Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(74)
Relief coursed through him. Even so, he’d be much more careful in the future. “Okay. Wow. This is a big deal.” How lame were those words?
She patted his chest. “I’ve had a little time to get used to the idea, and I’m still kind of freaking out.”
A babe. Simone with child. Nick tightened his hold on them both. “We need to get you somewhere safe.” A small island in the middle of a stormy ocean didn’t count. They also needed to mate and soon.
“I need to face the Nine, but I’m more worried about the dragons.” Her jaw firmed, but real fear swirled in her eyes. “They said they’d kill any dragon-demon child because of its potential mind attack ability. There was a hybrid years ago, and it sounds like he was an evil monster with powers nobody could overcome.”
Heat and power jerked Nick’s spine into a straight line. “That’s ridiculous. Our child will know love and security. That’s not an environment to create evil.” He leaned down and rubbed his nose over hers. “We’ll make sure he’s a good person.”
“She,” Simone murmured. “I’m betting on she.”
“Even better.” He smiled to mask the furious need to protect slamming through him with more force than the storm hammering the small cottage. “Nobody is going to harm this baby. You have my word.” He’d kill every last dragon on earth if they were a threat to his child. His hands shook, and his voice lowered to glass in a cement mixer. So he stood and carefully placed her back on the bed as if she were something infinitely fragile, which suddenly, she was.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her upturned nose. “I’m happy about this, Simone.” There were so many damn emotions battering him that happy had to be in there somewhere. “Give me a minute to gather more firewood from outside, and we’ll create a plan. All right?”
She nodded, understanding filling her dark eyes. “Take your time.”
He turned to the doorway and had just reached it when she called out.
“You might want to put on your jeans.” The laughter in her voice warmed him throughout.
Giving her a grin, he leaned down and tugged up his jeans before stepping back into his boots. Then he paused and stalked over to the cupboards to open several. Simple utensils and plates. He glanced around the small room.
“What?” Simone asked.
“Weapons. Where would Bear hide weapons?” Nick looked up and around the ceiling.
“Somewhere simple. Probably under the bed.” Simone moved to get up.
Nick stalled her with a hand. “Stay wrapped up.” He crossed to the bed and crouched down to find a flat metal chest. He pulled it out and flipped open the lid to reveal several guns, swords, knives, throwing stars, and even explosives. “Whoa.”
Simone leaned over the edge of the bed. “He’s got an arsenal in there.”
Nick grabbed two green guns and handed them to her. “Until I get back.” Preferring a blade, he took two and tucked one in his boot and the other in his pocket. “Shoot anybody that’s not me. Including Bear.”
“Funny.” Simone set the guns down. “If you need backup, call me.”
He eyed her. If she thought she was going into any sort of battle now, she truly didn’t know him. “We’ll talk when I get back.”
“You’re damn right we will.” She met his gaze levelly.
He gave a short nod and turned for the storm outside, which would probably be easier to tame than the woman behind him. Once outside, he shut the door and leaned back against it, taking several deep breaths. A baby. The world suddenly felt both heavier and lighter, scarier and more beautiful.
Lightning arced across the water, flashing silver and purple. Waves crashed, high and angry, and rain barreled down to attack the earth. The wind blew sand into his legs and over the front porch. He stepped off the porch, shielding his eyes from the sand, and walked the perimeter of the cabin to find the generator in a stone outbuilding connected to the house. Then he patrolled farther out, keeping the cabin in sight at all times and strategizing his next move with Simone and the rest of the world. Finally, deciding the weather was the biggest threat to them at the moment, he gathered more wood from a shed and stomped back inside.
The fire had died down to small crackles, and Simone lay asleep on the bed, still in the blanket he’d wrapped around her. Her thick hair had dried splayed over the pillow. Soft firelight caressed her delicate cheekbones and pursed lips. In sleep she was just as beautiful as when fully animated.
He studied her, and something inside him, something deep, down, and hidden . . . relaxed. Everything he’d ever want or need lay sleeping on that bed.
For years, he’d wondered. Would he be whole again? Would he feel love again?
He did. With her, a wild witch of a woman, and now their babe. It was more than he deserved, but he’d hold on with both hands. Nothing and nobody would harm them. Ever.
He kicked off his boots and padded to place the wood near the fire. Carefully, he piled on a few more logs and then removed his clothing to dry over the table before finding a pair of old sweats in the dresser and yanking them on. Gently, he took the two guns off the bed and pressed a kiss to Simone’s forehead before stalking over to the couch to keep watch for the night.
His short spell of sleeping peacefully was over.