"They will not. I’m raising them to have standards."

Lucan snorted. "God help us all."

Her hands rested over Damien’s, where they cradled her belly, and Lucan’s fingers intertwined with hers, a tangle of touch that said everything words couldn’t.

She was going to see the library. She was going to find Victor and kiss him senseless for it.

But first- five more minutes in this bed, wrapped in the two men who looked at her like she’d hung every star the clouds were hiding.

"If either of you tells Victor I cried about the library," she said, her throat suspiciously tight, "I will name all four children after Tommy."

Lucan’s horrified expression was worth every single chilli flake.

-- Later that morning —

The heavy silence of the manor settled over her, broken only by the rhythmic patter of rain against the glass. Felicity sighed, her hands dropping to the distinct swell of her stomach. Two months left with four little heartbeats, two boys and two girls, growing stronger by the day.

"You shouldn’t be standing so close to the draft."

The low, velvet voice brushed against her ears before she even registered the sound of boots on the rug. Felicity turned, her back pressing against the cool windowpane, to find Dimitri standing in the doorway of the second-floor library.

The scent of Honey and crushed apples immediately flooded her senses. Now that the "one husband per day" rotation was finally over and they were settled into the manor, the dynamic had shifted. The other men were hyper aware of his intentions, a silent, alpha understanding passing between them. Dimitri was officially pursuing her.

He closed the distance between them with slow, measured strides, his dark eyes locked onto hers with that intense, barely-contained reverence. He didn’t rush; he stopped just inches away, his shadow completely eclipsing her against the morning mist outside.

"Voss will find what you need," Dimitri murmured, his voice dropping an octave as his eyes flicked down to her stomach before slowly rising back to her face. "But until he returns, you belong inside, where it’s warm."

His hand reached out, his knuckles ghosting agonisingly close to her bare shoulder. He didn’t touch her, not yet, but the sheer heat radiating from his skin made her fox ears twitch involuntarily, betraying exactly how much his proximity affected her.

Dimitri’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a tight fist at his side as he forced himself to maintain his rigid restraint.

"The teams securing the perimeter," he whispered, stepping even closer until she could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest. "But my only focus is right here. Let me take care of you today, bug."

"Bug?" Felicity blinked, her fox ears twitching forward. "Who’s Bug?"

Dimitri tilted his head, that infuriatingly subtle smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Your bug."

"My.." She stared at him. "I don’t have a bug. I’ve never had a bug. When did I acquire a bug?"

"You didn’t acquire it," Dimitri said, as if explaining gravity to a child. "It acquired you."

"That’s worse. That’s objectively worse."

"You just look like a cute little bug in my eyes," Dimitri smirked.

"Okay, weird." She tucked a strand of hair back and mumbled, "I’ll take it, I guess." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She ran her fingers along the spines, each one a small treasure in this desolate world.

"So many books!" she exclaimed, her face shining with pure joy. She turned to Dimitri, her smile so bright it could have powered the entire manor. "So glad Victor saved all of these." Her eyes sparkled with delight. "Do you read?"

Dimitri’s mind spun. She was talking to him, really talking to him, not just exchanging polite words. The desire to keep her here, pressed against a wall, flooded his veins. He could almost feel her soft skin beneath his palms, hear her breath catch as he leaned in...

’No. No, he couldn’t think like that. He needed to be calm, to show her he could be gentle. He loved her truly, deeply loved her.’

"I used to read tactical books," he finally managed, his voice rougher than intended.

Felicity smiled at him, her fox ears twitching playfully. "Hmm, sounds a bit boring, but that’s okay. You should try some adventure books."

"Whatever you like, bug, I like," Dimitri said, his eyes warming with unexpected tenderness.

That made Felicity blush deeply. She turned away quickly, pretending to examine the books more carefully. "Psh, careful who you say that to. They might think you’re flirting with them."

Dimitri chuffed softly, a sound somewhere between a laugh and a growl. He moved closer until she could feel the heat of his body against her back.

"I’m only interested in you bug," he whispered, his breath tickling the sensitive tip of her ear. "Have been since the moment I first saw you."

Felicity’s heart hammered against her ribs. The babies kicked suddenly, as if they too could feel the tension crackling between them.

"I should..." she began, but her voice faltered when Dimitri’s hand hovered just above her shoulder.

"You should what?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that she felt in her very bones.

"Find Victor," she finished weakly. "Thank him for the library."

Dimitri’s jaw tightened, but he stepped back, giving her space. "He’s in the east wing, discussing security measures with Ivan."

Felicity nodded, clutching a book to her chest like a shield. "Right. East wing."

As she moved to leave, Dimitri’s voice stopped her. "Bug?"

"Yes?"

"Tonight, at dinner... save me a seat?"

The request was simple, but the intensity in his dark eyes made it feel like so much more. Felicity swallowed hard, her fox ears tinted red and flattening slightly against her head.

"I will," she promised, before hurrying out of the library, her heart racing faster than it had any right to.

Behind her, Dimitri closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath that smelled of her, honey and something uniquely Felicity. He would wait. He had waited this long. He could be patient a little while longer.