Page 75 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

From this line-up, I can tell you for sure that Dimitri and Alaric will never get any ass play from Aurora. Jayce has a fifty percent chance, I have a seventy-five percent chance, and Dominik has a one hundred percent chance.

~Later thatday~

The day proceeds like expected. Aurora is all over the place, ripping into presents that the visiting dignitaries have brought for her. It is quite a comical sight if you ask me. Dimitri is in his Great Bear form, being used as a back support. Dominik and Jayce are in their Dire Wolf forms, investigating every present and person that wishes to get close to Aurora. I am in charge of keeping Aurora fed and her drink full—easy enough. I snap a few pictures of Aurora sitting on her pile of pillows, with Dimitri’s bear sitting tall behind her, looming over top of her. His gigantic paws on either side of her body and her back against his bear’s chest.

Alaric is going about his kingly duty, greeting everyone as they approach then introducing them to Aurora. Every once in a while, there is a potty break needed and it becomes a procession. Aurora tells Dimitri, he lies down, and she climbs up onto his back. When his bear starts moving, the twins will flank him, escorting them to and from the bathroom. All I can do is shrug my shoulders and clean up after our pregnant mate. Aurora returns, and the gift-receiving line resumes well into the night.

Last to arrive is Alaric’s mom and sister. Two guards are assisting, bringing in two large boxes with them. I can visibly see Aurora tense up the minute they start entering her space. Aurora scoots further under Dimitri, and she pulls Jayce closer to her by his tail.

Alaric has notices what Aurora is doing and decides to meet his mother and sister halfway. Both begin to protest about not being allowed closer. Aurora scoots herself backward and out, under Dimitri’s arm, and still pulling Jayce with her. Now she’s got my attention. Dominik is moving to block the front of Dimitri. I creep around the back, and I catch Aurora climbing onto Jayce’s back, getting ready to make a fast getaway.

Being the good mate that I am, I walk casually to the door in the back of the throne room and stand ready to open the door for them. Alaric looks at me briefly and begins to maneuver his mother and sister so that their backs are facing where Aurora once was. When he is in position I nod to Jayce and Aurora, they sneak to the door, and I let them out.

I follow behind them, making sure no one is following us. We make it to her room, and Aurora busts out laughing over her well-executed escape plan. “I can’t believe we pulled that off. If I had to sit there and deal with his mother and his sister, I think I was going to make Dimitri eat them,” Aurora says with all seriousness.

I just have to ask the burning question. “What is it about those two that you don’t like, Aurora?” Jayce steps out of his room, pulling his shirt over his head, indeed, just as interested as I am.

“Gut instinct,” Aurora says, sounding quite bored. “They just set my fur and scales on edge. I’m not comfortable around them. If the mother was such a crown supporter, she should have sent her people to guard my father. Instead, she did nothing.” Just asAurora finishes the sentence, Nicodeamus walks in, catching the tail end of the conversation.

He walks over and wraps his arm around his daughter. “Trust your gut, daughter. It’s your animal’s instincts that will keep you alive.” Nicodeamus starts laughing to himself, then looks at the two of us.

“Congratulations on a brilliant escape plan there, boys, excellent teamwork.” Nicodeamus looks down at Aurora and gently moves so that he can touch her belly. “Your child is quite strong,I can feel its power already. Stubborn little hatchling won’t tell me if it’s a boy or a girl, just like someone else I know wouldn’t either.” He playfully raises an eyebrow at Aurora and smiles at her.

Aurora starts to giggle and rub her belly. “Silly baby, tell Grandpa your secrets. Mommy wants to know.” She continued to rub her belly then freezes, she goes so far as to stop breathing. Her eyes become that of her beast, and frost begins to coat her skin.

“Nicodeamus! What’s happening? Is she alright?!” I nervously ask him. Jayce is in panic mode and begins to summon the others. The door flies open several seconds later. Aurora takes a deep breath, then freezes yet again.

“I feel the baby through the bond,” Alaric says before he goes and lays his hands over Aurora’s, on her belly. He, too stands way too still for comfort, Aurora’s frost begins to coat him slowly. The rest of us are concerned as fuck, and Nicodeamus is standing there smiling.

