Chapter 28 Worth Fighting For #2
As Brummy settled at Kaori’s feet, accepting scraps of cheese she discreetly slipped him, I caught her watching father and son with the same thoughtful expression I imagined on my own face. Our eyes met, and she gave me a tiny nod of understanding.
It would take time. The wounds between them ran deep, carved by years of neglect and disappointment, but healing was possible. Especially because two women had just become allies, both determined to heal the fractured bonds between the men we loved.
#
“What do you plan to do with Amabel?” Papa’s question cut through the comfortable silence that had settled between us.
His tone was carefully neutral, but his eyes revealed his concern. I set down my teacup and glanced at Koa, who had gone still as stone at the mention of Amabel’s name. The muscles in his jaw worked beneath his skin, a subtle sign of the fury he was containing.
“When Zane wakes up, he and Koa can handle it.” I paused, then added with deliberate lightness, “I will be busy doting on Casimir.”
“Priorities.” Kaori’s laugh sparkled in the quiet room.
The corners of Koa’s mouth twitched upward. Papa didn’t quite smile, but amusement flickered across his features like sunlight through leaves.
“Your dedication to my sons is admirable,” he said, and I caught the wistfulness beneath his formal words.
“He needs me. They all do. And taking care of him is far more important to me than dealing with Amabel.”
The conversation shifted as Kaori expressed interest in seeing the library, her eyes lighting up at the mention of our collection of magical theory texts and grimoires.
The library at Evermere was my sanctuary, a place where ancient knowledge and modern research coexisted in peaceful harmony.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the walls, interrupted only by tall windows that would flood the space with sunlight during the day.
Now, with night having claimed the sky, the room was bathed in the warm glow of reading lamps and the soft flicker of a small fire in the hearth.
“This is magnificent,” Kaori breathed as we entered.
“It’s my favorite room in the house.” I watched her reverently trace the spine of a leather-bound tome.
As Papa browsed the shelves with the quiet appreciation of someone who’d lived long enough to value true craftsmanship, I led Kaori to the desk where I’d been working.
“I’m working on something you might find interesting,” I said to Kaori, leading her to a small desk tucked into an alcove. Spread across its surface were my notes on protection wards, specifically, ones designed to prevent magical siphoning.
Her eyes narrowed with interest.
“May I?” she asked, gesturing to the parchment.
At my nod, she leaned closer, her finger tracing the intricate symbols I’d drawn.
“This is impressive work.” The respect in her voice made me stand a little straighter. “I’m no expert on lunar magic, but here,” she pointed to one area, “if you add a binding rune, I think you’d create a reflection effect.”
“Instead of just blocking the siphoning attempt, bounce it back on the attacker?” I tilted my head as I considered that.
“Not enough to harm them or siphon them, but enough to give them a nasty shock and break their concentration.”
“That’s a great idea.” I noted her suggestion in the margin. “I never would have thought of that.”
“Because you weren’t interested in attacking. You thought strictly defensively with this ward because that’s what you needed. Now, you can revisit it through a different lens.”
I was so engrossed that I didn’t hear Koa’s approach until he cleared his throat behind us.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, but the gleam in his eyes suggested he wasn’t sorry at all.
In his arms, he cradled a wooden box with three small drawers, the kind you might find on an antique desk, used for organizing correspondence. Curiosity prickled along my skin.
“What’s that?” I asked, eyeing the polished wood with undisguised interest.
Koa’s serious expression gave way to something softer, almost playful. With a dramatic flourish that would have made Zane proud, he set the box on the desk and slid open the top drawer.
“You mentioned needing some supplies for your research.”
The drawer was a riot of colorful treasures: Sticky notes in shapes of moons, stars, and apple slices; paperclips twisted into tiny bat silhouettes; highlighters in pastel shades, each topped with a miniature wolf paw; and a collection of glitter gel pens.
Then he opened the second drawer to reveal a stack of blank notebooks, each cover more beautiful than the last. On top sat a leather-bound journal embossed with silver phases of the moon, its pages edged in the same shimmering silver.
My breath caught. I had always wanted one like that.
“You said you needed a new notebook.” He seemed almost shy now beneath my stunned gaze.
The third drawer held bookmarks that looked like piano keys and swords as well as washi tapes with designs of bats and wolves and celestial patterns. There were also loads of stickers: Holographic, glitter, foil, glow in the dark, and so many more.
“Koko,” I breathed, my fingers hovering over the treasures before me, unable to find words to express the swell of emotion in my chest. “Each thing represents us.”
He shrugged, a gesture that tried to minimize what we both knew was an extraordinary act of thoughtfulness.
“I pay attention.”
“This is perfect.” I lifted the moon journal, cradling it as one might a precious artifact. “Everything is perfect.”
Standing on tiptoe, I pressed a kiss to his cheek, then another to his lips when he turned to face me.
“Thank you, my love,” I whispered against his mouth. “It’s the most thoughtful gift ever.”
“If that’s your reaction to stationery, I should have brought you some months ago.”
When I glanced over at our guests, I caught Kaori giving Papa a pointed look, one that clearly said, Are you taking notes? A blush crept up my neck at them seeing our intimate moment, but the warmth in Kaori’s eyes held no judgment, only a hint of playful envy.
“I must say I’m a bit jealous, Koa. I might need to drop some hints to a certain vampire.”
“I am standing right here, beloved.” Papa’s eyebrow arched.
“Indeed you are,” she replied sweetly. “Watching and learning, I hope. After all, your son is setting the bar rather high, wouldn’t you say?”
