Page 159 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

Eventually, Arnulf returns from scouting the surrounding areas. He shifts back to his human form, and one of the staff members brings him a robe. He surveys the scene before him, making sure that everything is safe and that he could speak freely. He comes up alongside me and Alaric, waiting to make sure it is okay to talk about his discoveries.

Alaric’s eyes shift to that of his dragon as he looks around the courtyard. He leads us off and out through one of the openings towards Mirror Lake. We pass over what he calls Apple Tree Hill and then down into the lower area. The lake is off into the distance, and the sun is just starting to set. Once he is sure that we are out of hearing range and no place for anyone to hide, he motions for Arnulf to start.

“As Dimitri had earlier stated, there is a hunting cabin to the north on the far side of the lake.” Arnulf motions in the general direction in which he had spotted the cabin. He finds a stick nearby and uses it to draw in the dirt so that we have a rough map to go by.

“There’s several different caverns with chambers that extend far underground that aren’t too far from here.” Carefully, he draws those additional chambers and tunnels and how far he suspects that they go.

“Generally speaking, if there are any Strigoi left, they would be in this tunnel system here.” He circles the area in which he suspects is the deepest of the cavern systems.

“I suggest that Marco and at least one other Black Dragon go to both of the openings to the cavern system.” He draws X’s on the ground where he would position the two Black Dragons.

“Since their acid breath is dense and heavier than air, it should creep slowly along the cavern floor. With any luck, if they breathe enough of it into the caverns, it should reach our targets if any exist.”

Alaric studies the drawing on the ground carefully. He reaches out through the bond to Dimitri and updates him as to where we currently are. He also calls forth for Dominik to join us to make sure that everybody is on the same page. The only mate he does not summon is Klaus because of his important work with Aurora at the moment.

It takes several moments before everybody finally arrives and starts studying the map that’s on the ground. Marco and another Black Dragon arrive shortly after and shift back to their human form. Both men come over, exchanging handshakes and back claps with all of us.

Alaric goes over the suggested plan yet again, and seeks Dimitri’s council and knowledge of the area. Dimitri confirms the suspicions that the caverns do run much deeper underground than we originally suspected. “There is a secondary entrance to the same cavern system from another smaller one,” he says calmly as he draws the second system with its entrance on the map as well.

Dimitri issues suggested orders to Marco and his friend, Damien, as to where they should focus their acid breath. Tonight would not be the best time to do it. If the tunnels do hold any Strigoi, they would be able to escape out into the night.

Since the Strigoi are creatures of habit and tend not to roam far from where they were laid to rest, this is the most logical place to find them. We agree that this is the best plan to make sure that the last of them fall.

We head back to the courtyard to help with the final bits of construction and destruction. According to Aurora’s wishes, she just wants to have a low-lining wall close to the castle but a more formidable one further out. Her thoughts are that the babies, as they grow, need a safe place to play. She doesn’t want them growing up feeling like they are trapped or prisoners, like she did. She wants them to know freedom but also safety as well. I really do commend her for being able to see past everything that she had been through. Most people in those circumstances would have been broken, but not our Aurora. Thankfully, everything that she lived through only made her stronger.

Dominik decides to head in and double check on how the renovations inside are going. Dimitri heads back to make sure that the bears are doing well with the woodworking in the throne room and main foyer.

For now, I head over to where I last saw my mother and request for her to follow me. We walk over to the small gardens that manage to be preserved and have a seat. “What’s on your mind, Jayce?”

Helle knows me all too well. After all, she is a mom. I fidget with the bottom of my shirt yet again, like I always do. “To be honest, Mom, I’m a little worried. I want to be a good dad. I want to be the best mate that I can be, but I didn’t have the greatest example.”

Mom smiles and wraps her arm around my shoulders, and holds me tightly to her. “Yes, it’s true your father was a horrible man, but you are the exact opposite of him. I don’t think there is a spiteful or hateful bone in your entire body.” Mom smiles and kisses my temple.

“It’s easy to say that, Mom, but I have killed. I killed Sinclair of all people because he went after Aurora.” I hang my head in shame, having killed someone I had once loved.

“Oh please Jayce! That drama queen had it coming to him. He went after your true mate. If you didn’t kill him, I’m sure that she would have.” Mom releases me and stands before me, looking me dead in the eye. Her wolf surfaces for a mere second and then recedes just as quickly. “You have a good heart, Jayce, don’t ever let me hear you speak ill of yourself again.” She lightly pats my cheek and smiles.

“Okay, Mom, you’re right.” I sigh softly and lightly shrug my shoulders. “I just don’t want to fail any of the children born because I’m not good enough at being a dad.”

“See, this is exactly why you will be the best dad ever. You are so worried about failing that you are going to do everything within your power not to.” She gently grabs hold of my hand and starts leading me back into the castle. “Let’s go have a nice cup of tea and sit in the library and find something new to read. I hear there’s a new Poe retelling in there.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and starts laughing softly.

Mom and her horror stories. I swear I have no clue how she doesn’t have nightmares every night. The descriptive writing of her favorite author makes my fur stand on edge. If it were me, I would be waking up in the middle of the night whimpering like a puppy. It looks like this is how I will be spending my afternoon, having tea with mom and reading books. There are worse ways to spend my afternoon, but there are also better ways. Our parents are only with us for a little while, so I’m going to enjoy the time I have with her. Maybe later this afternoon I can catch up with everybody else and see how their days went.

CHAPTER 126

Klaus

Aurora’s stepsnever falter on her way to the east wing of the castle. My hand remains on her lower back as we move through the corridors, with Elsa on her left holding her hand, showing support. It’s a very emotional and touchy subject that we’re about to discuss with these females. A painting down the hallway catches my attention. As we get closer, it looks exactly like Aurora but with black hair. “Angel, look. It’s a beautiful painting of your mother.” I motion to the painting, and Aurora pauses to look at it.

“Mom was younger than I am now when she died.” Softly, she sighs and moves forward to touch the picture frame. “If memory serves me right, mother was a little over a hundred and fifty years old when she had Seraphina and me.” Sniffling, Aurora turns away from the painting to get back on track.

“Little one? Do you wish to talk about it?” Elsa asks softly as she strokes Aurora’s bicep.

“No, thank you, Grams, some things are better left to rest than to dredge up.” Aurora’s eyes flicker between her human grey and her beast’s mercury.

“It’s not good to repress things, angel,” I say gently as I brush my fingertips on her shoulder.

“I know, but right now there are unwanted pups that can possibly be saved. I wish to focus on them rather than deal with what’s rolling through my head.” The depth of her pain is evident in the way she’s looking at me. I nod slowly and give her a break. It’s only a temporary solace for her. I will question her mental health later when all of her mates are present.

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