AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, then tomorrow we can start carving out plans for more permanent homes,” Alaric says, looking to me for approval which I give with a nod.
I feel a little tug on my hand and glance down to find my little pumpkin.
“Oh yes, Breanne, Matt, and Alaric, these are my children, Zach and Amelia.”
“Hi, sweetie,” Breanne says with a smile which both my children return, making my brows furrow. They’re terrified of the witches but not of these two vampires?
“Nice to meet you,” Matt says, giving Zach a fist bump and shaking Amelia’s little hand.
No one gets to say more as two wolves come running up, one black and one rust-colored. Both shift back into men between Alaric and Skarlyt.
“I thought you were staying home with the kids?” Skarlyt says to the blonde man who was just the rust-colored wolf.
He places a kiss on her lips as he finishes pulling up a pair of shorts, giving me pause. I knew that cross-species mating occurred outside of our parliament. Hell, my mate is a sea nymph. I glance around, ready for someone to say something derogatory to them, to belittle their relationship. Thank thegods, it never comes. As I look around, all I see are happy smiling faces.
Maybe Pearl was right. Maybe this could be our home.
“Your mom has the kids,” he explains, turning to our group.
“This is my mate, Lennox, and Alaric’s brother, Darren.” Skarlyt gestures to the men, though she doesn’t need to tell me that Darren is Alaric’s brother. The two look so similar I wouldn’t be surprised if they are twins.
“This is Loukas, Zach, and Amelia.” Pearl beams, still tucked into my side.
“Nice to meet you,” I say as I reach out and clasp each man’s forearm.
“Incoming,” Darren says at the same time Amelia gasps.
I turn my attention to her, noticing her gaze on the sky.
“Daddy, look,” she says, pointing up. I follow her finger and, not for the first time since arriving on this island, my jaw drops.
“A phoenix?” I say in awe. Like all supernatural creatures, I’ve heard of phoenixes but believed they were all gone from this earth. Much like dragons. But it seems this island holds all the secrets of the supernatural world.
As the beautiful flaming woman gets closer, a second one joins her and my jaw hangs open even further, the two performing an aerial dance with one another. Their deep red and bright orange flames blend in perfect harmony.
The dark red phoenix flies closer and drops something above Alaric.
“Catch me, Daddy!” A small voice yells, and I watch Alaric leisurely move over to catch the rapidly falling little girl with ease, nuzzling into her. “You and Mommy were supposed to stay home.”
Her little lip begins to quiver, and I let out a chuckle, squeezing Amelia’s hand, knowing that look all too well.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she says.
“Don’t do that,” he growls, but it doesn’t hold any anger, as he squeezes his daughter closer. No wonder Alaric is the unofficial leader of the island, with a phoenix for a mate.
“Okay,” she says, sniffling.
“Come here, peanut,” Darren scoops his niece up from his brother’s arms with a pitying look. “Uncle Darren will protect you from the mean daddy.”
“Yay.” She giggles before yelling out, “Tidal wave, Mommy.”
With those words, my gaze once again rises to the skies, and I watch as the two phoenixes continue their dance. This time, they clasp arms, letting out screeches so loud that a sort of sonic boom made of fire flows out from them. It doesn’t seem to do any damage to the island other than pushing a warm breeze outward. Up in the sky, though, rings of fire push outward, one after another, in various shades of red and orange. It’s a beautiful sight, and I have no doubt that it could cause a lot of damage if it were directed closer to the earth.
As the two phoenixes return to the ground, Darren places his niece on her feet and both he and Alaric spread their arms, catching now completely human women in their arms.
“You three were supposed to stay home,” Alaric rumbles once again while Darren simply kisses the woman in his arms.
“Here, Pheebs,” Skarlyt says, passing her a long dress. Darren accepts the one for the woman who I’m assuming is his mate.
