I giggle at him but then feel a bit creeped out by my actions. I had forgotten about Laurentis. How could I have forgotten so quickly and easily about the man that I killed?
“Devon said that your first instinct wasn’t to kill anymore. This must be difficult for you,” he says in a halted speech that I realize makes him unconformable.
“I will do whatever it takes to protect my children,” I say shortly, and he drops it. “Be sure to thank Dracul if you haven’t already. What he did for you, for us, was generous to say the least.”
“I will return to you as soon as I can,” he says, giving me a nod but nothing else to indicate that he has heard me. He picks up his father’s body and Astrals out, leaving me alone.
I go around the house and gather up all the baby paraphernalia and throw it into the bassinet. I pick it up and Astral myself back home.
I land in the nursery, already knowing that CK will be in here. Sure enough, he is sitting in the rocking chair humming to our daughter.
“Please give her to me,” I blurt out, needing to feel her in my arms, needing to know she is okay.
He looks up at me with a frown, but at my fraught look and the wringing of my hands, he smiles and stands.
“Sorry,” he says, slightly abashed. “I am just completely enamored with her.” He hands her over and I relax as soon as she is cuddled up to me.
“I know. I just…I need her too, okay?”
He brushes the tear from my eye that was threatening to fall. “I know. The gods, Aefre. She is so beautiful. I still can’t believe she is mine.” He kisses the top of my head, holding me close as he stares down at her.
“She is perfect,” I say with a smile up at him.
“Does she need anything?” he asks hesitantly, and it is so sweet I want to cry with happiness.
I shake my head. “She will let us know when she does. Let’s leave her to sleep now.” I place her in the crib, watching as CK’s hands go back out for her.
I tut at him. “I know you want to hold her, but she needs to learn to sleep on her own.”
“Why?” he asks, biting his lip. “Something might attack her.”
“The wards are up and strong. No harm will come to her,” I say and push him gently from the room, picking up the baby monitor on the way out. I attach it to my belt, but CK yanks it off me and stares at the little screen all the way down the stairs.
“See, she’s fine,” I say and take it back off him.
He gives me a look but lets me keep hold of it.
We enter the kitchens and see Devon and Delinda sitting at the kitchen island doing homework again.
“Check it,” Delinda demands of Devon who gives her a raised eyebrow. “Check it! Marguerite won’t let me carry on until it is all correct.”
CK sits next to her and picks up the sheet of paper. He gives it a once-over and hands it back to her. “All correct,” he says with a smile.
“I know,” she says mutinously and flips the page.
I hide my smile as Marguerite rolls her eyes at my willful child.
“One more page and then dinner time,” she says.
Delinda nods absently as she concentrates on her sums while Devon peers over her shoulder and quietly corrects her.
“Will you show me how you made those bottles before?” I ask Marguerite, feeling slightly stupid. How come she knows, and I don’t?
“Of course,” she says with a smile and we set about the task while Devon and CK argue over a certain sum that Delinda is currently working on. I tune them out as I listen to Marguerite’s instructions.
“A bet!” CK suddenly declares and Devon readily agrees. “One hundred dollars!”
“What?” I ask, turning my attention back to them. “You can’t bet against Devon. He always wins.”