Their Mating Rituals [Paranormal Protection Unit 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) (20 page)

“Right, I will keep that in mind,” Lina murmured and laughed. “Anyway, honey, get her ready, because we need to go to Daddy’s. They have summoned us. Even Patryk is here and it’s his day off. Then again I have a feeling he was just hoping to see his little playmate.”

Eyeing Patryk up, Aiden narrowed his eyes. “You’d better not have designs on my baby girl or I’ll neuter you,” he promised. “Come on, my little darling. Let’s get you dressed and into your car seat,” he said, carrying Amy over to where the sweaters and everything else for outdoor wear was kept.

Lina shook her head. “Honey, he doesn’t have any designs on our baby girl. He, like every other person on the base, is just utterly fascinated with her and how incredibly open she is. Your daughter is open and loving and that’s just a part of her and it makes me smile that she is as she is.”

Growling softly, Aiden bundled up his daughter and then nuzzled her cheek. “That is because she is just like her mother. An amazing and wonderful spark of light in our lives.” He dropped a kiss to her chubby cheek. Settling her into her car seat, he stood up. “We need to roll or T-Rex will send out the Marines to come for us.”

“Sounds good.” She checked the bag a second time, looked to Patryk, and grinned. “Come on, you get to come with us,” she teased the man. “Rayne likely already has Sir Cranky Pants strapped into his car seat and waiting by the door.”

“How’s he doing?” Aiden asked as he looked out the door to where Rayne was buckling the car seat into place. His son looked annoyed and his lower lip was out, never a good sign for a boy that didn’t pout for anything. Determination, terrifying intelligence were looks they were used to, but not that look of pure misery. Moving so Patryk could step out, he waited on his mate to shrug into her coat.

“He has a bit of an ear infection. The medication should kick in soon, I hope. If not I’m going to give him some more of the Motrin. I have a feeling we will have a long night of walking and holding our little man.”

“Damn,” Aiden muttered softly as he walked with her to the SUV and passed Amy’s car seat to Patryk to hook into the back. “That isn’t good,” he murmured, moving to stroke his son’s hair gently. “How you doing, little man?” he asked and frowned at the temperature. In a full-blood Dragon over puberty it would be normal. They tended to run hot, but in a baby—worrisome.

“He’s been to the doctor and has a prescription. She advised that he would likely run a fever for a bit. We will give him an alternating course of Tylenol and Motrin, one every two hours to help with the pain and the fever.” Lina chewed her lip and added, “Hopefully with him being a Dragon he will kick the infection sooner?”

“You’re asking me?” he asked and shrugged. “I’m in the dark, darling. I haven’t exactly been around a lot of babies, let alone Dragon babies.” Leaning in, he brushed a kiss to his son’s forehead before backing out of the truck and shutting the door. “Let’s get going, darling. I don’t want him out in this weather with that earache any longer than necessary.”

Lina nodded and got into the backseat between the car seats, reaching out and touching her babies. Their guards rode in front and in the vehicle behind them, leaving Lina alone in back with her babies. Brushing her finger over Tony’s cheek, she crooned, “Mommy will get you some more medicine as soon as we get home, lovey.”

Glancing over his shoulder at her, Aiden got them moving. “We’ll make this quick and then we’ll come back home and snuggle with them.” Adjusting the heat in the vehicle a little for the babies and Lina, he shot Patryk a look. “I don’t want to be more than an hour in there.”

“That sounds like a very good idea, honey,” Lina murmured. “The sooner we are home the better I will feel.”

“I know, angel,” he said softly, turning his attention back to the road and where he was going. He was worried for little Tony. He hated that he was sick. It made him ache. Sighing, he focused on getting them there quickly and safely. Thankfully it wasn’t too far.

They had just pulled up to the main building on base when Tony finally started to fall asleep. Lina grinned. “How about you go and do what you need to do. I’m going to sit out here with Tony since he’s finally found peace and ease and is able to rest, love.”

Turning, he looked at her and nodded. “All right,” he said softly. “Patryk and Rayne will stay put. I’ll take the little princess in so Grandpa can have a cuddle,” he told her with a smile and wiggled his fingers at his daughter. Getting a goofy grin from her, he chuckled. “I won’t be long, babe, promise, and I’ll keep you in the loop, too.”

