“Nobody is good enough for our mom,” Sam said, eyeing the fries still on Logan’s plate.

“Agreed,” Daire said evenly.

Zane breathed out. “If she has to be with somebody instead of being a nun like I suggested, then we talked, and you’ll do.”

High praise indeed from one of the most powerful men on the planet. Daire took a drink of his beer. “Thanks.”

“Truth be told, I’m glad somebody else can be looking out for her,” Zane said, leaning forward. “I’m not sure, but I think she has completely lost her mind.”

Logan snorted. “Nah. She just feels safe for the first time in her life, and now she’s exploring a little bit.”

Zane sobered. “I guess she feels safe because of you, Dunne.”

That warmed him all over. “I won’t let anything happen to her. You have my word.” It was heartfelt and the least he could promise.

“I can’t believe she killed Bychkov all by herself,” Logan breathed.

Pride lifted Daire’s chest. “She had a plan.” The woman was amazing with a good plan. “She said she was going to take him down, and she did exactly that.”

“Your mating will secure an alliance between the demon nation and the Coven Nine,” Zane said.

“No.” Daire tipped back his beer and allowed the local brew to cool his throat. “I mean, aye, it probably would, but my mating is not a political issue, and it’ll remain private.”

Zane grinned. “Nicely said.”

Sam snorted and swiped a couple of Logan’s fries. “You know she’s a grandma, right?”

Daire lifted an eyebrow. “So?”

“Welcome to the family, Grandpa,” Zane drawled.

Daire blinked. He wasn’t old enough, not by a long shot, to be a grandpa. Hell, he wasn’t even a dad yet. “Can’t wait for your mom to give birth to a sibling for you three.” His grin even felt a little dangerous. “You know, twins run in my family.”

“Oh God,” Zane breathed, falling back in his seat.

Daire nodded with just a hint of smugness. None of them, and that included him, were ready for witch-demon crossbred girls. God help the world. Take in their slightly crazy mother, add in a cranky witch for a father, and life would definitely get interesting. “Speaking of wild plans, what happened with the Sjenerøse mine?”

“Completely destroyed, set off a nine-point earthquake, and soon the entire island will be in the sea,” Sam said.

Daire grinned. His mate was damn dangerous, now wasn’t she? He couldn’t even imagine being with somebody calm and docile. How boring. Thank goodness fate had other plans than what he thought he’d wanted. “I love her. Just so you know.”

“Yeah. We caught that,” Zane said. “Welcome to the family, Enforcer.”

Chapter 33

Felicity snuggled down in the thick bedclothes not feeling an ounce of guilt for eavesdropping on the men in her life. Daire would be good for the boys. He was experienced, tough, and incredibly sweet. The boys would be good for him, too. There wasn’t time to get cranky and stuck in one place when the boys were around, and Daire needed that, whether or not he realized it at the moment.

Her body ached, and her muscles pounded, but she’d never been happier. Who knew when she embarked on her crazy plan to drug an enforcer and glean information that she would’ve found love and happiness? Once again, she shook her head at the oddity of life, grateful beyond measure.

A tablet dinged from the bedtable, and she sat up, swiping a finger across the screen.

“Cee Cee Cee Cee,” exclaimed a joyous toddler.

“My baby, Hope,” she responded, just as much joy filtering through her as she took in Hope Kyllwood. At about fourteen months, the girl was adorable beyond words with huge blue eyes, curly brown hair, and very pink cheeks. A rim of green surrounded her blue eyes, and a prophecy marking climbed down her neck, but for now, she was just a kid happy to see family.

The girl clapped her pudgy hands together. “Cee Cee Cee.”

Felicity laughed. “It’s good to see you, too.”

The baby gurgled, delight dancing across her face.

The screen widened, and Janie Kayrs, Hope’s mom, came into view. “Hi, Felicity. I hope it’s okay we called. Hope has been chanting your name for hours.”

Felicity nodded at her daughter-in-law. “Always call. Any time and any place.” Janie looked very much like her daughter, pretty with very intelligent eyes and was the perfect mate for Zane. “Zane will be home soon.”

Janie grinned, flashing a dimple. “He says you’re robbing banks these days.”

“Um, yeah.” That probably wasn’t a good example to set for her granddaughter, was it?

“Awesome. If you ever need backup, please call on me. I’d love to rob a bank.” Janie tugged on Hope’s curls. “Mom wants to come, too.”

Hope edged her way in front of the camera again. “Cee Cee Cee.”

Daire slipped into the bedroom, and Felicity scooted over so he could sit on the bed. “You’ve met Janie, but this is Hope.”

Daire leaned over and smiled into the camera.

Hope clapped her hands together. “Daire, Daire, Daire. Daire, Cee Cee, Daire, Cee Cee, Daire, Cee Cee Cee Cee.”

Felicity laughed. “I see you’ve told her about Daire.”

Janie’s eyebrows drew down. “Um, no. I haven’t said anything about Daire to her.”

Felicity blew out air. Janie was psychic, so it wasn’t a stretch to think Hope had inherited the gift. “For now, don’t worry about it,” she said softly. Hope’s future was a worry for another day.

Janie nodded and hugged her daughter close. “All right. Say night, and we’ll go call daddy.”

“Night,” Hope said, grinning. “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy . . .” The tablet shut off.

Felicity sighed and put it on the night table. “So, that’s Hope. I’m young, really young, but I guess that you should know—”

“I know she’s your granddaughter,” Daire said, shoving down his jeans.

Felicity’s cheeks burned. “Yeah.”

“You’re young Cee Cee, and we can have tons of kids.”

“So I heard.” Her heart actually warmed.

He slid underneath the covers. Warmth and the scent of fresh rain surrounded them. “Were you eavesdropping when I talked to your boys?”

She grinned and rolled into his side to play with the ripped muscles along his torso. So much strength, and it was all hers. He was all hers. “I have no problem eavesdropping or confessing to such. Looks like we just formed a solid family.”

He brushed the hair away from her face, his touch gentle from a deadly hand. “I love you, Felicity. No matter what crazy scheme you come up with next.”

She leaned up and kissed him on the chin, smiling as stubble tickled her chin. “I love you, too.” For the moment, she allowed herself to bask in him. He was right in that she wasn’t crippled or less than anybody else. Abilities were abilities, and she had her own. By viewing herself through his eyes, she’d finally gotten a clear picture. “We’re going to have an adventurous life.”

“I know.”

She smiled.

“That smile. All mine.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead.

Her smiled widened. “You, ah, don’t see me as a bad person since I killed Ivan?”

“’Twas self-defense.”

She sobered. That wasn’t exactly true. “I planned to kill him, and I did. Even if he hadn’t kidnapped me and tried to hurt me, I would’ve killed him.”

Daire’s lips twitched. “He killed your mate, and he would’ve harmed your sons. If you have an enemy, a real one, you take them out in order to protect your family.” He brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. “I’d expect nothing less from the mother of the kids we’ll have someday.”

Her heart swelled so large she was afraid her ribs would break. “I love you.”

“Love you more.” He tickled down her rib cage.

She chuckled and shoved his hands away. How was it possible to be so happy, even while the world remained unsettled around them? Maybe having her kids in one place and all safe was something to celebrate, even if for only one night. “Any news on Simone?”