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I send it, then set the phone down, leaning against the counter. I know the other two will have their own thoughts about this, but something about the way Eviana’s been handling things sits right with me. She’s strong, but she’s still willing to give us a little – just a little – of what we need too.

Our phones beep and the other two immediately snigger.

“What?” I growl.

Xar smirks and flips his phone round so that I can read Eviana’s reply.

Eviana

Yes, Daddy.

A hit. Low and direct.

My breath catches, sharp and uninvited. Something primal stirs, curling deep in my gut. Ishouldshake my head. Ishouldlet it slide.

Instead, I feel heat. A slow, deliberate burn in my chest that spreads like wildfire.

“Fucking hell,” I groan, dragging a hand down my face, trying to bite back the reaction even as the word echoes in my mind –Daddy. From her lips. Directed at me.

She was teasing. I know it. But fuck if it didn’t land anyway.

“You good?” Blaise smirks, too pleased with himself.

“I’m fine,” I mutter, even as a grin twitches at the edge of my mouth. Because I’mnotfine, not when the thought of her saying it again – saying it for real – lodges itself in my head like a goddamn brand.

Doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry, though. It doesn’t mean I’ll stop checking the weather, even if she’s convinced she can handle it on her own. I can feel her shifting, the pull between her fear, her pride, and that unspoken need for us to be there.

She’s ours. Even if she doesn’t fully see it yet.

Blaise moves past me, heading upstairs, and I hear the door to his room click shut. Xar’s pacing, running his hand through his hair as he glances out the window at the growing storm.

We haven’t given her enough time. Still, I find myself wanting to see her words, wanting to see the thread between us grow.

Another beep. Eviana again.

Eviana

You all better keep your promises. I’m fine. Don’t come back unless it’s REALLY necessary. And text first!

I feel a grin tug at the corner of my mouth. Her stubbornness is one of the things I love most about her.

I type out my reply, that last spark still burning behind my ribs.

Don’t worry, Eviana. We’ll be back when we say we will. Just make sure you don’t do anything stupid. Or else Daddy will have something to say about it.

I hit send before I can second-guess myself.

She’s going to test us. I know that. But there’s no part of me that doesn’t think we can handle it. But still, it feels good to have a little banter between us. I want her to get to know us and maybe from a distance, from behind a screen can help with that.

Still...doesn’t mean I’m not already thinking about how she’ll look when she says it next time. When shemeansit.

“You should shower. Get warm and dry,” I tell Xar.

“Why? What are you doing?”

“I just want to double check that the property is secure if this storm is coming.” He nods and leaves me to it.

As soon as he’s disappeared upstairs, I get to work, pulling supplies out of the kitchen cupboards ready to pack in the car.