Alaric blinked in surprise. “I guess that worked.”
My heart raced as fractures splintered the shell. A second later, it split into multiple large pieces, and the egg’s inhabitant emerged with a resounding cry.
I lost my breath at the sight of my baby. The newborn dragonet was normal in all ways—except one peculiar trait. Its pale green scales were covered in a downy layer of white fur.
Alaric was similarly spellbound. He stared at our newborn for a few long beats.
“It’s so cute,” Taylor murmured. He was so moved that a warm purr slipped into his voice.
Crimson’s face beamed with endearment. “And unusually fluffy.”
Alaric’s instincts kicked in. He gathered the dragonet closer to him, licking it clean. Our baby squeaked in complaint, but quieted down as Alaric pulled it into his fur.
Once his clean-up duties were complete, the dragonet’s down puffed up. It looked like a disoriented baby swan.
“You’re here,” Alaric murmured, his voice gentle as I’d ever heard it. “You’re finally here...”
My heart swelled with affection for both of them. I leaned down, kissing each one on the forehead.
“Welcome to the world, little one,” I whispered.
The fluffy dragonet blinked at me. I was stunned at the intelligence shining in those innocent blue pools. It was like our baby already recognized its father.
Father.
The word swirled in my chest, taking on new and deeper meaning. That’s what I was now. Not just a brother, a mate, or an alpha anymore. I’d been gifted a new facet of my identity. I was a nurturer, protector, caretaker. I was responsible for keeping this tiny new life safe and happy—and that was exactly what I planned to do.
After the excitement wound down—orat least, as much as a householdcouldwind down after the arrival of an adorable new baby—Alaric took a hot shower and finally reverted back to human form. He’d been a cat for so long that I’d missed the sight of it. In fact, I was so eager to see him that I felt no shame following him to the bathroom and watching him bathe.
Alaric smirked as he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Rivulets ran down his naked body.
“Hello, gorgeous,” I said.
Alaric was obviously amused as he wrapped the towel around his waist. “Hello, stalker.Andyou’re committing crimes with our baby in your arms, no less?”
I smiled and rubbed my cheek against Mint’s head. It was the only part of his body that wasn’t entirely covered with soft white fur. Pale mint-colored scales lined his snout like jewels, giving way to a crest of silky fur on his forehead.
Mint mewled. He sounded more like a kitten than a dragonet, which only made him cuter. Admittedly, I was biased.Mint could set my hoard ablaze and I’d still think he was perfection itself. I wasthatsmitten with him.
“Our baby knows nothing of crime,” I said.
Alaric’s playful smirk turned into a genuine smile as he lifted Mint from my arms. “Who’s daddy’s little fluffy chicken nugget? You are,” he cooed. Then he side-eyed me. “Don’t ever tell anyone I said that.”
I chuckled. “We’re alone, Alaric. You could say anything you wanted, and I’d never tell a soul.”
He gave me a tender look. “I know.”
Mint mewled louder. He batted his fur-coated paws against Alaric’s chest. Tiny needles protruded from his digits.
“Ow,” Alaric said. “You need to sheathe those claws, Minty. We’ll work on that when you get older.”
But Mint was as brazenly sassy as his daddy. He continued to complain, yowling louder.
“Speaking of chicken nuggets,” I teased, “I think he’s hungry.”
“Of course he is. He’s a growing baby,” Alaric huffed proudly.
He threw on an outfit, then wrapped up Mint tightly in his quilt. Mint quieted down like a scruffed kitten. The burrito-blanket prevented his flailing needle claws from shredding anything—or anyone. He looked adorable with just his fluffy white-and-green head poking out of the quilt.
