KIER
Where the hell had she been running from?
I froze in the doorway, eyes scanning her trembling form. Bare feet? No slippers?
I adjusted the thick-rimmed glasses Damon and Leo insisted I wear to hide my bruised face. Professor chic or not, it did the job. For now, I played nice.
I stopped in front of her, towering, my gaze locking onto hers. She wouldn't meet me, fingers clutching the door like it could hold her upright. Fear radiated off her in waves. Fascinating.
Not in a twisted way. I wasn't about to get attached. Women in my life were pretty faces with sharp tongues and hidden agendas. Most of them.
Genesis was… different.
The way her pale toes curled into the marble, her flinch at every movement, the stories written in every twitch and glance—it was all there.
I reached out slowly. She flinched again. My chest tightened.
Instead of pulling away, I cupped her jaw.
Her head snapped up. Eyes wide, glistening. Beautiful. Not seductive—pure, honest beauty that spoke without words.
I liked them.
Her breath caught. The silence stretched until I broke it.
"Have you eaten?"
She blinked. Confusion. Surprise. Then caution. Shaking her head.
I smirked, still stroking her jaw, until a small voice pierced the tension.
"Lily."
Genesis flinched. My hand dropped. Daisy stood a few feet away, watching.
"My Uncle K! You're back!"
I grinned. The little menace ran forward. Scooping her up, she wriggled and squealed.
"Ahhh! That tickles!"
Her laughter filled the hall, soft bells against the tension of the morning. I propped her at my waist. Arms around my neck.
"How are you, my little Deirdre?" I tapped her nose. A giggle. Then a pout.
"I'm upset with you."
"Why?"
She crossed her arms, drama queen in miniature form.
I glanced at Genesis, glued to the door, skittish as ever.
"Come, let's have lunch."
She didn't move. I knew she heard me.
We entered the hallway. The aroma of food hit me. My stomach growled. Daisy giggled.
"That's what you said yesterday. You'd get me chocolates."
Ah, right.
"I did, Deirdre," I said.
Genesis trailed a few steps behind, head down, small as a shadow.
The kitchen buzzed with life. Eliana behind the counter, warm smile tugging at her lips. A new maid arranging plates.
Eliana had been here forever. Too stubborn to retire. And Daisy? Her granddaughter.
Eliana's daughter, Melody, had given us little Deirdre. Life had worked out… mostly.
"Someone isn't happy," Eliana said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I smirked at Daisy, arms crossed.
"Let's fix that."
The maid pulled out every chocolate I'd bought yesterday. Thirty flavors, piled high like treasure. Daisy's eyes widened.
"All for me?"
"All for you," I confirmed, flicking a chin at Genesis. "But you'll share a little with our friend over there."
Daisy's head bobbed eagerly.
"Yes! I'll share it with Lily!"
I glanced between the girls. Genesis just blinked, silent.
Well, well. Seems our little wife had earned a name. Whether she liked it or not.