Page 32 of Beyond the Storm
“Only for cuddles with a certain little dude,” I said. “Where is he?”
Warrin glanced up the stairs. “He should be waking from his nap soon.”
“I get to hold him first,” Phoenix said, appearing beside me. He didn’t have the patience to walk the five or so steps, so he’d blinked instead.
“We’ll see about that.” I grabbed him by the waist. “I’m Sorin’s favorite.”
“He likes my horns.” Though subtle, his expression hardened just a tad—clouded. “Well… horn and stump.”
A crack formed in my chest. “Still beautiful.”
Some softness returned to his whiskey eyes. “Fine. You can hold him first.” He glanced at Daman. “I smell coffee. May I have a cup?”
“I’ll pour it for you,” Warrin said, rubbing the small of Daman’s back as he leaned in to nuzzle his ear. “Would you like one as well?”
“Please.” Daman watched his husband leave the living room and pass beneath the archway into the kitchen. When his stare flickered back to me, I sensed my eyes change to a familiar shade of light blue.
Once upon a time, Lust hadn’t been able to get a read on Daman. My eyes had shifted between various colors, never settling on one. But not anymore. Not since he’d met his dragon. “How long are you staying?”
“Is it cool if we stay for a few days?” I guided Phoenix over to the couch closest to the fire. He loved the heat of it on his skin. “Traveling from place to place is great, but it’s nice to be among family again.”
Daman nodded. “The spare bedroom is all yours. Stay as long as you want.” Then, because he was my feisty brother, he added, “But don’t expect me to be your maid.”
“Ah, damn. So I don’t get to see you wear a slutty maid outfit and prance around with a little feather duster?”
“Only if you’re fond of having your neck broken,” Daman said without missing a beat. “War would kill you.”
“I might like to see this maid outfit too,” Warrin said as he came back into the room, holding two steaming mugs. He passed one to Phoenix, then sat beside Daman as he handed over the second. “Then, you can dance for me while wearing it.”
“Damn, Warrin,” I said. “I didn’t know you had a cosplay fetish.”
“He doesn’t,” Daman said with an eye roll. He paused and cocked his head at his husband. “Wait. Do you?”
Warrin pressed his lips together and averted his eyes to the stairs. “I believe I heard Sorin.” He lightly patted Daman’s thigh before standing from the couch and going upstairs.
“Well, shit.” Daman gave me a wide-eyed stare. “My husband has a cosplay fetish. The things you learn even after years together. But I wouldn’t mind dressing up for him.” He smirked before taking a sip of his coffee and closing his eyes, sighing. “Perfectly bitter. Just like me.”
“Will you dress up as a kitten for him?” I asked.
Daman threw one of the decorative couch pillows at me, smacking me in the face before I had time to dodge it.
Phoenix choked on his coffee as he laughed.
And then, the most adorable little sound came from the stairs. Warrin walked down with a sleepy-eyed Sorin in his arms. The baby’s silver hair jutted up, and he wore a dark green onesie with a teddy bear pattern. He was only four months old, but he seemed to be growing quicker than the average human baby. Probably because he hardly had any humaninhim. Warrin was a full-blooded dragon, and Daman was half human, half angel.
“There’s my sweet boy.” I stood and made grabby hands toward him. “Come to Uncle Bell.”
Sorin whipped his head around and instantly burst into a big toothless grin as he saw me.
Warrin kissed the side of his son’s head before handing him to me. He then retook his seat beside Daman.
I sat back down, cradling him. “He’s such a happy baby. Look at that smile.” I combed my fingers through his messy hair before bringing him closer and pressing my face against the silver strands. He was so warm and smelled so good. Like sunshine and happiness. “Yeah, this is what I needed.”
Phoenix scooted closer and placed a hand on Sorin’s arm, fiddling with the sleeve of his onesie. Sorin reached and grabbed his finger. That one touch caused my demon’s whole expression to change. He looked so peaceful. “Hello, little one.”
My breath stilled as I looked at Phoenix. He was my whole heart… but he’d been my enemy once. We had fought so hard to get where we were. In the beginning, I had known he was my fated mate and fought that bond, thinking it impossible that we could ever be together. Now, we were sitting with my brother and his husband and gushing over the most precious baby to ever live.
“Careful, Nix,” I told him. “Keep being this sweet and you might lose your villain card.”
