Page 30 of The Minotaur’s Nanny Bride (Minotaur Daddies #2)

The sun blazes overhead as Maya, Ellis and I make our way down the cobblestone path to Theron's home. Karona is beautiful this time of year, with the tiphe trees stretching their branches toward the sky and rirzed herb blooming in fragrant patches along the road. I adjust Ellis in my arms, his weight a comfortable presence against my chest.

"Someone's excited today," I say as Ellis squirms, his tawny fur catching the sunlight. At eight months, he's already showing the Ironhoof family's trademark size—larger than most minotaur calves his age.

Maya walks beside me, her silver-blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight. "He knows we're going to see his friends." She reaches over to tickle under his chin, and Ellis rewards her with a delighted gurgle. "Don't you, little one?"

My chest swells watching them together. Maya's gray eyes meet mine over Ellis's head, and that familiar warmth spreads through me. Seven months since she came into our lives, three months since I finally admitted I loved her, and every day I wonder how I got so lucky.

"You think Kai and Mira have grown since we saw them last week?" I ask, adjusting the bag of toys slung over my shoulder.

Maya's hand finds my arm, resting there with casual intimacy. "Children that age always seem to grow overnight. Especially Kai—he's shooting up like a weed."

We round the corner to Theron's street, and I can't help but smile at the impressive structure ahead. My best friend has done well for himself, though the home is modest compared to what his merchant status could afford. Practical, like the minotaur himself.

Before we even reach the front steps, the door bursts open. Kai charges out first, his horns jutting out from his black fur, growing exponentially at this age. Mira follows more carefully, her unusual silver-white coat gleaming in the sunlight.

"Uncle Dex! Aunt Maya! Ellis!" Kai skids to a stop before us, bouncing on his hooves. "Can Ellis play with us today? We made a fort!"

I lower Ellis to the ground, keeping a steadying hand on his back. "He's been practicing his crawling. Haven't you, little one?"

Ellis immediately pushes forward on all fours, moving with surprising speed toward the children. Mira kneels down, her amber eyes wide with delight. "Look, Kai! He remembers us!"

Theron appears in the doorway, his imposing frame filling the space. Despite his size, there's a gentleness to him now that wasn't there before Lyra. "Are you three planning to stand in my yard all day, or are you coming in?"

"Just enjoying watching the little tyrant escape," I call back, gesturing to Ellis who's now trying to grab Mira's dress with determined fingers.

Inside, Lyra greets us with a warm smile, her copper-red hair braided down her back with sprigs of gankoya woven through—probably to help with her morning sickness. Her pregnancy shows more prominently than Maya's, only two weeks away from giving birth, her belly rounded beneath her practical earth-toned dress.

"About time you all arrived," she says, hugging Maya. "I've been dying for some adult conversation that doesn't involve trade routes."

Theron huffs. "My trade routes put food on this table, woman."

"And fascinating dinner conversation," Lyra says with a wink, patting her mate's arm affectionately.

We settle in their sunlit sitting room, watching as the children play on the rug. Ellis has become the center of attention, with Kai carefully showing him a wooden equu toy and Mira clapping her hands when Ellis manages to sit up on his own.

"He's getting stronger," Theron observes, leaning forward in his chair.

"Takes after his uncle," I reply, unable to keep the pride from my voice. "The little one's going to be breaking hearts before we know it."

Ellis crawls toward a colorful ball, determination in his gold eyes—so like my sister's that sometimes it steals my breath. He bats at it with a chubby hand, sending it rolling, then laughs with pure delight.

The room fills with the sound of children's laughter. I watch Maya's face as she observes them, a warm smile playing on her lips, her hand resting on my arm. The simple gesture grounds me, reminds me how far we've come.

I lift Ellis high in the air when he crawls back to me, his small hands reaching for the sky as he giggles. "Look at you go! Soon you'll be running circles around all of us."

Lyra catches my eye from across the room and smirks knowingly. "Guess he's not the only one who's enjoying himself," she teases.

I laugh, the sound rumbling deep in my chest, contented in a way I never thought possible. "I think being a dad looks good on me." My eyes drift to Maya, to the small bump visible beneath her dress at three months pregnant. A new tenderness washes through me. "I just hope he enjoys being a big brother."

