Page 155 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

“Daddy Arnulf, your animal sounds silly,” Tia says, giggling as she pets my short beard.

I can’t help but laugh with her. “That’s because I’m not an animal, sweetheart. I’m an Eagle otherwise known as a raptor.” Tia’s eyes go wide as she looks at me.

“You can fly with me?” She gets off my lap and starts jumping up and down. “Momma! Daddy Arnulf can fly with me too.” Tia says with enthusiasm. “I have Daddy and Father that can fly with me.” Tia hits that high pitch squeal that makes all the wolves in the family cringe.

“Okay, little one, we can fly, but first we need to make sure everyone eats and is settled after your vacation.” I raise my eyebrows at her. I can see how tired she is.

“If I must, Daddy Arnulf. Will you tuck me in for my nap, please?” She tilts her head, looking up at me, and I can’t help but smile at her.

“Of course.” I stand up, scooping her up in the process. Ladon is fast asleep in his mother’s arms and in his human form for once. He could easily pass for a six-year-old versus Tia, who appears to be about four.

I follow Aurora up to where the twins have their room. We set up their bed to be a nest where they would be comfortable as either their animal or as children. Aurora climbs to the middle of the nest and lays Ladon down. I follow suit and snuggle Tia in next to her brother. They instantly reach for each other and have to be touching in some way, shape, or form.

Silently, we leave the room and walk swiftly down the hallway. “Sorry about before, Arnulf,” Aurora says. She softly sighs then looks over at me. “Honestly, I can’t help it. I hope I didn’t hurt you.” Her eyes convey her concern as she looks me over.

I smile as I lean over to kiss her temple. “Definitely much different than the way Eagle females are.” Lightly, I trail my hand down her abdomen to gently rest over her womb. “I, for one, cannot wait to see who joins our family next.” Aurora’s smile brightens immediately.

“Neither can I, to be honest.” She starts to laugh softly. “It’ll be tough to tell the difference between Jayce’s and Dominik’s pups.” She shakes her head still giggling. “Eye color is a dead giveaway unless they have my color.” She shrugs her shoulders.

A hearty laugh escapes my lips. “I guess we will worry about that when the time comes.” Gently, I pull Aurora to me as we head back out to the courtyard.

Several shifted dragons work on knocking down the remaining walls and the towers after they were emptied. “My Queen?” Marco says, then bows deeply.

Lightly, Aurora places her hand on Marco’s shoulder. “Yes, my dear Marco?”

“We are almost finished with removing the walls as well as the towers.” He motions to all the work going on behind him. “Do you wish a new wall to be built?” He tilts his head to the side, awaiting an answer.

I watch Aurora’s facial expressions as she surveys the courtyard. “Yes, we will rebuild them. This time stronger than before.” Aurora pulls away from me and starts to turn slowly. “Construct the walls with my children’s safety in mind.” Marco nods slowly.

“As you wish, my Queen,” he says as he brings his fist to his heart and bows deeply before taking off.

Aurora has a look on her face I can’t quite decipher. “Something on your mind, my love?”

A soft sigh escapes her lips. “Yeah, Marco and my other guards are well over five hundred years old. None have met their mates yet.” She looks longingly at me then my other bond mates. “Now that the war is over, I can only hope they find their mates.”

I understand where she’s coming from. In reality, I never thought I’d be blessed with a mate. “All we can do is hope. I’m curious, though.”

Aurora spins to face me, and her eyes narrow. “What do you know that I don’t know?”

Crap on a cracker, she’s gotten good at reading me. “What if one of your daughters ends up being one of their mates?”

Aurora looks quickly between Dante, Edgar, and Marco. “I couldn’t ask for more loyal and protective males for my children.” She smiles and nods slowly. “It’d be cool.”

“What if it’s Tia?” I raise an eyebrow trying to gauge her reaction.

Aurora’s eyes dart from the guys then towards where Tia is in the castle. “I’d be happy for her. Alaric may or may not be as accepting.” She busts out laughing. “Who am I kidding? A king of a powerful nation could be her mate, and he’d still try to keep her from the world.”

Another hearty laugh escapes my lips. “As long as he doesn’t lock her away in a tower, it’s okay.” We share a good laugh as we walk around the courtyard.

“Angel?” Klaus says softly. “Don’t forget we have all of those young males you spared to deal with.”

Aurora rolls her eyes. “I know, did we retrieve the females from where they were being held?” She takes on a very serious demeanor.

“Yes, angel. Grandmother and Helle are seeing to their care.” He smiles softly, knowing that has appeased her.

“Please have Elsa visit with me later. I wish to be checked over and start my vitamins,” Aurora says as she lightly touches her stomach.

“Do you think it took?” Klaus asks as he and I look at her excitedly.

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