Bonus Content – Fearless

Mikos, Two Weeks Later

“What is this game?” Arms crossed, I watched, fascinated, as my mate and Ivy lifted their arms over their heads and stomped around the gathering like creatures of some kind. Several little ones squealed and ran, the carefree laughter a boon I didn’t know I needed.

“Pirates and Giants.” Next to me, Zenos didn’t try to hide his smile. I’d never seen this male look so… happy. Content. “Our females are dangerous giants, destined to be defeated by the fearless pirates.”

I snorted. “The pirates are screaming and running with terror.” The children, whose names I did not yet know, had all been born while I was away. I should have been here to welcome them to the Legion, to pledge my protection. I’d missed so much.

“Give them a moment. Their fearless leader will rise and lead them to victory.”

As if on cue a young female, perhaps ten years old, grabbed a young boy, her brother if the similarity of their faces was any indication, and lifted their joined hands as she shouted to the rest of the children. “Nero! Scylla! Everyone, to me! We will ambush the giants and destroy them!”

Obviously well trained in the game, Ivy giant-stomped her way to the side of one high-backed sofa, nodding her head at Breanna to follow her lead. My mate winked at me and stomped her boots, roared like a monster, and shuffled around with Ivy next to the soft cushions. Gods help me, my mate made an adorable, curved, luscious, fuckable giant.

Maybe I’d make her stomp around our bedroom later. Naked.

The children took advantage of the sofa, jumping on it to launch their attack on our mates. Ivy and Breanna roared as the children swarmed them, their laughter loud and addictive.

I understood why Ivy and Zenos came to the common area every night.

A very small child ran to stand before Zenos. He held up his hand and Zenos took the tiny hand in his own, his touch gentle, tender. These were our family, the people we protected. Zenos chuckled and allowed the little boy to pull him forward.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

Zenos laughed, a sound I had never heard before. “I’m usually one of the giants.” He looked into the little one’s eyes. “Can I be a pirate today?”

“Yes. Pirate! Pirate!” The little boy practically jumped for joy as he led their new, very large pirate, to the middle of the fray. My mate was on her hands and knees with three sets of tiny arms wrapped around her, a fourth child on her back.

“Mikos! Save me! The pirates are too powerful!” Breanna called me to her, the amusement in her voice instantly soothed the wildness within that demanded I protect her. She was playing, not truly in danger. I did not recall that last time I had done such a thing.

“Mikos! Ahhhh! I’m going down!” My mate rolled onto her side and the children squealed with delight, piling on top of her like blankets as laughter shook her entire body.

Foolish. Impractical. Ridiculous.

I could deny her nothing.

I lifted my arms over my head, as I’d seen the female ‘giants’ do, and roared. “I am the giant Mikos! Foolish pirates! I am coming to destroy you!”

I stomped my way to her side as first one child, then a second, a third, clung to my legs like buckles on my boots. They weighed practically nothing as I stomped and roared, pulling them gently around the room. Their eyes sparkled with happy abandon, total trust. Love.

Joy bubbled up inside me, new and unfamiliar, like a blast of fresh air that lifted the years of loneliness from my soul and washed me clean. My mate rolled on the floor, tickling one of the pirates until they both collapsed into a pile of happy laughter.

Perhaps, tonight, I would ask my mate for the only thing we did not have.

Little pirates of our own.