“I know. Just tell Daddy that Tony’s had a hard time of it and is finally sleeping well. He will understand.”

Moving around the truck, he got Amy out and leaned in to kiss his mate. “I will see you in a bit, darling,” he promised again. Stepping back, he shut the door and headed into the building. Keeping moving was tough, though, since people kept trying to stop him so they could coo at Amelia.

* * * *

Taking Amy from his son-in-law’s arms immediately upon him entering the room, Talon looked down at the child and smiled. “Hello there, my little sweetheart.” When the girl smiled up at him, Talon felt his heart clenching. “Where are Tony and Lina?” he asked Aiden without even looking away from Amelia.

“Anthony has an earache and has been fussing,” he told his boss. “He fell asleep on the drive in, so Talina decided to let him sleep in the peace and quiet of the car with Patryk and Rayne keeping watch.”

“That’s a very good idea,” Talon said as he played with his granddaughter. “I’m sorry the little guy isn’t feeling well. Have you gotten him some medication so that the pain will cease for him?” he asked as he walked and bounced his granddaughter.

“Yup, Talina was right on top of it,” Aiden said, grinning at the look on his daughter’s face. “I think I may have to fight you for hero worship in her eyes someday, Bulldog,” he teased the man. Amelia adored her grandfather, something Aiden easily understood. The man was very impressive.

“Little girls are supposed to adore their grandfathers and their fathers as well, but if this little girl wants to follow me around time and again I’m completely fine with that. She’s such a beautiful little girl.” He laughed. “But then again she should be because she is her mother’s daughter.”

“That she is,” Aiden agreed with a chuckle. “And you know she’ll follow you around like your shadow, so watch the language. Lina’s already freaking out about just what their first words are going to be, and considering where we let them hang out, I have a bad feeling I’m going to be on the couch for about eight years.”

“I will pass the word along to the guards as well. If any of them curse in front of one of my little darlings, you make sure to let me know and I will beat their as…ascots.” He caught his own cuss. “Now then, how about we go out so that I can see Tony, too. I love that little guy as well.”

“Did you drag us all the way here just so you could abscond with the babies and make faces at them?” he asked the man as he stood up. Following Talon out, he shook his head. “Because if you did I may have to let Talina beat the crud out of you.”

“No, I brought you here for another reason.” Talon got serious, stopping in the hall and turning to look at Aiden. “There are some Rogue Dragons out there. It’s come to my attention that there is rumbling now about my grandbabies. I’m going to assign more guards to you, and to these little ones as well, until the Rogue bastards are found.”

“Son of a biscuit-munching monster,” Aiden bitched. At Talon’s look, he glared. “Hey, I’ve had to become creative in my cursing since Lina is waving a big stick these days.” Growling, he headed off again with his boss. “I’m a bloody Royal Guard. I do not need babysitters on me, T, on Lina and the kids, abso-freakin-lutely, boss.”

“And what do you think that Lina would do if you were captured? She would do anything to get you back and you very da…well know it.” He headed off the words again. “Accept the guards, Aiden. They will just be your shadows. Only one to you and the others to my daughter and the grandkids.”

“Jes…jumping Jiminy Cricket, Talon,” he said, “you are a flipping pain in my rump.” He so couldn’t wait to swear again. This whole creative streak was wearing thin fast. “Fine,” he growled, pushing through the doors. “I’ll accept one, but if he so much as tells me what to do even once, I’m delivering him to you in a body bag.”

“He knows better. He’s going to be your shadow only.” Talon looked down at Amy and smiled. “Hey there, darling girl. You are so beautiful, aren’t you, sweetheart?” To Aiden he then added, “He’s going to be your shadow so that if any of those fu…funnel cakes come after you he will be able to report where you are.”

“Funnel cakes?” Aiden asked with a smirk. “Seriously, you’re using funnel cakes?” He laughed and stopped by the truck. “Your father wanted to see Tony and give him a little loving,” he told his mate as she rolled the window down.

Lina smiled at her father. “Hey, Daddy,” she whispered. “He’s sleeping right now. Poor little guy was hurting so badly earlier that now that he is finally been able to sleep I want him to be able to do just that. Is everything okay?”

