Page 63 of Royal Bargain

Her little body rises and falls in slow, steady rhythm, one tiny hand curled against her cheek, her mouth relaxed in a sleepy pout. The faintest snuffle escapes her nose, but she doesn’t stir.

“She looks so peaceful,” I whisper.

It is a relief. The screaming fits, the inconsolable crying, the desperate nights of pacing the floor—those moments haven’t disappeared entirely, but they’ve grown fewer, further between. She’s settling now. Stretching longer and longer between wakings. Trusting, somehow, that she’s safe enough to sleep.

I reach into the crib and gently brush her soft hair back from her forehead. “She’s getting so big.”

“Tell me about it.” Liam wraps an arm around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. “Pretty soon she’s gonna be crawling across the floor and demanding to borrow the car keys.”

I snort. “Over my dead body.”

He grins. “Fair enough.”

We stay like that for a moment, side by side, watching our daughter sleep in the hush of the morning light filtering through the curtains. There’s something sacred about it—this rare, quiet calm.

And even though I know it can’t last forever, I let myself lean into it. Just for today.

Lily stirs, a soft little whimper escaping her lips before her legs kick once beneath the blanket.

Then twice.

Then a full-bodied squirm, arms flailing in that delightfully uncoordinated way babies do.

Liam chuckles beside me. “Aaand she’s up.”

“She definitely heard us talking about her growing up,” I say with a grin, scooping her up. Lily blinks at me, groggy and squinty, before breaking into that crooked little smile that always wrecks me.

God, she’s changing fast. Her face is fuller now, her eyes sharper. She clings to my shirt like she means it.

I carry her over to the playmat and ease her down on her tummy. “Alright, little bean,” I whisper. “Tummy time. Show Daddy your super neck powers.”

She makes a vaguely offended noise, scrunches her nose, then props herself up on her arms with shaky determination.

Liam flops down next to us and whistles low. “Okay, when did she get jacked? Has she been sneaking in baby push-ups at 3 a.m.?”

I laugh. “She’s a Volkov. She’s been plotting world domination since day one.”

“Of course,” he says, dragging himself into the same position she’s in, groaning like it’s the hardest thing he’s ever done. “Look at this form. She’s totally showing me up.”

Lily squeals, then immediately faceplants with a dramatic little sigh like she’s over it.

“She’s got your flair for theatrics,” I smirk.

“Please. She’s got your smile. She can’t have everything.”

He reaches out and gently pokes her cheek. She squeals again, trying to grab his face like it’s her favorite toy.

Liam picks her up from the mat and makes a loud raspberry against her cheek. She shrieks with laughter, kicking wildly.

I stretch out on the couch, heart full. The sun’s starting to set, pouring golden light through the windows and casting everything in a warm glow.

“Hey,” Liam says after a moment, glancing down at me. “You hungry?”

“A little,” I admit, lazily rubbing my hand across my stomach. “But not enough to cook anything.”

He grins. “Cereal okay?”

I laugh. “Fine. Only if it’s the good cereal.”