Page 13 of The Aether

“Papa?”

He faced his daughter and held out his hand.

Trepidation welled in her large, dark eyes.

“Despite what you may have been told, I won’t hurt you, my little love. Come,” he ordered gently.

When she slipped her tiny hand in his, he smiled his profound relief. That tiny bit of trust was a start.

“What did you do to her, Papa?” she whispered.

“Can you keep a secret?”

Sabrina gave him a solemn nod, and he mourned the vivacious toddler she’d been. He’d help her get back what they’d lost and find a way to strengthen their relationship in the process.

“I simply put her to sleep.”

“Why do you need those things to wake her?”

“I don’t.” He flared his eyes wide and grinned. “Watch.”

Damian ran a finger along Vivian’s lush, rosy lips.

“This time, you’ll recognize the truth when confronted with it, Viv,” he told her softly.

Bending at the waist, he kissed life into her, breathing Aether magic into her lungs. Her bones knitted as his healing power coursed through her bloodstream, restoring her to her previously uninjured state. As his wife’s lids twitched and her lashes fluttered, he straightened.

He lifted Sabrina into his arms so she could get a good look.

“See? Sleeping Beauty awakes.”

His daughter gasped, and the arm around his neck tightened. “Oh, Papa!”

Vivian’s pale silvery blue eyes cleared and zeroed in on the two of them. Her confusion fled, and in its place was horror.

She would always believe him a monster.

Damian’s heart literally ached at the loss of trust between them. Neither he nor his beloved said a word, lost in the emotional torment.

Sabrina’s small hand patted the side of his face and urged him to look at her. In her too-serious eyes, he saw understanding and what appeared to be compassion. The overwhelming need to declare his love for his little darling closed his throat.

She tilted her head slightly to the side and gave him a tentative smile.

“It’s okay, Papa. I’ll go with you.”

“No!” Vivian surged up and grabbed his free arm in a death grip. “No, Damian. Don’t take her from me. She’s all I have left.”

He easily broke her hold, then tucked Sabrina’s head against his neck. With one hand rubbing her back, he murmured, “Sleep, Beastie.”

She was out in an instant.

“Damian?Please.” Pure terror coated Vivian’s plea.

Gutted by her constant distrust, he glared at her.

“You should’ve thought of that before you lied to me. Before you took her away and brought her here, where your horrid excuse for a sister could influence her.” He leaned in slightly so Vivian was forced to meet his fierce gaze. “While you were unconscious, Josie propositioned me. She said if I let you die, we could be together. What say you to that, wife?”

“She wouldn’t. You’re lying to strike at me.”

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