Page 26 of The Monster's Mate

But not me.

The Gods don’t grant me a single second of unconsciousness.

Instead, I lie awake, listening to Charity’s whimpering moans. It’s a constant battle to stay on my side of the mattress, only reaching over to verify her fever isn’t up to a concerning level.

I’m genuinely fucking baffled how Athos can sleep through it all.

Charity jolts in her sleep, grunting as she thrashes.

I turn toward her, running my hand over her soft cheek.

“Shh, I’ve got you,” I murmur, moving to tease my fingers through her hair.

I’ll never understand how things went to shit so fast. She was skittish, but I was here, putting in the work every fucking day.

I left my entire life behind without a second thought, and it still burns that she feels like she can’t trust me because of someone else’s sins.

Fucking Cyril.

He better pray that he never has to face me in open combat. I’ve got a lot of anger to work off, and I’ll direct it exactly where it’s deserved.

Veryn wakes up long before Charity seems ready to rouse. Based on the fever she still has when I climb from bed next to her, I call Meena to see if she meant what she said about keeping the little guy for a few days.

I help him pack a bag and bring him outside to practice shifting before Meena arrives to pick him up.

He’s an undeniably quick study.

He just needs a little guided practice, which is something he should have had since hatching.

It kills me knowing Charity went through so much alone, but I’m grateful that she stumbled across Haven. Before everything fell apart between us, she told me all about how her mother left her with her human father when she was only a teenager.

Full-blooded siren often have their own harem of partners, and her mother simply got tired of the responsibility of being stuck in one place.

Not that my parents did much better.

My skills were noticed from a young age, and while I was often allowed to visit my family, they surrendered me to the Dragon’s Shield before my seventh birthday. Spending a weekend a month with your family is not the same as being raised by them.

If nothing else, Charity and I will ensure we break the pattern of hands-off parenting.

Veryn struggles to get his wings to retract as he pulls his T-shirt over his head. It takes a few tries, but he finally gets it, and the material falls over his slender form.

He gives me a toothy grin.

I give him a high five. “Good job, kid.”

“Thanks.” He glances over at his house. “You think my mom will feel better soon?”

I grab his shoulder, tugging him in for a hug. I’m not the most affectionate of beings, but children need physical contact and reassurance.

“She’ll be fine,” I tell him truthfully. “It’ll be a nice change of pace from hanging out with Mrs. Segar.”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “She always makes me do schoolwork when I get too loud.”

I snort.

Mrs. Segar used to be a schoolteacher, and she still teaches most of the kids in Haven, since there are so few. She already keeps Veryn four or five evenings a week, so asking her to keep him now felt like too much.

“Veryn,” Ember’s small voice calls out as she runs between Aline and Mrs. Segar’s houses.

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