Page 23 of His Siren Prince

“There she is!” I shouted as the most beautiful girl in the world flung herself into my arms, and I pulled her close, taking in her fresh ocean scents. All the tension in my body fled as my daughter giggled.

“Papa! That tickles!” She laughed again as I rubbed my beard against her soft face.

The courtyard spread in a wide half-moon, and at the center were the arching golden doors of the palace. But now that I had my girl in my arms, my attention swam up to the man sitting on the front steps.

Azul grinned at me as I swung Seriphine into my arms, and her tiny hands clutched my face.

She pouted as she made me look at her, and I could already imagine what a fierce queen she would be one day.

“Hello princess. Now why are you awake so early?”

“It’s my birthday!” Her smile grew as wicked as it could for a three-year-old as she met me with all the haughtiness of her father. “Did you bring me a present?”

I burst out laughing as Seriphine quickly scowled. “Why are you laughing, Papa!?”

I sighed, leaning forward to hug her again.“Happy birthday, Seriphine. You look very regal today.”

That was one of her favorite compliments.

“Shall we go and see your daddy?” I asked, even though I was already striding towards him.

I was dirty from days of riding from the Black Mountains in the far north, where the demons had hidden. But there was a birthday feast coming, and I was sure her maids would wash away my grime from herthree times over before arranging her hair and clothes. And it ached to be apart from Azul even a second longer.

My mate had placed himself in a rocking chair right next to the doors that led to the grand banquet hall, and I felt like I was returning to a small house with a porch.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of how stunning he looked. He dressed in the same style he wore when I first met him, and the deep blue of his skin was even more vivid against the soft, red strips of fabric.

“Daddy! Papa’s come home!” Seriphine cried out as we crested the last step to stand before him.

Against his chest he held our young son, Kyros, and his belly was already swollen with our third.

I loved Azul in any form, but with a rounded stomach, a babe in one arm, and smiling up at our daughter, he was perfection.

I felt so huge and awkward as I stood above him in leather and sweating under furs. And I still couldn’t believe I would be so lucky as to mate with him.

Seraphine was chatting happily about everything they had done so far over the weekend. The birthday of a royal was a huge affair in any nation, and according to my beautiful girl, hundreds of gifts had been pouring in along with nobles and dignitaries

Like Azul, she basked in the attention.

“But I just want to know what Papa bought me. Grandma said you were away traveling to another far-off country. Is that true? I want to hear all about it! But only after you give me your present, okay?”

“Of course, princess,” I said as I placed a kiss on her forehead before dipping down to kiss my mate.

“You were gone too long,” he murmured, his ear fluttering, the stunning blue scales of his cheeks shimmering as he smiled.

“You’re looking very regal today too, Your Majesty,” I said as I leaned back.

He sighed happily as he met me with an even softer smile. “Welcome home, commander,” he said.

My heart clenched at how tired he looked, but it was understandable when I had left him with our children. It was another of the reasons I had raced so hard to return home.

I rarely received letters on the battlefield, and I had no news of how any of them were doing.

Azul had wrapped Kyros in a golden blanket, and he was sleeping soundly, despite his chatty sister. I dropped to my knees again, reaching out a trembling hand to stroke Kyros’s forehead. His nose scrunched, but he stayed sleeping.

Seriphine had taken the red of Azul’s mother’s side of his family, with hair the same color as mine, whereas Kyros was more human, with a brilliant shock of silver hair and yellow eyes like Azul’s.

My eyes shuttered in relief that he was still healthy. The mortality rate for siren children could be shaky, especially amongst the royal family, but we had been blessed so far.