Page 35 of Demon Daddy’s Secret Twins (Demon Daddies #2)
The morning sun filters through the canopy as Mazan and I make our way along the elevated walkways to June and Lamain's treehouse. My legs still feel shaky, and warmth blooms in my chest each time Mazan's hand brushes against mine.
The door swings open before we reach it. Two small blurs of bronze skin and dark hair burst onto the deck.
"Mom!" Kaelar charges forward first, as always. He crashes into my legs while Sorien hangs back a step, his mismatched eyes darting between Mazan and me.
"Dad!" Both boys call out at once.
My breath catches. The word hangs in the air, powerful and unexpected. Mazan goes completely still beside me.
Kaelar releases my legs and grabs Mazan's hand, tugging him down to eye level. His small horns catch the light as he tilts his head. "We made something for you."
Sorien inches closer, one hand clutching the hem of my shirt. "It's a picture," he whispers, pressing against my side. His golden-brown eye - so like my own - meets mine while his red one stays fixed on Mazan.
Mazan kneels, bringing himself down to their height. The massive spread of his midnight-blue wings creates a protective shadow over all of us. His copper-red eyes shine with an emotion I've never seen before as Kaelar launches into an animated description of their artwork.
June appears in the doorway, her bright red hair gleaming. A knowing smile plays across her freckled face as she watches our little family. My family. The word feels foreign yet right, like a key finally fitting into a lock I didn't know existed.
"We used all the colors," Sorien adds softly, finally letting go of my shirt to join his brother. "Even the sparkly ones Aunt June gave us."
Mazan's voice comes out rough. "I can't wait to see it."
The simple word - "Dad" - echoes in my mind as I watch Mazan's reaction. His copper-red eyes glisten, and the gold lines across his obsidian skin pulse with a soft glow. His wings curl forward, creating a protective cocoon around the boys.
"Come here, little ones." Mazan's usual steady voice wavers. He scoops them both up, one in each arm, and they immediately grab onto his horns for balance. The gesture is so natural, so familiar - as if they've done it a thousand times before instead of just meeting him days ago.
My throat tightens as I watch them together. The similarities are striking - the way Kaelar's determination mirrors Mazan's strength, how Sorien's thoughtfulness reflects his father's patience. Even their wild dark hair matches, though the boys' has more of my auburn mixed in.
June slips back inside, giving us privacy for this moment. Mazan's wings shift, drawing me into their circle too. His eyes meet mine over our sons' heads, and the raw emotion there steals my breath. This is what we could have had all along, if fate hadn't torn us apart.
After I thank June, we decide none of us are ready to go home yet. Instead, we go to our favorite place.
The sun is already high in the sky as we make our way down to the beach, the boys racing ahead on the wooden walkway. Kaelar leads the charge while Sorien follows close behind, their small feet thundering against the planks.
"Careful," I call out, but Mazan's hand settles on my lower back.
"I've got them." His wings spread, ready to catch either child if they stumble.
The beach stretches before us, empty save for the gentle lap of waves. Kaelar immediately charges toward the water's edge, kicking up sand. Sorien pauses, watching the waves before following his brother at a more measured pace.
"Don't go past your knees," I remind them, settling onto a smooth piece of driftwood. The dying sunlight catches their bronze skin, turning them to living flame against the darkening water.
Mazan lowers himself beside me, his wing curling around my shoulders. The leathery membrane blocks the evening breeze, and I find myself leaning into his warmth.
"Look!" Kaelar shouts, holding up a shell that gleams purple in the fading light. His small horns catch the last rays of sun as he turns to show us his prize.
Sorien crouches nearby, methodically building a small tower from wet sand. His mismatched eyes narrow in concentration as he pats each layer into place. When a wave threatens his creation, Kaelar abandons his shell-hunting to help his brother build a protective wall.
"They're so different," Mazan murmurs, "yet they move as one."
He's right. Even now, as Kaelar darts around gathering more shells to decorate their fortress, Sorien stays focused on the structure itself. But they work in perfect sync, anticipating each other's needs without a word.
"They've always been like that," I whisper. "Even before they could walk."
The boys' laughter mingles with the sound of waves, creating a melody I never knew I needed. Mazan's wing tightens around me as we watch our sons play, their small forms darting in and out of the water.
Mazan's hand finds mine, his obsidian skin warm against my palm. He pulls me closer, tucking me against the solid wall of his chest. His wings cocoon around us, creating our own private sanctuary as the boys continue playing at the water's edge.
His copper-red eyes catch the starlight as he looks down at me. The gold lines across his skin pulse softly, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat under my fingers. He presses his lips to the top of my head, his breath stirring my auburn hair.
"I love you," he murmurs, the words vibrating through his chest. "I've loved you since that first day by the waterfall, and I'll love you until the stars fade."
My throat tightens. For so long, I kept my emotions locked away, afraid to let anyone close enough to hurt me. But Mazan... he broke through every wall I built, not by force but with steady patience and unwavering loyalty.
"I love you too." I press closer, breathing in his familiar scent of storm winds and night air. My fingers trace the curves of his horns, following the path I memorized years ago. "I never stopped."
His wings tighten around us as he holds me, creating a shield between us and the world. In the distance, Kaelar's laugh rings out as Sorien shows him a new shell, their small forms silhouetted against the silver-touched waves.
I close my eyes and lean into Mazan's embrace, savoring the solid strength of him. After years of running, of keeping everyone at arm's length, I've finally found my place. Here, wrapped in midnight-blue wings with the sound of our children's laughter carried on the breeze, I know I'll never have to let go again.