Evaline:
I groaned loudly the mont the hairdryer clicked off.
My arms dropped to my sides as if they no longer belonged to .
"Why... why do I have so much hair?" I muttered at my own reflection.
My long, thick silver hair - shiny, silky, and annoyingly beautiful - fell in a heavy curtain down my back. I loved it. Truly. But on nights like this, after a draining training session with River, the simple act of blow-drying it felt like a battle I barely survived.
And to make matters worse?
Lioren had recently discovered a deep, passionate love for my hair.
Every ti I breastfed him, his chubby little fingers would automatically reach out, latch onto a thick lock, and start curling my hair around his tiny fist. Sotis he tugged. Sotis he stroked. Sotis he simply held onto it like it was a treasured security blanket.
He seed to love my hair just as much as his fathers did.
"Why am I a walking hair toy?" I muttered again.
Still, once my hair was done - smooth and soft and practically glowing - my irritation faded. I applied my nightly skincare creams, massaged them gently into my skin, and took a deep breath, letting the warm bathroom air calm the soreness in my muscles.
Finally ready for bed, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out...
And froze.
My breath caught sowhere between my ribs and throat.
Right in the center of the bedroom, bathed in the soft glow of the bedside lamps, stood a very shirtless Kieran - broad shoulders, sculpted torso, and hair falling down his shoulders. And in his arms?
A very awake, very active Lioren.
Both father and son turned toward at the sa mont... as if they felt my presence enter the room.
And both smiled.
Identical smiles.
Identical eye colors, warm enough to lt into a puddle on the spot.
My chest tightened too fast, too suddenly. I blinked once, twice, then exhaled, the tension lting into helpless affection.
"What are you two doing awake?" I whispered, stepping closer.
Kieran adjusted our squirming son with ease. "You put him to sleep," he said, "but he woke up crying. So I brought him here."
I reached out and brushed my fingers over Lioren’s soft cheek.
"And instead of putting him back to sleep in his room..."
"He and I," Kieran said, looking unreasonably smug, "agreed that we will sleep here tonight."
I arched a brow. "He agreed?"
"Yes. He nodded. Don’t argue with us."
Despite the teasing, his voice held sothing softer underneath. Sothing warm. Sothing... claiming.
My lips curled. "Well then," I said, "I would be honored to have both of you."
Kieran’s answering smile made my heart flip.
Within minutes, the three of us got cozy on the enormous bed. Kieran leaned back against the pillows, his large body relaxed and warm. One strong arm held our son safely against his chest. The other wrapped securely around my shoulders, pulling into his side.
I lted into him with zero resistance, resting my chin on his shoulder while facing Lioren.
Our son, however, was not ready for sleep. He stared at both of us with big bright eyes, arms flailing as if he was conducting a tiny orchestra only he could hear.
Then... without warning... he suddenly leaned down and latched his mouth onto Kieran’s nipple.
Kieran froze.
I blinked.
And then Kieran let out a startled laugh that shook his entire chest.
"Well... that’s not milk, little one."
I snorted before I could stop myself.
The sound must have startled Lioren, because he let out a sudden, tiny giggle.
Both of us stopped breathing.
Because this was new.
Very new.
"Did he-?"
"He did," Kieran whispered, his eyes wide. "He giggled."
Lioren did it again... this ti louder, showing off his newest skill as if he was proud of himself.
I felt my heart squeeze so hard thought it might burst. I pressed my forehead to Kieran’s shoulder, laughter and joy mixing in my chest like sunlight.
Kieran placed a kiss on the top of my head, his voice low.
"His first giggle... with us."
I nodded, my throat tight with happiness.
Eventually, Lioren’s excitent tapered off. His eyes grew heavy. His tiny hand curled into Kieran’s skin as he slowly drifted off, cheek pressed against his father’s warm chest.
I reached out and gently brushed Lioren’s soft hair.
"He’s asleep," I whispered.
Kieran humd in agreent and continued running his fingers through my hair - slow, soothing strokes that sent shivers down my spine.
That’s when he said it.
"We found the mole."
My entire body went still.
"What?"
His fingers paused briefly before resuming their gentle motion.
"We caught him," he said quietly.
My breath quickened.
"But you didn’t tell -you didn’t ntion anything all day-"
"It happened just before dinner," he explained. "He’s one of my warriors. He joined a year ago, perford well enough to never be questioned. Too well, actually."
The faint rawness in his voice made my heart ache.
I placed a soft hand on his chest, near where Lioren slept.
"Kieran..."
He didn’t speak for a long mont.
"When I choose people for my team," he finally said, his voice low, "I trust them. Genuinely. Completely. Maybe too much."
I slid my hand upward, rubbing my thumb gently over his skin in slow circles.
"You trusted soone who didn’t deserve it," I said softly. "That’s not a flaw."
His jaw tightened... but not in anger. In hurt.
I hated that hurt.
"We are questioning him in the morning," he said.
I didn’t hesitate.
"I’m coming."
He turned his head and t my gaze.
"You don’t have to," he said quietly.
"I’m not staying behind," I replied firmly. "This is about Draven. About Lyra. About all the victims. And about you. I’m involved. I’m not stepping back now."
He stared at ... really stared... his eyes glowing faintly under the dim lights.
Then...
"Good," he whispered. "I wasn’t planning to stop you anyway."
My heart squeezed again.
Because in those few words, I heard it all-
his pride,
his trust in ,
and his relief that I wanted to stand beside him.
I shifted closer until my forehead pressed lightly to his jaw.
His arm around tightened just a little, pulling against him and Lioren both... like he needed us anchored to him.
The room grew quieter.
Rain began tapping against the windows again, this ti soft and steady.
Lioren slept peacefully, tiny breaths warm on Kieran’s chest.
And Kieran...
Kieran held like I was sothing fragile and precious and powerful all at once.
Tomorrow, everything could change.
But tonight?
Tonight I let myself sink into the warmth of my mate, my son, and the gentle rhythm of Kieran’s hand moving through my hair - slow, steady, protective.
I fell asleep that way.
Wrapped in my family.
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