Page 52 of The Minotaur's Nanny Bride

The sun blazes overhead as Maya, Ellis and I make our way down the cobblestone path to Theron's home. Karona is beautiful this time of year, with the tiphe trees stretching their branches toward the sky and rirzed herb blooming in fragrant patches along the road. I adjust Ellis in my arms, his weight a comfortable presence against my chest.

"Someone's excited today," I say as Ellis squirms, his tawny fur catching the sunlight. At eight months, he's already showing the Ironhoof family's trademark size—larger than most minotaur calves his age.

Maya walks beside me, her silver-blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight. "He knows we're going to see his friends." She reaches over to tickle under his chin, and Ellis rewards her with a delighted gurgle. "Don't you, little one?"

My chest swells watching them together. Maya's gray eyes meet mine over Ellis's head, and that familiar warmth spreads through me. Seven months since she came into our lives, three months since I finally admitted I loved her, and every day I wonder how I got so lucky.

"You think Kai and Mira have grown since we saw them last week?" I ask, adjusting the bag of toys slung over my shoulder.

Maya's hand finds my arm, resting there with casual intimacy. "Children that age always seem to grow overnight. Especially Kai—he's shooting up like a weed."

We round the corner to Theron's street, and I can't help but smile at the impressive structure ahead. My best friend has done well for himself, though the home is modest compared to what his merchant status could afford. Practical, like the minotaur himself.

Before we even reach the front steps, the door bursts open. Kai charges out first, his horns jutting out from his black fur, growing exponentially at this age. Mira follows more carefully, her unusual silver-white coat gleaming in the sunlight.

"Uncle Dex! Aunt Maya! Ellis!" Kai skids to a stop before us, bouncing on his hooves. "Can Ellis play with us today? We made a fort!"

I lower Ellis to the ground, keeping a steadying hand on his back. "He's been practicing his crawling. Haven't you, little one?"

Ellis immediately pushes forward on all fours, moving with surprising speed toward the children. Mira kneels down, her amber eyes wide with delight. "Look, Kai! He remembers us!"

Theron appears in the doorway, his imposing frame filling the space. Despite his size, there's a gentleness to him now that wasn't there before Lyra. "Are you three planning to stand in my yard all day, or are you coming in?"

"Just enjoying watching the little tyrant escape," I call back, gesturing to Ellis who's now trying to grab Mira's dress with determined fingers.

Inside, Lyra greets us with a warm smile, her copper-red hair braided down her back with sprigs of gankoya woven through—probably to help with her morning sickness. Her pregnancy shows more prominently than Maya's, only two weeks away from giving birth, her belly rounded beneath her practical earth-toned dress.

"About time you all arrived," she says, hugging Maya. "I've been dying for some adult conversation that doesn't involve trade routes."

Theron huffs. "My trade routes put food on this table, woman."

"And fascinating dinner conversation," Lyra says with a wink, patting her mate's arm affectionately.

We settle in their sunlit sitting room, watching as the children play on the rug. Ellis has become the center of attention, with Kai carefully showing him a wooden equu toy and Mira clapping her hands when Ellis manages to sit up on his own.

"He's getting stronger," Theron observes, leaning forward in his chair.

"Takes after his uncle," I reply, unable to keep the pride from my voice. "The little one's going to be breaking hearts before we know it."

Ellis crawls toward a colorful ball, determination in his gold eyes—so like my sister's that sometimes it steals my breath. He bats at it with a chubby hand, sending it rolling, then laughs with pure delight.

The room fills with the sound of children's laughter. I watch Maya's face as she observes them, a warm smile playing on her lips, her hand resting on my arm. The simple gesture grounds me, reminds me how far we've come.

I lift Ellis high in the air when he crawls back to me, his small hands reaching for the sky as he giggles. "Look at you go! Soon you'll be running circles around all of us."

Lyra catches my eye from across the room and smirks knowingly. "Guess he's not the only one who's enjoying himself," she teases.

I laugh, the sound rumbling deep in my chest, contented in a way I never thought possible. "I think being a dad looks good on me." My eyes drift to Maya, to the small bump visible beneath her dress at three months pregnant. A new tenderness washes through me. "I just hope he enjoys being a big brother."

I watch as Lyra rises with some difficulty, her hand bracing her lower back. "Let's move to the dining room, shall we? I've been cooking all morning."

"You shouldn't be on your feet so much," Theron rumbles, instantly at her side.

Lyra rolls her eyes, but her smile is fond. "I'm pregnant, not incapacitated. Besides, Maya helped with the preparations earlier."

I glance at Maya, surprised. "You did? When?"

"This morning before you woke," she answers, a mischievous glint in her gray eyes. "Some of us don't need to sleep until midday."

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