Kiss of Embers (The Dragon Lairds #5)

Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

FINN

I stood in an antechamber at Castle Beithir and prepared to meet a baby.

Well, babies. Queen Isolde had delivered healthy twins a week ago. Now, every dragon in the world clamored to meet the wee boy and girl.

A girl. No one could believe it. Like her brother, the princess appeared to be a full-blooded dragon. Mullo’s curse was well and truly broken.

Movement drew my gaze, and a smile pulled at my mouth as Zara raced toward me, looking like every fantasy I’d ever had in a formal gown that hugged her long legs and firm tits.

“Sorry!” she whispered, glancing around as she rushed to me. “I had to pee so bad.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Have you seen that bathroom? I’m pretty sure that bidet is solid gold.”

I raised my brows as I tugged her against me. “Really? Cormac must be doing well for himself.”

She huffed as she braced her palms on my chest. “No better than you.” She touched the diamonds at her throat. “This necklace had to cost a fortune.”

It had, but I shrugged. “I don’t care about money.”

“Spoken like someone who’s never had to worry about it.” She bit her lip, her gaze going contrite. “I’m sorry, Finn. I didn’t mean to make light of your inheritance.”

My heart squeezed. I ran a thumb over her plump bottom lip, soothing the divot left from her teeth. “I know, lass. You could never offend me.” I looked up, pretending to consider it. “Well, I suppose you could if you said I couldn’t eat your pussy?—”

“Shhh,” she scolded, putting a hand over my mouth. “We’re in a royal castle .”

Laughing, I pulled her hand away, then nipped her finger. “If you think the inhabitants of this castle have never talked about pussy, you’re in for quite a shock.”

She gave me a stern look I didn’t buy for a second, then twisted in my arms to look around the antechamber. “ Where is Struan? He said he was going for a stroll.”

A pair of tall, golden doors swung open, and Struan stepped through with a pink-wrapped bundle in his arms. He crooned to it, a look of adoration on his face as he moved forward.

“And you’re just the sweetest, wee lassie who ever burped, aren’t you, doll?” He looked at me and Zara. “She burped for me just now. I think I’m a natural at this.”

Zara made a strangled sound as she rushed to him. “They gave you one of the babies?” She peeked into the blanket, then pressed a hand to her chest, her expression matching Struan’s. “Oh my gods, look at her!”

Niall Balfour skidded through the doors, a wild look on his face. His dark eyes went straight to Struan, and he released a shaky breath.

“Oh, thank fuck.”

Struan turned toward him. “The queen was busy feeding the prince. She asked me to hold this one.”

Niall marched to him and extracted his daughter from Struan’s arms. “ Thank you , Struan,” he said deliberately.

Struan smiled. “That’s exactly what Queen Isolde said.” He shot Zara a smug look. “They named the babies after me.”

“One of several middle names,” Niall corrected, gently bouncing the baby. His features softened. “But you’re right, MacLure. Cormac, Isolde, and I can never repay you for what you did.” He looked at Zara. “You too, lass.”

Zara’s eyes widened. “Me?”

Niall’s dark eyes gleamed. “Who knows how things would have worked out if you hadn’t signed up for the Games? Fate is a powerful force, but our choices can be just as powerful.”

I moved to Zara’s side. “I’m just glad she chose me,” I said, tucking a strand of pale hair into the elegant style at her nape. I looked at Struan. “And Struan.”

He winked at me.

I smiled at him. “Probably, I was her first choice, though.”

Zara tugged the baby’s blanket down, exposing the child’s face. Dark curls peeked from a knitted pink cap. Her rosebud mouth was pursed, her thick lashes resting on peaches and cream cheeks. For one second, a diminutive scale pattern appeared across the bridge of her button nose, the overlapping design a brilliant emerald green. It shimmered and then disappeared, her skin smooth and pink once more.

Niall ran a reverent finger down the little girl’s cheek. “Cormac says that’ll stop happening once she’s older and learns how to control her beast. Until then, we have to prepare for toddlers with wings.”

Struan cast a dubious look around the antechamber with its soaring ceilings and suits of armor. “Puts a whole new spin on baby-proofing.”

Niall followed Struan’s gaze, mild panic flaring in his dark eyes. “Yes. We might have to do some…redecorating.”

“You’ll be just fine,” Zara said. She gave a dreamy sigh as she gazed down at the baby. “She’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Niall beamed at his daughter. “She is,” he said softly. “A dragon princess.”

Struan chuckled. “This castle isn’t going to know a moment’s peace.”

Niall frowned. “Oh no, I don’t think that’s true. So far, she’s much easier than her brother.” His brow smoothed as he tucked the baby’s blanket more firmly around her. “I’m confident this sweet lass will give us no trouble at all.”