“No,” Aiden said, shaking his head. “Apparently there is some discourse amongst the Dragons and there have been reports of Rogues. We’re getting extra security.” He glared at Talon. “Even me.” He grumbled the last words. He was so not pleased with that little tidbit.

Lina looked at her father and frowned. “Really?” She winced and looked down at Anthony, pulling the blanket up and over him. “Oh boy, I don’t like that.” Stroking her fingers over Tony’s cheek, she looked to Aiden. “We should leave soon, honey. He’s starting to get warmer. I want to get him home, bathed, changed, and then need to give him some more Motrin.”

Nodding, he pushed off the truck. “I’ll run up and grab the car seat. I’ll only be a couple minutes,” he said to her. “Chitchat with your father and tell him how much I hate him and his funnel cake plans for sticking me with a junior guard as a shadow.”

Lina snickered and looked to her father. “What does he mean, ‘funnel cakes’?” It hit her then. “Oh, that was creative,” she teased her father and shifted when Tony began to fuss again. “I love you, Daddy, but as soon as Aiden gets back out here we need to go so that I can get our little guy here home. When Aiden gets the seat in and puts Amy in it, you can open the door and say hello to your grandson.”

“I understand, darling,” Talon said, rocking back and forth as he bobbed Amy in his arms lightly. “Just do whatever you need to do for your son, Lina,” he murmured, lifting Amelia up and kissing her chubby cheek. Turning when he heard Aiden, he headed around the car to give Amelia to him.

“Is everything ready?” he asked from behind the large oak desk. “Is everyone in place so that we will be able to move in and take the King’s daughter and grandchildren?” Fingers tapped on the desk. Annoyance showed clearly in the face of the man seated as he looked out at the men that were helping him overthrow the King.

“We have them all being tracked,” he said to his boss with a nod. “The others are moving into place and should be ready sometime tonight. We’re having to be extra careful. The ‘King’,” he sneered the word, “has been bringing in extra guards, and they are extremely suspicious.”

“Good. The more that we can get out of the way the better. Pull additional men if you need to. I want as many of those fucking idiots to go down as possible. If we can take the Royal Guard out as well, all the better. We only want the daughter and the brats. Everyone else is collateral.”

“Understood, sir,” he said and then paused and cleared his throat. “I hate to mention this, sir, as I thought I’d dealt with it, but I received another report of discord with some of the men. While they dislike the ‘King’,” he sneered again, “and his way of doing things, they are against hurting those they believe have been brainwashed and could potentially see the light of our way of things.”

“The ones that are giving the most flack, send them to another part of the world. We need the ones that are completely and fully in line with us and our agenda. If they question us again, then kill them. Make examples of them.”

“Yes, sir,” he said and snapped a salute before turning and heading for the door. “Oh, before I forget, sir”—he turned—“the female and children are currently inside the base with several others including three of the Council plus the Cat Changer that won’t sit the Throne. The security is super tight, but I got the word that they were doing a meeting that should break up just before dinner. That may be the best time to strike.”

“Make it happen. Take whomever you need and whatever firepower that you need. Bring the girl and kids and we will have the leverage that we need to get that fucker to step aside, and I will take the Throne as I should have it.”

“As you wish, sir.” He smiled at his boss. “Your father will never see it coming.”

* * * *

“Talon, we have to deal with this issue,” Aiden said as he watched his kids being passed around the room with his brother’s twins. Everyone was trying to get their hands on the babies. “The men we captured trying to get into the offices aren’t saying anything but I know something is up. I think we should let Quincy loose on them and get them talking.”

“We will save that as the last resort. Right now we need to figure out why the fuck these Rogues keep popping up time and a-fucking-gain. I will go down and question them. I want to know what the hell they think that they are doing with turning from me, their King.”

“Then we’re coming with you, T-Rex,” Mac said from where he was actively eavesdropping. “If Aiden’s gut is right as well as what Lee has been picking up, they are after something huge, and letting you walk into that room without a full contingent around you is just stupidity at its extreme.”

“All right,” Talon agreed. “I will allow you to accompany me, but I get to be the one who’s in their faces and demanding to know just why the fucking hell they think that they can go against me and my rule.” The Dragon was prowling just under his skin, and Talon had to fight to keep control when all he wanted to do was go in and rip the bastards apart until he was bathed in their blood.