CHAPTER 76
CHAPTER 76
Emerald’s POV
Two months later:
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom, smoothing my hands down the silk white dress.
It wasn’t extravagant, no veil. Just simple, flowing silk that skimmed my body and made me feel like a woman.
For the first time in what felt like forever, life had been calm. Normal, something we hadn’t tasted in so long I’d almost forgotten what it felt like.
Sigurd cooed softly from his play mat on the floor, kicking his chubby legs at the colorful mobile Dan had hung above it.
At two months old, our son had already grown into the name we’d chosen. Strong, fierce.
The fear that had haunted his birth felt like a distant nightmare now. The full moon had passed without incident and Dan’s changes had quieted.
My powers have also had quitened down and we haven’t had any incidents in two months. A soft knock from the door brought me back to earth.
“You ready, Mama?” Dan’s voice, warm and low, carried through the room.
“Come in.”
He stepped inside and stopped. The look on his face pure awe made my heart flutter the same way it had the first time he truly saw me.
His eyes traced the dress, then lifted to mine. In two months he had become even more devoted, waking for every feeding, carrying Sigurd in a sling while working from home.
“God, Em,” he breathed, closing the distance. “You’re breathtaking.”
He cupped my face and kissed me slowly, reverently. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.
“I asked you to marry me again for the right reasons this time. No contract, no lawyer. Just you, me, and our son. I love you.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “And I said yes. Again.” We’re renewed our vows in the backyard under strings of soft lights, with only our closest people watching. Simple words, real ones.
Dan had cried when he promised to be the man our son could be proud of. I had laughed through tears when I promised to keep loving him through the darkest days.
Downstairs, the celebration was in full swing. Music floated up something slow and sweet. Laughter rose with it. I picked up Sigurd, breathing in his baby scent, and Dan wrapped his arm around us both as we descended.
The moment we reached the bottom, applause erupted.
Victoria Dan’s mother beamed as she hurried over, immediately reaching for her grandson.
Sigurd lit up the second he saw her, gurgling happily and grabbing at the silver pendant around her neck. The two of them had become inseparable.
She carried him everywhere, whispering old lullabies and stories I suspected held more truth than fantasy. For once, I didn’t mind. She had been a steady anchor these past weeks.
“Congratulations again, you two,” she said, kissing my cheek. “You look radiant, Emerald.” We have grown closer than I anticipated these past few weeks.
Friends and a few extended family members surrounded us. Hands shook Dan’s. Hugs enveloped me, everyone kept saying how happy we looked, how perfect Sigurd was.
My baby did look perfect with his dark curly hair and blue eyes like his father.
Luca and Tyson were on the makeshift dance floor in the living room, swaying together like they’d done it a hundred times.
Luca’s hand rested possessively on Tyson’s lower back. Tyson laughed at something Luca whispered, throwing his head back with pure joy.
They had announced their relationship earlier tonight to thunderous applause and more than a few shocked gasps. Apparently they’d been secretly dating for months.
I caught Luca’s eye across the room. He gave me a sheepish but glowing smile. I raised my glass to him. Wonders of true love, indeed.
Luca had shot Tyson during a heated argument months ago the gun had gone off accidentally in the struggle. Yet here they were, dancing, teasing each other about the scar.
Tyson even joked about it publicly tonight, lifting his shirt to show the healed wound and saying, “He gave me a permanent reminder that I drive him crazy in the best way.” The room had roared with laughter.
Only Luca could turn a gunshot into romance.
Dan pulled me onto the dance floor after a while. Sigurd stayed happily nestled in Victoria’s arms nearby.
My husband my real husband now, in every way that mattered held me close as we swayed to the music. His hand splayed across my lower back, warm and steady.
“Best decision I ever made,” he murmured against my hair. “Asking you to sign that contract just so you can be my wife.”
I tilted my head up to kiss him. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”
“Better than okay,” he promised. His eyes still held that faint golden flicker when emotions ran high, but he controlled it beautifully now.
My fire answered gently, a soft warmth blooming between us that made the lights seem brighter.
We danced, we laughed. Sigurd passed between adoring arms mostly Victoria’s looking utterly content with the world.
For hours, everything felt light and normal. The kind of day I once dreamed about before our lives became graves and blood and power.
Eventually the crowd thinned. Guests hugged us goodbye with promises to visit soon.
Luca and Tyson left last, still wrapped up in each other, waving as they headed out. Victoria carried a sleeping Sigurd upstairs to the nursery, saying she’d watch him so we could have a quiet moment.
The house grew still. Dan kissed me deeply in the hallway before heading to the kitchen to pour us both a glass of wine. “I’ll be right back, Mrs Cross.”
I smiled, glowing from the inside. The doorbell rang.
I glanced at the clock, and it read midnight. Maybe someone forgot something. I walked to the door, still barefoot in my silk dress, and opened it.
A woman stood on the porch.
She was beautiful in a haunting way dark hair streaked with silver, green eyes like mine, and a nervous smile that didn’t quite reach them. She clutched a small leather bag, her coat slightly rumpled from travel.
“Hello, Emerald,” she said softly. Her voice carried a familiar lilt I couldn’t place. “I’m sorry for coming so late. Especially on a day like today.”
I stared at her, a strange buzzing starting in my ears. She took a small step forward.
“I understand you may not remember me. Baby, it’s me. Your mother, Lila.”