Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

KAI

I wasn't responsible for the quiet noise that came from my lips, or how high pitched it was. I shot Verena a warning glare when she smirked at me from the chair opposite mine by the fire in the living room, but the glare melted from my face when I looked at the baby girl sleeping on my chest. She'd just rustled her tiny black wings in her sleep, and it was the cutest fucking thing I'd seen in my entire existence.

My heart skipped when I stroked the back of a finger over her delicate cheek, and she let out a soft sound that reminded me so much of the ones Haley made in her sleep when I pulled her closer or kissed her forehead. When Kaida's tiny hand wrapped around my finger, I had to squeeze my eyes shut as emotions slammed into me like a tidal wave. Fuck.

Just … fuck.

"He's gonna cry again," Verena told someone as footsteps padded across the rug.

"No, I'm not," I muttered, but my voice was thick.

"Stop teasing him, Rena," Wane chided and sank onto the sofa with a sigh, dark shadows under his eyes.

I dragged my stare from Kaida to frown at Wane. "Again?" I mouthed.

He sighed and nodded. Ah, shit. Wane had been having nightmares for weeks, strange recurring dreams about being imprisoned and tortured. The last one was graphic and gruesome, his fingernails ripped out one by one until even my stomach curdled. I'd done the exact same thing to more than one man in my life, but Wane was mine, my family. The thought of that happening to him enraged me. Sickened me.

I looked down at Kaida, focusing on the feeling of her soft breaths puffing over my collarbone to calm myself from the murderous edge I walked.

"I'm fine," Wane muttered, giving me a tired smile until his eyes drifted to Kaida and true warmth entered his gaze. I knew he felt the same melting sensation in his chest when he watched her, because Harvey had asked all of us about it. Not a single one of us didn't turn to sappy bastards when we looked at our daughter. "When did she wake up?"

"Not long ago," I replied with a smile. "Haley passed out in Kaida's room after feeding her."

"Mm," Wane murmured, rubbing sleep from his silver eyes before he pushed off the sofa. "Hungry, Verena?"

She scowled when he bent over her chair and kissed the top of her red head. "Piss off."

He laughed softly. There was something about this early in the morning—everything was hazy and gentle and hushed. I melted further, unable to keep a smile off my face.

"So, you don't want breakfast," Wane mused, his wings ruffling behind him and betraying his amusement. The same black wings our daughter had inherited, both inky with a sheen of midnight blue, though hers were leathery where his were feathered. "That's fine, I'll just make it for me and Kai. What about honey porridge?" he asked me. "With a side of chocolate Welsh cakes?"

He was just listing Verena's favourite breakfast foods now. I smirked.

"I hate you bastards," Verena muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine! I want breakfast. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Wane agreed, and snuck another kiss to the top of her head. My heart melted to goo and I wondered how the fuck a bastard like me got so lucky to have an amazing family, the best mate anyone could ever ask for, and two daughters I'd give the whole world to make happy?

I must have made a deal with the devil; it was the only thing that made sense.