“We were told there was a mix-up today, and that we’re free from babysitting duty,” Matteo said with a slight grin.
“Yeah, ‘cause Alaric made my big, sweet Cobalt wake up early for nothing,” Muzo complained, yawning. As usual, there wasn’t a hint of malice in his voice.
“Excuse you, mutt,” I said. “I did no such thing.”
“Yeah, Jade’s the one in trouble,” Aurum confirmed. “Right, Mylo?”
His mate, Mylo, was the only omega sitting on the floor with the kids. As the newest parent, he seemed reluctant to let his twins be watched by unknown-quality babysitters.
“Uh-huh,” Mylo said. He sounded unsure, but he smiled as Kiara and Desiree clambered over his legs. “Erm, I know we omegas are supposed to have a break today, but why isn’t Viol babysitting instead?”
A bitter grunt broke into the conversation.
“I got kicked off duty,” Viol muttered with a scowl. He leaned against the opposite wall like a sulking teenager. “Thanks tosomebody,” he added, shooting a murderous glare at Jade.
Jade didn’t seem to care that Viol was trying to blow him up with his mind. “You were not ‘kicked off’ duty. You were relieved of it for a single day so Alaric and I can take over,” he said calmly. “I know it’s hard, but you’ll live.”
Viol glared daggers at him. Then his gaze slid to me. Its intensity wavered, like Viol wasn’t quite sure what to make of me. I stared right back at him with a matching frown. I didn’t know what Viol’s problem was, but I certainly wasn’t about to smile at an alpha who was glaring at me.
That threw Viol off guard. He blinked, confused, then let out a noise between a scoff and a laugh.
“That’s one stuck-up cat,” he said, not unkindly.
Jade’s hand sneaked around my waist possessively. “Yes, and he’smystuck-up cat, thank you.”
Viol’s brain seemed to load like a slow website. Then he understood.
“Oh. It’s practice forthem.” As Viol walked off, he muttered, “Whatever. Still mad about it.”
Ignoring Viol’s adult temper tantrum, I strode over to the middle of the rug and sat next to Mylo. His twin girls stopped to peer curiously at me. Then, in unison, they crawled over my legs like a pair of furry snakes.
Mylo smiled, apparently reassured by their approval of me. “Watch their needle teeth. Baby ferrets are terrible.”
I smiled back, unable to contain my bubbling happiness as the pair of ferrets explored my legs. I recalled the omegas’ night we’d attended before Mylo laid his egg, and how much he’d wanted it to hatch as a rare black-footed ferret. His wish was granted when the egg hatched into not one, but two kits—a pair of twins.
As Kiara and Desiree squeaked and nosed my pants, the other kids took notice of the new toy—namely, me. The three dragonets ran closer on all fours. Ruby, the oldest, had the best mobility. With the tiger-striped pattern on his rich orange scales, he was a total visual fusion of Crimson and Taylor.
Next came Heather, the second oldest. Their lavender scales matched their name perfectly. Heather found my cotton slipper particularly interesting and started gnawing on it.
“Take it, if you want,” I said. “Jade will buy me a new pair. Right, Jade?”
My mate chuckled as he kneeled next to me. “Of course.”
Lazuli was last. She pounced on my other slipper, joining Heather in the hunt. Together the dragonets relinquished my bare toes from their cotton cage. Lazuli growled triumphantly, shaking her head like a dog killing a squeaky toy.
“Atta girl! You get that slipper! She takes after me,” Muzo declared proudly.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. My heart felt warm and full of joy. To be honest, when I found out I’d be babysitting other omegas’ children today, I expected to be consumed with jealousy. That was a bad habit I didn’t think would disappear anytime soon... except, out of nowhere, it vanished.
Was it because Jade confessed his love to me last night?
“Looks like these two have it under control,” Aurum said, nudging Mylo. “Don’t worry. Jade’s a prick and Alaric’s annoying—”
We both pointedly raised our eyebrows at him.
“But they’re family,” Aurum went on, smiling at his mate. “They’ll do a great job. Right, guys?”
An unexpected happiness spread through me. Jade hadn’t told anybody about our relationship yet, but Aurum had just called me his family.
