Smitten
Page 27
Losing Fafnir for the second time had dealt a blow to the family, but as the year waned into cooler months, life resumed its natural rhythm. He was held in their hearts but not forgotten.
***
The late October sun warmed the air, creating a pleasant autumn afternoon for a picnic. It was perfect for entertaining family. Ēostre turned her face to the breeze and inhaled the fragrant flowers perfuming the rose garden before smiling at her company. While she missed Leiv’s landscaping, the skilled White House gardeners made it easy to appreciate their talents.
“You’re going to regret sitting on the ground when it’s time for us to get up,” Chloe teased her. “I know your baby marathon is only halfway over, but man are they big.”
“There are hot guys in suits I can call to put me back on my feet,” Ēostre reminded her.
Chloe stared.
“What?”
“I’ve been a terrible influence on you. I hope Max can find it in his heart to forgive me.”
“Forgive you for what, Chloe?” Max’s strong voice carried across the lawn.
“Whoops! Busted.” Both women giggled.
“Are you two creating trouble?”
“Who, us?” Ēostre gave him her most innocent smile and smoothed her hand down the skirt of her navy blue sundress. The light, airy fabric flattered her blossoming shape. “Do I look like a troublemaker to you?”
“No, you look radiant as always.” Max leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Chloe, little Brandt also looks well. How is he enjoying his first trip to DC?”
The infant bundled in Chloe’s lap yawned and blinked his eyes open, as if he knew he was the subject of discussion. The newborn gray was gone, and in its place, the bold golden amber of his father’s eyes peeked up at her from beneath sleepy lids.
“I thought some fresh, east coast air would be good for him. I was afraid to bring him out so early until Ēostre called with a few pleasant reminders.”
Dragon cubs typically wandered out of the hoard with their mothers from birth. It helped them to grow strong, and likewise, Brandt seemed to appreciate the time away from home. He could already lift his tiny head and support his own neck, unheard of for a human child that young. In some ways, her half-dragon children developed slowly, and in others, they excelled.
“He looks like Saul, right down to his ginger hair.” Max grinned after making the observation.
“He never told me he was a carrot-top as a baby. It’s kind of hysterical. When the doctor passed him to me, I was confused for an hour until Ēostre explained.”
They all shared a laugh, which fully awakened the baby. He smiled up at them and waved his tiny fists. Chloe hugged him against her and closed her eyes. Brandt was the miracle baby she and Saul didn’t expect to ever have after long years of trying to recreate the magic that gave them Astrid. Once again, she had a close brush with death, and she’d decided two little ones were enough. Human bodies weren’t made to deliver dragon-blooded infants.
Max kicked off his fine leather loafers and took a seat on the blanket with them. “So, am I interrupting work or pleasure?”
“Both,” Chloe replied, chuckling. “Ēostre invited me to lunch to discuss her plans for the charity.”
“I also wanted her thoughts on a few matters. Saul told me Chloe’s mother was…” As Ēostre’s voice trailed, her eyes cut to Chloe and studied the woman’s reaction. Her daughter-in-law smiled at her, unfazed.
“My mother was awful, and I ended up in the system once because of her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Chloe,” Max said after an awkward pause.
“Don’t be. It’s over, she’s gone, and I’ve spent all of Astrid’s life trying to be the mother I should have had. I don’t mind talking about it, especially if it helps Ēostre figure out what direction to take her program. A lot of people fall through the cracks out there.”
“I think grants to help with adoptions and changes to improve our foster system are noble goals. If anyone can do it, Ēostre can.”
Chloe’s grin brightened her face. “Damn straight she can. I’m proud of you guys. You’ve done so much for everyone already since getting here, Max.”
Something fluttered in her belly. Ēostre tuned out her two companions, held her breath, and waited to see if it was her food settling or something more. Another quivering wriggle confirmed her hunch, and with an excited squeak, she seized Max’s fingers and moved them to her belly. Two swift kicks bumped up against their palms, followed by a flurry of activity.
“Is that…?”
“Our babies,” she whispered.
“They recognize Max’s voice,” Chloe said. “It happened to me whenever Saul was around, both pregnancies.”
“They’re so active.” Marveling over the movement, Max leaned down and said, “Hello, my little ones,” directly to her belly.
“It’s like they’re dancing in here.” Ēostre laughed in delight and rubbed her enormous curve. Tracing slow circles always seemed to calm her babies down. Her fascinated husband assisted, and within seconds, all became peaceful in her tummy.
