“You know that he’s yours, Seth. That’s enough for now.”
Seth thinks about it for a moment before blurting, “I’m waking him up.”
He reaches inside the crib, and Khalil quickly puts him in a headlock. “Don’t,” he whispers. “We just put him down. Goldilocks will kill you.”
“Fine, fine.”
Khalil lets him go, and Seth deflates as he stares longingly at Nico. It’s been two months since Nico was born, but he’s still upset that he missed the birth—along with every other day of Nico’s life since we’ve resumed the schedule we had in the Cold Peaks.
Today is Seth’s day. Tomorrow will be Zeke’s.
Seth’s been worried that he’ll miss another important moment of Nico’s life, including all of the unimportant ones, so whenever Nico’s asleep—which is all the time—Seth becomes restless and agitated.
“Seth,” I call through the built-in microphone. His head snaps toward the camera. “Can you come here, please? I need you.”
Seth rushes out of the baby’s room, keeping his steps light, and moments later, he bursts through our bedroom where I’m supposed to be napping before my first appearance since giving birth at the Stardust Gala this evening. It’s just like the Met Gala in New York, but in Hollywood. “What is it? What happened?”
“Nothing,” I say calmly as I hold out my hand. “I can’t sleep, and I was thinking maybe it was because I needed you close. Will you lie with me?”
“Oh.” I see him visibly relax. “Okay.” He takes my hand and lets me pull him onto the bed with me, and then I crawl between his legs and rest my back against his chest. His scent envelops me immediately—juniper and leather.
“Is everything okay?” I ask when I realize he’s quieter than usual.
“I’m worried Nico won’t know me. What if he prefers Zeke or the others to me?”
“He won’t,” I confirm with confidence.
I hear Seth’s heart thud against his chest, and it amazes me how differently the rhythm seems compared to Zeke’s and Bane’s. Even their breathing. “How do you know? I’ll only bearound for half of his life. Khalil and Thor will get all of him. It’s not fair.”
I’d say Seth sounded petulant if he wasn’t completely right. It’s not fair. Seth was already robbed of a childhood and a mom he doesn’t remember. Finding out about Mara had been hard for him, but it mostly left Seth feeling conflicted and frustrated. How do you mourn a mother you don’t even remember having? How do you feel robbed of a childhood you never knew was possible?
And now there’s Nico, who has more parents than most who are all ready and willing to love, live, and die for him if need be. But for Seth and Zeke they can only be around some of the time and that reality makes Seth feel left out and unneeded, even though he’s never not once doubted that Nico was his.
“Because I think our baby is so special and so sweet that he has enough love in his heart for all of you. And I think that when you’re gone, he’ll miss you just as much as you miss him. Don’t you agree? Don’t you think our baby is the most loving little being on the planet?”
Seth reaches up and caresses my jawbone with his callused finger. “I think you might be, Sunshine.” He drops his hand to my thigh. “But Nico is a close second. He’s pretty fucking awesome. And so are you.”
“You’ll be there for the next one,” I tell Seth. “I promise.”
“I know.” He kisses the top of my head. “Are you ready for tonight?”
It’s a loaded question since I know he isn’t talking about the gala. My uncle will likely be there, and it will be the first time we’ve been in the same room since he landed under federal investigation for fraud. Whether he knows I’m responsible is a mystery, but I have a feeling I’ll find out tonight.
“Ready,” I answer.
My arrival on the red carpet draws a lot of attention—more than even I’m used to, because for once the focus isn’t entirely on me—or my stunning red gown.
Everyone’s looking at the four of us together. At the way Thorin, Khalil, and Seth flank me as I walk up the steep steps into the venue under the flashes of cameras.
My stylist chose the glittering red to give the people what they wanted and feed the whispers of the shameless seductress who dared defy societal rules, and she chose the ball gown style with a basque waist to remind them all that I’m still the people’s princess.
A blend of the old and the new me.
I think the biggest shock of all came from the shedding of my trademark. My hair is no longer gold or blonde, and the soft curls meant to invite are long gone, replaced by a provocative black and styled in a wet, slicked-back look for the night.
Despite the confidence I force myself to display on the long walk, my breath leaves me in a rush the moment I’m out of sight of the cameras, and I hold my now flatter stomach as if it can quell the queasiness I feel. Even the swish of my dress is loud in my ears. I hear the soft footsteps of my guys behind me, but they won’t comfort me.
I made them promise not to.
