Page 16 of The Aether

“Does she, now?”

“Sometimes she adds chocolate chips and whipped cream.” His daughter tucked her hands behind her back and stared at the tip of her slouchy sock as she swung her foot back and forth. A sure sign she was lying.

“Come, let’s go conjure your chocolate-chip pancakes.”

Her chin jerked up, and she met his indulgent gaze with shock.

“Did you think I’d be a harder sell, Beastie?”

Her elfin face was scrunched in her worry, and again, Damian felt the blow to his heart.

After crossing to her, he squatted to make their faces level.

“You’ve naught to fear from me, my love. Regardless of what you’ve been told, I’m not a monster. I’m just your papa.” He brushed away the single tear that trickled down her cheek. “Can you remember when you lived here before? When we would play and laugh the days away?”

She shook her head, and her lower lip trembled.

He held back his frown. Although it made sense that she couldn’t remember all her time here—she’d scarcely been out of diapers, after all—he had expected her to retainsomememories of their earlier lives. Perhaps that wasn’t the way it worked with children. Having rarely been around them, he had no experience to draw from. The pain of regret lashed his very soul. He should’ve retrieved her immediately and not allowed Vivian to convince him Sabrina was safer away from him.

“Where do you think you developed your love of pancakes?” he teased, attempting to keep his darker emotions at bay. Chances were, she’d begin to develop her empathic ability soon, if she hadn’t already when the magic infused her system earlier. “You get that from me.”

The doorbell rang, indicating an unexpected visitor.

Sabrina inched closer to him.

“I think it’s an old man,” she whispered as if worried the visitor could hear. “I see it here, in my head.” She tapped between her eyes.

Reaching out with his senses, Damian probed for the essence of the person on the other side of the front door. He smiled his pleasure, happy to see her abilities were forming as they should. “I believe you’re right. Let me introduce you to Leopold.” He held out a hand, silently hoping she’d take it without hesitation. When she didn’t, he smiled to cover his disappointment and to ease her sense of insecurity. “It’s all right, Beastie. This seems strange to you now, but you’ll understand with time.”

“I miss Mama.”

“I know. Me, too.”

“Then why can’t I go home?”

Sabrina’s tearful question was torturous. No sane person wanted to hurt their child this way, but he didn’t have a handy answer. How did one explain adult feelings to a five and a half year old?

“Your mother and I need to work out a few logistics. We’ll get there. But this is your home from now on.”

Uncertainty flashed across her face, and she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something.

He waited her out.

Finally, she nodded her head and followed him toward the front door.

“Damian! My boy!”

“It’s good to see you again, Nate.” Damian glanced out the door to see if Evie was with his adoptive father. She wasn’t, and he swallowed his disappointment. It was harder for Evie to sneak away from her role as doty old aunt to the Drake siblings. “Or should I call you Leopold since you’re in disguise?”

With a twinkle of lights, Nathanial Thorne revealed his true form, causing Sabrina to gasp.

“Never seen that done before, sweetheart?” Nate asked with a deep chuckle.

She shook her head, wonder lighting her pixyish face.

“I can teach you if you’d like. As long as your father says it’s okay.”

With an inquiring look, she gave Damian a shy smile. “Papa?”

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