“I don’t envy you two at once,” Chloe said. “Astrid was a handful on her own.”
“Speaking of my favorite granddaughter, where is Astrid?” Max asked. “I’m surprised she’s stepped away from her brother for even an instant.”
“Visiting with Marcy. Last I heard, she was spending her time with the hippocampi herd.”
“Not with Javier?” Ēostre snagged a strawberry from the basket and nibbled on it. She’d been on a red food kick for over a week now. Strawberries, apples, bell pepper, ahi tuna, and every red meat available under the sun had been on her cravings list. The chefs called her obsession cute and strove to provide everything their pregnant first lady required.
Chloe shook her head and shrugged. “Nope. I don’t think there’s much love there. Saul and Teo are incredibly disappointed that the kids aren’t getting along the way they wanted. I had to remind them Astrid has the maturity of a woman, or at the very least, an older teen now. She’s nineteen and can speak her own mind.”
“We spoke at length about their plans for Javier and Astrid,” Max admitted. “I didn’t want them to make my mistakes, so they’ve decided not to press the matter or encourage it further.”
“Good. If it happens, let it happen naturally,” Ēostre said.
“Especially after she punched Javier in the nose yesterday and left him laying out on the sand,” Chloe commented cheerfully. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Ēostre?”
Ēostre choked on her strawberry and Max patted her back. “Absolutely not,” she wheezed before making a great effort to put on a neutral facial expression. “I might have told her to make her feelings clear, always, but I’m certain I made no mention of hitting. I think.”
“I believe,” a new voice chimed in, “that she is merely following the example that a dragon woman is a strong woman who doesn’t let anyone bully her.”
“Ian!” Ēostre waved at the man as he crossed the grass toward them. “I hadn’t expected to see you today.”
“I had some positive news I thought you’d like to hear. Unless you’d rather it wait for an official meeting, of course.”
“Nonsense,” Max told him. “Grab a bit of blanket or grass and tell us what’s happening.”
“Thanks. First, though, how are you two lovely ladies doing?” Ian asked, taking a seat.
“You know me, busy, busy, busy,” Chloe replied. “I’m hoping all this fresh air makes Brandt take a good long nap so I can have one as well.”
Ian laughed and reached over to smooth his fingers over the baby’s reddish hair. “I remember those days. And you, Ēostre? Are you looking forward to your upcoming sonogram?”
“How did you know about that? The Secret Service has been going through hoops getting it arranged. It’s top secret, down to the location, and apparently even my doctor isn’t allowed to know until a day before the exam.”
&n
bsp; Ian’s good-humored grin made him appear ten years younger. “I’ve been working closely with Director Nichols, remember? I refuse to let anything or anyone slip through your security details again. Which brings me to the good news I came to share.”
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, old man,” Max said. “You have us on the edge of our figurative seats.”
“I have it on good authority that the slayers are twisting in circles. Some of them want to end the hunting,” Ian announced.
“Some?”
“They’re divided on it. Word on the street is there’s a faction of new blood opposing their traditions. They were born to the old guard and don’t want to murder dragons on their parents’ word that you’re evil.”
“Imagine that,” Max mused. “Kids having minds of their own.”
“It’s a changing world. I don’t expect that’ll be the end of it,” the eagle shifter drawled, “but we’ll remain vigilant and on the defensive.”
“Yes. The slayers may be silent, but we don’t want to take any risk with Ēostre’s safety.” Max’s warm hand returned to her tummy, inciting a new series of flutters inside her womb. Ēostre raised her eyes to his face and drank in his elated features.
“I told you everything would work out,” she whispered up to him. “No more hiding in the darkness and obscurity. If we can win over the slayers, show them there’s no need for more bloodshed, imagine the life we can have. The life our children will have.”
Max took the hand she’d lifted to his cheek and drew her fingers to his lips, brushing a tender kiss across her knuckles. “I’m as smitten with you now as I was the first day we met, and I could never have done this without you.
And if all went to plan, he would never have to.
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Other Books by Vivienne
The Wild Operatives Collection — 3 for the price of 1
Making Waves: A Paranormal Romance
Loved by the Dragon – 3 for the price of 1
Impractical Magic: A Halloween Paranormal Romance
The Panther’s Legacy
The Right to Bear Arms
Let Us Prey
Training the Alpha
Table of Contents
Smitten
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue