Page 55 of The Aether

“Because it feels like an unforgivable offense. I believed another’s lies when I should’ve taken you at face value. You never gave me a reason to assume you’d hurt Sabrina.”

“And?”

“And because you missed three years of your daughter’s life,” she said raggedly.

“Do you think I need to constantly berate or torment you when you do enough of that yourself, Viv?” he asked gently.

“Probably not,” she admitted with a watery smile.

Walking to the crib, he eased Nate onto the mattress and covered him up. When he straightened, he strode to her, stopping short of touching. “Your fears weren’t truly yours, my love. They were the manifestation of another’s magical trickery. You’re not to blame for running. You never were.”

Vivian flung herself into his waiting embrace and let her silent tears flow.

“I’m sorry, Damian. So sorry,” she whispered fiercely.

“Shhh. You’re back where you belong, and moving ahead, we’re going to be stronger than ever.”

“Yes.”

Drawing back, he tilted her chin up and gave her a butterfly-soft kiss on the lips. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

“Me, too.”

The skin bracketing his eyes crinkled as he grinned, and those same eyes were lit with mischievousness, reminding Vivian of Sabrina when she was in a particularly playful mood.

“Can I tell you a secret?”

She nodded.

“I scryed every damned day. I may not have been there, but I saw Sabrina’s key moments. I also witnessed your love for her.”

Laughing, Vivian rested her forehead against his chest. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Don’t stress those wasted moments. Yes, it was painful not to be there, but in the entire scheme of things, that time is a mere droplet in a bucket of water.”

Because Aethers live for centuries.

“Yes,” he replied to her internalized realization. “Can I tell you another secret?”

She lifted her head to meet his burning gaze.

Her mouth went dry.

“I spied onyou, too, Viv. I couldn’t go a day without seeing you and making sure you were happy.”

“Oh, Damian.”

“Were you happy, love?”

“No. Not without you.”

Standing here in front of her husband, she felt like a teenager again—nervous and excited all at once. His calm, adoring eyes never left hers, yet she sensed his wariness beneath the surface. It was as if he worried she might suddenly reject him, and that human quality only made her love him more. Really, what woman in her right mind would ever say no to him?

She had, yes.

However she’d been under the magical influence of others, and it could be argued she wasn’t in her right mind at all.

Reaching out, she clasped his hand and led him down the hallway to her room, the one they’d shared when they were first married. When they reached the bed, she stopped, unsure how to proceed. Was she supposed to be the aggressor? Did she offer up control to him? Would she appear like a silly twit after all this time?

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