Page 3 of Medusa

The baby launched herself gleefully into her arms, making Maddie laugh and smile down at the child. “I like you, too.”

She led Chloe to a room beyond the kitchen that had several portable cribs set up. “We can move them around, depending on the child. Some prefer to sleep in a noisy environment, so we would bring the crib into the main room for them. On hot days, we pull them outside and set up sun shades in the breezeway.”

“That’s fantastic,” Chloe said enthusiastically. “Should we bring anything from home for her?”

“Anything you think might make her feel more comfortable. For children as young as Atlanta, we generally suggest a t-shirt that you’ve worn recently, so that they can smell something comforting that reminds them of home. Breastmilk, of course. Diapers, if she has sensitive skin. We don’t put any diaper cream, unless she’s having troubles, because it’s better for their skin to breathe. When were you thinking of potty training her?” Maddie kept her expression neutral.

Chloe laughed. “We haven’t even considered potty training yet! When she shows interest in it, I guess.”

“That’s a good attitude to have. Every child reacts differently to potty training, and you don’t want to push her into something before she’s ready for it. We will follow your lead on potty training when it’s time, so that she doesn’t get mixed messages.” Maddie led them back into the playroom.

Atlanta froze when she saw the other children, the zebra dangling by one leg from her mouth.

Maddie chuckled. “Would you like to play with them?” She sat cross-legged on the ground and put Atlanta in the relative safety of her lap. “This is Shana, Alexander, and Damien.” She pointed at each child in turn, who mostly didn’t look up from what they were doing.

Encouraged by their disinterest in a new playmate, Atlanta reached out for a nearby block and swapped the zebra for it, drool running down her chin.

“Teething, are you?” Maddie said. “We’ll get you a frozen teether and put it with Lyta’s. She can commiserate with you, poor thing.”

“Her fifth,” Chloe supplied, sitting beside them.

“And you’re still nursing her? Brave woman,” Maddie said.

Chloe laughed ruefully. “She learnedveryquickly not to bite me or she’d lose access to her food.”

“That would do it,” Maddie said, smiling in sympathy.

“I’m so glad you had space for her,” Chloe said, reaching out and squeezing Maddie’s hand. “Human-wolf babies with wings are rather frowned upon in Earth daycares.”

Maddie almost choked on her laughter. “You think?”

CHAPTER2

“Forfuck’ssake,get your head out of your ass and get laid already!” Augustine roared, two inches from Jaden’s face.

Jaden was impressed. Augustine had actually used the slang correctly for once. “Maybe you’re the one who should get laid!” he shouted back, wiping spittle from his face. “You’re so testy, you’re obviously not getting any!” He loved goading his big brother about his sex life, not that Augustine was ever forthcoming with details, despite being mated to the Goddess Hera.

“My temper has nothing to do with how much sex I’ve had lately andeverythingto do with you waking me up at the crack of dawn every morning this week by tackling me out of bed!” Augustine growled. “Maybe if I got a full night of sleep, I would find you moretolerable!”

“Tolerable?” Jaden sputtered. “Forgive me for wanting to spend moretimewith my brothers!”

“As if! You wake me up, drag me outside for a run, and then take off. We never spendtimetogether!”

“Maybe if you weren’t such anold manandslow as fuckyou’d be able to keep up with me!” Jaden shouted back.

“I’m only four years older than you, and if I’m slow, it’s because I have not had enough sleep!” Augustine pointed at the doorway. “Out! Now, before I throw you out on your ass! And stay the fuck out of my room!”

“You can’t kick me out of my own house!” Jaden growled. “I pay my equal share.”

Augustine snarled, his purple dragon scales rippling over the skin of his face, half-transforming between one breath and the next.

Shit.

All right, here we go.

Jaden twitched, feeling his dragon starting to make its appearance.

But Augustine had more control over his form, and as he caught an untransformed Jaden up in his powerful jaws, Jaden had to concentrate on hardening the skin around his abdomen where Augustine’s teeth were uncomfortably close to tender organs.

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