Page 173 of His Darkest Desire

“You are Emily. Kinsley’s mother.” Vex bowed his head, holding his child just a little tighter. “My gratitude is yours eternally. I owe you everything.”

“Of course, you don’t. She’s my daughter, and she”—Emily nodded to the bundle in his arms—“is my granddaughter.” A nervous laugh escaped her. “I can’t say that I wasn’t surprised by her appearance though. Despite how Kinsley described you, I wasn’t quite prepared. And you… Well, you are…”

“He’s beautiful,” Kinsley said.

“Yes, well, he’s also big and frightening.”

“You’ve naught to fear from me,” Vex said.

His daughter let out a soft sound that was followed by a cry. That sound, so small, so sad, pierced his heart. Worried, he looked at his mate. “Have I done aught wrong?”

“No.” Kinsley lifted her arms. “She’s probably just hungry.”

Vex passed the child to her. Kinsley cradled the baby, using one hand to open the front of her nightgown and expose her breast. She drew their daughter closer, and the babe immediately sought and latched onto Kinsley’s nipple to suckle.

Awed by the sight, Vex tamped down the magic roiling within him. As he reclaimed control, the strange flameless torches that provided light to the room flickered back on. Dismissing his wings, he carefully climbed onto the bed beside Kinsley and slipped his arm around her shoulders, watching her gently brush the baby’s cheeks as she fed.

To be this close to his mate again, to feel her warmth and her skin, to smell her… Vex clenched his jaw against the surge of emotion roiling within him.

The wisps floated down to hover just over the bed, also watching.

This… This was his family.

Kinsley sniffled, turned her face toward him, and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. “You’re free.”

He drew her closer against him. “I’m yours.”

His mate released a shuddering breath against his neck.

Emily wiped a tear from her cheek. “What will you name her?”

Vex hummed, gently stroking the baby’s dark hair. “A true name is a thing to be cherished. To be guarded. It is not something lightly bestowed.”

“We can name her when we are alone.” Kinsley rested her head against him and looked down at their daughter. “But what should we call her?”

The answer came to him without the need for thought. “Hope.”

EPILOGUE

Madison held Hope aloft and rubbed her nose back and forth across the baby’s. “Who’s the most beautiful baby in the world? That’s right, you are. Yes, you are.”

Little giggles erupted from five-month-old Hope as she wiggled her arms and flapped her little wings. She was wearing a silver dress and looked absolutely adorable with her short black hair gathered in pigtails with matching bows, making her pointed ears more prominent.

Aiden, who stood next to Emily and Cecelia in front of the Christmas tree with his arms crossed over his chest, smirked. “The most spoiled too.”

Cecelia snorted and lightly swatted his arm. “You take part in that spoiling.”

“Of course. It’s my duty as a grandparent. And if you think she’s spoiled now, just wait until Christmas morning.”

Madison chuckled and pecked a kiss on Hope’s forehead before setting her down on her hands and knees on the floor. “You spoiled me and Kinsley when we were kids too. It’s kind of your thing.”

Smiling, Kinsley hung a wooden reindeer ornament on the tree. “That’s true.”

“I did no such thing,” their father protested.

Emily rolled her eyes. “How many times did you sneak things behind my back when I told the girls no?”

Aiden gasped, flattening a hand over his heart. “Never!”

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