Page 105 of The Aether

“We’ll learn the whole of it tomorrow, Viv. For now, get some sleep. You’ve been through a lot.”

“And you haven’t?”

“It feels as if this was all in a day’s work for me.” He smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her. “I’ve got to go check on Rorie and Alastair.”

“Hurry back.”

Hurry back.When they’d first met and fell in love, she was constantly telling him that. It never failed to fill his heart to overflowing that someone cared for him enough to want him around. The life of an Aether was lonely most times. Everyone feared him to varying degrees. Everyone but Vivian, Alastair, Castor, and Sabrina. Those who knew the true man behind the fearsome Aether persona.

“I don’t fear you, Damian. I never should’ve, and I never will again.”

“Unless I go crazy?” he couldn’t help asking.

“Not even then,” she assured him. “Seeing you with the children, with me, the lengths you’ll go to protect all of us. Seeing and experiencing the angst you hide so well. Seeing the love you hold for all of us. How can I?”

He felt he should be truthful. “You’d be foolish not to have a healthy respect for whatcouldhappen, Viv. To use caution.” Perhaps that was why it was easy to forgive her for leaving in the first place. He’d always understood how quickly a person could become unstable.

“My mother would’ve killed me.” Emotionally vulnerable in a way he wasn’t normally, Damian looked out the window, not truly seeing anything past the night sky. “Eventually.”

“I don’t think so.” Vivian lightly gripped his jaw and brought his head round to meet her confident silver-blue gaze. “She defied the Darkness and held it at bay three times.” Ticking off the incidents on her fingers, she said, “To allow Nathanial to escape with you before her takedown. To write and send a note through time that would ultimately save you and Sabrina. Then when she escaped her tomb and possessed Mack. She was unable to harm either of you. That’s what a mother’s fierce love does. A father’s, too.”

Wanting to believe she was right, he captured her hands and kissed her knuckles.

“I mean it, Damian. The bond you and Sabrina share is supernatural and stronger than any alive. You’d never hurt her, and I was foolish to believe you ever would.” Her incredible eyes brimmed with tears. “So foolish. I’m not sure I can ever forgive myself.”

“Viv.” He brushed the moisture away with his thumb. “We’ve discussed this, and I forgive you. Please, please, let it go. Your pain causes ours,” he said with a nod toward their children. “Free yourself from the past, and let’s start anew.”

Overcome, she nodded, but he heard the words she was thinking.

“I love you so fucking much, Damian.”

With a heart close to overflowing, he grinned and said, “I love you so fucking much, too, Vivian.”

He rose, shifted Sabrina to the other side of Nate, and tucked pillows beside her.

After taking a moment to memorize the beauty of his family like this, he circled the bed, leaned in, and kissed Vivian properly. When he was done, she was breathless and her irises were lighter in her happiness. A witch’s tell. He’d know she was content even if he wasn’t empathic or had a special ability to hear her inner voice.

“Sleep, now, my love. I’ll hurry back.”

CHAPTER36

The tribunal was packed. Rubberneckers in addition to the Authority members, the Fates, three deities, and the Witches’ Council lined the stands. Every imaginable magical being was present, from Guardians to Healers and everything in between, all occupying the tiered bleachers behind those who would determine Damian’s and Sabrina’s futures.

Did they all want to see the Aether get his due?

Sabrina’s fingers squeezed his, and he glanced down to see her staring up at him. Her pointy chin was raised and a questioning light was in her eyes, making her appear even younger than her ten years.

He winked.

Hands clasped tightly, they traveled the aisle and entered the round. There were two chairs, but Damian didn’t sit. Instead, he lifted Sabrina up to stand on one so she was almost level with him. Brows arched in a display of arrogance and irritation, he slowly turned, meeting the eyes of those who were to be their judge and jury.

“Mr.—”

He held up a hand, cutting Buttagier off.

“Centuries.” Damian had said the word softly, but the acoustics and a boost of his magic caused it to echo. “That’s how long I have served the witch community. How long I served gods, goddesses, the Fates, and both councils.Centuries.”

“We know—”

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