"How's that working out for him?" Mikhail asked, nuzzling the top of Raven's head.
"You aren't going to find it so funny when our son starts defying you to do dangerous things," Raven pointed out, but she laughed softly when she said it and rubbed her head along his chest affectionately. "Little Miss Anya is far too adventurous. I think she'd try shapeshifting if anyone gave her half a chance."
"She probably already has," Mikhail pointed out.
"Bite your tongue," Raven said.
Fen found himself genuinely laughing at Gregori's predicament. He was tall, broad-shouldered and much respected in the Carpathian world. When he spoke everyone listened. Next to Mikhail, Gregori's word was law, yet his twin girls, barely two, defied him. With them, he was patient and gentle, although firm, not that it seemed to do him any good with little Anya. She was obviously adventurous.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Tatijana asked.
"Terrifying, though," Fen said. "If we have children, sivamet, let's try for boys. If the girls turn out like you, I'll definitely have a heart attack before they're grown."
Tatijana laughed, turning to Raven. "Men. They're such babies when it comes to children. What's your Alexandru like? You've given him a fine name. It means defender of all mankind, doesn't it?"
Raven nodded. "It's a lot for a little boy to live up to."
Fen was curious about the prince's son as well. His gaze continually went to the four little ones, Gregori and Savannah's twin daughters who were planting kisses all over their father's face, the curly-headed boy slightly older and the little boy with big eyes the color of his mother's and midnight black hair just like his father's. Fen noticed that even though both girls were in Gregori's arms, the twins kept an eye on the prince's son, as did the curly-headed boy. "The twins are very interested in Alexandru," he observed aloud.
Raven nodded. "They've already established a bond. Gregori's a little worried about it. It isn't a normal child's bond, but the Daratrazanoff/Dubrinsky bond. As far as we know, no woman has ever been second to the prince. Anastashia has already shown very early signs of being a natural healer like Gregori. If anyone gets so much as a bump she rushes over and takes care of it. Even the older children go to her. Anya is Gregori all over again. She's exactly like him right down to her fierce protectiveness of Alexandru. Anastashia actually is equally protective but in a far gentler way.
"Alexandru is already thoughtful, like Mikhail. He seems to think problems through before he makes a move," Raven said. "He's serious most of the time."
"And who is the little boy who looks so much like him?" Fen asked.
"That's Jacques and Shea's son, Stefan. He's only about nine months older but he definitely thinks he has to watch out for the others. He's a little jokester, although he takes his job of protecting the twins and Alexandru seriously," Mikhail said. "He's like Jacques was when he was young. I suspect he'll be playing pranks on all of us in a couple of years. No one will be safe."
Raven laughed. "He'll definitely enlist the aid of the twins and they'll be happy to help."
A small, curvy woman who looked a lot like Raven approached them. Mikhail held out his hand to her and pulled her to his side. "This is my daughter, Savannah. I don't know if you had the chance to meet Tatijana yet, but she is Dragonseeker, Razvan and Natalya's aunt."
"It's such an honor to finally meet you," Savannah said instantly, taking Tatijana's outstretched hand. "Gregori and my father think so highly of you."
"She saved several of our warriors nasty wounds with her quick thinking," Mikhail said.
"I think everyone was helping out," Tatijana said.
"And this is Fenris Dalka, Dimitri's older brother," Mikhail continued with the introductions. "No doubt Gregori has spoken of him as well." His tone turned droll.
Fen couldn't help but laugh. "No doubt."
Savannah joined in Fen's laughter. "Actually he has spoken of you at great length," she admitted, "but it was all good. My father replayed the entire battle for him and Gregori was very impressed with your skills. I'm so glad you're here. Sara and Falcon's children"-she indicated the small group of older children gathered together to listen to the storyteller-"are all human with psychic abilities. They were living in sewers when Sara found them. They'd already banded together and formed a family, working together for survival before she found them and brought them here."
"Who takes care of them during the daylight hours?" Fen asked. "How would something like that work?"
"Gabriel and Francesca also adopted a human child," Mikhail pointed out. "Young Skyler, and they've done quite well."
"Aidan and Alexandria are raising Alexandria's younger brother, Josh," Savannah added.
"Colby and Rafael De La Cruz have Paul and Ginny," Raven said. "It can be done with a little help and being creative about the hours you spend with them. Sara and Falcon rise as early as possible and the children sleep in and start their day later so they can stay up later."
"Who watches them?" Fen persisted. More than once he'd run across a child he would have liked to help, but it was necessary to go to ground. Who would ensure their protection when he was immersed in the soil as if dead?
Tatijana brushed his mind with love. You are so compassionate, Fen. Few men think of taking in a child when they live a lifestyle like yours.
Sadly, vampires, rogue packs and the Sange rau leave behind a number of orphans. He looked down at her. If we can't have our own children, would you consider a family such as Sara's?
Even if we have biological children, I would love to incorporate other children who need us into our family, she assured.