Since then, Sasha had insisted on sleeping with them several times. Kirine rubbed her tired eyes, feeling overwhelmed.
“No, I have plenty of rooms. Why should I have to sleep with him?” she muttered.
Ares seemed to share her sentiment, his determined expression suggesting he wouldn’t back down. He stood before Sasha like a resolute warrior facing an enemy army. But when their eyes met, and Sasha looked up at him with a bright smile, Ares’ eyelids flickered. His voice, however, remained steady.
“Not tonight, Sasha,” he said firmly.
‘Yes!’ Kirine cheered inwardly. This nightly ordeal might finally end.
“Why not?” Sasha scratched her head, confusion evident. The three of them had shared a bed frequently in the past.
“It’s simply more comfortable for us to sleep separately,” Ares explained.
“Daddy doesn’t like sleeping with me?” Sasha asked innocently. “I like sleeping with Daddy…”
Ares blushed deeply, his shyness a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. “I like it too…” he murmured, covering his flushed face with his hands.
“Hey, you lunatic!” Kirine hissed, disbelief coloring her voice.
Ares’s resolute stance, so unwavering a moment ago, crumbled like sandcastles before a tidal wave. Kirine’s stomach lurched as she watched him stand idle, sword untouched.
“What are you doing? You’re supposed to be persuading her,” she urged.
“And what do you say in that situation? Tell her I don’t want to sleep with her?” Ares retorted.
“I’ll tell her we don’t want her to sleep with either of us,” Kirine suggested.
“How do you explain to a child that her Mommy and Daddy hate each other?” Ares countered, his voice edged with frustration.
“I’m an idiot for trusting you. Forget it, just get out of the way,” Kirine snapped, her patience wearing thin.
“If you can’t do it, I will,” she declared, pushing past Ares. His pacing had become a distraction.
Sasha looked up, surprise evident in her eyes as Kirine approached. “What’s the matter, Mommy?”
A lump formed in Kirine’s throat. The word “Mommy” still felt foreign on her ears. Each time Sasha used it, a pang of discomfort shot through her.
Suppressing the urge to retreat, Kirine managed a soft, “Sasha.”
“Yes?” Sasha tilted her head, her eyes wide with innocence.
Her silver-grey hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing amethyst eyes that were both alluring and clear. Petite and delicate, she barely reached Kirine’s waist. Her hands, small and soft, were clasped together. She was utterly adorable, and her eyes crinkled into charming crescents whenever she smiled.
Kirine couldn’t believe this was her daughter. No, no. Get a grip, Kirine Rosentian, she admonished herself, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Now was not the time for admiration.
Taking a deep breath, Kirine knelt to meet the child’s gaze. “Mommy and Daddy need some time alone,” she began simply, “so we can’t sleep together anymore.”
She had hoped her explanation would be sufficient, but Sasha’s reaction was immediate. “Sasha likes sleeping with Mommy and Daddy,” she declared.
Kirine was speechless. The little girl’s small, white face, especially her violet eyes, now filled with tears, was heartbreaking. Yet, she forced herself to remain composed.
“It’s not possible…” Kirine began, but Sasha’s voice cut through her words.
“It’s really nice and warm to sleep with Mommy and Daddy,” the little girl insisted.
Kirine sighed. “It’s really not possible, Sasha.”
“Sleeping while holding Mommy and Daddy’s hands is the best thing in the world,” Sasha continued, her voice filled with childish wonder.
Kirine’s heart softened as she looked down at Sasha’s small, determined grip on her hand. The child’s earnest plea was almost unbearable.
“Really not possible?” Sasha asked, her lower lip trembling slightly.
Kirine hesitated. “No, it’s okay,” she managed to say.
Sasha’s face brightened. “Then can I sleep with Mommy and Daddy from now on?”
A wave of frustration washed over Kirine. “Yes…” she replied, her voice barely a whisper.
A silent curse escaped her lips as she turned away. Damn it. She felt defeated, outmaneuvered by a child. Ares’ smug smirk, as he watched the unfolding drama, only fueled her frustration.