Page 10 of Devotion

He squeezed my hand, silent understanding passing between us. Ravenscroft held many memories for each of us, not all of them bad.

Knowing he’d stay if I asked him to and also knowing that he’d struggle to forgive himself for leaving anyone in need, I shoved away my own selfish desires and smiled around the room. “Well, guess this means we can take Moira up on her offer to attend that Yule gala in Scotland.”

“Which one of us is staying home with Eden?” Noah asked, looking from Kingston to Alek. “We can’t all attend.”

“I’ll go get the matches,” Kingston said with a sigh, already pushing his chair back.

“No cheating this time,” Alek called after him.

“How very dare you, sir. Inevercheat.”

“You liar. Youalwayscheat,” Noah countered.

The sounds of their bickering faded away as Caleb and I gazed at each other.

“I’m sorry,” he mouthed.

I shrugged and smiled softly. This wasn’t exactly how I imagined the night going, but when did my life ever play by my rules? We’d survived worse. We’d get through this too.

We always did.

Chapter

Three

ALEK

Eden’s sweet babbling filled the room as she played with her toys in the enormous play area we’d created for her. Toys of all descript were scattered across the expansive mat that kept her from harming herself as she climbed the various apparatuses. She was an agile little monkey, and she adored climbing and generally getting into mischief. Just like her papa.

That was me. I had the honor of that specific moniker.

Caleb got Da, and honestly, I doubted he would’ve given her a choice on that one.

Kingston was Daddy from the moment he first held her.

Thorne had been dubbed Dada when our little Valkyrie uttered her first word. We’d all been so jealous I could’ve sworn we turned green when he was bestowed that gift.

But it had been worth the wait to hear her present each of us with titles of our own. Our daughter knew who and what we were to her. There was no confusion, no special preferences. She belonged to all of us equally. And we spoiled her rotten.

“Papa!” she screeched just as she toppled off a padded triangle we’d set up in her obstacle course.

I waited, holding my breath to see if she’d cry or dust herself off. When she popped back up and gave me a silly grin, I finally laughed and clapped. “Try again, my fierce little warrior.”

As she toddled her way back to the beginning of the course, my pocket began to heat, alerting me to an incoming transmission from Novasgard.

Keeping one eye on Eden, I pulled the bespelled mirror from my pocket and flicked it open.

“Hi, Mom.”

The sound of laughter met me in return.

“Alek, darling, have you been painting?” my mother asked, drawing me up short.

“Uh, yes. How did you know?” I asked warily, recalling the fingerpainting session Eden had demanded earlier that morning.

“You’re wearing it, sweetheart.”

“It looks like you’re getting ready for a war cry, if I’m being honest.” This from my Aunt Quinn, who’d sidled up next to my mother. “Preparing your daughter to play Braveheart in the woods?”

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