62. Klaus

CHAPTER 62

Klaus

December -

~Christmas morning two days later~

Three nights in a row we've shuffled the sleeping arrangements so that our beasts could sleep near Aurora for her security. Local dignitaries are due to arrive again today for the actual Christmas celebration. I manage to get up before my bond mates, and sneak my way into the kitchen to gather breakfast for everyone. Just when I think I have managed to pull it off, I look over my shoulder to find Jayce watching me load the service cart.

"Morning, Jayce! Mind giving me a hand, so we don't have to drag strangers into Aurora's nesting area?" Learning all these dragon terms for everything is really starting to make my brain hurt. Unfortunately, it's necessary to keep everything in an orderly fashion for Aurora's comfort.

"Sure, man, tell me what you need help with." Jayce comes over, and I point to the various drinks and juices on the counter that the chef has left out for us. We arrange the two trays and the carts as well. We walk back down the hall to the grand ballroom to surprise our bond mates with breakfast.

As we get closer, we notice frost lining the hallway. We pick up our pace, running as we push the carts. The doors are covered in ice, about two inches thick. I shift quickly and begin to claw at the ice. After I finally make it through, Jayce and I burst into the room to find my grandmother's assistant Lorraine being held under Alaric's dragon's foot. Aurora is behind Dimitri's bear and Dominik's wolf. Nicodeamus has shifted back to his human form. He stands there yelling at Lorraine about the poisoned stake she has attempted to kill Aurora with. My grandmother comes rushing in, crying and screaming at Alaric to release Lorraine. I shift back to my human form and grab hold of my grandmother.

"Grandma, she tried to kill Aurora with that stake." I point to the stake on the ground not far from Lorraine's prone form.

Elsa looks between Lorraine and the stake several times, then begins yelling at her in German, questioning her. Apparently, Vladimir had threatened to kill her sister if she didn't kill Aurora. We all share a look, then Aurora moves forward, now riding Dimitri's bear. Her eyes shift to that of her beast as she and Alaric lock eyes. We watch the black slits in both of their eyes pulse, expanding and contracting as she speaks to him through the bond.

"Lorraine, I now sentence you to death for the attempted assassination of your monarch." Aurora looks up to Alaric and nods her head once. Alaric applies his full weight to Lorraine's body, squishing her like a bug. Aurora finds it funny when Lorraine's head shoots off like a cork from a champagne bottle.

My grandmother stands there in shock, crying and staring at the bloody, squished remnants of what used to be her assistant. I really look at my mate now, and that silly woman is in my sleep pants and Jayce's sweatshirt, her hair is up in another messy bun, yet again adorned by her ruby crown. "I smell bacon, Dimitri! Tally ho!" Aurora leans forward and lightly kicks Dimitri like you would a horse to get it moving. Dimitri follows his nose out of the grand ballroom and down the hall.

"When the hell did this happen?" I look between Nicodeamus and the now-human Alaric.

"Apparently, Aurora's gut instincts were correct about Lorraine. She snuck in here shortly after you and Jayce had left. Nicodeamus and I were awake and only had one membrane over our eyes, giving the appearance we were sleeping." Alaric smirks as he motions between himself and Nico. "We left Aurora exposed between us just to bait Lorraine into our trap. Dimitri and Dominik were awakened, using our bond to alert them to what was going on. They pretended to still be asleep until I sprung the trap." Alaric smiles broadly as he motions towards Dominik.

"Dominik grabbed Aurora by the sweatshirt and dragged her out of the way, while Dimitri moved to protect Aurora. It was rather brilliant planning on Nicodeamus's part, really. Being able to speak through the bond makes life a ton easier. Thankfully, not too many people know that we can communicate that way," Alaric says as Dimitri walks closer with his precious cargo.

Aurora has the plate of bacon in her hands and a bottle of orange juice under her arm. "Best morning ever! No puking and I got to see a head go flying like a cork!" Her eyes widen, and her eyebrows raise in elation. "Oh, and bacon. We can't forget the bacon." Aurora nods happily, occasionally leaning forward to wave bacon at Dimitri. His long bear tongue sticks out and wraps around the bacon, taking it from Aurora. Her eyes go wide, and I can see the gears turning.

