My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Chapter 139

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“It was a very long time ago. But some wounds-” He looked up at me. “Some wounds never quite heal, Emma. And when I see Grace, when I watch you and Jeremy trying to protect her from forces larger than yourselves, I see an opportunity. Not to replace what I lost-nothing could do that. But to prevent another parent from experiencing what I did.”

Jeremy had gone very still beside me. “Lord Castellan-”

“I know the debt your family owes me is already substantial. I’m not asking for gratitude or additional obligation. ” He gently released Grace’s hand, standing in one fluid motion. “This is personal. The Council took my daughter eight centuries ago-they were the ones who organized the mob that killed her, though I didn’t know it at the time. I won’t let them take Grace.”

His phone buzzed again. This time when he looked at it, his expression shifted to something predatory.

“My contact in Montreal came through faster than expected.” He was already moving toward the door. “They’ve identified three Council operatives currently active in this region. I need to go have a conversation with them.”

“A conversation?” Marcus asked skeptically.

“A very pointed conversation about what happens when you threaten children under my protection.” Lord Castellan paused at the door, looking back at Grace one more time. “Emma, Jeremy-keep her close. Trust no one outside this room. I’ll be back before dawn with more information.”

He was gone before we could respond, disappearing into the night with that supernatural speed.

The living room felt suddenly empty despite the four of us plus Grace still in it.

“Did that just happen?” My father asked. “Did Lord Castellan just-”

“Adopt our daughter as his personal mission?” Jeremy finished. “Yes. I think he did.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“I don’t know.” I looked down at Grace, who’d slept through the entire emotional conversation. “But right now, I’ll take any ally we can get. Even a centuries-old vampire lord with unresolved trauma and a personal vendetta against the people trying to hurt our baby.”

Jeremy pulled me closer, careful of Grace between us. “We’re going to get through this.”

“Are we? Jeremy, it’s been a week. One week since she was born. We’ve already faced hunter attacks, traitor therapists, vampire debts, and now an eight-hundred-year-old secret organization that wants to kidnap our daughter. How much more can we survive?”

“As much as we have to.” His voice was firm. “Emma, I know it’s overwhelming. I know it feels impossible. But we have allies now. Real ones. Lord Castellan, whatever his motivations, is genuinely invested in protecting Grace. We have vampire guards who’ll watch her constantly. We have intelligence networks being activated. We’re not alone in this.”

“We shouldn’t have to be fighting this at all,” I said, hearing the bitterness in my voice. “She’s a baby. She should be–I don’t know-having a normal infancy. Eating and sleeping and learning to smile. Not being a target for ancient conspiracy organizations.”

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “But Emma, Grace has something most babies don’t have. She has parents who would burn down the world for her. And apparently a vampire lord who’s adopted her as a second chance at protecting a daughter he lost centuries ago. If the Council thinks they’re going to get to her, they’re

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Chapter 139

+15 Bonus

going to learn very painfully that they underestimated what we’re capable of.”

My father and Marcus quietly excused themselves, leaving Jeremy and me alone with Grace in the living room as dawn began to break outside.

One week old. One week of life, and already my daughter had survived more threats than most people faced in a lifetime.

But she had survived. Was sleeping peacefully in my arms right now, completely unaware of the darkness gathering around her.

And I was going to make damn sure she stayed unaware. That she grew up safe and loved and protected from all of

this.

Whatever it took.

However long it took.

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