Page 83 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

Gently, I kiss Aurora’s temple and nuzzle her cheek. Suddenly she sits up and waves her hand frantically at me. I assist her in standing and move with her quickly. Apparently, Tia moved and is now pressing on Aurora’s bladder. I’ve never seen a woman so happy to make it to the toilet. I stand nearby, not really sure what to do while my mate is peeing her brains out. Dear Lord, how much did that girl have to drink? Alaric eventually joins us just in time for Aurora to finish up. It’s times like this I’m thankful I’m not a girl.

Slowly, I raise my eyes to watch Aurora’s stomach change into unnatural shapes then settle down. Aurora starts laughing and rubs her stomach. Alaric and I are both concerned, and Aurora is over there laughing. We collectively shake our heads at her and move back into the main suite.

There are several platters of assorted raw meat on the center table for Aurora to choose from. She waddles over and grabs her favorite chair on wheels, and rolls the rest of the way over to the platters. The rest of us are taking turns leaving the room to eat the food that may make her sick. Alaric and I decide to go last since we went first at lunchtime. Aurora is rolling laps around the table, picking at chunks of raw meat.

Klaus’s grandmother enters the suite and looks shocked at what Aurora is doing. She makes the ultimate mistake of trying to take the raw meat away from Aurora. Without batting an eye, Aurora freezes Klaus’s grandmother to the ground.

“Give me back my supper! I’m hungry!” Aurora’s voice is the blended tone of her beasts. Her eyes are liquid mercury with the dragon slits. Aurora is mad and hungry, definitely not a good combination. Klaus runs over, takes the platter from his grandmother then offers it back to Aurora, and softly kisses her lips. It’s frightening how fast Aurora can go from demon bitch from hell back to adorable sweetheart. I swear to the gods, there’s a faulty switch somewhere that randomly flips.

Klaus remains at Aurora’s side, calling her his angel. He gently caresses her stomach and then kisses it. You would think he would learn by now. The minute his lips touch her stomach, the baby decides to kick him. We’ve almost started placing bets as to how long it takes for Tia to strike. Tia is definitely her mother’s daughter. The baby is already very opinionated about what she wants. She’s not even here yet.

Tonight we have a surprise for Aurora; we completed the nursery for Tia. We know it’s not going to be used long, but it’s the thought that counts. Aurora’s starting to yawn, so we decide now is the perfect time to show her what we’ve been working on. Since Jayce gave up his room, he’s the one tasked with leading Aurora to the nursery.

We signal Jayce and he moves to Aurora’s side. She smiles and takes his offered hand, following him. It now dawns on her that Klaus’s grandmother is still stuck. Aurora says “oopsie” and releases her icy grip. The old crone isn’t happy but oh well, she’ll have to get over it. We move as one towards Jayce’s room and Aurora’s eyes light up. I have to believe she thinks she’s going to get laid. I come up behind Aurora and cover her eyes before we lead her into the room.

Aurora hates surprises and well, as a group we decided this was one worth taking the risk. The room is painted in a soft blue-grey; the accent colors are rose and silver. We are pretty sure Aurora wouldn’t want a really girly room because who knows what gender the next babies may be. We really lucked out with Aurora. She’s efficient and doesn’t buy too many lavish things. I slowly remove my hands from her eyes and back away. On all the walls there are scenes with each of our animals painted on them. Some would say it look like a horror emporium. I’d say it looks just right.

Slowly Aurora opens her eyes and gasps. Her hands fly up to cover her mouth. Happy tears stream down her cheeks as sheslowly walks around, looking at everything. This is definitely one of our better surprises for her. Aurora turns and walks up to each of us, thanking us and kissing each of us repeatedly. Nicodeamus finally joins us and is as moved by the gesture as Aurora is. This is definitely one of the best nights of my life, and it’s only going to get better from here.

CHAPTER 70

Aurora

February-

The poor guys have been going nuts, especially this past month. Jayce and the guys not only built me a nursery, but they are also at an undisclosed location setting up for my birth. Poor Klaus and Dimitri are on Aurora duty today. Klaus has been my designated pillow most of the day. Dimitri is taking care of my every want and need. These stupid Braxton contraction thingies have been happening most of the day today, and are getting rather annoying.

I swear to the gods, if Klaus’s grandmother pokes me one more time, she’s gonna be a grandma-cicle real soon. “Guys, I need to pee again!” I practically whine out my words because I’m at my wit’s end with this. I don’t know how other species carry for longer than three months. The baby is upside down, and I keep seeing the occasional ass print pressed against my stomach. The guys help me up; Klaus and Dimitri escort me to the bathroom. A girl can’t even pee alone anymore, all because of what happened to my mother. I get it, really. I’m the first of my kind, and no one knows what will happen with Tia and me. We make it to the bathroom, and I kick the boys out as far as they will go.

I know I’m getting closer to time. I mean, if guesses are right, it’s any day now. It’s been really odd lately; I feel like the baby never sleeps. I bet my baby has a full-blown circus going on in there. Thankfully, my bathroom trips are always uneventful; I wobble and waddle and take care of business. We head back to what has been named my palace of pillows since regular chairs are so freaking uncomfortable right now. Klaus climbs in first, and Dimitri helps lower me back into my epicly soft snuggle area. The guys curl up around me, and I decide to take a nap until my next feeding.

