Page 197 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

Alaric leads me back to our suite and into the master bathroom. Jayce and Dominik already have the shower running and set to the perfect temperature. I drop the robe to the floor and head straight for the shower, where my boys pamper the hell out of me.

“I’m sorry, my love, if I could do these battles for you, I would,” Alaric says solemnly as he lowers his head, semi-defeated.

I quirk an eyebrow looking at him, and then tilt my head to the side. “We both knew coming into this that I would be faced with challengers almost constantly. That is until they have faith that I am not like Vladimir and that as a hybrid, I can follow the old dragonic traditions,” I say, trying to soothe his nerves as Jayce works the shampoo through my tangled bloody hair.

Alaric comes to stand outside the stall leaning his forearm against the wall and then presses his forehead to his forearm. He sighs softly, then looks over at me. “I know, but it’s still not fair. Females are not supposed to be the ones that battle. But, for some reason, most of the males have no respect and raise a talon to my mate.” He says on a huff, half-sounding sad. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Klaus come over and start to rub his shoulders.

“I know with my people, females are revered, honored, and spoiled rotten. The fact that the dragons have no problem battling her concerns me greatly for Tia’s sake,” Klaus says as herests his forehead against the back of Alaric’s shoulder. I watch his arms slowly snake around Alaric’s ribs and hold him tightly.

“I know, and that’s the one thing that scares me about my daughter being in the world. Who’s to say someone isn’t going to challenge her, figuring that they may be able to conquer her.” Alaric lifts his head and looks at me. And I see the fear in his eyes.

“I’m not as worried as you are, my love,” I say softly, leaning my head back as Jayce massages my scalp and starts putting the conditioner in my hair. “I’ve already foreseen who her mate is. He comes from a great house with wonderful parents. We just have to wait until the proper time for them to meet,” I say with a gentle smile upon my lips as I wait to see Alaric’s reaction.

He whips his head up and looks at me, eyes open wide, jaw slack. It takes several moments for him before he’s able to formulate words. “You know who it is already?”

I nod slowly. “If my vision is correct, I believe, eventually, Tia will end up a bride of one of Gisella’s sons,” I say with a smile. My words bring Alaric comfort, and he nods slowly.

“I wouldn’t mind her marrying into that house. They’re good loyal friends and have offered us a ton of aid when we needed it.” He smiles as he straightens up and pats Klaus’s hands on his chest. “I would be honored if one of their sons became our daughter’s mate.”

“As would I, but keep in mind that not all visions come true.” I raise both eyebrows at him. “Dominik and Jayce will tell you that once upon a time I saw myself giving birth to a boy and a girl, one with white hair, one with black. The babies I saw were twins, and that has not come to pass.” I tilt my head to the side for him to gain some understanding.

“Sometimes these premonitions are more wishful thinking than actual for telling the truth about the future.” I smile asJayce finishes rinsing my hair. I step out of the shower and into the waiting robe that Dominik has for me.

“Well, for our daughter’s sake, I’m going to wish that your dream comes true,” Alaric says as he gently kisses my temple and then walks off with Klaus hand in hand. I have a sneaking suspicion my mate is going for a little stress relief, and Klaus has offered himself.

Dimitri comes walking in with food and beverages with all the little ones in tow. All of my children are shifted to that of their animals and running amuck through my massive bathroom. I can’t help but laugh watching each one of them as they play and roll around with each other. Arnulf moves over to the extremely large tub in the room and starts filling it. “I promised the children they can play in the water for a while as you eat your breakfast. I hope you don’t mind,” he says with a smile and playfully motions his head towards the tub. I nod gently, and he continues to fill the tub with just enough water that even the littlest one can stand without their head going under.

One by one, Arnulf brings each of the children into the tub and then sits on the stairs splashing water at them playfully. He is such a great father to the children. He plays with each of them equally and has no favorites. But I have a sneaking suspicion that will change when he has one of his own. They continue to play and splash while I eat my meal. Eventually, my father comes wandering in with his mate.

“I hope you don’t mind my intrusion, daughter, but I wished to see how you were,” Nicodeamus says as he sits on the bench close by, dragging his mate into his lap.

“You’re never intruding, Father, that is unless it’s the bedroom and I have the door locked.” I smile and laugh, and he just shakes his head at me. “The battle went much easier than I suspected this morning, and I was quite shocked to find thatonly one house stood against me,” I say before I bite into the strip of bacon.

“I was kind of shocked myself to see that the house of Equus decided to try to stage a coup. They are not the smartest nor the strongest of the dragon families. But I do have to say you handled it beautifully.” My father reaches over and grabs a biscuit off the tray, and starts snacking on it. “You showed mercy that even your great-grandmother wouldn’t have. You are making a statement that you bear her power but not her blood thirst. You may just win all the houses over on that stance alone.”

“I don’t wish to be a tyrant,” I state flatly as I stare into my coffee mug. “I don’t wish to have to rule the kingdoms with my talons. I wish for peace and prosperity for our people more than anything else in the world.” I take a small sip of my coffee and then hold the mug between both my hands. “These species have known nothing about war and loss for the last two generations. I wish to change their perception of the Lycans, as well as the Dragons.” My eyes move to Arnulf as he plays with the babies and then back to my father. “Change begins with me, and I will be damned if my children will have to do as I have done the last two hundred and thirty years.”

“You have no idea how proud it makes me to hear you say those words,” my father says with a smile as his mate leans into his side, holding on to him tightly. “We shall make the change happen slowly but surely so that everybody is happy and comfortable. I do suggest, though, reparations to be paid to the families that lost members in Vladimir’s coup.” His eyes drop down to the mug that he had picked up. “Money doesn’t fix things, but it can help elevate the living conditions that those who were left behind are living in.”

I ponder my father’s statement and think it over thoroughly. “I believe what you said has a lot of merit, Dad. Quietly take apoll and see which species besides the Great Bears have been afflicted the most by Vladimir’s actions. The Great Bears need to have their village rebuilt as well as brought up to more modern conveniences.” I sigh softly.

“They took the greatest hit because of Vladimir slaughtering their people pointlessly.” I stare down at my mug before taking another sip. My eyes drift up, and I look at Dimitri who is now smiling proudly at me.

“I am most grateful to you, baby girl, for looking out for my people. They may be resistant to change, but I will help you all that I can.” He smiles and bows slightly to me.

“I know that you wish to try to heal old wounds quickly, but to be honest, actions speak louder than words, and it’s going to take time for my people to trust anybody outside of their community,” he says as he pulls his daughter, Odette, out of the tub and starts drying her off.

Nodding slowly, I remain watching him. “Would you be so kind as to go speak with your people and advise them as to what I wish to do for them?” I ask, sounding slightly unsure of myself. “For a fact, I know the bears will be quite resistant to any help given to them by someone who even has a drop of Lycan blood in their bloodline.”

“We will smooth things over with them. Me going alone will not make the statement that you wish for change. It’ll appear as though you are scared to go stand before them,” Dimitri says as he stares down at his daughter, drying her off. “Whenever you’re ready, we can go, or you can invite them here or to the Marelup Castle, whichever you’re more comfortable with.” Dimitri raises an eyebrow at me and I nod slowly.

“We will go meet with your clan tomorrow afternoon.” I reach out to Arnulf through the bond, requesting he sends a message to Dimitri’s clan. “Today, we spend time as a family and figure out how to help everyone.”

CHAPTER 154

Dominik

I spentthe better half of the day yesterday planning for the trip down to see Dimitri’s clan. We enlisted the help of several other dragons just to be able to spread the family out and ensure our safety. The flight over was easy and quick, and the children enjoyed it immensely.

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