“Come back in a week.” The words surprised her almost as much as they surprised him. “We can talk. Figure out what this looks like going forward.”
The hope that flickered in his eyes was painful to witness.
“Thank you.” His voice cracked. “Thank you, Ariella. I’ll do better. I promise.”
Valrek chose that moment to step forward. He moved with the silent grace of a predator, crossing the distance between them in three long strides. Anton shrank back instinctively, his face going pale, but Valrek didn’t stop until he was standing directly in front of the smaller man.
“You need to understand something.”
His voice was low and controlled, but she could hear the beast growling behind every word.
“Your daughter is mine. She is my mate. The mother of my child.”
Mother of his child.
The phrase sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. She looked down at Lilani, who had moved to stand beside her, one small hand clutching the edge of her fur wrap. Yes. My child.
“Whatever happens between you and her is her choice to make.” Valrek continued, his golden eyes never leaving Anton’s face. “But if you ever try to hurt her again… If you ever try to sell her or cage her or treat her as anything less than the extraordinary woman she is, I will hunt you to the ends of this world.”
His voice was absolutely calm, absolutely certain.
Anton, to his credit, didn’t try to argue or defend himself. He simply nodded, accepting the terms of his daughter’s new life.
“I understand.”
“Good.” Valrek stepped back, his hand finding hers. “Then we’ll see you in a week.”
The dismissal was clear.
Anton hesitated, his eyes finding her one last time. There was so much there—regret and hope and fear and love, all tangled together in a knot that might never fully unravel.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” he said roughly, his voice raw. “I’m glad you found this. Found them.” He gestured vaguely at the cave, at Valrek, at Lilani. “You deserve to be happy, Ariella. I know I never gave you that. But I hope they can.”
Then he turned and began the slow, careful climb back down the cliff path.
She watched him go, feeling Valrek’s warmth at her back and Lilani’s small hand still clutching her wrap. The sun was rising properly now, burning through the last of the storm clouds, casting the ocean in shades of gold and rose.
“Are you all right?”
Valrek’s voice was soft, meant only for her.
“I don’t know.” She leaned back against his chest, letting his arms wrap around her. “I thought I’d feel more. Anger or relief or… something. But mostly I just feel tired.”
“Then rest.” His lips brushed her temple. “We have time now. All the time in the world.”
Lilani tugged at her wrap again.
“Star Lady? Are you really going to be my mama now?”
The question was so hopeful, so fragile, that she felt tears prick at her eyes. She crouched down, bringing herself to the child’s level, and cupped Lilani’s face in her hands.
“Would you like that?”
“Yes.” The answer was immediate, emphatic. “I want you to stay forever and ever and be my mama and teach me to sing like the fishies and?—”
She pulled her into a hug, cutting off the torrent of words.
“Then yes.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “I’ll be your mama. If your papa says it’s okay.”
