39. Tate

THIRTY-NINE

TATE

The girls decided he needed a half-year party the summer after Tory was born. The idea of giving a kid a six-month birthday party seemed pretty strange. If I was totally honest, I thought it was stupid, but everyone else in my home thought it was an important milestone, so I was outvoted.

We did the whole bit, cake and all. After the lunch of burgers and dessert, Mariah scooped up her brother and walked around with him. The older girl made baby noises and talked to him. Even from here, I could see the way he stared at her, like she had hung the moon herself. I'd never seen a baby look at someone with so much love like Tory looked at his sisters. He loved them, and they loved him. It filled my heart with joy. For the hundredth or so time, I wondered how I'd gotten so lucky. So blessed.

Jordyn followed Mariah out to the front yard where a blanket was set up. They lay Tory down and played with him while Harley and I sat on the porch, watching them. They were far enough away that they wouldn't hear us speaking.

I leaned over. "We'll need to tell them soon. About me, and Tory. About you."

Harley looked at me, and the anxious look she always got when we talked about this reappeared. She sighed and fidgeted with her hands.

After several seconds, she said, "I'm worried they'll be afraid of me."

Glancing out at Jordyn and Mariah, I knew the answer to that. "They are smart and strong young ladies. They'll take it in stride. They know that you would die for them. They won't fear you. At the end of the day, no matter what, you are their mom. Mother is the first and most precious of words children learn. Simply because they get older doesn't mean that changes."

"You're right. We'll figure out a time," Harley said, a serene smile on her face.

Taking her hand, I played with her wedding rings with my thumb. After all these months, it was still surprising how some simple jewelry could make me so happy. The rings on Harley's hand were a symbol of what I had. Of happiness.

Once dusk came, I called Steff over to watch over the girls and Tory, then took Harley back to my clearing. Our clearing now. The evening was clear and warm, the sky that beautiful purple that comes right as the sun goes down. My heart was at peace, but down the line, danger would return. The hunters wouldn't be deterred forever. It was part of why I tried to get Harley out here as much as possible. To learn how to use her dragon to its full power.

I had no intention of letting her be in the final battle, whenever that came, but by God, I'd make sure she was ready to defend herself and our children if it came down to it. That was what we usually did when we came out here, but tonight was different. As we shifted and took flight, we simply flew together. This night was for us. To swoop and dive, to enjoy the breeze under our wings. Here with my mate, my wife, we could just fly. So we did.