Page 224 of King Alejandro

What’s happened?

The usual… plus her excitement for tomorrow is sky-high.

I frowned. Azura had her days where she refused to go to bed, although both Scarlett and I had wondered if there was another factor. However, it was clear our little rebel just liked to play up at times. Usually, something would trigger her during the day, and she would then act out by not going to bed in the evening. There were times she got really worked up to the point where we had talked to the doctors. They had said it was nothing to worryabout.

“Come on, angel, let’s get to bed. It’s been a long day today, right? Plus, tomorrow is a special day, you need to be well-rested,” I said, crouching down before her. Her eyes saddened as she glanced at her bed.

“But I want to read.” Scarlett raised an eyebrow, and I knew Azura had totally diverted from what she had been demanding from Scarlett.

“How about you read for half an hour and then go to sleep? Want me to read you a book?” I suggested.

“No, I’ll read it myself,” she said, pretending to be very sad.

“No, if you want me to, I can read it to you,” I persisted with a smirk. She frowned at me.

“Dad, no is no, I can read myself. I am not a baby,” she pouted before running off and scampering into bed. Scarlett smiled faintly, going over to the bed. We both planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Goodnight then,” I said as Scarlett tucked her in.

“Night night, baby.”

“Night night Mama, night night Daddy,” she responded, closing her eyes. I thought she wanted to read a book? This girl really was just a wild one and really dramatic.

“Love you, baby,” Scarlett said.

“Love you, too,” Azura responded, her eyes snapping wide open as she stared at me unblinking. “I love you, too, even if you are forcing me to go to bed. Punishing me even though it’s my birthday… how mean…”

“Love you to the moon,” I said, tapping her nose. “Now, don’t be dramatic. We want you to sleep so you can enjoy your wild jungle party tomorrow.”

“I. Cannot. Wait!”She shouted, making me flinch, and she burst out laughing as my ears rang with her unexpected shout.

“Settle down now,” Scarlett said, tucking her in again as she pouted before sticking her tongue out at me. I stuck my own out at her, making Scarlett clear her throat and frown at my childishness.

I smirked slightly at Scarlett, who simply shook her head at the two of us as she dimmed the light, and we walked to the door. I glanced around her room. With each passing year, I could see how her choices and preferences changed. Signs that she was growing up and a cold reminder that one day we would have to tell her the truth about her birth.

“You’re doing it again,” Scarlett murmured, placing her hand on my bare chest and sending off dangerous sparks. My eyes flashed as I looked down at her. The urge to pin her up against the wall right then was really tempting. She closed the door quietly and looked up at me with those sage green eyes that I truly loved.

“Doing what?” I asked, gripping her waist.

“Thinking about it.”

“You know we will need to tell her soon,” I said quietly. Her eyes shadowed, and she nodded.

“I know… but she’s too little… she’s too young yet.”

“She’s going to be nine tomorrow. She’s intelligent,” I said quietly. She looked down, her chest heaving, and as hard as this was for me, it was going to be harder for her. “It ain’t going to change anything,” I said quietly. She looked up at me, and I kissed her neck.

“It’s not going to be easy either,” she whispered.

“When has anything been fucking easy? But we always deal with it, right? Azura is our daughter, no matter what,” I said quietly, pulling her against me.

Although Azura knew of Indigo, Scarlett always talked about her and made sure Azura knew about her, she didn’t know the truth about her birth. She referred to Indy as Little Mama; it was what Scarlett had made her call her. How she was her little sister who had died a hero. Azura didn’t know who her biological parents were or that she wasn’t ours technically. I knew before she turned ten, we would need to tell her. She had a right to know, and I didn’t want her to feel bitter or resentful later if we left it too late.

Scarlett was about to reply when we heard a door open and shut, then a breathless laugh from Liam.

“Liam!” Raven hissed, giggling, and I heard the sound of a slap. Scarlett and I exchanged looks; Liam was definitely our son.

“Well, how about we get to our own fun,” I said seductively, running my hands up her waist before I claimed her lips in a passionate kiss, not waiting for an answer…