Page 26 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Oh, mommy’s room? Then where is Vada’s room?”

“Dare, right dare, Doc.”

“This one?” he asked walking into her room.

“Yes!”

They both cheered. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was only winding her up, making it far harder to actually get her to sleep.

“Book,” she demanded.

“One book, then bed.”

“No, Doc. Five.”

He chuckled. “Two, and that’s my final offer.”

She pouted. “Two.”

He sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of her room as she picked out only two books. Then she climbed up and settled onto his lap.

He started to read. His voice was so soothing. I sat down in the hall outside her room and just listened. Much to my surprise I started to dose off.

“Lucy?” Micah said.

I hadn’t even made it to the end of the book.

“How many did she make you read?”

He chuckled. “She didn’t even make it through one and neither did you.”

“Only one? She usually demands five.”

“She tried.”

I yawned.

“Looks like it’s time for you to call it a night too.”

The next thing I knew strong arms wrapped around me as he lifted me into his warm embrace and carried me down the hall to my room.

He pulled the covers back and carefully laid me down then tucked me in as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

I wanted to tell him to stay, but I really was exhausted. It had been such a long day and my eyes suddenly didn’t want to stay open a moment longer.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Sweet dreams. I’ll let myself out.”

The next morning,I awoke with a jolt. The sun was streaming in and as I listened to the silence around me there was no sign of Vada.

I launched myself out of bed and ran into her room where I found my daughter still asleep.

I checked the time to find it was after nine. I couldn’t remember the last time she had slept this long. Had she ever?

I walked out to the kitchen to make some coffee. I needed it.

I had expected to find the dirty dishes from dinner still sitting on the table, but they weren’t there. In fact, the entire kitchen had been scrubbed clean. I walked into the living room and Vada’s toys had all been picked up and neatly put away.

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