Chapter 5
Winter’s suncast an illusory warmth over the quiet suburb of Westwood as Blaéz brought the Veyron to a halt in the shadowy, tree-lined street.
Darci studied the white, two-story house with its blue trim, where her brother and Grace lived, and where she’d spent her childhood until she turned twenty and moved into the brownstone in the Village—the house her godmother had gifted to her and Declan upon her death.
She turned in her seat, studying Blaéz’s chiseled features. Dark shades concealed his eyes from the glare of the late-afternoon sun. Stubble shadowed his jaw, a look he’d worn for a few days now. Heck, he looked mouth-wateringly delicious, tempting her to crawl into his lap and shoot the bet to hell. “So?”
Nothing showed on his face as he stared through the windshield at the playground a few houses away on the dead-end street—not even a hint of his emotion pinged through their shared-soul, but she knew.
“Or do you need a little more time to admire the scenery?” she teased, hiding her smile. “Declan’s hardly going to be waiting with a shotgun, you know.”
He removed his sunglasses and dropped them onto the dash. Cool, cobalt blue eyes found hers. He rested his arm on the steering wheel. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Her smile burst free. “Immensely.”
“Indeed. But know this, too,a leannan, you’re only adding up more…punishment.” His tone was low, soft, and all the more perilous for it.
“Always with the punishment.” She wrinkled her nose. At his hooded stare, her blood heated, and her tummy dipped, knowing exactly what he could do in reprisal. Last time, he’d trapped her on a stepladder in the library.
His point made, Blaéz got out and rounded the hood to her side while she sat glued to her seat, too warm, too needy—her body igniting like an explosion of burning Christmas candles.
He opened the car door. “C’mon. Since you’re so eager to have me drawn and quartered, let’s get this done.”
Fighting to calm her unruly body, she stepped out and slipped her hands around his waist, giving him a quick hug. “I’ll never let that happen.”
His powerful arms tightened. He dropped a kiss on her crown. “I know.”
The front door opened. Grace walked out, a wide smile on her attractive face, the light breeze stirring her fine, blond hair. Though she’d had her baby only two weeks ago, the baby bump had lessened quite a bit. “Blaéz, Darci, I’ve been waiting for you both.”
Darci hurried over and hugged her sister-in-law, then eased back. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m well. It’s good to no longer worry about…anything.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Darci understood exactly what she meant. After everything she’d been through with several miscarriages, Grace deserved this peace.
Her chest squeezed in gratitude. The Morrigan had kept her promise to bless her brother and Grace with a healthy child, but only after Darci had carried outherpart of the deal…and had almost died in the process.
“Dars!” A tall, fair-haired whirlwind dashed outside and snatched her from Grace’s hold in a rib-crushing hug and spun her around.Oh, crap!She grabbed hold of Daniel in surprise, feeling a little dizzy when he finally set her on her feet again. She expected to feel her nephew’s bony, teenage shoulders, but instead found firmer,biggerbiceps under her palms.
What the heck? She pushed back and gaped. Almost six months away from home and the changes in him had her jaw dropping. Muscles had bulked out his thin frame. No wonder he could pick her up.
“Wow! Farm work must be good for you. Look at all this brawn.” She patted his upper arms.
He grinned, sky-blue eyes sparkling. “And you’re finally getting married? Who would have guessed it when you sent Bim-Bob marching?”
She rolled her eyes at his teasing and didn’t bother correcting Ben—her ex’s name. Not only muscles but cocky now, too. The girls didn’t stand a chance with him.
Daniel glanced at Blaéz then stared expectantly at her. “Well?”
Right. He wouldn’t know who her fiancé was since Blaéz had removed Daniel’s memories of him and that awful night from several months ago when Daniel had unknowingly gotten himself in trouble, taking part in a dangerous underground cage fight. A place where he could have died, unaware that it was a demon he fought.
Darci cast Blaéz a cautious look as she introduced them. “Blaéz, my nephew, Daniel.”
Her mate nodded.
“Dude, awesome to meet you. You’d better be taking good care of my aunt.”
Darci groaned. Everything about her nephew had changed, including his mouth.
