Chapter 954

"Thank you," he replies, dismissing my point. And I smile, opening the bond again, passing a constant stream of love and reassurance down the bond to my mate. Because it's not that I'm not freaked out, or scared, or shaken by all of this -

It's just that Jesse and Rafe are right. Jackson needs me right now, and so does Marigold.

And if I can just put the rest of the worries out of my mind and concentrate on helping them for right now...then the rest we can figure out as it comes.

I sigh and concentrate on my bond, and my mate, and this brand new little girl. And Jackson and I just sit quietly for a long time, sharing emotions and watching Marigold sleep until we, too, join her in that state.

My eyelids slowly begin to lift in the morning as I wake up, blearly and confused, trying to figure out...why I'm so close to the ground...even though Jackson is sprawled out beneath me as usual...

But I flinch, just slightly, when I see two very blue little eyes peering at me.

"Ariel," a little voice whispers.

My face breaks into a smile. "Hi," I whisper back, reaching out a hand and drifting my palm softly over the little girl's pretty dark hair. "Good morning."

She smiles at me too.

"Who're you talking to," Jackson mumbles, his eyes still closed. He dips a hand low on my back and flips up the edge of my shirt, running his hand up the length of my spine. I can feel, down the bond, precisely where his intentions are leading with this and I grin, propping my chin on his chest so I can look up at his face.

"Jacks? Probably not the best idea right now."

"What?" he asks, cracking an eye open. "What're you -"noveldrama

He flinches and then gasps when he sees Marigold, having apparently forgotten all about her. I burst out laughing as Jackson clasps me to his chest, sitting half up. And, to my delight, Marigold laughs along with me - the happiest, prettiest little tinkling sound!

"You scared me," Jackson says to the little girl, his sense of humor catching up a moment later as he smiles first at his girl and then at me. Marigold laughs harder and falls back into her blankets, making me grin. "God damn it, I...was not expecting that," Jackson murmurs, stroking a hand over my hair and pressing a kiss to my cheek and then a quick one to my mouth.

"You'd better," I say, looping my arms around his neck. "You're a daddy now. Kids around all the time."

He hums in consideration, looking between Marigold and me. "We're going to need to get her her own bed...at some point.”

"And her own room," I say, winding my arms around Jackson's neck, pressing my own quick kiss to his mouth, sending all of my cheerful happy morning emotions right down along the bond. He laughs and gives me a tight squeeze before crawl off him and stand up, stretching.

"Okay, Marigold!” I say, grinning at the girl and offering my hand. "What do you think? A little bath before breakfast?"

She peers up at me, going still. And then she bares her teeth a bit, growling.

I blink at her, surprised. "You...don't want breakfast?" I glance between her and Jackson, confused.

"No, it's the bath..." Jacks murmurss, yawning and rubbing a hand over his hair. "She's sending me... images, feelings. When she thinks of a bath it's very...cold."

"Really?" I ask, standing straight and staring at him. "You can get all that down the bond?"

He shrugs and looks up at me. "Is that...abnormal?"

I consider it for a second, remembering back to my own childhood. Children's bonds with their parents change as their language develops, as their needs change. But I do remember being very small and passing thoughts and feelings to my parents so... No, I guess it's not," I say quietly, putting my hands on my hips. "I'm just...not used to you having a bond with someone else.”

He looks up at me, his own feelings slightly guilty and worried as he looks up at me, almost apologetic.

Jackson reaches for my hand and I take it, giving him a squeeze. Guilt sweeps through me immediately, because who am I to begrudge Jackson a bond with his daughter? After all, it changes nothing about my bond with him.

.nét

I bend slightly bringing Jackson's hand to my mouth and kissing his fingers before turning to Marigold, crouching down in front of her. "Things are different here – we have very fancy plumbing. Our baths are

warm

—

as warm as you'd like!"

She narrows her eyes at me, dubious, but I just grin and reach for her hand too. "Come on, kid. Let's get you cleaned up. And then we'll bring you to Ella, who will give you something delicious to eat."

"Ella,” she whispers, reaching out on impulse and taking my hand. I laugh and

nod to her, standing and helping Marigold to her feet too.

"Yes, the lure of Ella is universal," I say on a laugh, starting towards the bathroom and grinning between Marigold and Jackson as they follow me.