Page 11 of Shannon in Sombra

What the fuck am I supposed to do? It’s bad enough that my sweet Alana has the weight of the prophecy hanging over her innocent head. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I can’t even bring her home, introduce her to my parents, and show her off to my friends, like Tori and Chris. But now he’s telling me that she’ll always be an outcast in Sombra, too? And that, deep down, they probably all wonder why we haven’t booted her to the shadows already?

Fuck, no.

I grit my teeth. “Thanks for finally telling me, Mal.”

“It wasn’t supposed to matter,” my big demon says insistently. “She is our spawn. I love her with all of my heart, just like I adore you, my flower. I never wanted you to worry about this when it’s clear that neither one of us would change a thing about Alana. If some demons don’t see the magic in her, that is their concert, not ours. Besides, Duke Haures has her under his protection. While he rules Sombra, no one will harm Alana. He vowed it.”

That’s news to me. “He did? When?”

I see the panic flash across his strong features, feel the way his heart jumps all the way from the other side of our bond, and I know that, whatever Mal says next, I’m not gonna be happy with what it is.

“When he came to visit her a cycle after she was born. He hasn’t said anything else during the last few visits, but he’s given his word. And the duke will not go back on it.”

Yeah, see… that’s not what I’m focusing on...

Wow.

Okay.

I was right just now, but I think I was definitely wrong before. Maybe Malphasdoesdeserve my anger after all.

“What?” The word is quiet so I don’t upset Alana, but there’s enough heat to it that Mal has to know he pissed me off. “Are you telling me that he’s been coming to see our baby and you’rejustletting me know?”

I didn’t want to upset Alana, but she is as intuitive as her father. She lets out a soft coo, head swiveling to look at Mal, then me.

I bounce her gently, waiting for my mate to come clean.

“He visits her after every gold moon,” Malphas finally admits. “It’s late when he comes. You’re usually sleeping, my mate. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“And Alana?” I ask through gritted teeth.

His glowing eyes dim. “I always hope she will sleep through the meeting. It’s very quick. Mere minutes if that.”

That didn’t answer my question. “Mal.”

There’s only a hint of a glow now. “She wakes up,” my mate confesses. “As though she knows they’ve come to see her, she never sleeps until they’re gone.”

Smart girl.

Her father, though? I’m not so sure.

Jumping up from my seat, needing a little space, I begin to pace around the room with Alana. “Are you kidding? You really thought I’d rather sleep than let the two of you face Haures alone? Did you forget he wanted to put you in a dungeon for not fucking me fast enough?”

Malphas winces. “My mate?—”

“Zip it,” I snap. “You were trying to protect me. I get it. But don’t you understand that, as your mate, it’s my job to protect you, too?”

“You always have?—”

No. I’vetried. Just like I would’ve done the same for Alana if given the choice. “We’re a family, Mal. It’s you and me and Alana against the world. In Earth… in Sombra… it’s us. You don’t hide things from me, whether you’re doing itforme or not. Got it?”

He gets up, inching closer to me. “I vow it.”

That calms me a little. Sombra demons take their vows super seriously. If he vows it now, he won’t go back on his word. Just like, if the duke really did vow to protect Alana, their gods will hold him to it.

Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Having the ruler of Sombra invested in keeping Alana safe if only because of her supposed destiny… I should be happy to take all the help I can get.

Plus, the next time someone sneers at my daughter, I’ll just have to tell them that Duke Haures wouldn’t like it…

---