Page 312

Caspian laughed. “Yeah, I see that.”

All I could do was sit there clutching our daughter while the relief hit hard enough to make fresh tears spill down my face.

Caspian noticed, and his smile disappeared.

“Lakelyn?” He gently set Kaidence down and crossed the room. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Where were you? You were late.” I wiped at my cheeks, irritated that they wouldn’t stay dry. “I know you said you had something to do with Miss Veda, but you said you’d be back downstairs by sunset. Then you weren’t answering either one of us, and I remembered what she said. What if one day you stop answering? What if I see you that morning, talk to you like everything is fine, and that turns out to be the last time?” My eyes dropped toward the baby in my arms before moving to Kaidence. “What am I supposed to tell him? What am I supposed to tell myself? Caspian, I can’t lose you again.”

That came out weaker than I intended.

Understanding slowly replaced his confusion as he took a seat beside me.

Caspian carefully took our daughter from my arms and settled her against his chest before wrapping his free arm around me.

“Come here.”

I leaned against him, and he kissed my forehead.

“I’m here now, baby, and that’s all that matters. Let’s not think about the what ifs.”

I nodded against his shoulder. “But where were you? Were you still with Miss Veda?”

“Yeah. You know that thing I told you she wanted to help me with?” He lowered his attention toward Cassiane. “It was about her. Your daughter is the reason it took longer than I thought.”

I pulled back, my brows drawing together. “What does she have to do with you being late?”

“Nothing bad.” He kissed Cassiane’s forehead. “She’s perfect. But you know how me and Kaidence got that connection because he carries my blood?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, now I got two kids.” His thumb moved gently over Cassiane’s blanket. “With Kaidence, I had years to figure our connection out as I went. Half the shit I learned I could do happened by accident. She’s different, though. She was conceived after I died, so apparently that changed some things about the bond between me and her.”

“Changed how?”

“Some parts are stronger. Other parts are just new shit I ain’t dealt with before.” He smiled down at her. “Miss Veda wanted to help me figure out exactly what I could feel through her, how far that connection reached, what I could do with it. You know, all that supernatural shit she likes explaining after I’ve already confused myself.”

I narrowed my eyes. “So what made you late?”

Caspian’s expression turned sheepish. “I lost track of time.”

“You had me and your son in here panicking because you lost track of time?”

“Baby, in my defense, I ain’t exactly carrying a watch.”

I stared at him.

“Aight, bad defense.” He chuckled.

“So you were upstairs the whole time?” I asked.

“Yeah. I got so caught up in what Miss Veda had me doing that I didn’t realize how late it was until I heard y’all calling.”

“Then why didn’t you answer?”

“I was trying, baby. Working through that connection with Cassiane took all my focus. I had to pull myself out of it before I could make you hear or see me again.” He reached for my hand. “I’m sorry I scared y’all. Now I know what to expect, and I ain’t putting y’all through that again.”

That took some of the hurt out of me. I turned my hand beneath his and held on.