Page 2 of Sealed With A Kiss
“She’s doing all that? Already?” Rayne stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed, looking between my sweet baby girl and me. “Nik, she’s only nine months old. We need to think about a temporary binding on her if she is already able to do those things. At least until she is old enough to learn control.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes and tried to stay calm. Rayne wasn’t trying to tell me how to raise my child but was instead just expressing the worries I was sure anyone would have if they heard of a nine-month-old able to move items in her sleep. “I just promised her mother I would never bind our daughter like her parents did to her.”
“It’s not the same, Nik. What they did to her was cruel and selfish. Willow’s binding would be done temporarily and only for her own good. To keep her safe, not to keep her under your control.”
“I just wish Stacey was still here with us, so all these decisions weren’t solely on my shoulders. My heart hurts every time I think about how much my little girl is missing out on not having another parent.” A heavy whoosh of air escaped me. I was exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“But the one she does have on earth is one fantastic one who is showing her all the support and love she needs. We are all here to help you. If you aren’t ready for a binding on her, perhaps you can see if we can figure out ways to get you sleep at least. Perhaps have your parents—”
“Oh, dear goddess no.”
“Ah.” Rayne nodded and his lips slanted upward. “So, they are already coming over too often?”
“And calling.” I threw my hands up, feeling defeated and overwhelmed at merely the thought of my parents. “And sending emails and texts of what I could be doing better.”
“Oh. Gotcha. They tried doing that when Xavier was born. Zander and I had to set boundaries because, between them and my parents, it was just too muchwell-meaninginterference.” Rayne’s face scrunched up and he looked off to the side of me, a trait I noticed he did often when trying to figure something out mentally. “So not your parents. If we weren’t already overloaded with kids, I would volunteer. But right now, we can only spare a night here or there. But I think you need someone more consistent. What happened to the nanny who was coming over twice a week when you first took time off from the center?”
“She was helpful, but I wanted to spend time with Willow and do this myself, you know?”
“And you have. There is no shame in having family and friends help though. You’re back to the training center part-time now that you satisfied Wolf’s forced six-month leave. Since you aren’t home every day, why don’t you bring the nanny back in? She would only be there for when you need extra sleep or an extrapair of hands to tidy things up.” Rayne side-eyed the pile of dirty laundry near the door.
“Fine. I’ll bring her back for three days I am training each week. She can help around the house when Willow naps. I can see how that would be helpful.” I lifted a clean Willow up and threw the dirty diaper in the trash.
“Or nights away.” Rayne followed me out of the room and bumped into my back when his words forced me to freeze in the hallway. “Sheesh, Nikolai, warn me before stopping. Is something wrong?”
Turning slowly to face my brother-in-law, I raised a brow. “Why would I need a night away?”
Refusing to meet my eyes, Rayne focused his attention on my daughter when answering me. “I just figured that you might want to do things sometimes. Maybe meet someone—”
“Stop.” I was growling. My dragon was at the surface, but this had to be ended. “Don’t even consider hooking me up with anyone. It’s been less than a year since Stacey died. I’m not ready.”
Rayne finally lifted his chin and met my eyes. “I wasn’t thinking of setting you up. But—”
“But what?”
Sighing, Rayne shifted his weight to his other foot. “I’m not going to go into everything that was said, but Xavier had a vision last night and informed me of some changes the family will be going through in the coming three years.”
I grimaced, knowing that my nephew could see positive things or negative things. Possibilities of what Rayne and Zander’s son, Xavier, could have envisioned sent tendrils of dread crawling up my spine. “He’s having visions, again?”
“Yeah.” Rayne sighed. “I didn’t want to mention them since—”
“Since he saw what would happen to Stacey, but we all dismissed it as fear?” I closed my eyes, bombarded with the freshcut the memory brought. “That wasn’t his fault. We even had extra healers there because of his warning.”
“I know, but he was afraid you’d get upset.” Rayne shrugged. “He didn’t want to upset his uncle, but he knew you needed to know something.”
“What?” I narrowed my eyes, fearing that I wouldn’t like what I was about to hear. “What did Xavier see that he was afraid to tell me.”
“He said your fated was on his way. Although you will want to run, it’s important to let him in. That he’ll be the seal closing the open wounds of the dragon’s heart.”
Words failed me, and I handed Willow to Rayne. I spun on my heels and dashed down the stairs, stripping myself of clothes as I ran. My dragon roared in my head and clawed at my skin. He needed out. He needed to be free. I needed to let him fly.
My dragon and I didn’t want another mate. We wanted our Stacey.
2
Milo Mikolov
“Congratulations!”
