My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

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“Jeremy thinks you’ve adopted us,” I said, resuming my vegetable chopping. “That somewhere along the way, we stopped being political allies and became something else.”

“Jeremy is perceptive.”

“Is he right?”

“I don’t know what you’d call it. Family seems presumptuous. Friends doesn’t quite fit. Allies is too cold.” He gently extracted his ear from Grace’s mouth, redirecting her attention to a toy she’d stuffed in his pocket at some point. “But yes. You’ve become-important. In ways I didn’t plan for and don’t entirely know how to process.”

I smiled despite everything. “Welcome to parenthood. The not knowing how to process it is pretty standard.”

“You make it look natural.”

“I’m faking it ninety percent of the time.” I scraped vegetables into a bowl. “Lord Castellan, if you’re going to keep hanging around-if you’re going to keep being part of Grace’s life-we need to establish some ground rules.

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“Such as?”

“Such as you don’t disappear for months without warning. Such as you actually communicate instead of making cryptic statements about ongoing threats. Such as-“I paused, finding the right words. “Such as you accept that being in Grace’s life means being in our lives. Really in them. Not just as the powerful ally who shows up during crises.”

He studied me, Grace now contentedly playing with his collar. “You’re asking me to be involved. Beyond politics and protection.”

“I’m asking you to be honest about already being involved.” I met his eyes. “You can keep pretending this is about debts and alliances and political advantage. Or you can admit that you care about Grace for reasons that have nothing to do with supernatural politics.”

“If I admit that, it becomes a vulnerability. Something that can be used against me.”

“It’s already a vulnerability. The Council already knows. Anyone watching can see it.” I wiped my hands on a towel. “But maybe vulnerabilities aren’t always weaknesses. Maybe sometimes they’re just-human. Even for eight-hundred-year-old vampires.”

Grace yawned hugely, her excitement from the day catching up with her. She settled against Lord Castellan’s shoulder, her thumb finding her mouth.

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Chapter 149

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Chapter 149

He stood very still, like he was afraid moving might disturb her. “She’s falling asleep.”

“She does that. Usually around this time.” I moved closer. “You can put her in the playpen if you want. Or-“I paused. “Or you can hold her while she naps. She likes that. Being held while she sleeps.”

“I don’t want to impose—”

“Lord Castellan.” I waited until he looked at me. “You’ve been ‘imposing’ for a year. Living in our pack house, attending family dinners, playing with Grace, coordinating our security. If you’re going to keep doing all of that, you might as well actually enjoy it instead of pretending it’s obligation.”

Something shifted in his expression. The mask dropping more fully than I’d ever seen it. Underneath was someone who looked-tired. Not physically tired. Tired in the way people got when they’d been alone too long, carrying too much weight by themselves.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted quietly. “How to be-present. Connected. Without it being about political advantage or debt collection or centuries of training in manipulation.”

“You’ve been doing it for the past year. With Grace. With us.” I gestured to my sleeping daughter in his arms. “You just have to stop calling it strategy and start calling it what it is.”

“Which is?”

“Caring.” I smiled. “You care about Grace. About us. About building the integrated world we keep talking about. That’s not weakness. That’s just being part of something. Part of a family, maybe. Even if it’s not the traditional kind.”

Grace made a small sound in her sleep, burrowing closer to Lord Castellan’s shoulder. His hand came up automatically, supporting her head with surprising gentleness.

“Family,” he repeated slowly. “I haven’t had that in—”

“Eight hundred years. I know.” I moved back to the counter. “But maybe it’s time to try again. Not as a replacement for what you lost. But as something new. Something built on choice instead of blood.”

He was quiet for a long time, holding my sleeping daughter, processing what I’d offered.

“The Council won’t stop,” he said finally. “Even if the immediate threat is neutralized. They’ll keep watching. Keep planning. Grace will be a target her entire life.”

“I know.”

“And you’re still-you’re still willing to build this? Knowing that?”

“We’re already building it. Have been for a year.” I started seasoning the roast. “The question is whether you’re willing to be part of it. Really part of it. Not just the powerful protector who shows up during crises. But Uncle Cas who comes to family dinners and tolerates hair-pulling and maybe-eventually-calls in that debt for something simple. Like being there for Grace’s second birthday. Or teaching her about vampire culture when she’s old enough to understand.”

“You’re offering me a place in Grace’s life. In your family.”

“I’m acknowledging the place you already have. You just have to accept it.” I glanced at him. “So what do you say, Lord Castellan? Ready to be Uncle Cas officially? Complete with all the messy, complicated, vulnerable parts that come with actually caring about people?”

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Chapter 149

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