“You will be his or her father,” I say.
“But she won’t be like me. Not any part of me.”
“That is where your original plan comes into play,” I say, playing with his hair. I do love this uncertain side of him. Not the wholly vulnerable side. That unnerves me but this, oh this is very, very sexy.
“No. I have changed my mind about that. I don’t want that for her,” he says forcefully.
“What?” I say, now confused myself.
“When it was just a child that we raised together that was very much my wish, to turn her. Together. Not now.”
“Why not?”
“She will be ours. Ours, Aefre. Our flesh and blood. I want us to be her parents not her sires.”
Yes, I understand that. I don’t want that either. “We will have to find someone close then to do it.”
“Pfffft. Not likely. You think I am letting any boy near her, to do what we just did? You are sorely mistaken if that is your plan.” I do laugh out loud at him now, for a very, very long time. Hypocrite!
He takes my laughter with good grace and is pleased when I say, “It’s hilarious to hear you say that but, I have to agree. I will stake any Vampire myself who dares come near her, or him, with their fangs or any other parts.”
?
??Oh, to hear you say that warms my heart, my sweet. So, what do we do?”
“Raise her as a Dragon,” I say simply, knowing I have used just “her” for the first time.
“I don’t like that either,” he grumps.
“Well, we don’t really have much choice.”
“We always have a choice, my love. I say we hold off on any decisions and see first what she comes out as.”
“What she comes out as?” I choke back my indignation. “She isn’t a fucking recipe that we will throw together and chuck in the oven.”
“You know what I mean,” he says, abashed. “We can’t say for certain.”
I glare at him and he smiles winningly at me. “I love talking about this with you.”
He wins me over as, I must admit, I am getting quite excited about it myself. Although, I will never admit to him, or Cole, or anyone else for that matter.
I disappoint him though as I crawl out from under him and pull on my robe. “I need to read these now,” I say, picking up the papers Cade left. “I’m going to get a coffee and sit in the library for a bit.”
“I’ll come with you,” he says instantly.
“No, baby. Please. I need a few minutes to myself to concentrate.” At his upset look, I add quietly, “You know I can’t when you are around me.” He brightens considerably as I kiss him and make my way barefoot downstairs to the kitchens for a cup of badly needed coffee.
Chapter 13
I enter the kitchens and my heart stops as I see the door to the dungeon. I walk over slowly, placing the papers down on the big wooden table as I pass. I reach the door and hesitantly place my hand on it. No wards this time as there is no reason. Tears spring to my eyes and I can’t believe that only a couple of short weeks have gone since I killed him.
“Morning, Mrs. O’Dell,” Marguerite says, making me jump.
I turn and clear my throat. “Hello, Marguerite. Call me Liv, remember. It’s nice to see you again.”
“And you. It has been a while. I’m glad you are back.”
I smile at her and, casting one last glance at the door, I move away.