Page 290 of May: Bloom & Bane

“Good girl.” He presses a kiss to her forehead before sweeping her into a chair.

“Shá,” Ashán whispers. “If he called me good girl like that, I would sit wherever he wanted me to.”

“Ashán,” Sage sighs.

“What?”

I roll my eyes, biting back a laugh.

“Hear that, D?” Jack snickers as they disappear into the kitchen. “You’ve got yourself a new fan. Looks like the bone-daddy is coming for Winnie’s spot.”

“You exhaust me,” Sage mutters.

“I am everyone’s favorite.”

After I’ve finished sampling all four desserts—and the two others she had tucked away in the kitchen. Winnie slides off her chair.

She stops just inches from my side, her eyes fixated on my belly.

“She’s really active right now. She loved your desserts,” I whisper, reclining in the chair to give Winnie a better angle. “Go ahead. She won’t bite. Yet.”

Winnie glances up at me. “Are… are you sure?”

“I’d be upset if you didn’t.”

She hesitates, looking up at me for final confirmation. When I give her an encouraging nod, she gently presses her small, warm palms against the side of my sweater.

The whole room falls silent. Vaelína kicks right beneath Winnie’s left palm. She gasps, her lips parting as her eyes go round.

“Oh,” she breathes. “She’s so strong.”

I grin. “She’s saying hello, Aunt Winnie.”

“Aunt?!” Her bottom lip wobbles. “You mean it?”

Damien watches Winnie, hope and heartbreak warring across his stitched features. The moment she looks at him, he smooths them both away.

“Have you felt her yet?” she asks.

“No,” he murmurs. “My skin burns when I touch any female but you.”

“You can still feel her.”

He frowns. “How?”

Winnie reaches back with one hand, keeping the other against my belly, and takes his. She threads his fingers over hers. “Does it burn?”

“No.”

A moment later, Vaelína gives another strong kick.

Damien stills. “... I felt that.”

Winnie’s smile is so bright it could warm winter. “She said hello to you too.”

CHAPTER 89

dragons do this