“He’s a powerful beta and not an alpha,” I interrupt, exhaling harshly. “Shera seems pretty certain of this.”

It’s then I see the withdrawn, almost broken look in his eyes as his lips thin. Shit.

He had hope he could create a child, and I ruthlessly yanked that hope away without meaning to.

“But like you said, I’m the child of an alpha,” I add to attempt to recover some of that hope I had no right to take away.

Who knew the ruthless vampire wanted to be a father?

I almost want to call Shera back to take Jasper away just so I can console Arion now.

He clears his throat and blinks, adjusting on the bed, as he looks away.

“Guess I got carried away with assumptions. You’re the daughter of a Portocale immortal who is a different breed of immortal altogether,” he counters quietly.

“And I don’t have a womb,” I go on, letting Jasper wrap his fingers around just one of mine, as I lean over on Arion, resting my head on his shoulder.

My eyes catch the reflection in the mirror. The sheet is tucked under my arms and loosely draped over his lap. Jasper is resting his head on Arion’s reclined chest, already peacefully snoozing, while facing me with his inexplicably cute, scrunched-up expression.

It’s the weirdest domestic moment—a vampire alpha and a Simpleton pureblood omega with an impossible shifter/vampire baby, who has a hearty appetite for immortal blood, all lying together like one big family.

I catch a glimpse of the softest expression I’ve ever seen on Arion’s face, as well as the far-off look in his gaze.

“What did Marta do to deserve you?” Arion finally asks quietly, eyes on Jasper. “We were meant to be sterile for the rest of our unnatural lives.”

His lips brush the top of Jasper’s head, and I start to worry he’s just fallen in love with the baby whose mother is withdrawing more and more. Every single day I have to convince her she’s the best mother for her own son.

I haven’t been here in three days to do that, and she’s apparently gone missing long enough for Jasper to be hungry enough for blood to snatch up the first available source.

Arion’s eyes widen like something has occurred to him, and he purses his lips, as he kisses Jasper’s head again.

“Emit will be along shortly. I’ll take this babe with me and let you get some rest.”

I shake my head immediately. “He can’t leave the grounds, and you said that way too abruptly for my comfort, if I’m being honest. I’ll just keep him here with me. He usually sleeps well after being fed right from the source,” I tell him, sticking my arms out.

Arion’s lips curve in a sly grin as he arches an eyebrow at me.

“Easy, sweet monster. The lad is certainly safe with me. Not even Idun would be so foolish as to hurt an infant. It’s against the universal law. One I had put in place, and was easily agreed with by the majority vote. It’s why the lad’s mother even got to survive to begin with. Children are a coveted thing among those who live forever with no hope of bearing their own.”

I drop my arms, relaxing a little.

“Even when those children are an impossible existence?”

His gaze rakes over my face. “Considering the last impossible being I stumbled across is possibly my salvation, I’m not exactly worried what the future holds with him. He’s under my protection as family to an Alpha. It’s the same protection I’ve extended you since the day you dragged me from my own personal hell.”

He leans over, his lips catching mine off guard, and my hands move to cup both sides of his face like I simply can’t help myself.

He nibbles my bottom lip, and I feel like a wishy-washy ass when I actually get annoyed at him for breaking the kiss. As abruptly as it started, it’s over, and he’s standing with Jasper in his arms.

Doing some amazing one-armed dressing with the smooth motions of a practiced professional, he cradles Jasper in strategic ways, never putting him down. I’m actually impressed with how effortless he makes it look to dress himself while holding a baby.

In the next instant, he puts Jasper in the bassinet, confusing me, since he is fully dressed now and doesn’t need to—

My breath catches before that thought can finish, because the hella fast vampire is once again between my legs, and his face is hovering over mine.

“If I hadn’t fallen in love with you that first day you spotted me, as Vance drugged you and painted your toes, I would have fallen for you the day you threw yourself at my feet and freely gave me your throat—without one ounce of regard to the personal cost to yourself—to break a curse that has tormented me for centuries,” he says on a quiet breath, eyes intently on mine.

It’s so intense that my legs tremble around his waist, the fabric of his jeans grazing my sore inner thighs.

He drags his finger down my cheek, his gaze trailing the skin he touches.

“After spending so much time unseen, desperately seeking a way out of that miserable fucking coffin, and finding such an adorably na?ve gypsy with a heart so big she’d fall for anything?” he asks, both insulting and complimenting me.

I think.

His lips brush over mine, as my foolishly fickle heart speeds up.

“I don’t have a soul, Violet,” he says like he’s reminding me of that, gaze connecting with mine again as his look grows serious. “In theory, I can’t love. Yet I love deeper than all three of the others combined.”