“You are so beautiful…just like your mother.” He whispered and reached out to sweep back a strand of raven hair from Riella’s face, pausing to study the color of it.
I frowned. How could Emon know her mother?
Looking down at Riella’s hair, I stared at what Emon was seeing. Highlights of blue…I trailed my eyes over the heart shape of her cherub face, her petite nose, the shape of her lips, the soft flutter of her eyelashes.
I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. It was as if I was looking down at a reflection of me. How had I not seen it before?
Emon smiled reverently at her. “Thank goddess you have her small nose…” He chuckled. “Don’t tell her I said this but I think yours might be cuter. Goddess knows your mother already doesn’t like me much, but I am trying to change. Don’t you worry.”
Tears filled my eyes.
Emon released a sad sigh. “I don’t know what I am doing anymore, my cub. I don’t believe I have ever felt this lost before.”
My tear filled eyes could not leave Emon. My cub.
Emon sighed and ran a hand through his hair with frustration. “Jar told me that you would hear me if I spoke to you. That it would help you in your healing sleep.” He hesitated slightly and then hard resolve crossed his features. “You may not know what it means right now, my sweet little cub, but you have established our bond. It is the bond that all shifter children have with their parents. You are our daughter Riella. Remnant and I are your true parents.”
I closed my eyes, painful hope blooming inside my chest. We had a child…
“Jar also tells me you are equal parts shifter and shadow fae.” His voice wavered again. “Although I won’t be surprised if you take more after your mother.” He smiled softly at that. “They are already regaling the astounding way she ran as fast as a leopard, carrying you with her, through the hills of The West Isles, to save your life. You will find that there are many incredible stories about your mother, and they are all just as fantastically amazing. One day we both will witness this for ourselves together…as a family.”
My eyes snapped open and I stared hard into Emon’s profile.
“I don’t deserve her, I don’t deserve you—” He choked. “But I swear to you, that I love your mother with every piece of my shredded soul…just as much as I love you, my little cub. You both will never know a single day without that love ever again.”
I collapsed to my knees inside Emon’s memory, both agony and joy burning away the remaining vestiges of my old life.
I was ready. Ready to feel again.
“Ligare.” Emon and I both whispered together.
Chapter 72
OpeningmyeyesIfell into Emon’s golden depths that were full of worry and hesitation.
“Remnant, I—”
My finger trembled when I pressed it firmly against his lips and my heart raced as I whispered the words we both needed to hear.
“I love you too, Daemon Ash Strider.”
Emon inhaled sharply, his eyes searching mine in disbelief. “Say it again.”
I grinned and traced his lips. “I love you.”
I shivered when he growled low, brushing his nose against mine and then nipping at me. “Again.”
Laughing and shaking my head, I nipped him back. “I love you, you dense headed shifter. How many more times do I need to sayit?”
“Forever.” He breathed and my heart stuttered. “I need you to say it forever.”
Crashing his lips into mine he devoured my mouth, groaning deeply when I responded eagerly in kind.
When his large hand trailed reverently down my face, I closed my eyes, feeling the way it shook with the restraint he barely held onto all this time. Not just here in these caves but since that first day in the cabin and even before that.
I gasped when his fingers brushed over the tops of my breasts and dipped into the neckline of my leather vest. “You’re wearing too many clothes.” He murmured against my lips.
Shivering at the deep growling tone, I reached slowly down his abs feeling them tense underneath the pads of my fingertips, then slid further down into the waistline of his leathers. “I can fix that.”