"I wonder if I can convince Dimitri to put his bear tongue for a better use? Like me?" Aurora wiggles her eyebrows and Dimitri starts choking on his bacon. His bear is coughing so hard that Dominik grabs Aurora off of his back, allowing Dimitri to shift back.

Dimitri stands there, bent over in all his naked glory, hacking up a lung trying to dislodge whatever is stuck in his throat. "Woman, are you trying to kill me!?"

"No?" She attempts to look utterly innocent as she peeks around from behind Dominik. "But seriously, you can't do shit like that and have me not think of your tongue between my legs, for God's sakes. I'm pregnant, not dead, you know." She stands there with her hands on her hips, attempting to look serious. Meanwhile, her eyes drift around the room to all her naked mates, each one sporting a boner, including me. All because she mentioned licking her nether regions.

I just realized my poor grandmother is standing there, slack-jawed, looking around the room. Her cheeks are a brilliant red, but she decides to throw her two cents in. "Nicodeamus, I can see why your daughter is pregnant. Bravo, my girl, bravo!" Grandma does a golf clap then promptly exits the room.

At this moment, I don't know if I should be embarrassed or… well, yeah, embarrassed is the right feeling for this moment. Aurora begins to look at the five of us and starts shuffling us around in a fucked up lineup. "Aurora, what in the world are you doing?" I raise my right eyebrow as she shuffles us into a line. Dimitri is first, then it's Alaric, Jayce, me, then Dominik last.

Dominik looks up and down the line-up, then throws his hands up in the air. "Why the fuck am I last? I'm the first mate." Apparently, Aurora's lineup has him upset.

"Dom, baby, look down. I put you guys in order of peen size. Dimitri's is a world ender. Look at the size of that thing; it's freaking huge, Alaric's isn't as long, but it's just as thick." Aurora moves down the line-up, motioning to our members, describing how they appear to her. "Jayce's is a really nice balance of length and thickness. Klaus's is not as thick as Jayce's, but it's got some good length to it. Dominik, your dick is just right and very comfortable to ride." Aurora managed to make Dimitri blush, Jayce, and Alaric high five in a single move, and Dominik starts to compare his dick to the rest of ours.

From this line-up, I can tell you for sure that Dimitri and Alaric will never get any ass play from Aurora. Jayce has a fifty percent chance, I have a seventy-five percent chance, and Dominik has a one hundred percent chance.

~Later that day~

The day proceeds like expected. Aurora is all over the place, ripping into presents that the visiting dignitaries have brought for her. It is quite a comical sight if you ask me. Dimitri is in his Great Bear form, being used as a back support. Dominik and Jayce are in their Dire Wolf forms, investigating every present and person that wishes to get close to Aurora. I am in charge of keeping Aurora fed and her drink full—easy enough. I snap a few pictures of Aurora sitting on her pile of pillows, with Dimitri's bear sitting tall behind her, looming over top of her. His gigantic paws on either side of her body and her back against his bear's chest.

Alaric is going about his kingly duty, greeting everyone as they approach then introducing them to Aurora. Every once in a while, there is a potty break needed and it becomes a procession. Aurora tells Dimitri, he lies down, and she climbs up onto his back. When his bear starts moving, the twins will flank him, escorting them to and from the bathroom. All I can do is shrug my shoulders and clean up after our pregnant mate. Aurora returns, and the gift-receiving line resumes well into the night.

Last to arrive is Alaric's mom and sister. Two guards are assisting, bringing in two large boxes with them. I can visibly see Aurora tense up the minute they start entering her space. Aurora scoots further under Dimitri, and she pulls Jayce closer to her by his tail.

Alaric has notices what Aurora is doing and decides to meet his mother and sister halfway. Both begin to protest about not being allowed closer. Aurora scoots herself backward and out, under Dimitri's arm, and still pulling Jayce with her. Now she's got my attention. Dominik is moving to block the front of Dimitri. I creep around the back, and I catch Aurora climbing onto Jayce's back, getting ready to make a fast getaway.

