Page 173 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Epilogue

Athos

Three Weeks Later

“ R eally, darling, there’s no reason for you to waddle your way outside.” I smile, but it quickly turns to a grimace when my love glares at me like she’s mentally willing me to take a vacation in my jar.

“They’ve been out there for hours.” Charity huffs, shoving her hair away from her face. “It’s getting dark, and it’s time for them to come in. Veryn needs a bath, and we’re eating dinner as a family if it kills me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckle, siphoning over and grabbing my mate.

Perhaps I’m a little envious of her playful bickering with Bane. It’s enticing as hell when she’s feisty. Also, she looks nearly the equivalent of a seven-month-pregnant human, and I just really love the rounding of her stomach.

Good thing I’m currently without a bottom half, or she wouldn’t be able to miss my thickening cock in my comfy sweats.

Charity bites her lower lip, studying the expanse of my chest.

My shoulders pull back with pride.

It’s a heady feeling to know my mate is wildly attracted to me.

However, there are two shifters in the courtyard who panic any time Charity leaves the safety of her nest.

Yes, we ended up fully moving into Bane’s house. Mostly because it has excellent insulation, and small dragon shifters have exceptional hearing. None of us wish to traumatize Veryn, so moving into Bane’s home was an easy compromise.

A small roar comes from the courtyard, and it’s loud enough that even Charity picks up on it. She bolts for the door, ripping it open and running outside.

Veryn is fully transformed into a four-or-five-foot dragon. He’s beautiful, with green and blue scales and blueish-black wings. His wing span alone is impressive. He’s going to be fucking massive one day.

Eldritch in wyvern form peeks over the edge of Mrs. Segar’s roof. His wings extend, and in the next instant, he’s bomb diving the little alpha.

They certainly won’t be able to spar in the courtyard for long. As Veryn grows, he’ll surpass Eldritch’s size and will need to battle with Bane, but for the time being, there’s no way Bane’s full dragon form would fit in the courtyard.

Not without doing serious damage to all the houses.

“Ohmigod, Eldritch, I’m going to throat punch you,” Charity hisses as the wyvern in question connects with Veryn, sending him plummeting toward the oak tree.

“Christ, woman, do you have a death wish?” Bane snags her with an arm around her middle, just under her breasts, spinning her back to face the house. “This is training. Eldritch got in a solid hit. Veryn will learn from the side swipe and won’t fall for it again.”

“He’s not even seven! You play too rough with him,” she snaps, kicking backward at his shins.

“And you baby him like a human.” Bane kisses her temple, placing her back on her feet. “We’ll practice at my cottage from now on, so you don’t have to see it.”

Charity snorts, shaking her head. “You’re missing the point, but whatever. Gather your smelly selves and come in for a shower. Athos is cooking dinner.”

“You should be in the nest.” Bane bends, kissing her nose. “But I’ll grab the children.”

Eldritch in wyvern form lands a few feet away, letting out an obnoxious screech.

Veryn picks himself up from the roots of the oak tree, shaking out similarly to a dog. He releases an angry roar, like he’s actually pissed.

Charity’s eyes widen as she slowly turns to find Veryn barreling toward Eldritch.

I siphon over, grabbing my mate.

We land in the kitchen as I give her ass a squeeze.

A second later, the entire house shakes.

I shrug. “Boys will be boys.”

Charity sighs and brings her hand over to rub her stomach. “Here’s hoping for some feminine energy. I’m far too outnumbered as it is.”

My head tilts, wondering if that’s a sign the baby is a girl.

Nadia may have told Charity, but our sweet siren has been a vault.

“All right, darling, what can I interest you and the egg in this evening?” I chuckle.

Who knows why.

Maybe I’m the equivalent of a teenager, but the egg thing still makes me giggle like a child.