Page 42 of Demon Daddy's Baby Girl

I glance back over my shoulder. The sunlight catches his black hair, highlighting strands of silver I hadn't noticed before. Sephy's tiny fingers clench the fabric of his shirt, her head turned to track the movement of a thalivern. They make a picture I want to keep forever—strength and innocence, protection and vulnerability.

"I'm thinking that I never imagined this," I admit, letting the water trickle through my fingers. "Any of it."

I stand, brushing droplets from my hands. The sunlight warms my face and catches in my hair. For a moment, I close my eyes and simply breathe—taking in the scents of wildflowers, clean water, and fertile earth.

When I open them again, Rolfo is watching me with an intensity that sends warmth cascading through my body. His silver eyes track me with undisguised hunger, though he remains rooted in place, giving me the freedom to explore on my own terms.

"What?" I ask, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.

"You look..." He pauses, searching for words. "Alive. Free."

The simple observation brings unexpected tears to my eyes. That's exactly how I feel—truly alive for perhaps the first time. Not merely surviving, but experiencing life with all its sensations and possibilities.

I walk back to him, my bare feet making no sound on the soft grass. He stands motionless, a guardian sentinel with our child against his heart. Something in my chest tugs painfully at the sight—a longing so profound it steals my breath.

This is the life I never thought I'd have. Not just safety or shelter, but this—a man who looks at me like I'm something precious, who holds my daughter with such care, who wants me for myself and not what I can give him.

I stop before him, close enough to feel his warmth but not quite touching. "I never thought I could want again," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "After him, I thought that part of me was dead."

Rolfo's free hand lifts, hovering near my cheek without touching, giving me the choice. "And now?"

I lean into his palm, closing the distance between us. "Now I want everything."

I step closer to Rolfo, drawn by something deeper than desire. In the dappled light of the glade, with Sephy nestled against his chest, he looks like something from a dream I never dared to have.

"Everything?" he asks, his voice rough with emotion. His hand cups my cheek with a gentleness that belies his strength.

"Everything," I confirm, standing on tiptoe to press my lips to his.

The kiss is different from our earlier ones—not desperate or hungry, but tender. Affirming. His arm wraps around me, drawing me close until I'm pressed against both him and Sephy, our daughter sandwiched safely between us.

Sephy makes a soft gurgling sound, her tiny hand reaching up to pat my chin. I laugh against Rolfo's mouth, pulling back to look down at her. Her violet eyes are wide and curious, taking in our faces with that solemn expression that makes her seem older than her few weeks.

"I think she approves," Rolfo murmurs, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I stroke her wispy silver-blonde curls. "She's known what she wanted from the beginning. Wiser than her mother."

"Or maybe she just knows what she deserves." His words hang between us, loaded with meaning. "A family who chooses her. Who chooses each other."

Family. The word lodges in my throat, sweet and terrifying all at once. For so long, I've been alone—first in servitude, then in escape. Even carrying Sephy, I was isolated, fighting for us both against the world. The idea of belonging somewhere, to someone, by choice rather than force—it overwhelms me.

"Hey," Rolfo says softly, noticing my expression. "One day at a time, alright?"

I nod, grateful for his understanding. That's the miracle of him—he sees me, truly sees me, without demands or expectations.

"The sun's getting higher," I observe, looking at the shadows shortening around us. "We should head back before it gets too warm for her."

Rolfo nods, adjusting the sling to ensure Sephy is comfortable. We move slowly back through the glade, taking our time, savoring the morning and this newfound peace between us.

"I've been thinking," I venture as we navigate the narrow path back toward home.

"That sounds dangerous," he teases, ducking beneath a low-hanging branch.

I roll my eyes but can't suppress my smile. "I want to contribute more. Around the house, I mean. I can cook, and Ada's been teaching me about local plants for medicine."

"You don't have to earn your place, Aurelie," he says, suddenly serious. "You and Sephy, you're not—" He stops, searching for words.

"Not your burden?" I finish for him.

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