Being the good mate that I am, I walk casually to the door in the back of the throne room and stand ready to open the door for them. Alaric looks at me briefly and begins to maneuver his mother and sister so that their backs are facing where Aurora once was. When he is in position I nod to Jayce and Aurora, they sneak to the door, and I let them out.

I follow behind them, making sure no one is following us. We make it to her room, and Aurora busts out laughing over her well-executed escape plan. "I can't believe we pulled that off. If I had to sit there and deal with his mother and his sister, I think I was going to make Dimitri eat them," Aurora says with all seriousness.

I just have to ask the burning question. "What is it about those two that you don't like, Aurora?" Jayce steps out of his room, pulling his shirt over his head, indeed, just as interested as I am.

"Gut instinct," Aurora says, sounding quite bored. "They just set my fur and scales on edge. I'm not comfortable around them. If the mother was such a crown supporter, she should have sent her people to guard my father. Instead, she did nothing." Just as Aurora finishes the sentence, Nicodeamus walks in, catching the tail end of the conversation.

He walks over and wraps his arm around his daughter. "Trust your gut, daughter. It's your animal's instincts that will keep you alive." Nicodeamus starts laughing to himself, then looks at the two of us.

"Congratulations on a brilliant escape plan there, boys, excellent teamwork." Nicodeamus looks down at Aurora and gently moves so that he can touch her belly. "Your child is quite strong,I can feel its power already. Stubborn little hatchling won't tell me if it's a boy or a girl, just like someone else I know wouldn't either." He playfully raises an eyebrow at Aurora and smiles at her.

Aurora starts to giggle and rub her belly. "Silly baby, tell Grandpa your secrets. Mommy wants to know." She continued to rub her belly then freezes, she goes so far as to stop breathing. Her eyes become that of her beast, and frost begins to coat her skin.

"Nicodeamus! What's happening? Is she alright?!" I nervously ask him. Jayce is in panic mode and begins to summon the others. The door flies open several seconds later. Aurora takes a deep breath, then freezes yet again.

"I feel the baby through the bond," Alaric says before he goes and lays his hands over Aurora's, on her belly. He, too stands way too still for comfort, Aurora's frost begins to coat him slowly. The rest of us are concerned as fuck, and Nicodeamus is standing there smiling.

"The baby is talking to its parents. I believe we will know its gender shortly." Nicodeamus moves away and begins to pour glasses of brandy, ready to celebrate.

Suddenly, there's a burst of frost. Aurora and Alaric stand there smiling at each other. Slowly, Aurora turns to look at each of us; tears are threatening to roll down her cheeks. "We have a daughter." Aurora starts to cry, resting her forehead on Alaric's chest.

Alaric wraps his thick arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. "We have decided to name her Tiamat Andrea Kraus. Tiamat was the dragon Goddess of Chaos; Andrea, after Andre and his great sacrifice," Alaric says proudly as he kisses the top of Aurora's head. Nicodeamus moves forward and gently rubs his daughter's back. The look he and Alaric have on their faces says it all. We are witnessing a real miracle. The first daughter of a first daughter that happens to be the daughter of a first daughter herself. Three generations of first daughters is unheard of for any species, especially dragons. Alaric and Aurora make room and bring Nicodeamus into their little hugfest. They are all snuggling in, all nice and tight. The three of them are sobbing happy tears. Let's face it, Nicodeamus went from no family to a daughter, to now having a granddaughter on the way.

I look around the room at the rest of us in turn. Aurora is far enough along that the baby can communicate somewhat with her parents. Each mate is taking the news of a daughter differently. Most of us are weeping tears of joy. Dimitri is trying his best to hold himself together after hearing the name. Jayce and I move to embrace Dimitri and hold onto the big guy as he fights hard to resist crying.

Dominik is standing watch over us all, allowing us to have our moment to process what's happened. We all take turns swapping who is hugging whom. It comes down to Aurora and Dimitri last. The big guy drops down on his knees before her and kisses her stomach. We depart the room, leaving those two alone. They've had the roughest time with their relationship, and it isn't even their fault. Sebastian and his mother screwed them over and damaged their bond. I can tell you one thing: I wouldn't want to be Elena at this point. Aurora is going to gut her when she finds her. I retire to my suite for the evening.

Best Christmas ever.