-30
CALEB’S POV
I carried Tiara outside so that Zarina and the healer could change Aurora’s clothes. She looked so much like Tyson; same copper eyes, sharp eyebrows but her lips were like Aurora’s; soft as the petals of a rose.
She was the kind of baby one instantly fell in love with. I could fight with the world for her. I placed my finger near her tiny palm, My heart danced with joy when she gripped my huge finger with her tiny hands.
My time with the little angel was cut short when I heard Aurora’s anxious voice.“Where is my baby?”
Her face lit up with a million-dollar smile on seeing Tiara in my arms. Tiara started wailing loudly as if on cue.
“Teetee is missing moma too, is it?” I cooed handing her over to Aurora. I watched in wonder as Tiara stopped crying the moment she was in Aurora’s arms.
Zarina came in with a feeding bottle and handed it to Aurora. Soft sucking sounds echoed in the room as the little angel drank greedily.
“What is in the bottle?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Mostly milk but with a bit of Tyson’s blood. That is what our mother used to make Tyson and Aslan drink. A witch’s milk is not enough to provide the needed nutrients to a baby with Dragon genes.” Zarina explained, sitting beside Aurora.
“Tyson is here!” Aurora asked as she gazed at the doorway expectantly.
Zarina exhaled deeply and said, “Sadly, no… I have some of his blood stashed in the freezer…”
It was hard to believe that Tyson didn’t care at all. He should have at least come to see his baby once.
Shaking my head incredulously, I said, “What kind of a father is he? Doesn’t he want to see his daughter?”
Aurora’s pursed her lips and a few drops of tears rolled down her cheeks. She deserved someone much better. God knows how she got stuck up with that B******!
Aurora let out a long deep sigh and croaked out, “For that pighead, Teetee is just a means to get ‘The Heart of Magic’.”
Sitting beside her, I held her hand and said, “His loss… Tiara is a charmer… she will always have people to love and care for her.”
She gave me one of those wholehearted smiles that lit up her eyes. One of my personal favorites.
“It doesn’t matter what Tyson thinks about Tiara, we all love her more than anything else in the world,” Zarina added, leaning over to gaze at our angel.
Aurora exhaled deeply and nodded her head. “I am not going to waste my precious time thinking about that D*** head. I have more important things to do.”
She was right. Now, that Tiara was born our work was about to increase. There was no scarcity of people who would try to take Tiara away…
ASLAN’S POV
“Hey, brother! Where have you been? Did you meet Tiara yet? She is a mirror image of little Tyson!” Zarina chirped as she bounded into the study.
“Not exactly, I have been busy,” I said, picking up a book and browsing through the pages.
She snatched the book away from me forcing me to look at her.
“What is it Zarina?” I couldn’t prevent irritation from lacing my voice.
Her eyes blazed with anger and she gritted out, “I didn’t say anything when you remained aloof during Aurora’s pregnancy but now it's high time that you develop a strong bond with the baby.
Don’t forget your role, Aslan. Aurora should be willing to leave the baby in our care when they go looking for ‘The Heart of Magic.”
I let out a long, deep sigh and said, “I am scared that I will grow too attached to the baby and she will become my weakness.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? Put this locket around your neck. It will prevent you from falling to her charm.” Zarina chirped handing me a gold pendant shaped like a broken heart.
Nodding my head, I put the necklace around my neck and walked towards Aurora’s bedroom. When Zarina was out of sight, I took off the pendant and put it in my pocket.
I couldn’t wear it until I had it checked by Amy, a witch who lived in the Zacronian Quarter. She was greedy and charged a lot but that is what made her trustworthy.
I was about to walk past Aurora’s room and go out but something drew me towards the room. I don’t know what I was… maybe sixth sense.
Aurora had spotted me by the time I regained my composure. “Long time no see, brother. I had started wondering if you would ignore Tiara just like your amazing brother, Tyson! I am glad that you proved me wrong.”
I had no option but to go in now. The moment my eyes landed on Tiara, I was spellbound. My heart filled with joy and my lips automatically stretched into a wide smile.
I couldn’t resist the temptation of taking her in my arms. She gurgled as she displayed her perfect set of teeth to me.
“She seems to like you. After all, you shared your blood with her.” Aurora said looking at her baby with adoration.
Damn! This is why I didn’t want to see Aurora or her baby. They seemed to trust me so much.
“Here! Would you like to feed her?” Aurora said handing me her feeding bottle.
I swirled the contents in the bottle and sniffed it. Something was wrong.
“Aurora, did you leave the bottle unattended?”
“No… wait… maybe I did. I had taken the Teetee for a stroll in the garden as she was feeling restless.”
“Can you use your magic to analyze the contents of the bottle?” I asked, handing her back the bottle.
“I don’t know… Zarina told me that this field of magic was beyond my purview but I will still try.” She said and closed her eyes in concentration.
Her face turned paler than a ghost and she said in a shaking voice, “The milk has been poisoned. God knows what would have happened if you hadn’t asked me to test the milk.”
She placed the bottle on the shelf and pulled Tiara away from me. Holding her close to her chest she rocked her back and forth wordlessly.
I was about to pick up the bottle when it went up in flames. Stunned, I took a step backward.
“The milk seemed to be spiked with dark magic. I destroyed it lest it harmed someone.” Zarina said, walking in.
I wondered if Zarina was behind this plot. Was he planning to go back on her words?
.