ILL-FATED JOURNEY™

Chapter 38

Vlad observed her antics with their daughter with a puzzled frown. What was she trying to

accomplish? Irena wasn't pleased either, given the amount of crying she was doing and Azura

looked like she was on the verge of tears herself. From his vantage point, it looked like Azura was

attempting to play with her, but she was holding her as though she was a bomb and not a child. 

Neither of them looked pleased and the noise was getting to him.

"You're holding her wrong." He said by way of greeting as he entered the nursery. And of course, 

she frowned as she wasn't pleased with his input, but she tried to adjust her hold on Irena and

well.... made it worse. 

"Here." He said gesturing to Irena. She placed the baby in his hands, and he showed her what to 

do, silencing Irena in the process.

"Just make sure you support her back; she's getting good at supporting her own head and try

not to squeeze too tightly. It allows her to move in your arms." He told her placing a now quiet

Irena back in her arms. He adjusted her hands in position as he showed her. She frowned, and 

Vlad suggested. "Don't do that! Think happy thoughts. It relaxes her as well."

Azura took a deep breath and exhaled. Then made a tentative rocking motion. "Not too fast."

Vlad corrected, and she slowed her movements. "There, you see." He praised, smiling at her. 

"Please don't cry." He whispered when he saw her eyes fill with tears. "I didn't know how either. 

Mila taught me. And it took a while too. Don't feel too bad that you didn't."

"Mothers are supposed to know." She whispered tearfully.

"You weren't exactly in a mothering mood before." He admitted sadly, looking away from the

image she presented on the floor at his feet. It was a place he would have relished her being not

too long ago, but now...he hated seeing her look so beaten down.

Her tears turned to a frown as she agreed. "No, I wasn't."

"As long as you're willing to try...she'll be fine. Trying is what counts with children I hear." Vlad

said watching her carefully. "I just wish it worked that way with adults as well."

She glanced up at him then down to a smiling Irena. "Trying counts with adults too."

He took it as an invitation and fell to his knees behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

 "Maybe if I was a better husband, you would've already been a better mother. I made you hate 

our child..."

"No." Azura corrected. "I did that. I should've looked beyond your blood and love my own child."