Chapter 576: Of course

By the time Dean and Arion finally recovered their son, Theodore had slept through a tiger meeting, three separate arguments, several adults laughing loudly enough to wake half the palace, and Nero attempting to negotiate whether the tiger should eventually be allowed inside residential rooms.

Sebastian had ended that discussion.

Theo remained oblivious.

Arion carried him through the eastern guest wing with one arm beneath his legs and the other secure around his back, Theo’s face pressed against his father’s shoulder while the borrowed jacket Sebastian had wrapped around him earlier remained tucked over his small body.

Dean walked beside them, carrying Theo’s shoes.

"He has developed an impressive ability to sleep through disasters."

Arion glanced down at their son.

"He grew up around our family."

"That explains it."

The palace had settled considerably since their arrival. Staff moved quietly through distant corridors preparing for the formal dinner, while outside the tall windows the gardens had disappeared into darkness beneath rows of low lamps. Tomorrow would be far less peaceful. The coronation schedule began early, followed by formal appearances, diplomatic receptions, photographs, and enough ceremonial procedure that Dean had already decided to appreciate every quiet minute he got tonight.

Their suite was empty when they entered.

Hunter had remained downstairs with the security teams, while Matthias had vanished remarkably quickly after Nero joined the group earlier.

Dean suspected that was intentional.

Arion carried Theo directly into the adjoining bedroom.

The lamps had been lowered while they were away, leaving only a warm glow near the bed. Theo barely stirred when Arion placed him onto the mattress and slowly removed Sebastian’s jacket from around his legs.

Dean sat beside him and pulled off his socks.

"Pastry, milk, and being carried around by royalty," he murmured. "Terrible life."

Theo made a small sound but did not wake.

Arion loosened the collar of his shirt, then pulled the blanket over him.

For a few seconds, both of them simply stood there.

Theo slept on his side with one hand curled close to his face, his breathing deep and even.

No ancient presence reached for him.

No pressure moved through the connection.

The barrier remained exactly where Arion had placed it.

Dean looked at him.

"You’ve checked it three times since we landed."

"Four."

"Of course."

Arion switched off the bedside lamp.

They left the connecting door slightly open and moved into their own room.

Dean had barely set Theo’s shoes beside the wardrobe when Arion came up behind him and wrapped both arms around his waist.

Dean leaned back automatically.

Vetiver settled around him, familiar and warm after a day filled with unfamiliar pheromones, palace halls, political greetings, and entirely unnecessary tigers.

Arion rested his chin against Dean’s shoulder.

"The moment this coronation is over, we can start planning properly for the second child."

Dean smiled.

"That was already the plan."

"I meant practicing the plan."

Dean went still for half a second.

Arion kissed the side of his neck.

"Efficient preparation."

"Absolutely not."

"You said you wanted another baby."

"I do."

Dean turned within his arms.

Arion looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Dean placed both hands against his chest.

"We are waiting until Seven vets both of us."

"That could take weeks."

"That is the point of Planned Parenthood."

Arion frowned.

"We already know we’re healthy."

"We know we’re generally healthy. Seven wants bloodwork, scans, cycle monitoring, your glands checked after the restoration incidents, my old C-section scar evaluated, and probably another seventeen things he hasn’t invented yet."

"He enjoys tests too much."

"He enjoys not being surprised by our reproductive decisions."

Arion’s hands settled at Dean’s waist again.

Dean narrowed his eyes.

"And I refuse to walk into Seven’s office in three weeks, already pregnant."

Arion’s mouth curved.

"That would be unfortunate."

"For him?"

"For us."

Dean laughed.

"Mostly for Seven. I think he’d kill us himself."

"He is a physician."

"That has never stopped him from threatening us."

Arion bent and kissed him.

Slowly enough that Dean almost reconsidered his commitment to responsible planning.

A sleepy voice came through the open connecting door, bringing Dean back to reality.

"Papa?"

Dean sighed against Arion’s mouth.

"There goes your plan."

Arion kissed him once more before letting go.

They crossed into Theo’s bedroom together.

Theo had pushed himself upright against the pillows, hair thoroughly disordered now, his eyes heavy with sleep.

"What happened?"

"You woke up," Dean said.

Theo rubbed one eye, looking past them.

His attention fixed on the highest shelf.

Dean followed his gaze.

The black wooden dragon.

Theo pointed.

"I want that."

Arion stared at the toy.

Dean stared at Arion.

The connection to the ancient being remained completely blocked.

The dragon was only painted wood.

Still, neither of them appeared enthusiastic.

Theo looked between them.

"The dragon."

"We know which one," Dean said.

"I want him."

Arion let out a long, exhausted sigh.

Dean folded his arms.

"This is your decision."

Arion looked at him.

"You put it up there too."

"You were the one who inspected it for corruption."

"It seemed reasonable at the time."

Theo pointed again.

"Dada."

Arion surrendered.

He crossed the room, reached up, and removed the wooden dragon from the shelf.

Theo immediately held out both hands.

Arion gave it to him.

The toy was fairly large in Theo’s arms, carved with folded wings and a long tail curling beneath its body. Theo examined it for a few seconds before settling back against the pillows and pulling it to his chest.

Dean watched carefully.

Nothing happened.

"You like it?" Arion asked.

Theo nodded.

"He can sleep with me."

Dean looked at Arion.

Arion looked tired enough that arguing with a wooden dragon had apparently fallen below his standards.

"Fine."

Dean pulled the blanket back over Theo.

"Go back to sleep."

Theo curled onto his side with the dragon trapped against his chest.

Within a minute, his eyes closed.

Within three, his breathing deepened again.

Arion remained beside the bed for several seconds longer.

Dean leaned against the doorframe.

"You know we’re going to end up taking that home."

"Yes."

"And Otto will probably commission six more once he sees it."

Arion rubbed a hand over his face.

"Don’t tell him."

Dean smiled.

He watched Theo sleep, one hand resting over the dragon’s back.

A second child.

The thought returned almost effortlessly now.

Another small body in a bed somewhere nearby.

Another person for Theo to love, protect, argue with, teach terrible ideas to, and inevitably drag into every corner of their enormous family.

Dean wanted that.

More strongly every time he imagined it.

Arion came back to him and slipped an arm around his waist.

Dean rested his head briefly against his shoulder.

"After Seven."

Arion sighed.

"After Seven."

"And when he says we’re ready."

Arion looked down at him.

"You are enjoying this."

"A little."

"You’re torturing me."

Dean smiled and kissed his jaw.

"Think of it as reproductive discipline."

Arion’s expression suggested he considered the phrase personally offensive.

Behind them, Theo shifted in his sleep and hugged the black dragon tighter.

Dean glanced back once.

For tonight, at least, there was no ancient creature demanding their child’s attention, no political crisis, and no surprise pregnancy waiting to turn Seven’s remaining hair grey.

Tomorrow they could deal with a coronation.

After that, they could start working on everything else.