"No need," I assured him, bending down to kiss the top of his head. "It was more than worth it." I was about to suggest that I go and fetch Leia from her spot with Trevor in the waiting room, when the door began to creep open and a tiny face peeked in. "Hi, princess."
"Is Nolan here?"
"Who, baby?" I asked, confused.
"Nolan," she repeated patiently. "My baby brother."
Colby and I looked at each other and then our eyes dropped to the baby who had apparently had his fill and was dozing on his daddy's chest.
"Nolan," Colby repeated, smiling when the sleepy pup cracked his eyes, giving us the first glimpse of eyes that were a deep jade green. "I think he likes it."
Leia tugged on my jeans, trying to climb up next to her daddy. "Wanna see!"
"Okay, princess." I set her next to Colby on the narrow bed. "Be careful, though," I warned when she started squirming closer. "Daddy needs a chance to heal before you start climbing on him."
Leia stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "But I'm the big sister!"
"Yep," Colby agreed, reaching out to stroke her hair. "Maybe you and Papa can hold Nolan over on the couch for a minute."
"Okay!" Leia scrambled down, running for the weird fake-leather pull-out sofa thing under the window. "I'm ready, Papa!"
I slipped my hands under the pup, holding him for Colby to kiss before I kissed my Omega and tucked the sleeping pup against my chest. Settling onto the couch, I placed Nolan in Leia's lap and guided her small hand to his back. "You've got to keep a hand on him to make sure he doesn't fall."
Leia nodded seriously, stroking her brother with her other hand. Her violet eyes staring into the distance as her fingers unerringly found the heart-shapedbirthmark on his neck. "It's just like mine."
"Can you see him, princess?" I asked curiously. After all, nobody was looking at the pup from a direction that would show her the mark.
"Of course, papa," she said airily. "Just like I see you and daddy and Uncle Vlad and everybody."
I cocked my head. We'd done a lot to try an determine how our daughter saw without working eyes, but I couldn't remember if we'd ever just asked her. "How, baby?"
"In my heart, of course," she giggled.
I looked over to Colby. His shrug was promptly followed by a wince as his body reminded him it was still healing.
"Knock knock," Trevor's voice came from the door. "Do you want me to take little miss naughty pants back to the waiting room?" he asked, his voice teasing.
"Hey, Trev," Colby greeted him warmly. "Come on in and meet the newest addition to the Blood Valley pack."