I wake up late in the afternoon and my stomach feels really tight, worse than it did before I laid down for my nap. Klaus and Dimitri are both out cold, I’m actually kind of jealous. I reach out through the bond to sense how far away Alaric and the twins are. From what I can discern, they are on their way back. I’m seriously not feeling good, and I can’t block the guys from feeling it anymore. Dimitri and Klaus wake up with a start, holding their stomachs and looking at me. They know it’s me; they also know I’ve been hiding my discomfort from them.

Klaus moves and kneels before me, wrapping his strong arms around my legs. “My angel, what can I do to ease your discomfort? Name it, and if I can do it, I will.” Klaus looks up at me, his eyes full of love and concern. I don’t know what to say to him at this point. It’s a natural occurrence; I can’t stop what’s already starting. I reach down and rub Klaus’s scalp before doubling over, holding my stomach. Fuck, I think labor just got real. I feel my beast surge, scales ripple down my arms and spine. It’s time, and now every single one of my mates knows. The power surge I feel is absolutely insane. I start pulling energy from the closest, biggest dragons I can sense.

Nicodeamus comes running into the room and looks at me with my scales rippling across my skin. “Shit! It’s time! It’s time!” He starts running around the room, grabbing my go bagand several other little things he thinks we need. Dimitri and Klaus come to my side and help support my weight as I almost double over from the contractions.

“Alaric is almost here; we need to go outside now.” We start to walk through the hallways; one of the dignitaries attempts to block our forward progress. I feel a power surge unlike any I have felt before. I raise my now-shifted hand at him and a large ice spike shoots up from the ground, impaling him where he stands. We need to leave, and we need to go now. My beast doesn’t feel safe here, and she wants to get out quickly. The guys look at me briefly and then proceed to expedite our departure. By the time we make it outside, Alaric has landed with several other dragons. He made arrangements earlier for everyone to fly with me.

“I can’t climb.” I’m almost crying as I look up to Alaric’s dragon for understanding. I double over again, and this time my water breaks. We’re running out of time, and now my father and the guys are starting to panic. Alaric opens his dragon’s hand, extending it to me. He has his little finger curled so that it would act like a seat for me. Dimitri and Klaus help me get comfortable before Alaric closes his hand gently around me.

I feel safe and protected in Alaric’s dragon’s hand, but I’m too warm. Through the bond, I reach out to him.I’m too warm. Please use your frost if you have any; otherwise, I need to—Alaric’s hand slowly becomes cooler until it is a more comfortable temperature for me. I sigh softly and relax against the palm of his hand. I can feel that he is pushing himself to fly faster than he usually would.

It feels like only moments have passed by the time Alaric lands in our secret location. The first face I see when Alaric opens his hand is my father. I carefully step out and almost go to my knees from the next contraction. They seem to be worse without Alaric; I look back to him in tears. “Shift, love, I needyou!” I hold tightly to my father’s one arm as the other guys run up to assist. Alaric shifts quicker than I have ever seen him do, and he runs over to me. Something about him soothes my beast, and the contractions are not as severe as they were before. I’m having a hard time making the journey to wherever they are taking me. Dominik shifts and lies down, allowing me to climb onto his back. He moves slowly and cautiously through the cavern, making the trip much more pleasant for me.

As we enter this grand opening, I can’t help but look around in awe of the beauty around me. Various crystals line the walls, as well as hang down from the ceiling. I feel an odd sense of home here. An instinctual urge calls to me to go to the water.

“Dom, please bring me to the water; my beast wants to be in the water.” I look over to my father and he’s smiling. I love my dad, but he looks like a happy Hannibal Lecter.

“Something I need to know, Dad?” He’s still smiling, and if these freaking contractions didn’t hurt so much, I would almost find him comical at the moment.

My father takes my hand and begins to lead me to the water’s edge. “Your ancestors, when they chose to carry their babies as humans, used to birth in these same waters. They have healing and soothing properties. All the great queens of our bloodline have swam in this pool. Now it’s your turn Aurora. Go forth and deliver the future into this world.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead, then moves towards the opening of the cavern. He shifts to his dragon and takes on a blocking position, guarding the only entrance.

Alaric and Klaus decide they will go into the waters with me first. As we wade deeper into the water, a sense of calm washes over me, and the contractions are bearable. The guys take turns switching out, helping support me in the water. The only constant throughout the hours is Alaric holding tightly onto me in some shape or form. I scream, cry, and want to give upat some point. I can easily take out a horde, but this tiny little being, this piece of me, feels like she’s trying to rip my insides out. At some point in the last few weeks, the guys have managed to stock juices here for me as well as food—mostly for them.

When I reach hour number ten thousand and eighty-five, I feel like I’m finally progressing somewhere. My beast urges me to climb onto the moss-covered island. “I need to move. I need to climb.” I’m panting between words as Alaric and Dimitri help me up onto the moss. I crawl on all fours until I find a spot that my beast and I agree on. The contractions are stronger and closer together now, and I’ve regained the ability to partially shift. My forearms shift to my armored gauntlets. As I sink my talons into the earth, I bear down through a contraction.

“Alaric, you need to get over here!” Klaus calls as he sits at my feet. For now, he’s in charge of watching for the baby. I have my head resting on Dimitri’s shoulder, my talons sunk into the earth on either side of him. Jayce and Dominik were on either side of me, pouring cool pool water over my back to keep me comfortable. Alaric is on his way back with my juice when Klaus calls him. The panic in Klaus’s voice makes my father turns his great dragon head to look in our direction.

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