Ciro’s nose scrunched at my tone, then he went back to sucking on the bottle a half second later. The little guy knew what his priorities were, just like my mates. Which was why I didn’t get mad that they hadn’t woken me. Because I probably wouldn’t have wanted to leave Ciro anyway. It was too soon.
“The vote passed,” Cyrus finally said, his lips curling. “No one voted against it. The Interrealm Fae Academy project can officially begin.”
I jumped up in excitement, then immediately stopped as Ciro gurgled in response. It took me a second to realize he was giggling around his bottle.
Vox walked over, cooing at the little man, and took him from me so I could properly react, which included hugging Exos and Cyrus extra hard. Then kissing them within an inch of my life. And also promising a whole slew of dirty things in their minds.
“I’m holding you to that,” Cyrus said.
“I would expect nothing less,” I replied, grinning like a loon. “Oh, I can’t believe it passed!” I knew they’d gotten the Hell Fae to somehow agree, but hadn’t heard any of the details yet. Mostly because they’d delivered the news as I was going into labor. Still, I couldn’t be more thrilled that they’d pulled this off for me. I really did have the best mates in the world.
“I told you to trust us,” Cyrus murmured. “We’re good at negotiating.”
“I know,” I deadpanned. “Very good.”
“The best, actually,” Exos said, his tone indicating he meant it.
Titus grunted, then took Ciro from Vox and started humming him a little fae ballad, his gaze filled with love and adoration for the now-grinning faeling in his arms.
I smiled, my heart bursting with warmth. All of my mates helped with every single task, even diaper changes. And I never even had to ask.
Seriously, I was probably the luckiest woman in the world. And it made me just so incredibly grateful for them and their support system and their love.
Just as I was grateful for my multiple Christmas celebrations as Sol finished his multicolored forest of trees. Cyrus took our son as Vox and Titus went to work adding magical ornaments, all of them glittering in the setting sun, something Ciro found just as mesmerizing as I did.
It really was a merry Christmas. My favorite one yet. “You guys are so screwed,” I realized out loud, laughing. “There’s no way another holiday will ever beat this one.”
Titus’s eyes gleamed with embers as Exos gave me a smoldering look of his own.
“Don’t be so sure about that, little queen,” Cyrus murmured. “This mate-circle is only just getting started.”
TEN MONTHS LATER
“SO, WHEN ARE WE DOING THIS?” Titus asked, his eyes burning with intrigue. “Because we’re definitely starting with the orgasm trial. I deserve a rematch.”
I smirked, amused by Titus’s confidence that he would win this time around. And maybe he would, but one glance at the rest of our mate-circle proved he was going to have his work cut out for him.
Sol sported his permanent burp cloth and a record for the most bottle feedings. It seemed the fae’s rumbling heartbeat put our son at ease.
Vox held the diaper-changing record, to which we were all immensely grateful.
Titus could always make the faeling laugh, even without trying. My son found his aggression amusing—just as I did.
Exos constantly knew what my son needed, regardless of what it was. His spirit had intertwined with the child, giving them a link through their mother that I adored.
And then there was me. I could always calm Ciro no matter his discord, able to lull him to sleep with a push of tranquility and peace—a gift that came to me whenever I thought of Claire.
If one fae child was like this, then I looked forward to more.
All of us were ready for round two. Except for maybe Claire. Which was why we’d devised a longer trial this time around.
“We tied on the orgasm trial, Firefly,” I reminded him, enjoying his flare of aggression at the nickname.
Yes, I’d call him that until the end of time.
I loved fucking with him in every possible way.
“You’re disqualified this time around,” Titus informed me, his green eyes burning with challenge. He stabbed a finger at my chest, making me grin. “I don’t think you should even get to participate.”