Page 68 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

It was still hard to process that Ember and I had conceived a child together. This little life that I stood next to. Ember was at my side, her fists pressed against her lips, and she watched the healer at work. I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She flashed me a grateful smile, then returned her attention to our daughter.

The teal aura dissipated, and the healer lowered her arms to her sides. She looked toward Ember and me. “She will be fine,” Ralani said, a soft smile curving her mouth. “She just needs a little bit of rest. She’s in a deep sleep now as her body is recovering.”

“Has there…,” Ember swallowed as if fighting for composure. Her eyes shone with moisture, and my gut clenched. “Will there be any irreparable damages to Melodina?”

The healer’s eyes shone with understanding. She shook her head. “No. Thankfully, her energy was just drained.” She dipped her head toward me. “You have a strong daughter. Not many would have survived such an intricate spell as a Soul Drain.”

My muscles unfurled as a wave of relief washed over me. I nodded at Ralani. “Thank you.”

She nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty. I will be back to check on her once she awakens.” Her gaze flitted from Ember to me. “I will leave you two then.” She curtsied and then circled us before sweeping out of the room.

Once the door clicked shut behind us, Ember faced me. “I…want to thank you, Drake. For saving my daughter.” Her eyes filled with tears as she gave a wet smile. “You didn’t have to go back for her. But you did. So…thank you.”

“There’s no thanks needed, Ember,” I said softly. “I will always be there for my family.”

I didn’t miss the flare of unease that flickered across Ember’s eyes. My lips thinned before I added, “Why don’t you and Melodina stay here?”

Ember’s brows rose. “Here?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes.” I reached out and grasped her hands in mine. “We can be a family, the three of us. Now that Melodina’s in my life, we don’t have to be apart ever again.”

For a brief moment, I thought I saw sadness flash across her face. Then it was gone. She shook her head.

“Melodina and I are leaving once she’s fully healed.”

I blinked. “Leaving? And going where?”

Ember gave me a dry look as if that were obvious. “Back to my home.”

Anger whipped up within me. “You mean, back to the human realm?” I spat.

Ember ripped her hands from mine, her eyes hardening. “Yes,” she said, her voice firm. “My home. Where Melodina has friends, school—a life.”

I shook my head fiercely. “That’s no life, Ember, and you know it. What happens when Melodina comes of age and her magical abilities start to manifest?”

Fear washed over Ember’s face. “Manifest?” She whispered.

“Yes! Something every fae child goes through,” I snapped. “She’ll need someone to help her reign in her abilities. And as my daughter, her abilities are sure to be powerful. How will you hide that from the humans?”

Ember licked her lips. “I-I’ll find a way!” She shot back. “After all, she is my daughter too, and that makes her half-werewolf. Who's to say she won’t take after me? What if she has no magical abilities?”

I barked in laughter though there was no mirth behind it. “Like that is even possible.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Let’s just say for the hell of it that she doesn’t have any fae abilities. Don’t you wolves go through a first shift where your bestial side takes control? You plan on hiding that from the humans too?”

Ember’s skin paled, her gaze unseeing as she stared at the floor. I stalked toward her, gripping her shoulders. Her head whipped up, her gaze colliding with mine. In her eyes, I read a slew of emotions. Fear, anger, hurt, desperation. Theymelded together like a storm cloud building with electrical activity.

“Why can’t you just stay here, both of you, with me?” I asked, hating how desperation laced my tone.

Ember’s chin wobbled, her eyes bright with tears, before she blinked them back. Anger flashed in her eyes. Throwing up her hands, she sliced herself out of my hold. “You don’t want me, remember? You never have.”

My mouth fell open. “Ember, that’s not?—”

“Don’t youdaresay that isn’t true,” she hissed, her fangs lengthening. She jabbed a finger at me. “I was rejected byyou, remember?”

My mind raced back to the day I stood in the gardens with Ember, Rosalana at my rear.

We can’t be mates…

Those words still haunted my waking moments and plagued my dreams. My heart writhed as I looked upon the hurt that still twisted Ember’s features. I set my jaw, and any words I had left to say died in my throat.

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