I watch as Lyra rises with some difficulty, her hand bracing her lower back. "Let's move to the dining room, shall we? I've been cooking all morning."

"You shouldn't be on your feet so much," Theron rumbles, instantly at her side.

Lyra rolls her eyes, but her smile is fond. "I'm pregnant, not incapacitated. Besides, Maya helped with the preparations earlier."

I glance at Maya, surprised. "You did? When?"

"This morning before you woke," she answers, a mischievous glint in her gray eyes. "Some of us don't need to sleep until midday."

"I was up with Ellis half the night," I protest, but there's no real indignation in it. The truth is, I'd happily stay awake for a hundred nights if it meant keeping the little one content.

The dining room is warm with afternoon light, the large table already set with mismatched plates—evidence of Theron's bachelor days before Lyra arrived to bring order to his chaos. The scent of roasted taura and herbs fills the air, making my stomach growl appreciatively.

"Smells incredible," I say, helping Kai into his chair while Maya settles Ellis into a special seat Theron crafted, with straps to keep the wiggly calf secure.

"Lyra makes the best phenson stew," Kai announces proudly. "Even better than Mrs. Bramble's."

Theron chuckles. "Don't let Mrs. Bramble hear you say that."

"It's true though," Mira pipes up, her small voice earnest. "Mama puts in extra frisse."

I catch the way Lyra's face softens at hearing Mira call her "Mama." It hadn't been an easy road for any of them, but the family they've built is stronger for the journey.

Maya helps Lyra bring the last of the dishes to the table—a steaming bowl of phenson stew, roasted cryots glazed with honey, and freshly baked bread that makes my mouth water. Ellis bangs his small hands on the wooden tray of his chair, clearly sharing my anticipation.

"Patience, little one," I say, ruffling the soft fur between his baby horns.

As we settle around the table, there's a moment of comfortable silence as we each fill our plates. The happy chaos of meals at my parents' house had been missing from my life for too long. Now, watching Kai help Mira cut her food while Theron fusses over Lyra's portion size, I feel that familiar warmth return.

"More cryots for Ellis?" Maya asks, already mashing some of the soft, yellow vegetable for him.

"He'll eat anything you give him," I reply. "Must be your touch. Remember when he wouldn't eat for me at all?"

"He was just being stubborn," Maya says, but her pride shows in the careful way she feeds him, waiting patiently as he smacks his lips with each bite. "Like his uncle."

"I prefer to call it 'determined,'" I counter, which earns snorts from both Theron and Lyra.

The meal progresses with easy conversation. Theron discusses a promising new trade route while Lyra shares gossip from her patients. All the while, the children create their own little world at their end of the table, with Kai telling elaborate stories that make Mira giggle and Ellis stare in wide-eyed fascination.

When Maya rises to help clear the dishes, I notice the way her hand instinctively moves to protect her barely-visible bump. Such a small gesture, yet it fills me with fierce protectiveness. I remember my panic when Ellis was first placed in my arms, how inadequate I'd felt. Now, watching Maya with him, seeing the natural way she anticipates his needs, I can hardly reconcile those early fears with the contentment I feel today.

"You're staring," Maya whispers as she sits back down beside me, close enough that her shoulder presses against my arm.

"Can't help it," I admit, lowering my voice so only she can hear. "You're beautiful with him."

A flush creeps up her cheeks, and she tucks a strand of silver-blonde hair behind her ear. "You're not so bad yourself, Dex Ironhoof."

Around us, the room hums with life—Theron's deep laugh at something Lyra said, Kai's animated voice as he explains some game to Mira, and Ellis's happy babbling. Maya looks around, her eyes taking in each face, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"What are you thinking?" I ask, drawn to the quiet joy in her expression.

"Just that..." She pauses, her gray eyes meeting mine. "For the first time, everything feels right. Like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be."

I pull her into my arms without thinking, my large hands gentle against her back. "You are exactly where you're supposed to be," I say before kissing her playfully. She tastes like honey and home.

Ellis lets out a delighted squeal at our display, which sets off Mira and Kai into peals of laughter. The sound rings in my ears like the sweetest music.

Against my chest, Maya's heart beats steady and sure. We're finally whole—all of us, together in this moment. Family, not by blood alone, but by choice and by love. And as I look around at these people who have become my world, I know without doubt that I would face down armies to keep them safe.