Prowled Darkness (Dante's Circle, #7)(21)

Her eyes darkened. “Later.”

Later.




Malik ran a hand over his face as he made his way to the large living room of his father’s home. No, he supposed it was his home now. He and Eliana had been staying in a guest room there since the baby was born, but now it was his home. The funeral had gone well, if not quietly. To his surprise, no one had spoken out against Eliana and the baby. They’d seemed…happy that he’d found his mate.

Only his aunt and uncle and their children were against him.

He’d have to deal with that, though he truly didn’t want to.

Pen was tucked in his arms, curled into his chest in her human form. Eliana had put her in a tiny grey dress that made her look adorable. With all that had been going on, he hadn’t been able to truly reconcile the fact that he was a father.

This child in his arms was his child. His blood. A creation of the love between him and Eliana. He’d never been the sentimental sort, but damned if that idea didn’t make him want to cuddle his child close and cry just a little bit.

Apparently, he was a tad stressed out over all the new changes to his life.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as sweet as you holding Pen close to you like that.” Eliana stood in the doorway, her dark black dress hugging her new curves nicely.

His cat arched his back, wanting more of her. It didn’t care that they’d just buried his father and that he now had the actual world on his shoulders. It wanted his mate.

And frankly, Malik did, too.

“You look beautiful.”

She blushed as she ran her hands down her arms, letting the glamour fade. Her inked feathers shimmered and she smiled softly. “I’m not used to this,” she said. “It’s weird to think I’m not human because I don’t feel any different. Maybe I haven’t had time to feel differently.”

He moved toward her, rocking Pen slightly as he did so he wouldn’t wake her. “I’m sorry we haven’t made it to the phoenix realm yet. As soon as things quiet down here, we’ll go. I know you could go by yourself, but I want to go with you. That’s selfish of me, though. If you need to go with one of your friends, I’ll understand.”

She shook her head and ran her finger down Pen’s cheek. “I want you with me. As much as I know my friends would understand and be with me, this is something I know you have to be a part of. I said yes to being your mate, and that means I said yes to all that comes with it. We can wait to see what happens to me and where I come from and who I will be. I’m also not leaving you alone while you’re going through all of this. I never thought my life would end up this way, and I feel like I’m taking one leap after another, but that’s okay. It’s not what I would have expected, but I’m…well, I’m happy.” She frowned up at him despite her words. “Is it wrong to be happy today of all days.”

He leaned forward and kissed her, keeping Pen safely between them. “No. You can be happy today. My father would have wanted that. He might not have been the man I wanted him to be, the man I needed him to be, but he was my father. I mourned him for all those months I was away from you because I knew the end was coming. The fact that he passed only two weeks ago is only a number. I’m yours, Eliana. I’m Pen’s, as well.”

“And you belong to your people,” Eliana added. “You can’t forget that.”

“I don’t. Won’t. Not ever. I’ve been raised to know that one day I would lead, but you didn’t know that when you met me, when we conceived Pen.” He patted Pen’s diapered bottom, but she stayed asleep.

“I signed up for it when I said I would be your mate. I might not have known all the details, but I’m not some flower that will wilt at the first sign of challenge. I didn’t know what my place was or where I would be going in a world where my friends would grow into their powers and I would be forced to stay behind, but now I don’t have to deal with that. They all took the hits as they came and found they were far stronger than they’d thought they were. I want to be like that, and I’ll find a way to be at your side.”

“You’re a queen you know,” he added. “Even if you aren’t a lioness, you’re still my Queen, my people’s Queen.”

She smiled wryly. “I wonder if the Conclave knew they’d be adding so many lightning-truck to the ranks of royalty when they changed our destinies.”

Malik snorted. “Knowing which members were actually part of it, probably not. But I think this is a way of fate balancing things out if you ask me. You’re all important, all part of more than one world. I think we can do this. Hell, I know I can be Leo with you by my side.”

“Even if some oppose it.”

Malik let out a growl. “The only *s who oppose it are the ones that wanted my throne to begin with.”

“Language,” she said with a laugh.

He looked down at Pen. “She can’t really understand anything, can she?”

“She’s our child, so I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

“Then I guess we should keep Faith away from her because that woman curses a he—ck of a lot more than I do.”

Eliana shook her head before going to her toes and kissing him softly. “I think we should put Pen to bed in her room and set up the monitor. That way I can put you to bed and take care of you.”