Page 222 of Endgame

I, too, believe in magic.

After all, that’s what brought her mom and me together.

No other way to explain how seeds of pain and violence have sprouted into a tree of love. Of life.

Of hope.

“Okay.” She pulls back, staring down at her big brother, even though he has a few inches on her. “You’re forgiven.”

“Oh my God.” Aurora hides her laugh by burying her face in my chest. The sound, like everything else about her, heals old wounds in me. “She’s a carbon copy of you.”

“Me?” I stroke the length of her back, moving my hand as much as our restraints allow.

“Yes, you.”

“No, Mrs. Alder.” A smirk tugs on my lips. “She definitely got it from you, brat.”

In the background, our kids are bickering again, their argument growing louder.

“You know what? I don’t need your forgiveness.” Our son huffs.

“You’re taking back your apology?” Nia gasps.

Yeah, that’s both of us all right.

Both Aurora and I turn to gaze at them.

“All I’m saying is…” There’s a crack in August’s severe expression. He’s loved Nia from the moment Aurora and I told him he was going to be a big brother. He was barely threemonths old, and he was all in. Parents know. “You weren’t wrong.”

“No, I was not.”

“What about you, husband?” Aurora tips her chin up, beautiful with the light glowing softly on her face. “Are you willing to admit that I wasn’t wrong?”

“Brat.” I put my mouth close to her ear. “You’re getting collared and punished tonight.”

“Thecollar?” Her skin heats, her cheek burning against mine.

God, I want her. I can’t wait to put the electro collar around her neck tonight, whether she’s asking for it or not.

My hands tense on her back at the idea. From the depraved thoughts of zapping her, standing above her as I watch her drop to her knees.

I can’t do that right now.

Reason one is that the kids are right here.

Reason two is that the collar is out of reach. We hide it in the closet in a locked safe, where August and Nia won’t find it.

Though there’s nothing wrong with her wearing one, the original one is bulky. The leather, the receiver. The whole thing stands out.

Our children would’ve asked questions. Ones we’d prefer to avoid.

Hence, the simple yet elegant stainless-steel eternity collar Aurora wears throughout the day.

She wears it while she’s home with our kids, being the incredible mom she is. When she volunteers at the hospital. When we stay up late, and she crawls to me, seductive and gorgeous, begging for me to feed her.

Anyway.

Unless we’re playing, she has this collar on.