Page 33 of The Aether

She simply nodded, and he wanted to beg her to tell him she felt the same, but it wasn’t an ideal time. They had a baby to deliver. Still, when her eyes softened and she opened her mouth, he thought maybe she’d speak the words he’d longed to hear for over half a decade. Before she could utter a word, a commotion in the doorway distracted her.

“Viv!” Taryn charged into the room with Soleil on her heels. Josie was the only one of the three missing. “Sabrina said the baby’s coming.”

“Yep. Nate’s decided today’s the day.”

The sisters were as different as night from day. Where Vivian resembled an ice princess, regal and cool, Soleil was shorter, rounder, and more earthy. Taryn was a mix of the two. Not as slim as Viv or as voluptuous as Soleil, but still curvy. If he looked at the three of them objectively, Taryn was probably the most beautiful of the four Stephens sisters.

“Where’s Josie?” he asked.

“Manning the shop, if you can believe it,” Taryn said with a small shake of her head.

“Tar, give her a break already.” Soleil’s tone was reproachful. “She’s more than made up for her sins.”

“She was in bed with the devil.”

“For all your sakes, if I remember correctly,” Damian said, siding with Soleil in regard to Josie. “She saw through Morcant’s glamour and wanted to save you.”

Taryn grimaced, nodded once, then took charge of the immediate situation and attempted to shoo him away.

Vivian reached for him when he would’ve backed up.

“You promised to stay,” she said, desperation in her voice.

Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed her knuckles, then held their joined hands to his heart. “I always keep my word.”

* * *

Five hours later, Vivian’s heavenly cloud of hair was laid out on her down pillow, displayed in an arch around her head. If angels existed, she’d be their poster child. For a solid hour, Damian had watched her sleep as he held their son in his arms. Everyone in the house was downstairs except for him and Nate, who stared at him with large, myopic blue eyes.

“Welcome to the world, my beautiful boy,”he said within the confines of his mind, knowing his telepathic link with his son was solid and unbreakable.

An open-mouthed, toothless smile was his answer. Already Nate was further along in his development than any other baby his age, with the exception of Sabrina. His Aether and witch DNA helped. At a point when words made sense to him, his son would speak to him the same way his sister had, and still did. But Nate understood intent right now, and his precious son recognized a father’s love and pride.

“Damian.”

He glanced up to find Vivian watching the two of them. Her expression unguarded. From early on, reading her mind had been impossible. Unlike most, his wife had the ability to hide what she didn’t want him to know. He supposed it was for the best because a husband and wife should have some secrets from each other. If, as he suspected, she detested or feared him on occasion, he didn’t want that positive confirmation of her feelings.

Rising to his feet, he crossed to her and settled Nate in her arms. Their son immediately turned his head toward her breast, insatiable in his hunger.

“With an appetite like his, he’s going to be bigger and stronger than you,” she said with a soft smile.

“Undoubtedly.” Damian perched on the edge of the bed, one arm on either side of her waist as he gazed down at her. “How are you feeling? Do you need a healing boost?”

“I’m good. Your last one took away any lasting discomfort.”

“Good.”

“Thank you, Damian.” She kissed Nate’s downy head. “He’s perfect.”

“That was all you, my love. I owe youmythanks.” He met her curious gaze with a small smile. “You returned here, provided Sabrina with the loving mother she deserves, gave me the gift of Nate.” He swallowed hard. “I couldn’t ask for more.”

But he wanted to.

Wanted to ask her to love him forever as she’d once promised. He wouldn’t. She needed to give of herself willingly. And if by the time the kids were grown Vivian still couldn’t return his affections, he’d set her free, ashehad promised when she returned to live with them.

Tears burned her eyes, and Damian felt the corresponding lump in his throat.

“So. About that puppy for Sabrina—”

---