"Well, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" she shrieks as I cover her in more kisses. "I will, you madman."
I stop, showing her my pinky finger. "For real?"
She snorts. "Don’t sound so shocked or I might realize the kisses made me high, and that I’m being crazy."
I’ve never acted so quickly in my life. I put the ring on her finger and press my lips to hers in a possessive kiss.
"Too late. Nyx Duval, you are so mine," I murmur against her mouth.
She sighs as our tongues intertwine. And I know this is it. Happiness. I finally got it back.
I stay on top of her when our kiss comes to a stop, my eyes bouncing between hers.
"I have another daughter," I say, a thrill of excitement bubbling in my chest. "Twice in my life I didn't use a condom, and I have two daughters. I'm a god."
"Shut up." She laughs as she pushes me away. "Lyra is young, only eleven months old. She's the apple of my eye. She helped me survive those years I thought you were gone."
"She's young enough not to have wondered about her dad yet," I tell her. "This is my chance to get this right, Nyx. When Sophie learned I was her dad, she barely understood it, but our bond has gotten stronger over the two years. Now she calls me daddy," I conclude proudly.
My hopeful eyes roam over her face. "We can be a family. A real one. Not like the broken ones we had growing up. Those two little girls are going to be so loved."
She nods, warming my chest. "They will."
"I would like to meet her, if that's okay with you. We'll go as slowly as you think is right. And then Sophie can meet her too."
But I sense her hesitation. There’s a difference between her taking me back, and her letting me access our daughter. It’s a whole other discussion in her head, and I can see that right away.
"Indirectly, Lyra is a happy toddler thanks to you," she admits. "You helped my dad, and he’s been the best grandfather any child could ask for. He’s been there for me and her, is so present. I never knew that side of him, and I’m grateful for that. But this has been working well for us. I don’t want to change everything in her life for you."
"Nyx," I say carefully. There's a fine line between scaring her away and warning her into staying. I've always walked that line with her, and she liked it, but the stakes are different now.
She stares at me, her body squirming under mine, but she hides her thoughts well.
"Tell me something." My voice is low, the threat present in my tone but not my words. "Do you think having to stay away from you for that long while I knew you were suffering calmed my obsession with you? Or…" I bring a hand to her cheek, caressing her gently before I grip her jaw. "Do you think it made me even more dangerous when it comes to you?"
She opens her mouth to speak, but I tighten my grip.
"You saw the things I was capable of for Sophie. I took down an entire secret society. What do you think I'll be capable of to have Lyra in my life?"
It's the calm in my voice that scares her. It always is. How I don't get angry or violent, but that I have it in me to ruinsomeone. But it's not fear that appears in her eyes. They shine with excitement.
"There he is," she purrs. "My psycho on a leash." And she explodes in giddy laughter.
My jaw drops. "Were you…testing me just now?"
"Maybe. You don’t think I only missed your good side, do you? A mother has to check that her favorite villain will be there for his daughter at all costs." And she laughs again. "God, you should see your face."
She calms down, her voice softening. "You can meet Lyra. Today if you want. I’m not missing another second of our life as a family."
My head falls in the crook of her neck. "I'll putyouon a fucking leash. Let's see if you're tempted to play with my feelings again after that."
I feel a hand pull at my hair, and I'm forced to look up at her.
"Ow. What the fuck?"
"Wrong ear," she snaps. "Did you forget?" The anger on her features is worse than a slap in the face.
