Page 36 of Wraith’s Promise

I mouth: I have to go soon.

She nods: I've got her.

"Mariah," I say, pushing off the doorframe. "Daddy has to go to the clubhouse for a few hours. Quinn's going to stay with you, okay?"

"Okay! We're reading about dragons and then we're going to draw our own dragon adventures!"

"That sounds perfect. I'll be back before dinner." I crouch down and pull her into a hug, breathe in the strawberry scent of her shampoo. "I love you, baby girl."

"Love you too, Daddy."

I stand and Quinn walks me to the door. At the threshold, out of Mariah's line of sight, I pull her close for a quick kiss.

"Be safe," she whispers against my mouth.

"Always am." I kiss her once more, passionately. "Take care of my girl."

"Our girl," Quinn corrects. "Take care of our girl."

Our girl. The words settle into my chest and take root.

"Our girl," I agree.

Hours later…

Church runs long.

Two hours of planning and strategy and Brick's proposed counterattack that's aggressive and risky. By the time we're done, I'm energized in a way I haven't been since this war started. We have a plan. A real plan, with contingencies and backup routes and a target that'll hurt Demon where it counts.

I ride home thinking about victory, about ending this war, about the future that's waiting on the other side of it.

The house is quiet when I walk in. I find Quinn and Mariah in the backyard, playing some elaborate game that involves Captain the rabbit being rescued from an evil wizard. Mariah's running around shrieking with laughter while Quinn chases her making exaggerated villain noises.

Two days ago I was alone. Exhausted. Running on empty and fumes and determination.

Now there's Quinn, there's hope, and there's the possibility of a future that looks nothing like what I planned but everything like what I needed.

"Daddy!" Mariah spots me and comes running. "Did you have a good meeting?"

"I did." I scoop her up and spin her around. "Did you have a good day with Quinn?"

"The best day! We drew dragons and read four books and made sandwiches shaped like dinosaurs!"

"Dinosaur sandwiches sound pretty cool."

"They were amazing." She wiggles to be put down and runs back to Quinn. "Can we show Daddy our dragon pictures?"

"Absolutely," Quinn says, and our eyes meet over Mariah's head.

Later, after dinner and bath time and the usual three bedtime stories, after Mariah finally falls asleep clutching Captain with a smile on her face, Quinn and I end up on the couch together.

She curls into my side like she belongs there, head on my shoulder, hand resting on my chest over my heart.

"We have a plan," I tell her. "To end this. It's risky, but it'll work."

"How risky?"

"Nothing I can't handle. Nothing that'll keep me from coming home to you."