Page 51 of Demon Daddy's Secret Twins

Mazan lowers himself beside me, his wing curling around my shoulders. The leathery membrane blocks the evening breeze, and I find myself leaning into his warmth.

"Look!" Kaelar shouts, holding up a shell that gleams purple in the fading light. His small horns catch the last rays of sun as he turns to show us his prize.

Sorien crouches nearby, methodically building a small tower from wet sand. His mismatched eyes narrow in concentration as he pats each layer into place. When a wave threatens his creation, Kaelar abandons his shell-hunting to help his brother build a protective wall.

"They're so different," Mazan murmurs, "yet they move as one."

He's right. Even now, as Kaelar darts around gathering more shells to decorate their fortress, Sorien stays focused on thestructure itself. But they work in perfect sync, anticipating each other's needs without a word.

"They've always been like that," I whisper. "Even before they could walk."

The boys' laughter mingles with the sound of waves, creating a melody I never knew I needed. Mazan's wing tightens around me as we watch our sons play, their small forms darting in and out of the water.

Mazan's hand finds mine, his obsidian skin warm against my palm. He pulls me closer, tucking me against the solid wall of his chest. His wings cocoon around us, creating our own private sanctuary as the boys continue playing at the water's edge.

His copper-red eyes catch the starlight as he looks down at me. The gold lines across his skin pulse softly, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat under my fingers. He presses his lips to the top of my head, his breath stirring my auburn hair.

"I love you," he murmurs, the words vibrating through his chest. "I've loved you since that first day by the waterfall, and I'll love you until the stars fade."

My throat tightens. For so long, I kept my emotions locked away, afraid to let anyone close enough to hurt me. But Mazan... he broke through every wall I built, not by force but with steady patience and unwavering loyalty.

"I love you too." I press closer, breathing in his familiar scent of storm winds and night air. My fingers trace the curves of his horns, following the path I memorized years ago. "I never stopped."

His wings tighten around us as he holds me, creating a shield between us and the world. In the distance, Kaelar's laugh rings out as Sorien shows him a new shell, their small forms silhouetted against the silver-touched waves.

I close my eyes and lean into Mazan's embrace, savoring the solid strength of him. After years of running, of keepingeveryone at arm's length, I've finally found my place. Here, wrapped in midnight-blue wings with the sound of our children's laughter carried on the breeze, I know I'll never have to let go again.

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