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And that might never happen for her. As a half witch, half demon, we have no idea what powers she’ll inherit, and which will pass her by.
I have no choice but to fight for a place in this community, whether some of these vampires want us here or not.
That’s the only blemish on the evening—now that Priscilla has arrived, the vampires who want Amy out of Nightfall have intensified their glaring and gossiping. I don’t know if Priscilla said something to them or they’re simply emboldened by having another ancient, old-fashioned vampire who doesn’t care for other paranormal species around, but some of the looks I’ve seen tonight make me grateful vampires can’t shoot lasers out of their eyeballs. If they could, my poor little girl would have singe marks all over her precious body.
Thankfully, however, Amy is oblivious to the ugliness. She’s having so much fun that she pulls the typical “party until you pass out” toddler trick, slipping into an open-mouthed snore in Edmond’s arms with a salted pretzel still clutched in her fist just after ten o’clock.
“Well, I’d call that a perfect night,” I whisper as I gently pry her sticky fingers from the treat.
Edmond beams down at the unconscious kiddo on his lap. “I love watching her rampage through a party. Best entertainment in the world. Bar none.”
Our gazes lock over her head and my throat tightens. “You’re a big old softie.”
“I am. She has me wrapped around her finger.” His focus drops to my lips. “So do you, Cassandra Wonderfully. I don’t suppose you’d join me in my apartment tonight? We can put Amy to bed in the spare room and…play canasta until we’re ready for bed.”
“Is ‘canasta’ code for tearing each other’s clothes off?” I ask, my skin buzzing as he reaches for me, pulling me from my patio chair onto the bench beside him and Amy.
“Absolutely,” he murmurs, curling his fingers around the back of my neck. “You typically need two couples to play canasta and I don’t intend to share you tonight.”
I melt into his kiss, relishing every tingle-inducing moment. But when we come up for air, I have no choice but to deliver the bad news. Blaire is already shooting meaningful looks my way and jabbing her thumb toward the far side of the estate.
“As thrilled as I am that you’ve decided to stop denying me s-e-x,” I say, spelling the inappropriate-for-baby-ears word out of habit, even though Amy is still out cold, “I’m going to have to take a rain check. Blaire wants me to help with the interrogation tonight. She thinks I might be able to convince Sultan to talk.”
Edmond’s brows pinch together. “Why?”
I shrug. “She thinks he might open up to me since he has a fetish for my blood or something. It’s a long shot, but they’re running out of time before they have to hand him over to the higher ups, so…”
I hate lying to him, but I can’t let him know that I may have discovered my witch gift. Not yet. Not until I’ve had a chance to one—see if it works and, two—try it out on Priscilla.
Edmond’s no dummy. If he realized I had a way of forcing people to tell me the truth, he’d instantly guess what I intended to do with it. And then he’d try to stop me, and I can’t let him do that. I know he only wants to keep me safe, but a shot at saving his life—even a long shot—is worth the risk.
Silently reminding myself that he’d put himself in danger for me in a heartbeat, I kiss his cheek and whisper, “But if you want to put Amy to bed in your spare room, I’ll be up as soon as I can sneak away. Though, fair warning, she’s so excited about taking Annabelle out for a walk tomorrow she’ll probably wake us all up at the ass crack of dawn.”
He smiles. “I don’t mind. That way I can watch you head out from my window, be a part of it in even though I can’t join the fun.”
I brush his hair from his forehead, marveling again at how beautiful he is, and getting more beautiful every day. At least to me. Love is the ultimate filter, glossing our nearest and dearest in beauty magic no tech could every duplicate.
“You can absolutely join the fun. If all goes well, I’m sure we’ll be walking her on the regular, moonlight walks included.” I glance down at my sleeping girl with a smile. “If the two of them get along, I don’t see that we’ll have any choice but to adopt that snaggle-toothed weirdo and make her one of the family.”
“She’s excited, too,” he says. “Hopefully it will go well.” He stands, Amy cradled in his arms. Her head lolls into his chest, her entire body limp and relaxed, her trust in him and the other grown-ups charged with her care absolute.
I press my hand to my chest as I stand beside them, momentarily overcome.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Edmond asks.
I shake my head, fighting a sudden surge of tears. “Nothing, I just… I’m so glad she’s still like this, so trusting that it’s safe for her to let down her guard in the world. I was afraid, after being taken from her family, and scared out of her mind twice…” I press my lips together, unable to finish the sentence.
Edmond gathers me close, holding me and my daughter in his strong arms. He kisses my forehead, and promises, “She’ll stay this way. I promise. Soon, we’ll be married, and she’ll be beyond the demons’ reach.” He pulls back, gazing down at me with an almost shy expression on his face. “And since things have changed between us, I thought maybe we could take her on a trip after the wedding. A little honeymoon with bonus Amy fun. We could book one room for her and whoever we decide to bring to help with childcare and one for her mum and Papa Ed.”
I smile, my chest aching. “Papa Ed-Ed,” I correct. “You’re the guy so nice, she likes to call you twice.” I swallow, forcing down the lump in my throat. “And that sounds amazing. I haven’t been on a vacation in years, and Amy’s never been anywhere except camping near our trailer in Vegas. And she was too young to remember that.”
Edmond’s eyes light up. “Then I’ll go all out. We’ll find a place with a pool that stays open all night and let her swim until she grows gills, then tuck her in and go dancing.”
“I’ll wear my highest heels,” I promise, kissing him one last time before I step away. “Be up as soon as I can.”
“Be careful,” he says, glancing over at Blaire as she appears beside me. “And don’t leave her alone with him. Not even if he’s bound.”
“Yes, sir,” Blaire says. “I’ll take excellent care of your fiancée. Just like I did when she was a little girl and kept trying to jump off the roof of the cabin because she was convinced she could fly.”
