Page 133 of Healed
“I had no clue,” Brandt exclaimed.
“I can’t tell if it hurts, or if it’s just so much love,” Bane said.
“Right?” Brandt said.
“It’s both. Unfortunately, you don’t get one without the other,” Carolena said.
“No truer words,” Bane said. He smiled at Carolena, then carefully handed Elijah over.
“Our first great grandchild,” Carolena said, smiling up at Carnage.
“Oh, let me show you,” Brandt said. He moved the blanket away from Elijah’s head and gently turned him in Carolena’s arms. “Look,” he said to Carnage.
Carnage leaned in closer to better see, then his mouth opened in surprise and he laughed. “Like Boon!”
“Tempest said that’s your bloodline.”
Carnage nodded and pressed his lips together to keep his emotions under control. It meant the world to him that the baby had something to indicate that he carried Carnage’s blood.
“’Arnge hold ‘Liij?” Carnage asked hesitantly. He knew most people were afraid of him.
“Yes,” Brandt said. He stood up and gave Carnage his seat. Carolena carefully handed the baby to Carnage, who cradled the child so naturally. Carnage started a rumble in his chest, that he kept going while he hummed an ancient tune that only Carolena, Lily, Tempest, and Boon had ever heard before. It took about a minute for Elijah to open his eyes and blink a few times, focusing directly on the source of the sound.
Carnage grinned at Elijah.
Elijah popped the thumb out of his mouth and reached toward Carnage.
Carnage pressed a kiss to his tiny palm.
Elijah flashed a grin, or he had gas, but Carnage would never admit that, and closed his eyes again.
“His eyes are like your’s Carrik,” Lily said. “That bright green with flecks of gold.”
Carrik smiled. “I’m so proud of him. Just like when we first had Tempest.” His smile fell. “Do you think…”
Lily raised her brows. “I hadn’t even considered it,” she said with a laugh.
“Considered what?” Brandt asked.
“Tempest used to have a habit of just transporting herself to wherever she wanted to be. It’s one of the reasons we moved back home to Whispers. We couldn’t have her materializing out of thin air in the middle of the ice cream shops,” Lily said.
“Hey, if she hadn’t tried it at least one more time after you moved home, I wouldn’t have met her. And she may never have met Brandt,” Maverik said.
“That is very, very true. I’m thankful for that one time. The rest… I had a lot of explaining to do over the years,” Lily said.
“May I take him?” Carrik asked.
“Noo!” Carnage said. Then he started laughing. “’Es!” He patted the sofa arm and Carrik rested there for a second before Carnage handed him over.
Carrik looked down at his daughter’s baby. “I never in a million years dreamed of the happiness your mother would find. I didn’t want her to leave. I tried to keep her from leaving. But I was so very wrong. Look at the love and richness she’s filled her life with. And you are the center of it,” he said to the baby.
“I told you,” Lily said.
“Yes, you did,” Carrik said.
Elijah gave a little baby sigh and fussed a little, until Carrik rested him against his chest, gently patting his back. Then Elijah settled in right away.
“No greater feeling in the world than a little one trusting you implicitly.”
