Page 47 of Demon Daddy's Hidden Son
"The moment I saw you. And I never stopped."
The simple certainty in his voice breaks something open inside me. I feel tears prick at my eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of a love I can't remember but can somehow feel echoing through every cell of my body.
"Did I love you?" The words come out small and uncertain, like I'm afraid of the answer.
He swallows hard, his throat working visibly. When he speaks, his voice is rough with emotion.
"Yes. Very much."
I lift myself up on my elbow, looking down at him in the dim light. His silver-blue eyes are bright with unshed tears, his expression vulnerable in a way that makes my heart clench.
And I feel it. I feel everything he says, even if I can't remember it. I feel that our souls are intertwined and he was meant for me. I feel he was the one I was looking for this whole time.
Tonight, I'm feeling brave. I suppose I'm feeling like myself. And I decide not to hold back.
"I might not remember everything," I tell him, my voice steady despite the emotion threatening to overwhelm me. "I might not remember the woman who fell in love with you before. But we did make new memories. And I've fallen in love with you again."
Emotion flares in his eyes, so intense it takes my breath away. He looks like he's barely breathing, like my words have stolen the air from his lungs.
Leaning down, I bring my lips close to his ear, letting my breath ghost across his skin.
"I love you," I whisper against his ear, and then I'm kissing him. Soft and gentle at first, then deeper as he responds with desperate hunger.
His arms come around me, pulling me tight against him like I'm everything he's ever wanted, everything he's ever needed. And maybe to him, I am.
When we break apart, his hands frame my face, thumbs brushing away tears I hadn't realized were falling.
"I love you too," he breathes. "More than I have words for. More than I thought possible."
And I feel that, too. Deep into my soul.
26
DOMIEL
Three mornings later, I wake to the soft sound of Kaleen shifting beside me. Dawn light filters through the small window, painting everything in pale gold. She's been quiet these past few days, thoughtful in a way that makes me wonder what's turning over in her mind.
I'm content to lie here watching her, memorizing the way the light catches in her chestnut hair and the peaceful curve of her lips. These stolen moments feel precious, fragile things I want to preserve forever.
Then she turns toward me, those warm amber eyes already alert and focused. There's something different in her expression this morning—a clarity that wasn't there before.
"Domiel," she says, her voice soft but certain. "Did we have a home together? Before?"
The question catches me off guard, though I suppose I should have expected it eventually. "Yes. We did."
She's quiet for a long moment, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the blanket between us. I can practically see the thoughts moving behind her eyes.
"I think..." she begins, then stops. Takes a breath and starts again. "I think I want to go back there. To our home."
Something fierce and bright flares in my chest—hope mixed with desperate relief. But I force myself to stay calm, to make sure this is truly what she wants.
"Are you certain?" I ask carefully. "Kaleen, you don't have to?—"
"I'm sure." Her interruption is gentle but firm. "I never felt at home here, Domiel. Not really. It's been better since you came, so much better, but I think this place was only ever meant to be temporary."
The conviction in her voice makes my heart race. She's not just saying what she thinks I want to hear—I can see the truth of it written across her features.
"The cottage, the village, even the people here... they've been kind to me, but they never felt likemine. Does that make sense?"
