slept beside the chair, lightly snoring. She had gotten a little plumper since Morgan and Wyatt had settled down on Charybdis Station. Death made a mental note to ask Estella to take Luna out to play more often with the rest of the pets in the neighborhood.
The new dog, Scythe, lay on his back, feet in the air. The large dog was a gift from their friends, Leti and Hack. He was one of their latest batch of grandpuppies and was an odd mix of Old Earth Newfoundland and Siren’s Lament canine. His black and white fur covered most of his body, but pale, shimmering scales ran along his chest and belly. Two black horns grew between his floppy ears. Scythe should have been ferocious with his size and intimidating appearance.
The dog farted and rolled his head to stare at Death, tongue hanging out.
Death shook his head and turned back to Kiki. “That’s your dog, sweetness.”
Kiki giggled and shook her head. “Nuh-uh.”
“Well, he’s not mine.”
She slapped the picture of the cow. “Moo.”
Death smiled, heart aching. This could have been Wyatt and me. He had dreamed of holding his son in his arms just like this. Of course, he had usually been quickly distracted by a new puzzling virus to explore.
I would be a better father now, he thought.
“Do voices.” Kiki looked up at him, eyes big and hopeful.
Voices? Panic started to fill him. His youngest grandchildren were only now starting to speak coherently, but they hadn’t asked for specific things like a story and voices before. Estella was much easier to deal with.
“Grandad?” Kiki’s lip trembled, and Death almost whimpered. As Verion Morrick, he was very lacking in the parenting department. As Death, he had zero experience with children. Seshia hadn’t been able to have children, and Death had never had any interest in finding a lover during any of his cycles. Both halves that formed his whole were completely useless here.
A low laugh drew his attention to the door. Val leaned against it, broad face smiling. His mate’s presence instantly eased the tension building in Death.
“Hey, Kiki. Can I do the voices?” Val smiled wide, sharp fangs gleaming. It should have been intimidating to the toddler, but Kiki knew Val well from his many visits.
“Val, yes pees.” She clapped. “Do moo cow voice.”
Val’s laughing eyes met his. “Care if I intrude on story time, Veri?”
Ha! Death and Verion Morrick were one in all things Val. “You are never an intrusion.”
Val lowered his large frame into the chair across from them and took the tablet Death handed him. “Okay, Kiki. Let’s see what this moo cow has to say.”
Death watched his mate’s face as he read the book to Kiki. Val’s beauty always took his breath away. It shone from deep within Val’s soul, lighting up the world around him.
His granddaughter giggled, chubby body shaking, as Val’s deep voice rose high as he bawked like a chicken.
Movement caught his eye, and Death found Morgan standing in the doorway with Kiki’s twin sister, Pela. Their youngest child’s eyes were drooping, and her head leaned on Morgan’s shoulder. The man’s baby Frost Veil dragon, Stardust, curled around Morgan’s neck and balanced his head on Pela’s.
Morgan nodded toward Val and wiggled his eyebrows, making Death roll his eyes.
By the time the story ended, Kiki was asleep in Val’s arms.
Morgan passed Pela to Val and took Kiki. “Next baby to read to sleep, Val. Get to work.”
Val chuckled softly, cuddling Pela close. “I miss holding babies. Lorry was a sweet one, but now he’s almost grown and a giant smartass.”
Morgan snorted. “Something to look forward to.”
Death watched him leave, then turned his attention back to Val and Pela. Wyatt and Morgan’s youngest daughter looked a lot like Wyatt had when he was a baby. She had his curiosity and sweetness.
A stray memory hit him of Sandra holding a baby Wyatt in her arms during a vid-call. Death’s son had waved a chubby little hand at him and grinned even as Sandra’s eyes had been full of stifled anger and worry.
I lost her then, he thought sadly. He couldn’t even remember what event he missed, but he remembered that was the last time she argued hard with him when he said he couldn’t make it.
Val rocked Pela and started the book from the beginning. His deep voice almost lulled Death to sleep as well. He’d been working long days on the Dramiad vaccine for several months now, and his body was starting to feel the