Asher didn't sleep that night.
He lay in bed with Kai and Lily curled on either side of him, watching the ceiling and replaying the moment Kael had seen them.
The look on Kael's face. Like he'd been shown something miraculous and heartbreaking at the same time.
"You have my eyes," he'd whispered to Kai.
And it was true. Kai did have Kael's eyes. His hair. His strong jawline already visible even at five years old.
Lily had Kael's smile. The way her whole face lit up when she was happy.
They were so obviously his children that Asher wondered how he'd ever thought he could hide it.
Around 3 AM, Kai stirred, mumbling in his sleep. "Mer-daddy?"
Asher's heart clenched.
Even in sleep, his son was thinking about the stranger who'd appeared at their door.
At 6 AM, Asher gave up on sleep and went to make coffee.
His phone was still full of messages from Kael. He'd sent twelve more during the night.
KAEL: I can't sleep. I keep seeing their faces.