“The baby is talking to its parents. I believe we will know its gender shortly.” Nicodeamus moves away and begins to pour glasses of brandy, ready to celebrate.

Suddenly, there’s a burst of frost. Aurora and Alaric stand there smiling at each other. Slowly, Aurora turns to look at each of us; tears are threatening to roll down her cheeks. “We have adaughter.” Aurora starts to cry, resting her forehead on Alaric’s chest.

Alaric wraps his thick arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. “We have decided to name her Tiamat Andrea Kraus. Tiamat was the dragon Goddess of Chaos; Andrea, after Andre and his great sacrifice,” Alaric says proudly as he kisses the top of Aurora’s head. Nicodeamus moves forward and gently rubs his daughter’s back. The look he and Alaric have on their faces says it all. We are witnessing a real miracle. The first daughter of a first daughter that happens to be the daughter of a first daughter herself. Three generations of first daughters is unheard of for any species, especially dragons. Alaric and Aurora make room and bring Nicodeamus into their little hugfest. They are all snuggling in, all nice and tight. The three of them are sobbing happy tears. Let’s face it, Nicodeamus went from no family to a daughter, to now having a granddaughter on the way.

I look around the room at the rest of us in turn. Aurora is far enough along that the baby can communicate somewhat with her parents. Each mate is taking the news of a daughter differently. Most of us are weeping tears of joy. Dimitri is trying his best to hold himself together after hearing the name. Jayce and I move to embrace Dimitri and hold onto the big guy as he fights hard to resist crying.

Dominik is standing watch over us all, allowing us to have our moment to process what’s happened. We all take turns swapping who is hugging whom. It comes down to Aurora and Dimitri last. The big guy drops down on his knees before her and kisses her stomach. We depart the room, leaving those two alone. They’ve had the roughest time with their relationship, and it isn’t even their fault. Sebastian and his mother screwed them over and damaged their bond. I can tell you one thing: I wouldn’t want to be Elena at this point. Aurora is going to gut her when she finds her. I retire to my suite for the evening.

Best Christmas ever.

CHAPTER 63

Dimitri

January-

I have decided that I am not leaving Aurora’s side unless she asks me to. I’m concerned for her safety and especially her health while carrying her first child. Ulrich is still stirring up trouble on occasion, causing minor incidents periodically. I have a feeling that fucker is going to try something when we least expect it.

Little does that rat bastard know, I’m constantly expecting it. This morning, I’m escorting Aurora into the throne room for the typical first week of the month meet and greet with the local nobles. Alaric is overseeing the training of the troops for the next leg of our journey. Aurora has been in deep thought, receiving intel from other eagle shifters that she had me hire to work for her.

In the last few months, not only has she managed to locate Elena but she has been tracking her movements. If I know Aurora, she’s plotting to attack Elena the minute she’s healed from giving birth to her daughter. Two War Dragons have answered Aurora’s call to arms. They remain in the corners of the throne room, acting as extra security for her. I’ve personally vetted these two and remember them from Anca’s rule. It’sinteresting to know the same two War Dragons that used to escort Anca now watch over Aurora. They are loyal to a fault; they have also confirmed my suspicions that Vladimir still lives in the old castle. He’s disfigured from Nicodeamus’s fire, but alive, sadly.

Ulrich is back in the throne room, starting shit again about having his title stolen by a mutt. Aurora looks at both of the War Dragons and halts them in their progress towards Ulrich. “You still haven’t learned, Ulrich? I am of two royal lines and two mighty species. Your ass will never sit upon this throne as long as any of my bloodline or my mates breathe. Stand down and live, proceed and die,” Aurora states in a very bored tone. Her hand rests upon the swell of her stomach. She looks to be the size of a woman that’s five months along now.

I move slowly around the room, positioning myself not far behind Ulrich, just in case he gets stupid enough to try anything. From somewhere behind me, I hear a rustling and a click. Before I can react, a dart goes whizzing past me, right at Aurora.

Ulrich side steps it shortly after the click, proving he knows about it. Aurora’s shifted hand comes up without missing a beat, and the dart bounces off her heavily armored scales. A single nod of her head sends the War Dragons into action.They grab the man behind me and Ulrich.

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