Page 36 of Between Imminent Fates

“Dada!”

Isaiah scooped up the giggling toddler and slung him over his shoulder. Chubby feet kicked at him, chorused by riotous laughter. “Little troublemaker. Where’s your mom?”

“Making breakfast,” came her disgruntled voice from the kitchen.

“That’s dangerous: Rukia in the kitchen, attempting to cook.” Walking into the gallery, he raised an eyebrow at his flustered mate. “What’ve you burned so far?”

“Only two Pop-Tarts.”

Feigning a gag, Isaiah handed his mate their wiggly son and grabbed a pan from above the island. “Scrambled eggs or French toast, Isaak?”

“Waffs,” came the barely discernable response.

“You had waffles for dinner last night.”

Despite his comment, Isaiah was already grabbing the waffle iron under the island, proving he truly had no say. Jaeda knocked once on their door before entering, her eager eyes on the toddler in Rukia’s arms.

“Playtime!”

Behind him, Rukia happily set Isaak down for the healer, and Jaeda enfolded his little hands in hers to walk him into the living room to play. When Rukia followed them both out of the kitchen, Isaiah’s shoulders slumped.

Maintaining the façade that everything was going smoothly was mind-numbingly exhausting. When Key had disclosed his own part to play in the trials to come, Isaiah had swiftly reinforced the one-way valve between him and his clan. Along with blocking out his building fear, it ensured none of them sensed the truth.

Isaiah was struggling. A deep sense of dread had eclipsed the joy his life had formerly brought. If he failed in his task—ifanyof them failed—the result would destroy them all.

His hands worked on autopilot as he prepared Rukia and Isaak’s breakfast. Unlike his Elemental mate and his youngling, he could go for days or weeks without eating. Unless he utilized an immense amount of energy or required healing in one form or another, he didn’t require sustenance.

“Isaiah?”

Rukia’s call captured his attention. His mate almost never used his given name, preferring Sparky or a similar pet name. Glancing at her over his shoulder, he raised an eyebrow in question.

Cheekily, she sauntered into the kitchen and bumped her hip against his. “What’s twisted your mind in such knots that you’re deaf to your own nickname?”

“Selective hearing.”

Her grunt told him she didn’t believe him. “When’s my waffle gonna be done?”

“Poor Elemental, withering away from hunger.” Clucking his tongue, some of his melancholy dissolved. “It’s such a shame you now have to wait for your son’s waffle to be done first.”

“I was spoiled far before our son came into the picture.” Taking a step into him, her hands snaked around him while she rested her head against his back. “You’re tired.”

“I’m not tired.”

“Liar. I know you are, Isaiah, I can feel it through our bond. But what I don’t know is why. Talk to me.”

Appearing beside him, Rukia jumped up on the counter and crossed her legs while she peered down at him with an astute stare. For a long moment, Isaiah simply looked at her.

Rukia was everything he’d ever wanted in a mate. When they’d bonded, he found a piece of his own soul in hers, a part of him he hadn’t even known was missing. The water Elemental was perfect in every aspect: her fierce nature, her tenacity, and her uncommon devotion to him and their son that never ceased to amaze him.

A chime signaled the waffle was done, and he dragged her eyes away from her to flip it onto a plate. Rukia saw it for what it was: a way to hide. Her fingers darted out to catch his as he made a move to remove it from the waffle iron.

“Isaiah.”

“The waffle, Ruk.”

She squeezed his fingers. “I don’t care about the damn waffle.”

But as soon as she released him, he retrieved the pastry from the iron, tossing it onto a plate and presenting it to Rukia as a way to win her over. For a moment, she just leered at him, the intensity in those near-black irises escalating.

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