Marren ran up to his brother and started murmuring incoherent and coherent things. Darak instantly stopped crying, but refused to let go of his father. Rylan scooped up Marren, but before they strode to the playroom with the kids they looked over at her and grinned. She cared for them deeply, couldn’t picture her life without them anymore, and knew that fate had to have had a hand when Rylan purchased her from that auction. She rested her head on the back and closed her eyes, but the peace was short-lived when she sensed Soran sit beside her. Their appetites for her were insatiable, but Tessa couldn’t deny that she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
He rested a hand on her abdomen, and she marveled every time at how much larger their species was than hers. His red hand covered nearly the entire width of her swollen belly, and when he moved his palm back and forth heat started to fill her. “Once you have the baby and feel up to it, perhaps we can take a trip? I hear the beaches of the Aquatica Ocean are especially beautiful this time of year.”
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Soran. Over the last two years she had learned a lot about her males, and realized that they may be hard and gruff on the outside, but when it concerned her and their children they were gentle giants. They protected them, treasured them, and made her feel like there was no other female in the world for them.
“I’d like that.”
Soran was the adventurer out of the three of them, whereas his twin, Zarek, preferred to stay home with his family surrounding them. Rylan took over the leadership position, but he did it with pride. There was never a time that she felt like her safety, or the safety or her children, was ever an issue, even when the scaly beasts had risen up from the lakes of fire and made their way into their home. Her three males had destroyed them in a matter of minutes, and never once did she have any doubt that they couldn’t succeed in doing that. She lifted her hand and placed it on Soran’s cheek. Even now, after all this time, she still marveled at how much warmer their flesh was compared to hers. Their son gave a mighty kick, and the smile that her male gave her was blinding. “I think my son is ready to come out.” He rested his head on her belly, as their child, whom they had named Sarikus, continued to kick.
Tessa rested her head back once more, closed her eyes again, and let the warmth from Soran—figuratively and literally speaking—seep into her. Sometimes life threw obstacles in someone’s path, and tomorrow never seemed like it would come. But with a little strength and persistence, anyone could become a believer that happily-ever-afters do happen. Tessa just happened to be at the right place at the right time for hers to strike, and she would never regret it a day in her life.
The End