“Of course, but I have to see your little ones first,” Sasha pleads.
Taking Sasha by the hand, Billie glances back at me. “Hope you don’t mind that we go see the little ones first then?”
I shrug, smirking. “I’ll happily do whatever makes you both happy.”
Sasha throws me a grin, and I adore the joy on her face.
As we head inside behind Billie, I find myself liking her more and more. There’s something about her openness that’s refreshing. Maybe this visit will be good for Sasha. It might even help her accept the inevitable—that she’s my fated mate. With Billie’s influence, perhaps Sasha will finally see it, too.
Chapter 19
Kaden
So, here we are, rushing through this enormous mansion, with paintings on the wall, spotlights illuminating the art, and green plants adding life to every corner. The place looks lived in and loved. We head upstairs, passing several maids who bow our way, taking a bit too long to stare at me before rushing away.
Once we reach the third floor, we find ourselves in a long hallway. Outside a doorway, Sasha turns to me, handing me Chowder.
“Maybe best if you stay with Kaden for a bit,” she suggests and smooches him on the head.
“What’s in room?” Chowder asks. I collect him, and he scrambles back into his backpack. I half throw it over my shoulder, allowing him to lean against me to see what’s going on.
“Babies,” I answer Chowder, and he just stares at me as if he’s uncertain how to register that.
The girls enter the nursery, and I follow them, remaining near the doorway. Two wooden cribs catch my attention first, with whites, blues, and mauves used in the toys and the linen. The walls are painted to resemble the sky, as though we’re floating among the clouds, with stars on the ceiling that twinkle from the sunlight. The white carpet gives the impression of fluffy clouds, and I can’t help but feel like I’m back on the plane.
There’s a blue-and-white-striped couch with blankets and cushions, shelves filled with books and toys, and pristine white cupboards. Above each crib hangs a rotating mobile—one of a gryffin, the other of a wolf. The small baby sounds draw my attention to Billie lifting a baby out of one crib and into her arms.
“So, this is my firstborn, Lucian,” Billie explains,
He’s tiny with a dark patch of hair, his face all squishy, and appearing quite serious for a baby. As Billie lifts him, he coughs and releases a small explosion of fire.
“Whoa,” Sasha states, both of them laughing and cooing over him.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” I mumble to myself.
She’s smiling down at the baby. “As you can see, he takes after his father, Tallis, with his demon side.”
“Can I hold him?” Sasha asks instantly, her voice filled with excitement.
Billie hands Lucian over. The baby sits in Sasha’s arms, resting against her shoulder as she coos and kisses him.
My heart thunders in my chest. Seeing her all maternal, clucking over this kid, shouldn’t impact me, yet here I am, hungry for our own children. I want a big family.
Billie glances up at me. “Aren’t they adorable?” She gives me a look, and I can tell she’s dying to ask me when Sasha and I will be doing the same. If it was up to me, I’d be doing it now.
“Yeah,” I murmur, unable to tear my eyes away from her. “Absolutely adorable.”
“If you two ever have babies, they will be so beautiful. I mean, look at you both, and the beauty of a mermaid, nothing compares.” Billie grins at us both.
Sasha laughs nervously, avoiding staring at me. “We’re not… it’s complicated.” She turns back to the baby in her arms. “You must be so proud of your little bundles.”
“It’s ridiculously exhausting, but I wouldn’t swap it for anything. They’re both my little miracles.” She moves to the second crib, leans into it, and gently lifts another baby. This one has a very thin layer of hair, lighter in color, and the brightest golden eyes I’ve ever seen. Even Chowder, who’s been silent in my arms until now, leans forward with curiosity. The baby, wearing only a diaper, stretches out a pair of beautiful chestnut-colored wings from his back, almost a dark golden hue.
“Why does baby fly?” Chowder mutters, his whiskers twitching.
“Anything is possible,” I answer, my voice soft with awe, making me wonder what my child would look like. Powerful kraken limbs, strong jaw like his father, handsome so every girl fawns over him? Our DNA is dominant.
Billie’s kissing the baby all over his chubby face. “And this is my bundle of energy, Dante. He takes very much after his father, Eryx, and is a complete handful.”