Page 45 of Thrilled By Her Protector

“I do. Love you, mate,” she said.

A ruckus from the hall brought both their heads up. Jennifer and Zircon both chuckled when they made out who it was trying to barge in on their solitude.

“She needs her rest?—”

“Step aside, Arthur Wessex, or I swear I will have my babies call you Papa Fart for a nickname!”

A second later, the door opened. Caro, Kim, and Candy were all in wheelchairs being pushed by their frazzled looking mates. They held their babies in their arms, except for Candy, who held one, while Medjed had his other daughters floating through the air on what looked like little magical floating clouds with candy cane and stuffed penguin mobiles floating above their heads.

“Greetings, sister!”

“Shhh, Medjed. The babies are sleeping,” Candy scolded, and he frowned, but nodded his consent.

Smart men listened to their mates, no questions asked. A lesson Zircon had already figured out. Thank fuck.

“Hey. How are you all feeling?” Jennifer asked, a sleepy, sweet smile on her face, and Zircon’s heart contracted with love.

“How am I? HOW AM I?” Caro snarled.

Jasper winced at the sound of his mate’s anger, and the other males looked anywhere but at the women. Carolina’s eyes narrowed, and she pointed a pink painted fingernail at Jennifer, who just raised her eyebrows in amusement. Zircon frowned. He looked at Jas for guidance, but his oldest brother just shook his head.

“I have been pregnant for over a year, Jenn! A fucking year. My body has been stretched and my womb was used as a frigging soccer field by these two boys the whole damn time. And you! You experience pregnancy for like a minute and boom, baby! What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Aww, come on Auntie Caro, you can’t be mad at me. I mean, come meet your new nephew,” Jennifer said, grinning as she held the baby for everyone to see.

“Awwww. He looks like his cousins,” Kimberley whispered, her eyes rimmed with tears.

“Isn’t it amazing? All of us having babies on the same day! Eight new babies,” Candy remarked, and the peppermint scent of her happiness filled the room.

“It is you who are amazing,rohi,” Medjed said, kissing her on the temple.

“All of you are pretty damn cool,” Larimar replied, smiling as he held one of his sons and laid his free hand on Kim’s shoulder.

“He’s right. Look what you did, Caro. Look at our boys. I love you so much, mate,” Jasper whispered, kissing his mate on the cheek.

“Fine,” Carolina grumbled. “Jennifer, you’re forgiven. But you!” She glared and pointed at Zircon. “As punishment for this, whatever this was, you will be on ice cream duties for a month, mister!”

Jennifer tried to hide her giggle by burying her face in his neck as she hugged him. He was so damn thrilled by the fact of their relationship and her being so open and free with her affection that he nodded at his fiery little sister-in-law.

“You got it, Caro. I can live with that,” Zircon replied easily, smiling as he squeezed Jennifer gently.

“Good, mate,” Jennifer whispered, kissing his neck, and he simply beamed.

“Is this a good time to announce Larimar and I will soon be trying for a family?” Daeja asked, coming into the room with a tray full of formula.

“That is awesome, Daeja! Congrats!”

She nodded and smiled, Heliodore walked over and took the tray while she handed out bottles. The younglings required a lot of nourishing and the formula would help supplement breast milk, but it was likely they’d all move on to baby food in the next few weeks.

When they were finally left alone, Zircon watched over his sleeping mate and baby. He closed his eyes and offered his thanks to the gods, the Fates, and the multiverse at large for gifting him with a family of his own. He was used to being deployed on special assignments and missions, but being a mate and father trumped all of them.

Jennifer’s eyes opened, and she flashed him a warm smile, and he knew it was worth it. All the waiting and the pining for her, every moment he’d spent trying to earn her trust and love was well worth it. She was his now. And she’d given him a family to care for and love. What better way to show she loved him back?

He had the room all packed and the baby ready to go. He’d just been waiting for his sweet mate to wake up.

“Ready to go home, baby?” he asked, a smile teasing at the corner of his mouth.

“Yes. I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a long time.”

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