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"Incorrect. You haven't eaten in nine hours and seventeen minutes."
I shot him a wide-eyed look. "How do you know that?"
"I'm your mate. I also know you're on the verge of dehydration, running low on sleep, and the hugs I just gave you aren't cutting it. You need more."
"Oh, yeah?" I crossed my arms over my chest as I headed down the stairs—and immediately uncrossed them to grab the railing becauseholy fucking shit,the Feared Tower was steep. "You might have to step up your hug game, Devvy boy."
A tender, affectionate look crossed his face as he brushed past me and paused on the step below. "I never dreamed I'd miss you calling me that. Climb on."
I blinked at his armoured back. "What…?"
"Hold onto me; I'll carry you down the tower. You'll feel safer with me. And if you get really scared, you can close your eyes and hold on tight. I won't drop you, babygirl."
"I know," I murmured, and reached out to wrap my arms around his neck, jumping up and locking my legs around his chest.
"I knowwhat?"
A little trill of nerves went through my stomach, but I ducked my head and breathed, "I know, daddy."
It was worth facing my nerves just for the swell of pride that went through Dev's soul.
"Two questions," I murmured when he began descending, mostly to distract myself from the terrifying drop to the ground below.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know, Avie," he replied easily.
"What's your name? I call you Dev 'cause it's short for devil, but that's a title. Taj has a name, so you must have one, too."
"If I tell you, will you stop calling me Dev?" he asked, covering my linked hands with one of his, the heat of his skin making my eyes flutter.
"Only if it's something really embarrassing. I think I'd enjoy getting on your nerves."
"You wouldn't," he disagreed, voice a pitch deeper.
"Why?" I murmured, my lips against his ear. "Because you'd have to punish me?"
"Precisely."
"Nope. I'ddefinitelylike it. Tell me."
"Garrik," he answered, squeezing my hands. "My name was Garrik, now it's the devil. Well, I suppose it—"
"Nope, none of that," I cut in, kissing his hair and enjoying turning the affection tables on him. My mates deserved to be spoiled with as many soft touches as they gave me. "You're the devil for as long as you want to be. When you don't, we'll figure it out. But Taj really, really,really—"
"I get the picture," Dev cut in with a laugh.Garrikcut in with a laugh. "I suppose one of our children might prefer to rule."
I jolted. He said that so casually.
"No can do, buddy."
He paused for a moment. "You don't want children?"
"I'm still figuring that out. Still figuring out who I even am when I'm not Christian Lachesi's prized daughter. But I've given this a lot of thought, at least. Say we have a kid…"
"Yes," he agreed, voice deeper.
"That's Taj's sibling. Weird. Nope. Same goes for any kids with Taj—your grandkids. No, no, nope. Pass."
I stroked his neck to soften the blow, but I wasn't budging on this.
