Dean
Irush down the stairs, fixing my cuffs as I go. I don’t want to face Anxo’s disappointed parent look because I’m late again.
I reach the last step and freeze at the sight before me.
My whole family is gathered in the living room, conversations overlapping in every corner. Seiji and Harvey are bickering over something completely unnecessary while Grace and Jackson watch. Jackson pulls out a box of popcorn from nowhere, and Grace grabs it like she’s starving.
It’s the best kind of chaos. I love it. My house is full of laughter and bickering for the first time since I built it.
August is running circles around Anxo’s chair while Nevaeh is sitting on the rug between his legs as he braids her hair into something intricate. Every time Anxo holds out his hand, August drops a flower into it, which Anxo weaves into the braid.
When Anxo is done,August cups Nevaeh’s cheeks in his tiny hands. “You look so pretty, Mama.”
Nevaeh pulls her little monkey into her arms, peppering kisses all over his face until he can’t breathe from laughing so hard.
When August spots me, he escapes his mother’s hold and runs over, wrapping his arms around my thighs, his cheek pressed against me.
He looks up at me with a blinding smile, mischief dancing in his eyes. My heart stutters at the sight. He might not share mydaughter’s blood, but he’s a mini version of Nevaeh. Anyone who didn’t know August was adopted would swear he was Nevaeh and Anxo’s biological son.
He didn’t speak a word for months after they brought him home, but still had everyone wrapped around his finger. Blackburns are good at corrupting people and welcoming them to the dark side.It’s more fun here anyway.
August steps back and asks me to spin. I oblige, showing off the midnight-blue jacket I picked, its lapels covered in a subtle shimmer, like someone had dusted stardust over them. Silver embroidery winds along the sleeves, intricate enough that I don’t mind my markings being hidden tonight.
“What do you think? Do I look great or what?”
“Papa says your head will get too big if I continent you.”
I smother a laugh when I realize he meanscompliment. The kid is hilarious.
He motions for me to bend down, then he whispers conspiratorially, “Papa says girls don’t remember nice things about them, so we have to give Mama extra love and tell her she’s pretty every day so she doesn’t forget.”
“He’s a smart man.”And a great father.
The world could use more fathers like him.
I hear the sharp click of heeled boots behind me, and my heart kicks into overdrive.
She’s here.
I turn… and forget how to function. My jaw drops as my mate glides down the stairs like something unreal. On my next breath, I choke on nothing, thumping my chest before I embarrass myself in front of the water goddess walking toward me.
Hazel is wearing a silky off-shoulder white top that dips at the center, paired with wide-leg, flowy pants creased at the waist. A blue and golden corset cinches her waist, shaping her delicate frame in a way that makes it physically impossible to look away.A dainty gold stick sweeps up her raven hair in a classy updo that must’ve taken hours to perfect.
If perfection had a face, it would behers.
She stops at the bottom step, hands brushing nervously along her thighs.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I move toward her ina trance, like her hesitation is calling to me, pulling me in, waiting for me to fix it.
She let me see the cracks in her armor last night, and I don’t take that lightly. The fear behind them has lodged itself in my chest, heavy and persistent, reminding me how much I need to fix so she can shed that weight.
I reach for her on instinct, but my heart drops when I realize my mistake.
Just because she came to me last night doesn’t mean I get that privilege again. She’s barely stepping out of her comfort zone, and here I am, pushing her for more like an idiot.
I’m already scrambling for a way to recover and save us both from the awkward moment when a gloved hand slips into mine.
My fingers tighten on instinct, her trust a quiet, fragile gift I won’t take for granted.
