I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

Chapter 642 642: Lilith (3)

Next morning.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows, warm and golden, not the cold pale light of early morning but the rich honeyed glow of mid-morning that made everything look soft and dreamy. Dust motes danced in the air like tiny fairies, birds sang somewhere outside, and the distant sound of water trickled from the courtyard fountain.

Alina woke up slowly, her body heavy with sleep and her limbs loose, her mind still caught somewhere between dreams and waking. The bed was warm and the sheets were soft, but something warm and small was pressing against her face. She opened her eyes to find a tiny foot pressed against her cheek, toes wiggling lazily like they were waving hello.

Alina blinked. The baby was somehow horizontal, her head near Dante's shoulder and drooling on his arm while her feet were near Alina's face, one pressed against her cheek and the other kicked up on the pillow. Her tiny legs were stretched out, her tiny arms were spread wide, and her belly rose and fell with each small breath. She had claimed the entire bed as her own.

Dante was still asleep, his mouth slightly open, his dark hair a wild mess sticking up in every direction, and his arm draped over the baby's stomach like he was trying to keep her from floating away. Alina smiled, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin and smelling the faint scent of lavender from the garden below while the soft rustle of curtains drifted through the breeze.

She gently moved the baby's foot away from her face and sat up slowly, careful not to wake anyone as the silk sheets slid over her legs. The baby stirred, her tiny body stretching, her arms reaching up, her toes curling. Then her eyes fluttered open, crimson and bright and mischievous, and she looked at Alina.

She blinked. Her lips curved. Then she smiled her gummy, toothless, completely ridiculous smile, a smile that was all gums and joy, that crinkled her nose and made her eyes disappear into happy crescents. "Awag," she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep.

Alina's heart swelled. "Good morning, little one."

"Awa."

She reached for Alina's face, and her small warm fingers grabbed Alina's nose. Alina's voice came out muffled. "Ow—"

"Awa."

"That's my nose."

"Awa."

Alina laughed softly. "You're very strong." The baby giggled, a bubbly and breathy sound that made her whole body shake.

Dante woke up. He blinked at the ceiling, his crimson eyes unfocused, then at Alina, then at the baby. "Why is her foot on my face?" he asked, his voice thick and rough.

Alina didn't look up from the baby. "Because she owns the bed."

He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "I bought the bed."

Alina shrugged and smiled. "She doesn't care."

The baby grabbed Dante's nose. He sighed, a long and deep and put-upon sigh. "I used to be feared," he said to the ceiling.

"Awag," the baby said.

He looked at her. "Now I am grabbed."

Alina reached over and patted his cheek. "You're loved."

He shook his head, but his lips twitched. "I am grabbed."

The baby patted his cheek, gently and softly, her tiny palm warm and damp. Then she leaned forward and pressed her wet, drooly mouth against his nose in an open-mouthed, slobbery, enthusiastic kiss.

Dante froze. His eyes went wide. His body went still. "Did she just—" he started.

Alina's voice was bright with joy. "She kissed you."

He touched his nose. It was wet and covered in baby drool. "—bite me?"

Alina laughed, the sound filling the room like music. "She kissed you, Dante."

He stared at the baby, and she smiled at him with her gummy, toothless, completely ridiculous smile. "That's not a kiss," he said, but his voice was soft. "That's an attack."

Alina shook her head. "That's a kiss from a one-year-old."

He looked at the baby for a long moment, and she looked back at him with her crimson eyes bright and her tiny hands reaching for his face. His heart melted again, as it did every time. "It's love," he admitted quietly.

The baby kicked her feet, grabbed his shirt, and pulled herself toward him with surprising strength. He looked at Alina. "She's coming to work with me today. She's going to sit in my office and be adorable, and I'm going to get nothing done."

"Awag," the baby said.

He nodded seriously. "Agreed."

Alina laughed. The baby reached for her, and Alina took her and held her against her chest. The baby snuggled in immediately, her face pressed against Alina's neck and her tiny hands fisting Alina's shirt. Her small body was warm and soft and heavy with contentment, and she smelled like milk and baby powder and sunshine.

Like home.

Alina kissed the top of her head and let her lips linger on the baby's soft hair.

****

"No. Absolutely not. Never."

Dante's voice echoed through the living room, firm and final. His crimson eyes were sharp, his arms were crossed, and his shadows had stopped swirling around his feet.

Lucien stood in front of him, calm and composed. At ten years old, he was already tall for his age, with dark hair that fell across his forehead and charming red eyes. His features were striking, the kind of handsome that made people stop and stare even though he was still a child.

"Dad, it's just a trip," Lucien said. "Three days to the mountains. Our friends are going. Felix's parents approved. Vlad Jr.'s mother approved. Even Boo's father approved."

"Boo's father is a priest. He approves of everything."

"He said no to haunted banana day."

"That's because haunted banana day is ridiculous."

Before Lucien could respond, Sable wrapped himself around Dante's arm. At seven, Sable was delicate and beautiful, with dark eyes that seemed to glow and dark curls that framed his face. His smile was impossible to resist.

"Please, Dad," Sable said, looking up with pleading eyes. "We'll take care of her. We'll protect her."

Dante looked down at his younger son. "No."

"Dad—"

"I said no."

Then Lilith waddled into the room.

She was two years old, small and round, with black curls bouncing with every step and crimson eyes bright as jewels. Her tiny horns were still just small bumps beneath her hair. She wore a pink dress covered in strawberry prints and dragged a stuffed bunny behind her by its ear.

She looked up at Dante. "I want to gooooo," she announced, her voice stretched into a long whine.