The Brightest Night (Origin #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,103

slowed.

“I mean, I don’t remember ever seeing a baby, but I’ve never been close to one in real life.” I paused. “As opposed to seeing one on the TV or something. God, he’s so small. Like, wow, that is small.”

And like, wow, I needed to shut the hell up.

“Yeah, he’s a little guy.” Daemon grinned as Adam made a tired sound that vaguely resembled a yawn. “He does this crying thing, about an hour each night, at the same time. He’s not hungry or anything. According to one of the books Kat read, it’s just a thing babies do.”

“How is Kat?” I asked, folding my arms over my waist.

“Good.” He was still staring down at the infant, and I realized he was moving as he stood there, swaying and rocking gently. “Perfect, actually. She just fell back asleep not too long ago. Up feeding him. God, she’s a freaking goddess.” A brief, wider smile appeared as several thick locks of black hair toppled over his forehead. “I don’t know how she did this.” Awe filled his tone. “I honest to God don’t. So, I’m keeping the little guy company at night so she can get some rest until he gets hungry again, which is a lot. This is a walk in the park.”

I smiled at them. “She’s incredibly strong. I’d probably be hiding in a bathroom, sobbing in panic if I were in her place.”

Daemon chuckled as he looked at me. “Kat said the same thing more than once, just so you know.” He turned, angling his body so I could see Adam’s face. “Looks like me, doesn’t he?”

Opening my mouth, I wasn’t sure what to say. The little, scrunched red face didn’t look like either Daemon or Kat. In fact, he looked like a little, tired old man. And then his eyes widened from the sleepy, thin slits. I couldn’t see the color, but I knew they’d be a stunning shade of amethyst. I saw his pupils, though. Diamond white. He gave me a rather judgy look for a four-day-old infant.

“Um…” I shook my head. “He looks like you?”

“Right answer,” he replied. “By the way, glad to see you up and moving around and not dead.”

I blinked.

“Luc would’ve been … well, ‘a real pain in the ass for the entire world to deal with’ would be an understatement if he lost you again,” he went on, and I couldn’t help but think of our conversation back at Luc’s club. “Hell, he was about out of his mind when I checked in with him.”

“You stopped by?” Shock splashed through my system.

Daemon nodded as he swayed. “Got about halfway into the house each time before Luc made me leave. I think he was afraid I was going to make things worse. Can’t exactly blame him for that, all things considered.”

I was struck speechless.

“Anyway, Viv updated Kat and me earlier. Said you were awake and doing well. We were going to stop by, but she suggested we give you guys some time.” That admittedly downright charming grin appeared again. “I told Kat that about three times since Viv left. Figured Luc wouldn’t want any interruptions. I know I sure as hell wouldn’t want any if Kat had been sleeping for four days.”

“She wanted to come over? After giving birth? With the baby?”

He looked at me as if he were wondering where exactly the baby would be if not with them. “She’s been worried about you.”

“But she just gave birth,” I whisper-yelled like he didn’t know.

“Like I said, my girl is a warrior goddess.”

“Yeah. Yeah, she is.” I was half-afraid, but I had to ask. “Why are you not worried about me being so close to your baby now? You don’t want me here, and I totally get it. I’m working on controlling the Source, and I knew who I was when I woke up, but I get it. I do.”

Moonlight sliced over his face as he lifted his chin. “Not sure if you know this or not, but I wouldn’t be standing here holding my child if not for Luc. Adam decided to come into the world his own way, feetfirst. There was a lot of bleeding and the umbilical cord was cramped and he was losing oxygen. He could’ve suffocated. Luc made sure that didn’t happen. He saved my son’s life, and there’s no way I could ever repay him for that. No way at all.” Voice rough, he dipped his head, kissing the top of the llama head. “The very