Prowled Darkness (Dante's Circle, #7)(19)

Loud voices sounded from outside the door and Eliana frowned. “What is that?”

Malik growled. “I think I have an idea. Stay here.”

She raised her brows and pointed at her belly. “Can’t really leave.”

But he didn’t say anything as he stormed out. The man had to stop telling her to stay places when she couldn’t leave—and, frankly, he just had to stop ordering her to stay as it was.

The noise grew louder, and Eliana strained to pick out the different voices.

“I don’t care who the f*ck you think you are, your furriness, but you better get out of my way before I get all pixie on your ass.”

Eliana pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh at Faith. Her friends were there, thank the goddess. But, apparently, there was someone in the way.

“You little mongrel freak. You are not fit to be near the Leo or his family. Get out before I have you thrown out.”

Whoever owned that shrill voice needed to get a hand to the face or something because there was no way Eliana’s friends were going to be barred from seeing her. Plus, Malik had promised her the others would be able to be there. Maybe not in the room during all of it, but she wanted them there. No matter what she had said before about being alone even surrounded by them, it was all a lie. She was scared and wanted her friends.

She wanted the family she’d made.

“Aunt Prudence, you have no right to bar them,” Malik’s deep voice flowed over her and the baby seemed to calm down some. Prudence? Really? What a bitch of an aunt name. “I allowed them to come here for the birth of my child, and you will not stand in their way.”

“Child?” the woman gasped. “You cannot have a child. You’re not mated. You’re just trying to get around the rules of succession.”

“Get the f*ck out of here, old woman. My mate is giving birth to my child. I will one day be the Leo, and you and your husband cannot change things. You’re out of your depth here. But if you don’t leave my presence right now, I won’t be responsible for my actions.” His voice had gone low and dangerous.

Eliana let out a breath as another contraction hit so she couldn’t hear what happened next, but she was damned tired of doing this alone already. He’d better get his ass back in the room and that aunt of his had better fall off her high horse.

The door slammed open and Malik stormed in, his hands fisted at his sides. “Sorry I was gone for so long.”

She held out her hand and he quickly took it. “What the hell happened?”

“Malik’s aunt is a bitch,” Faith answered as she came in with the rest of them following her.

Levi let out a breath and kissed his mate on the top of her head. “What my mate means is, it’s taken care of. Now you have more than enough people in this room to make sure you and the baby are fine.”

Dante walked toward her and leaned closer. Malik let out a growl, but she just squeezed his hand. “You’re mated to him now,” the dragon whispered. “The bond between a lion and his mate can only come with true free will so I know you weren’t forced into it. But if you find yourself still unforgiving of what he did to you, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

“Watch yourself, dragon,” Malik growled.

The blue and black dragon shrugged. “I’m a prince, too and far stronger than you. If you hurt our phoenix here, I’ll end you.”

Eliana held up her hands. “Okay, enough with the posturing. I’m sure you all have mighty penises and everyone is happy with them. But for the love of all that is holy, stop it. I love Malik and he loves me and we’re about to have a baby. We’re not throwing our problems under the rug, but we are moving on from part of it so we don’t flounder.”

Malik glared at her even as Faith cackled and Nadie snickered.

“Dante really does have a nice penis,” Nadie offered, and Eliana threw her head back and laughed.

Jace chuckled even as he put his hand over Nadie’s mouth. “Anyway, we’re all going to go out to the private waiting area so you’re not overwhelmed.”

“We’re here for you,” Tristan said softly. He looked over at Malik. “Both of you.”

With that, each of her friends and their mates kissed her forehead and temples before leaving her alone with Malik. She should have felt a loss at their departure, but she couldn’t, not with Malik at her side.

“They didn’t really comment on the phoenix thing,” she said casually.

“One thing at a time, remember?” Malik said. “I’m sure they’re all talking about it now, and when you’re ready, you can show off your new feathers.”

She smiled as she looked down at her arms. “I guess I need to learn to glamour.”

He nodded. “Thankfully, no one caught us when we were driving in the human realm without your glamour. I wasn’t thinking.”

“We had more important things to worry about.”

He shook his head. “The baby is important, but protecting our worlds is just as important. I know that sounds like I’m putting our baby behind others but…”

She squeezed his hand. “But it protects not only our baby, but everyone we love. I understand. We’ll make it work.”

Another contraction hit and she gritted her teeth. Malik ran his hands down her side and back, soothing her. She was so damned grateful he was there.