Page 54

Three months later

The joyous sound of laughter rang out through the halls of the Van Helsing mansion. Glittering, colorful lights lined the walls, adorning the pictures and high hanging chandeliers. Pine and sap drifted in the air, carried by the breeze as family, friends, and allies congregated at the estate.

Low voices drew my attention to Ruger and Daisy, who spoke with Ian and Mikel. Mikel was grinning at Winchester, while Cole scowled at the pair from across the room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Cole was peeved over Mikel’s infatuation with Winnie.

“Something bothering you, Love?” Rhys asked, returning my focus to where he held Bullet Verity in his arms. Carefully, he smoothed over the unruly tufts of ink-colored hair on her head. He’d been smitten by the little black-hair beauty who favored her father in both coloring and appetite. “You look pensive.”

“I think your brothers are attempting to flirt with my sisters.”

“Do you want me to put a stop to it or let them figure it out between themselves?” he queried with amusement lighting in his eyes.

“You’re enjoying this. Aren’t you?” I returned with a smile lifting the corners of my mouth.

Rhys surprised me. He’d been right beside me during her birth. Refusing to allow anyone else to assist, Rhys had delivered his daughter into this world with Talia at his side.

“Considering your sisters seem immune the Van Helsing men? I’m enjoying their embarrassment rather immensely.” Peering down at his daughter, he brought his fingers up to touch the silky black curls on her head.

Even at a month old, it was easy to see that she’d have her father’s jet-black, unruly hair. Her eyes were more vibrant than his, giving me a little hope she’d end up with the color of my eyes. Her bronze complexion was all from her father, but I didn’t mind if she ended up looking more like him. She had her tiny fingers wrapped around both of our hearts from the moment she drew in her first breath.

“Still hogging our little princess, brother?” Cole asked, then slid his hands beneath her tiny head and legs, scooping her up. “That’s my little beauty,” he cooed. “You’re going to break so many hearts. I fear ours will be among that list. Aren’t you, my little moon?”

“She is my daughter. I can hold her for how long I want to hold her. She won’t be dating, asshole. Ever,” Rhys muttered beneath his breath.

“Bullet might be your child, but she likes her uncle Cole more. All girls prefer me over you, brother,” Cole muttered, offering me a wink before he found a chair to sit down in.

“When she’s old enough, she’ll date whoever she wants. As will your sister,” I rebuked. “We’ll raise her right, as you’ve done with Nyota. To know wrong from right and to make good decisions.”

Rhys made a worrisome sound but relented. Pulling me onto his lap, he kissed my neck. “Is that so?” Brushing his nose along my jawline, he made a rumbling sound. “I’ll make you a deal, wife.”

Smirking at his willingness to barter, I leaned back into the silent strength of his body. It was hard to believe we were married and happy. It almost seemed like a feverish dream instead of reality.

Rhys and I married in the gardens at the chateau a little less than a month ago. It had been a small ceremony with only our family present. I’d preferred the small, intimate ceremony over a larger one. It seemed fitting that we’d joined our bloodlines, ending the ageless feud between our families.

Winchester had been granted the right to raise a house by the immortals. It had allowed her the right to settle here, among the other immortals.

The long awaited peace we’d craved had come as we awaited our daughter’s arrival. Bullet Verity Van Helsing, arrived during a massive snowstorm, screaming and covered in blood. She’d had a lusty cry and the appetite that went along with it, as well.

Rhys had been enthralled from the moment she was placed into his arms. He hadn’t shied away from fatherhood, choosing to embrace it wholeheartedly. He’d melted for her, as I continued melting for the man he’d become after putting aside the past and embracing the future.

Luckily, Talia had been nearby when Rhys phoned her out of his bloody mind with worry. How she’d been able to understand a thing he’d said was beyond me. He’d almost successfully uprooted his hair as he’d pulled on it through each painful contraction.

From his reaction, you’d have thought he was the one about to give birth. After Bullet had been declared healthy, he’d decided we’d have many more babies together. Talia, God’s love her, had thumped him upside his head and reminded him he hadn’t been the one giving birth.

Though she’d been born early, Bullet was healthy and thriving. She had tufts and curls of dark, inky hair, the same darkness as her father’s. Her eyes had been a vivid electric blue, which fit her little cherubic, heart-shaped face.

Bullet Verity was a tiny, petite thing. She’d weighed under five pounds, appearing even smaller in her father’s arms. Rhys used any excuse he found to hold her. Cole did as well, along with most of her other uncles.

I’d never expected the lot of Van Helsing men to react to her as they’d done. Especially Cole, who I’d find rocking Bullet in the nursery at night, softly singing to her. We’d heard him over the baby monitor.

Rhys and I had rushed to the nursery, uncertain what we’d heard. There, we’d found Cole rocking with Bullet in his arms, singing You Are My Sunshine . We’d both stood in the doorway, shocked by what was unfolding inside the room.

Cole had told us to get fucked when we’d softly chuckled at how our tiny daughter had wrapped him so easily around her finger. He’d accused Rhys of hogging her throughout the day, which was why he snuck in at night to get time with her.

Shaking out of my reverie, I glanced at Rhys, who made faces at his daughter.

“What deal do you intend to make?” I pushed.

