Hannes and I all chuckled while he lifted theCaipirinhacocktail to my lips so I could drink. I didn’t know where this drink had been all my life, but I was glad I’d finally found it. I was never drinking anything else again.
Who needed water?
“You are always a bad boy, Dante,” Hannes teased while I took another sip.
Sitting up, I turned around to look at Dante and cupped his cheek. “Not always… Most of the time you are really, really good.”
His gaze softened, knowing exactly why I was saying that, but I couldn’t help it. He’d given me a real scare, and I still wasn’t over it.
After theTwilightswept him off the battlefield, it took an entire week for him to return to us. Dante had used not only the power boost his goddess had gifted him for the fight, foreseeing what he’d have to endure. He’d also used all of his magic, even the natural reserves in his essence, while the demon beat him within an inch of his life.
He’d already known what would come. The Goddess revealed his impending fate in the battle when she gave him the suit connected to theTwilightitself. And yet, Dante still risked his life, fighting theDark Oneso Bjørn could take my mother to safety.
Goddess Hecate herself had brought him back to me, to face the woman who had threatened her with death.
“Stop…” Dante’s soft lips brushed mine with the order. “You don’t have to worry anymore. I’m not going anywhere, Natasha. I’m immortal now, remember?”
“Yes, I remember…” All too clearly. It was the only way Goddess Hecate could save him, and I remembered it like it was yesterday.
“I forgive your threat, dear child, because I made a desperate threat too in my time. One that no one answered. I have lost the God of Twilight far too many times, and with him, my heart,” Goddess Hecate had confessed, glancing down at Dante as she carried him unconscious in her arms. “I cannot go through that pain again, and I dare not impose it on another. So, I have made him immortal… for you.”
She carefully placed him on the bed in front of André, Hannes, and me.
“Love him as I do… Daughter of Night and Day.”
She disappeared into the night after that, and my mates and I have spent every day since, making sure we fulfilled her heartfelt plea.
“I love you too.” Dante kissed me, holding me tightly. “Now stop this madness or Hannes is going to get jealous.”
Hannes grunted something unintelligible, hiding a smile.
“It’s time to go!” Alyce suddenly called, and we looked her way to see her getting up and reaching for her towel on the sand. “We need to head back now so we can shower and change, or we are going to be late.”
“We can’t be late,” Isis agreed, picking up the card game and placing it with everything else in her bag.
“André, it’s time to go!” Hannes bellowed toward the sea, waving at him to hurry.
Gripping my waist, Dante lifted me off his lap and stood, placing me on my feet. I turned to the shore just in time to see André strut out of the water.
I mean, that was always a treat, but this weekend it was far more special.
I grabbed the extra plush towel from my bag, where I’d kept it so it wouldn’t get sand on it—only the best for my love—and opened it wide, waiting for him to reach my arms.
“There’s the love of my life!” I greeted, wrapping the towel around his little body when André placed him in my arms.
“Aunty Tasha, the sea!” His big brown eyes widened, blond curly strands gleaming like pure gold under the bright sun when he turned to point to the rolling waves.
“I know, my little bear. The sea is so fun, isn’t it?”
He nodded, showing me his wet hand as little droplets fell from his chubby fingers. “Water…” His tongue licked the length of his palm, and he immediately cringed.
“No, little bear. We don’t drink that water.” Placing a kiss on his head, André walked past us to his chair.
“Lift him,” Hannes instructed, wrapping the bathing suit cover around me.
“Okay, let’s go,” Alyce urged, and we all began to walk out of the beach, crossing the street toward our building.
Carrying little bear in my arms, we entered the elevator to the penthouse. My cheek squeezed against his while his little arms wrapped around my neck tightly. He was a hugger, and I was here for it.
