Page 23 of Between Soul and Vessel
“Fuck!” Dameon roared as he and Zahra both covered their ears. I did the same.
I needed to stop her horrendous screaming, but how?Pulling the oxygen from her frozen lungs would do nothing—she didn’t breathe.
In a blur of movement, she stood in front of me, a wicked grin spreading across her maniacally twisted lips. Her hand shot out.
I tried to catch her arm, but my hand passed straight through it.
Like daggers, her fingernails drove into my neck.
A black fog rolled out of her screaming mouth. It clawed at the air, consuming everything around me. It swept into my nostrils, filled my lungs, and stole my eyesight. It pooled into my ears, removing the sound of her screaming and replaced it with—
“Von?” asked anunmistakablevoice.
The fog started to clear, my vision returning, revealingher.
Azure eyes met mine.
I nearly fell to my knees.
Sage.
We were standing in our child’s nursery. Rocking chair, crib, dresser, baby blankets, and tiny, tiny clothes . . . it was all there.
Sage had her hand placed on her stomach, a small bump present. The wordqueenwas tattooed on her hand, right below her knuckles. In place of a wedding ring,Vonwas stitched with black ink into her skin. I looked down at my own hand, finding her name swirled in elegant lettering on my ring finger.
Moonlight cast through the window, caressing the white, silky strands of her hair, making it shimmer. She wore a black robe, the sleeves and hem adorned with lace. Herbreasts were fuller than I recalled them being. Pairing that with the subtle curve of her belly made me wonder . . .
Could it be?
I breathed in, inhaling her citrusy, sea-breeze scent . . .No, she wasn’t pregnant.
She came over to me, her hands settling against my chest. She nodded to the crib, then whispered to me, “I just put her down for a nap.”
I looked at the crib, the one I had spent hours carving by hand. I could hear the sound of her tiny heart beating—a small, rhythmic drum. It was strong.
No. This was wrong.
“Hey,” Sage spoke quietly as she reached for me, her fingers soft against my cheek. Gently, she guided my face to hers. “I know I haven’t been myself lately. It’s just . . . all of this is so new to me. I don’t know if I’m doing this right or . . .” Her white lashes lowered, tears brimming in her eyes. “If I’m failing her.”
Seeing her like that . . . it broke something in me. I couldn’t stand to see her doubt herself—she was an incredible mother to our—
This isn’t real!the beast within me snarled.
Fuck off, I told it as I pulled Sage into my arms. Her body was warm, brimming with life.
Gently, I clasped her chin, directing her gaze to mine as I said, “She is lucky to have you. As am I.”
And then I kissed her.
Her arms wove around my neck, her body pressed up against mine as she handed herself over to me. When shebroke the kiss, I nearly snarled, but she placed a finger against my lips, and with a naughty little grin, she whispered, “Let’s take this to our room.”
I nipped at her fingers, and she tried to stifle her giggle, not wanting to wake our little princess. Deciding that I didn’t want to risk waking her either, I plucked Sage from the ground, and in a blink, we were in our private chamber.
I carried her over to our bed and gently laid her down on the black silk. It contrasted against her ivory skin, making her stand out, like a silvery moon nestled among the dark night sky.
Creator above, she was a vision.
Magically, the sash of her robe undid itself, and the silk parted, revealing her beautiful, sexy body to me. She was a precious gift in fervent need of my attention. My devotion.
