funeral,” I mutter as everyone else backs out of the room. I turn my back and head into the bathroom, closing the door firmly and locking it with a blast of magick.
“Hey, baby,” I coo as Nyx finally seems to chill out. I shuffle her around and start to run the mostly unused bath in the corner. I place her down gently on the counter on a big fluffy towel and start to undress her. “Let’s have a nice soothing bath together, okay?”
She gurgles up at me, nice and happy and I relax a fraction. I keep talking to her in this calm, quiet tone and it works wonders. I undress myself with just a thought and pick her up. I climb into the warm water with her, holding her tightly to my chest. She kicks her feet as the water laps at them and I smile.
“That’s it, Nyxie,” I murmur.
I flick off the water with magick when it covers her tiny backside and then proceed to lap water over her, enjoying this bonding way more than I expected to. I sigh happily.
“See, Nyxie is a good girl. Nyxie doesn’t want to hurt anyone, does she?”
Happy gurgles.
I smile and relax completely now, the urge to start Armageddon has disappeared with Phoenyx’s mood. “We can do this. All I have to do is keep you calm.”
I grimace slightly as I realize how unrealistic that is, but it’s a fucking start. What other option do I have anyway?
I settle her on my chest and lean back, stroking her head as the warm water lulls her into a nap. I feel my own eyes closing, but then snap them open again quickly. As tired as I am, I can’t fall asleep with her like this. Chances are she can’t drown. In fact, the odds are pretty damn high that she can’t, but there is the fear of the unknown. What if that is her one weakness?
“I’ve got you, baby girl. You rest. Mama will keep you safe,” I whisper to her.
Sometime later, as the bath goes cooler, there is a soft tap on the door.
I frown at it.
“Belle, let me in,” Mom’s voice calls out.
I sit up trying not to disturb the baby and wiggle my fingers at the door. It opens and Mom steps inside with a big smile as she sees me.
“Hey, baby girl,” she says.
I smile at her, getting now why she calls me that. “Hey. How’re you and the baby?”
“Good.” She gives me a fixed look and she knows straight away that I’m pissed at Dad because I didn’t ask about him. She sighs. “What did he do?”
“Long story.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She sits down on the closed toilet and gives me an expectant look.
I shift Nyx and she wakes up with a big yawn but doesn’t start crying. Yet. Mom plucks up the big towel and holds it out. “May I?”
“Of course,” I reply and hand her granddaughter to her.
“She is perfect,” she murmurs and summons up a bottle. She gets Nyx comfy on her lap, wrapped up nice and warm and then starts to feed her. Then her bright blue eyes land back on mine. “Well?”
“He is in so much fucking trouble,” I say and then clamp my lips together and clench my fists to calm myself down. I launch into the tale of him and Drescal, finding to my relief that she is as outraged as I am.
“I will speak to him,” she states and goes back to cooing and smiling at the baby.
“So will I,” I mutter.
“No, you need to take care of this one. I’ve heard the tales, little girl,” she says to the baby, lifting her to her shoulder and patting her back. “You have a huge destiny that has been thrust upon you.”
“Don’t we all,” I drawl and sit back in the water with a grimace. It’s cold, so I climb out and grab a towel. I dry off manually, giving myself time to think. How am I going to do this? How am I going to keep everyone safe when Nyx decides it’s playtime? I sigh and make a small decision for right now. “Do you mind taking her for a bit? I need time with my circle. It’s been a hellish few days.”
“I would be happy to,” she coos at the baby again, completely enamored.
I smile at them. “Thanks,” I say softly.
“Anytime for this precious bundle. You have an uncle to meet anyway. You two will grow up together and