8. Sebastian
"Sebby, did you know the Takabisha in Japan has a 121-degree drop?" Jewel's eyes sparkle with excitement as she regales me with yet another rollercoaster fact. "That"s like, almost straight down."
"Whoa, no way!" I gasp, my eyes comically wide. "You"d have to be pretty brave to ride that one, huh?"
She nods sagely. "Yep. But I would totally do it. I"m not scared of anything."
My heart clenches at her words. If only she didn"t have to be so damn brave.
The three of us, me, Gemma and Jewel are playing a game of Candyland while we watch a movie called Frozen. Again. For the third time. Today.
I can practically recite the entire movie script verbatim.
And let"s not forget the dazzling accessories Jewel so generously bestowed upon me during our tea party earlier. I"m decked out in neon pink bows, glittery barrettes, the whole shebang.
I look fabulous, darling, simply fabulous.
Truth be told, I"d let Rare Jewel, as I"ve taken to calling her, bedazzle me from head to toe if it made her smile. She has turned me into a total marshmallow. And you know what? I don't care.
I sneak a glance at Gemma, who"s watching our exchange with a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. God, she"s stunning, even in ratty old sweatpants and a poofy bun. How did I get so lucky to be matched with this amazing woman and her incredible child?
The other dragons have raved about that mate-matching algorithm of Councilman Greyson's. They call it magic, but I've always scoffed at their assessment. Until now.
There"s a reason Gemma and I were paired, a reason that goes beyond her smokin" hot bod and killer sense of humor. It"s like the universe knew we needed each other, knew that together we could face anything.
Even the gut-wrenching reality of Jewel"s condition.
I swallow hard, my mind drifting to the stack of medical records currently sitting on my desk at Dabertzholder Pharmaceuticals. I had them rushed over the second Gemma gave me the go-ahead, and now my top research team is working around the clock to find a cure.
Because the truth is, Jewel doesn"t have much time left. I can see it in the pallor of her skin, smell it in the scent that clings to her like a shroud. The grim reaper is lurking just around the corner, ready to snatch this precious little girl away from us.
But like hell am I gonna let that happen. Not on my watch.
These ladies are mine now—my family, my whole world. And I protect what"s mine with every fiber of my being.
I"ll call in every favor, spend every last dime, do whatever it takes. Because that"s what you do for the ones you love.
Yes, love. Big, messy, all-consuming love snuck up on me when I least expected it and knocked me right on my ass.
I glance over at my girls again, my heart doing that funny little flip-flop thing in my chest. I"m a goner. Totally and completely whipped.
"Sebby, it"s your turn," Jewel prompts, poking me in the ribs and jolting me out of my reverie.
"Whoops, sorry." I flash her a sheepish grin before I pick a card and advance my token. "Guess I got a little distracted by all this rollercoaster talk. You sure know your stuff, huh?"
She beams at me, puffing up with pride. "I"m gonna ride one someday."
"I don"t doubt it for a second, Rare Jewel." I ruffle her hair affectionately. "In fact, what do you say we make it a family trip? You, me, your mom...we"ll hit up all the best amusement parks and ride till we puke."
Gemma shoots me a look that"s half-amused, half-exasperated. "Uh, let"s maybe aim for a puke-free experience, yeah?"
"Where"s the fun in that?" I retort, waggling my eyebrows at her. She rolls her eyes, but I catch the way she"s fighting back a smile.
God, I love this. The easy banter, the cozy domesticity, the feeling of belonging. It"s everything I never knew I needed.
But beneath the laughter and the playful ribbing, there"s an undercurrent of fear, a nagging voice in the back of my head that whispers "what if?"
What if all the money and power in the world isn"t enough? What if I have to watch Gemma"s heart shatter into a million pieces and mine right along with hers?
No. I refuse to let my mind go there. We will find a way. We have to.
But for now, I"m gonna cherish every precious moment with my girls as I rock the shit out of these pink bows and glittery barrettes.