She rolls her eyes, something all the women in my life seem to be doing lately.
“I’malwayscareful.”
No, she’s not. Nevaeh is the clumsiest person I know. I’ve never met a supernatural being with zero hand-eye coordination. On a battlefield, she’s lethal, but outside it, she trips over nothing like a toddler who just learned to walk.
She walked into my desk yesterday and had a bruise the size of my hand on her hip for a fullnineminutes before her Divine healed it. I dragged her to the healer and didn’t care if they both thought I was being too cautious.
I count to ten and force myself to breathe as Nevaeh steps onto the training field. I never knew being a girl dad would be this terrifying.
3. Love language: Glaring
Dean
It’s hardly been an hour since Hazel started training the kids when Harvey and Seiji storm in like rowdy gang members and announce that today’s session is over. They’re both dressed like my mate, so this is definitely not a surprise visit.
What are they up to now?
Harvey, the Horseman of War, might look stoic, but that mountain of muscle is Seiji’s biggest enabler. The Prince of Famine is always cooking up new ways to cause chaos. I thought they’d mellow out now that they have mates and are full-grown adults, but I don’t think they’ll ever grow up.
The kids wait for Hazel’s approval before breaking into cheers at the chance to leave early.
When I don’t spot my elder daughter, Grace, I mindlink her mate to ask where she is.
“Sleeping in,”Harvey answers.
That’s odd. Grace is usually up with the sun, something Harvey grumbles about constantly.“Is she okay?”
“Just a little tired.”He sighs, silver eyes softening at my concern.“She’s fine, Dean. Come by lunch and see for yourself.”
I tell him I’ll be there. The ache in my heart won’t ease until I see for myself that she’s okay.
Grace is a human, and even though she’s become stronger since mating with Harvey, to me, she’s still the thirteen-year-old I found wandering the woods, lost in more ways than one.
That’s why I started weekly father-daughter dates. I’ve missed too many important moments of their lives, but not anymore.
I don’t care if Grace has a simple cold. I’ll be there for her, make her soup, hell, I’ll drag a human doctor to our realm so they can check her out. Our healers are excellent, but I’m not taking any chances. Humans are fragile.
Harvey crosses the field and stops in front of my mate. Whatever he says makes Hazel smirk in a way that screams violence. She rolls her shoulders, something flashing in her eyes, and I’m instantly on alert.
I jog over to Nevaeh. “Do you know what’s going on?”
The moment she starts cackling, I know this won’t end well. “Seiji, Harvey, and Hazel have a bet. Every month, they pick ten warriors from their kingdoms to fight. Winner gets bragging rights until next month.”
So Harvey and Seiji are sending their warriors to die at my mate’s hands?
Nevaeh catches my expression and laughs, patting my chest.
“Relax, it’ll be fun.” She grabs my hand and drags me closer to where they stand inside a circle drawn with chalk, warriors surrounding them from all sides.
“Why doesn’t Anxo participate? He’s the Horseman of Conquer. Shouldn’t he be sparring with them instead of Hazel?”
“You know him. Angel thinks the bet is childish, and he’d rather do serious, boring stuff instead.” She grumbles, then suddenly her eyes glaze over like she’s linking someone. The next second, she’s smiling so wide I’m tempted to squeeze her cheeks to stop her from pulling a muscle.
“Let me guess. Anxo just said something disgustingly romantic.”
“Yeah.” She giggles, pulling me to sit on the ground beside her.
Every time I see her this carefree around Anxo, I’m grateful the Fates paired them together. His calm demeanor steadies Nevaeh’s restlessness, and after everything she’s been through, their bond feels like a blessing.
