I rolled my eyes dramatically. “And why do you think you deserve a tale, tiny Emma?”
Nila reached out and tickled the little girl who looked exactly like her. Same cheekbones, chin, and lips. However, Emma had my eyes—Hawk eyes—a trait so strong every single sibling of mine shared. “Where are your manners, Velcro?”
Emma giggled at Nila’s nickname for her. On her second birthday, she’d fallen into a basket of Velcro teeth ready for invisible zippers. Her soft cotton jumpsuit latched onto the plastic thorns, ensuring untangling her took a lot of tugging and cursing. The damn child now had an addiction to pulling apart Velcro; she loved the noise.
Kestrel abandoned his Legos, shuffling closer to lean against my thigh. “Can we have a story? Just one.Please?”
I couldn’t help myself. Looping an arm around his small shoulders, I hugged him. Nila on my lap and Kes and Emma wedged against my sides—what could be more perfect? “You want a story?”
Emma bounced up and down, but Kes merely nodded. His thoughts sweet, steadfast, and protective. He adored his little sister. And if she wanted a story, he would make sure she got a story.
His golden eyes locked with mine, pleading. Goosebumps darted down my arms, wondering, if in some small way, my brother and best friend might’ve found a way to communicate via my son.
Kes wriggled in my embrace. “Tell us a story. Just one. Then bed. Promise.”
Nila laughed. “How often have we heard that?”
Kes smirked, a lock of hair curling on his forehead. “Promise. Hope to die. Cross my heart.”
Jasmine giggled. “Got that back to front, Kessy.”
Kes stuck out this tongue. “Daddy knows what I mean.”
I laughed softly as Vaughn slid to the carpet, resting his back against the chaise and scooping Jasmine into his lap. “You’re right. I do know what you mean.”
Kes clapped his hands. “Good. Gimme the story then.”
“Story! Story!” Emma curled up, cocooning all of us in a family bubble.
This right here.
Thiswas happiness.
And I was no longer drunk on it.
I wasinfestedby it.
This was my family.
My new chosen family.
We won.
Nila’s thoughts washed over me in an influx of honey and serenity. Her heart swelled with love.
Squashing my two children, I grabbed my wife and kissed her hard.
Kes pretended to vomit, and Emma squealed. Jasmine and Vaughn just groaned, “Get a room.”
Nila broke the kiss, her onyx eyes glowing with tenderness. “I guess we owe these demons a story.”
“I guess we do.”
“I’ve got a story.” Vaughn tickled Kes. “A story about a dragon and a little boy who got gobbled up.”
“No!” Kes struggled, scrunching up his face and trying not to laugh. “I like Daddy’s stories.”
My eyebrows rose. “My stories?”