For a brief moment, I witnessed something remarkable: The mighty vampire king looking almost flustered. It humanized him in a way nothing else could have.
“Where did you find such unusual stationery?”
“Online. I’ll text you the info.” Koa’s tone was almost civil as he addressed his father directly for the first time today, and I hid my smile.
As the evening wore on, Papa rose from his chair with that effortless grace that reminded me he was no ordinary man.
“Koa, I’d like to check on Amabel before you retire. Ensure she’s properly secured.”
For a moment, I thought Koa might refuse, but he nodded.
“This way.”
As they left, the tension was still between them, but somehow less sharp-edged. Progress, however small, was still progress.
Left alone with Kaori, I found myself turning over a question that had lingered since Casimir had explained her nephilim heritage.
“Can I ask you something personal?” I ventured, arranging my new pens in rainbow order to avoid meeting her eyes. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“Ask away,” she encouraged, settling back in her chair. “I’m an open book.”
“Simmy told me you’re a first-generation nephilim. That you’ll live four or five hundred years.”
She nodded, waiting for me to continue.
“But vampires are immortal,” I said, voicing the concern that had been nagging at me. “What happens when…”
I trailed off, uncertain how to delicately phrase my question.
“When I grow old and die while Lucian remains eternally thirty-five?” she finished for me with surprising frankness. “You’re worried about what he’ll do when he loses another beloved.”
I nodded, relieved she understood.
“The way Casimir explained it to me, losing his first beloved nearly destroyed him. Then there was Mahina and, even if no one ever admits it, I know her death hurt him. Now, I worry about what would happen if he lost you, too.”
“Oh, honey, I’m not planning to stay mortal! I’ve already decided I’ll let him Turn me eventually.”
My eyes widened. I knew enough about the Turning process to understand its risks.
“Isn’t that dangerous? King Julian told me most humans die during the transition.”
“For humans, very.” She folded her hands in her lap in a way that reminded me she was a life-long scholar.
“The mortality rate is significant. However, for nephilim, particularly first-generation like myself, the risks are considerably lower. Our divine blood provides some protection against the more traumatic aspects of the transformation.”
“You seem very confident about it.”
“I am.” Her smile held certainty. “I have an entire network of nephilim colleagues, each specializing in different fields. Between my own research and their expertise, I’ve mapped out the process in detail.
” She leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially.
“Besides, I refuse to leave Lucian alone again. He’s absolutely hopeless without supervision. ”
I laughed at that, appreciating her attempt to lighten the mood.
“How long do you think you’ll wait? Before being Turned, I mean.”
“A few years, at least. I’d like…” She paused, a hint of vulnerability crossing her features. “I’d like to have a child first.”
My eyebrows flew up in surprise.
“Lucian isn’t entirely convinced. He’s concerned about the risks. Says he got lucky with his sons, that they turned out ‘normal.’ He’s afraid of producing,” she hesitated, choosing her words carefully, “less fortunate offspring.”
I nodded in understanding. King Julian had explained that male vampires typically fathered one dhampir for every five children, and maybe one actual vampire in twenty. The rest were human, often with severe deformities, rarely surviving their first day.
“It is a risk,” I acknowledged.
“We’re still very early in our relationship, anyway.
Barely three months. There’s time to discuss it further.
” Her eyes met mine, serious now. “But I understand the desire to create something lasting with the person you love. Something that combines both of you.” She smiled, then tilted her head.
“What about you? Have you and your husbands discussed children?”
“A little.” My cheeks flared with heat. “We’re not in any rush. I’m only nineteen. But someday, yes.”
“Do you think it might be possible that their DNA will combine?” Kaori leaned forward with interest. “Instead of each child belonging to just one father?”
“There’s so much magic in all our bloodlines, who knows what will happen?” I shrugged a little, then giggled. “I hope they all have Koko’s sweet, gentle heart, but can you imagine a little boy who looks like Simmy, but acts like Zoodle?”
“Worse, looks like Zane and acts like Casimir! The poor child would be a walking contradiction!”
The image of a tiny redheaded boy with Casimir’s stern face made us both dissolve into giggles. We were still laughing when Koa and Papa returned, both looking at us with curiosity.
“I hope we’re not interrupting state secrets.” Papa’s silver eyes fixed on Kaori’s face.
“Just contemplating the future of the Cimmerian bloodline.” She winked at me, which made Koa’s eyebrows shoot up, and I laughed again.
As night fell, I showed our guests to one of the guest suites, not missing the way Papa’s gaze lingered over Koa’s shoulder when my husband opened our bedroom door. I peered in as well, smiling at the sight of Zane curled into Casimir’s side, both still deeply asleep.
“Goodnight, Papa. Goodnight, Kaori.” I followed Koa into our room, but turned to give them a little wave.
“Rest well, daughter,” Papa replied with a nod before they disappeared down the hall.
“You know it’s like noon for them right now?” Koa chuckled as he stripped down to his boxers. “Their days are inverse of ours.”
“Oh. I guess I didn’t think about that.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll find ways to entertain themselves. After all, they’re newly mated, too.”
“Koko!” I swatted his bicep, my face heating up. “I can’t think of Papa like that!”
That made him chuckle again as he tossed me into bed, then followed me and waited until I’d kissed Zane’s forehead and Casimir’s cheek before encircling me in his arms, strong and secure.
“Sleep, beloved. I’ve got you. Tomorrow will be better.”
I drifted off to the sound of his heartbeat and the soft, even breathing of my other husbands, surrounded by a love that felt like the most powerful spell of all.