In his whiskey-smooth tenor, he pressed his nose to my ear. “Nyota can date whoever she desires. Bullet, on the other hand, cannot date. Ever.”

“Do you think she’ll never grow up?”

“Oh, I know she will. Too bloody soon, if you ask me. It doesn’t mean she won’t always be our baby.” I couldn’t argue with that assessment. “The twins are here. You do know they’re rather peeved you’ve stolen all their dancers right from beneath their noses. Don’t you?”

Chuckling, I shrugged as the dark, sinister demon twins strode through the hall, eyeing us as they strolled toward where Eryx, Saint, and Braelyn sat. Lycia, their daughter, was waving her arms as Chaos entertained her.

The moment Enzo and Ezekiel both reached where Saint’s crew stood, they spoke in hushed tones. My curiosity arose as Raven strolled past them. Her eyes thinned as the entire group turned, eyeing her with interest. Enzo and Ezekiel’s stares weren’t curious, though. They both looked at her with contempt.

Raven merely lifted her hands, both palms up. She blew a kiss toward them, then proceeded toward Talia and Morgana, who stood with Rhys’ brothers. The moment she reached the group, she spun around, glaring toward the incubus twins.

I’ve heard a lot about the twins. Most of it was twisted and filled with kink. Nyx had learned about them from nymphs she’d stolen. They took kink to an entirely new level. Even Nyx had been shocked, which was saying something.

“This party is being held under the laws of sanctuary, right? Everyone’s held to the rules of hospitality?” I queried, noting their stares turned worrisome.

“Of course. Why do you ask?” Rhys’ tone hardened as if he feared a quarrel with Bullet present.

“Just curious,” I hummed as Ezekiel and Enzo turned their darkening gazes to me. Plastering a smile on my face, I tilted my head to the side, then noted shadows forming beside them.

A dark-haired fae stepped out of them, materializing beside the twins. He was tall, with a sleek, muscular build. His presence caused Hunter to stand up, wide eyes tracking the newcomer.

“Keiran Knight,” Rhys stated, as if he’d heard my unspoken question. “I thought he’d already left town in search of Xarianna. He’s not convinced that the remains found are hers. Xavier hasn’t recovered, either. I’m shocked Keiran chose to attend.”

“I don’t think he’s here for the celebration,” I said, noting the tension in his shoulders. He’d come here to speak to the twins. Maybe he had a service they sold him. One he hadn’t wanted to wait to receive. “He came because they’re here.”

“He’s here under the flag of sanctuary, either way, Love. Our daughter needs to be fed soon. It’s been hours since she’s eaten. You know how she gets when hungry.”

Glancing toward Cole, I grinned as he rocked his tiny niece in his heavily tattooed arms. It was one of the sweetest things I’d seen, other than when her father held her.

The entire Van Helsing brood had become cooing, gibbering, gentle giants. Nyota was more than happy to call them out on it, but they merely smiled and continued.

A loud, boisterous shout forced everyone to turn as Thurston entered the hall. He bounced from one foot to the other, giddy with the idea of getting gifts. He’d been vocal about what he’d wanted. Luckily, his parents were nearby in the event someone got slung over his shoulder.

Turning at the sound of heels clacking over the floor, I studied the pip in Nyx’s step as she approached. “Why is Cole holding my daughter?” Nyx asked, sniffing as if she was offended Cole had taken the liberty of touching her goddaughter. “You do know we’re going to have many more of them. Bullet is perfect in every way possible. We must make more.”

Rhys cleared his throat, then chuckled when Nyx looked at him with genuine confusion tamped over her face. “I’m her father, Nyx. If you want a child, then you should speak to Acyn about it. He’ll be more than able to oblige you in creating your own.” Acyn’s face bled all color as Nyx spun toward him, planting her hands on her hips. “You can thank me later, brother.”

“Thank you?” Acyn grumbled, but Nyx purred, yanking his full attention toward her. Stepping forward, he bent down, picking her up over his shoulder, then rose. “I’ll need a lot of practice if we’re going to make babies, Nymph.” Slapping her on the rear, she yelped, then whimpered. “We’ll start right now.”

“I can’t start now! The Forged Desire is opening next week. I must teach the nymphs how to dance without draining the patrons! If they suck them dry, Remington will murder me.”

“That sounds like a problem for tomorrow, pretty nymph.” We watched as they made their exit before returning our focus to Cole, who had reverted to baby talking to Bullet.

“That’s going on the list of shit I never thought to witness.”

“Acyn and Nyx?” I asked, uncertain which scene he’d spoke of.

“Nikolas holding our daughter,” he supplied in a deep rumble of sound. “I never pictured myself being a father until I met you. Now I can’t imagine a life without my girls in it.” Kissing my neck, I heated at his words.

“I never thought I’d be jealous of our daughter,” I whispered through the tears constricting in my throat. Rhys stiffened beneath me, forcing soft laughter from my lips. “Not because of Cole, my darkest knight. Because of the way you look at her when you think no one is watching. As if she’s your entire universe.”

“She is my universe,” he agreed. “She’s my world, but you are my soul. Without you, there’s no light within my darkness. You allow me to see the beauty of the world around me, removing the darkness I was trapped in without you to guide me out of it.”

“I love you, Rhys.”

“I love you, too, my silver.”