat the shell.” Bane scratches his jaw, coming closer. “One of us should have paid attention to dragon reproduction.”

I snort. “My kind is infertile.”

Veryn finally drops his gaming console, rolling over and blinking at his baby sister. The newest addition to the family squeaks and runs over to him.

“Hi, Sera.” He scoops her up and laughs. “Eww, you’re still kinda slimy. You need a bath.”

Charity pushes her lips together, watching the two snuggle. “I’m sure she’ll change back when she’s ready.”

Bane laughs. “She’s got my DNA. Of course, she’s going to be a pain in the ass.”

Athos siphons through the air, landing at Bane’s side. “Truer words, my friend.”

Sera spends several hours as her tiny dragon before transforming into her humanoid form. She has black hair, and quite a lot of it for such a little thing, and big blue eyes.

“She’s surprisingly alert for a newborn.” I grin at her chubby cheeks.

“Veryn was the same way.” Charity scoops the nude baby from my arms. “Okay, I need a diaper and a onesie.”

I blink slowly, trying to determine what the second item is.

Athos appears in a shimmery cloud, dropping the requested items next to Charity.

“You’re the cutest little dragonling, aren’t you, precious?” He proceeds to tenderly boop Sera’s nose, and her tiny face shakes like she’s trying to latch.

“I think Bane was right.” Charity straps the little lady into the nappy. “She got hungry and transformed into the form I can feed her in.”

I truly didn’t know baby dragons could feed from their mother’s breast, but it’s fascinating that Charity’s body can produce the nutrition necessary to feed Serafina.

Charity gets the baby into her tiny outfit as she begins to fuss, and I grab the pillow in preparation of offering it to her when she needs it.

My chest fills with warmth and contentment as Charity coos down at our daughter. I never thought I’d be able to experience the joys of being a parent.

I can’t wait to see exactly what eternity holds for our family of six.

Fourteen More Years Later

“Where the fuck have you been?” Bane growls, stomping toward the front door.

“Ever the picture of peaceful parenting.” Athos chuckles, elbowing me as he nods at Bane.

My eyes widen as I get a look at Veryn.

To be fair, I would also question his current state. He’s covered in mud and, by the smell of it, a fair amount of blood.

“I’m not a kid anymore.” Veryn’s head tilts, and his eyes glow yellowy-green, signaling his dragon is close to the surface. “I don’t have to tell you when I go out. As a matter of fact, I haven’t inyears.”

“That doesn’t apply when you disappear for the better part of two fucking days,” Bane growls.

Things have been complicated since we had a talk with him about staying away from Ember. They’re most certainly mates, but the age difference is a bit too significant for this stage of their life.

Ember is at the age of wolf maturity, but the residents of Haven follow the human realm guideline of eighteen for adulthood, which isn’t a bad thing. Or it won’t be in a couple of years, when she’s fully an adult, but for now, it’s safer to keep the two of them apart, no matter how miserable it makes them.

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