Page 30 of Demon Daddy’s Secret Twins (Demon Daddies #2)

30

MAZAN

T he morning sun filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows across the wooden walkways connecting the treehouses. My wings twitch with each step toward Loxley's home, thoughts churning like storm clouds. The anger at her deception wars with understanding - she had every right not to trust me after I vanished.

I meant what I said. We’ll work toward getting back to the way we were. I’m just not ready yet. But I won’t miss out on time with my boys because of it.

The walkway creaks beneath my weight as I make my way up to her home. My knuckles hover over the door before I force myself to knock.

Footsteps approach, light and hesitant. The door opens, and Loxley stands there in loose clothes, her auburn braids falling over one shoulder. She drops her gaze, fingers curling around the doorframe.

"I want to take them out today." My voice comes out a little rougher than intended. "If that's alright."

She nods, stepping back to let me in. The morning light catches the gold in her eyes, reminding me of warmer days. "They're finishing breakfast."

Sorien and Kaelar sit at a low table, bits of fruit scattered across their plates. Kaelar spots me first, jumping up with a grin that mirrors my own at his age.

“You’re here!" He grabs Sorien's hand, pulling his quieter brother along. Sorien follows, watching me with those mismatched eyes - one like Loxley's, one like mine.

Loxley hovers near the doorway, arms crossed. "Just... be careful with them near the water. Kaelar likes to run ahead."

"I will." Our eyes meet briefly before she looks away. The distance between us stretches like an open wound, but at least she's trying. At least she's letting me be here.

Kaelar tugs at my hand. "Can we go to the beach?"

"Of course." I scoop them both up, their small weights settling against my chest. Sorien's fingers trace one of the gold lines on my arm while Kaelar chatters about fish he saw yesterday.

The twins' laughter echoes through the cool morning air as we make our way down the winding path toward the beach. Kaelar keeps trying to wiggle free, but I hold him tight - these paths drop straight down to the rocks below in some places. Sorien stays quiet, his small fingers still tracing the gold lines that mark my skin.

The beach opens before us, crystal water lapping at white sand. I set them down, and Kaelar bolts straight for the waves.

"Wait for me." My wings spread as I catch up to him in two strides. He squeals as I scoop him back.

"But I wanna swim!"

"First we check the water." I scan the surface for any signs of dangerous creatures. "Now you can go - but stay where I can see you."

Kaelar splashes in, fearless as always. His tiny horns catch the sunlight as he jumps over the small waves. Sorien hangs back, pressing against my leg.

"Would you like to try?" I kneel beside him. He nods but doesn't move. "Here." I offer my hand.

His smaller one slips into mine. We walk to where the water meets sand, and he tests it with one toe. A smile breaks across his face - Loxley's smile.

"It's warm!"

"Like a bath." I wade in with him. "Want to go deeper?"

He nods again, gripping tighter as we move forward. Kaelar circles us, showing off how he can float on his back.

"Look what I can do!" He ducks under, popping up with water streaming from his hair.

The sun warms my wings as I watch them play. Sorien gradually releases my hand, growing bolder as he follows his brother's lead. They splash and dive, their bronze skin glowing in the light. My chest tightens with an unfamiliar feeling - pride, maybe. Or love. Both, probably.

This is what peace feels like. Not the hollow quiet after a battle or the false calm of court politics. Just this - my sons' laughter, the gentle waves, and the knowledge that they're safe here with me.

The twins splash in the shallows, their laughter echoing across the beach. My eyes drift back toward the jungle path, toward where Loxley's treehouse rises above the canopy. Three years. Three years of memories I'll never get back.

Kaelar tugs my hand. "Watch this!" He dives under, his small form cutting through the crystal water. When he surfaces, his grin stretches wide. "Did you see?"

"I did." Pride swells in my chest. "You're getting better at holding your breath."

Sorien wades closer, those mismatched eyes studying my face. He has her way of looking right through people, seeing what they try to hide. "You're sad."

My wings curl forward, sheltering him from the breeze. "Not sad. Just thinking."

"About Mama?" He presses his small hand against my chest. "She gets that look too."

The tightness in my throat grows. Of course she does. We both lost something precious - time we can't get back. But maybe...maybe we haven't lost everything. We can figure this out, how to forgive and trust each other.

I need to talk to her. Really talk, not just these careful exchanges about the boys. We need to clear the air between us, drain the poison of misunderstanding and hurt. Because watching our sons play, seeing how they've grown without me - it's not enough. I want all of it. The quiet mornings, the shared smiles, the family we could have been.

The family we still could be.

I shift closer to the water's edge, keeping both boys in sight. Kaelar dives under again, popping up near his brother with a splash that makes Sorien giggle. Their joy spreads through my chest like sunlight.

"Watch!" Kaelar waves his arms, trying to swim in circles. His movements are uncoordinated but determined, just like everything else he does.

Sorien inches deeper, the water now at his chest. His different-colored eyes track his brother's motions, studying before he attempts the same. Always the careful one.

A strange ripple passes through the air. The gold lines along my arms begin to glow, responding to... something. Magic crackles across my skin, foreign yet familiar.

Kaelar stops swimming, his small face scrunching in confusion. "My hands feel funny."

Sorien's eyes go wide. "Mine too?—"

The water around them starts to churn. Their bronze skin takes on an otherworldly sheen, power radiating off them in waves I've never felt before. It's raw, untamed - a spike of magic responding to their excitement.

"Boys—" I surge forward, but the magic pulses outward. I press against it, moving closer, but they aren’t quite in reach.

Kaelar reaches for his brother, their fingers barely touching. Sorien's mismatched eyes flash both glowing like embers. The air grows thick, heavy with power that shouldn't be possible for children their age.

Magic explodes around them in a blinding surge. Water sprays up, obscuring my view for a fraction of a second. When it clears, the waves settle back into gentle ripples.

My sons are gone.

The world stops. My heart pounds against my ribs as I surge through the water, wings spread wide. "Kaelar! Sorien!" Their names tear from my throat, echoing across the empty beach.

Nothing.

I dive beneath the surface, scanning the crystal depths. No sign of bronze skin or dark hair. The water's too calm, too still - as if they were never here.

Magic still crackles in the air, remnants of whatever power just manifested. The gold lines across my skin pulse with it, responding to their energy. Our magic is so closely tied to emotion, and they must have been too excited to control it.

I burst from the water, wings spreading wide as I launch into the air. The beach blurs beneath me as I soar toward the village center. Lamain will know what to do. He has to. He's protected this island for years, knows its magic better than anyone.

The treetop paths flash past. I spot his home - larger than the others, with intricate protective runes carved into every surface. My feet hit the platform hard enough to shake the boards.

"Lamain!" I slam my fist against his door. The wood cracks under the impact.

The door swings open. Lamain stands there, his massive ram horns catching the morning light. His indigo eyes narrow at my state - soaked, wild-eyed, magic still crackling across my skin.

"The twins—" The words catch in my throat. "They're gone. Their magic flared. I couldn't—" I grip the doorframe, wood splintering under my fingers. "Help me find them."

His expression shifts from confusion to sharp focus. "Tell me everything. Now."