Page 63 of Love & Monsters
“Mina? Yes. Where is she?” My words ran together in a rush, an animalistic growl as I didn’t bother to hide my eager yearning for my mate.
“Traveling with a baby is slow, you know. But traveling in her condition isn’t easy either.” Ilya placed her hand on Knox’s back, turning as if in slow motion to face the doors of the hall.
I didn’t have a second to think about what Ilya said before another guard shoved the doors open. My eyes widened to see the barricade of ten soldiers, holding their weapons at the ready as they protected a single individual. When the lead guard spotted me, he gave the command to disperse.
Every black armored body split apart, revealing the one person between them I’d craved to see for months. My fragile little human and the sweet smile on her pink lips. A smile that was for me.
Mina stepped forward, the layers of her regal black gossamer dress swaying around her legs. I thought something trapped me in another dream when I heard her utter my name. “Vadric.”
Her petite hand fluttered, drawing my eyes as she placed her palm on her swollen abdomen. My mind went dizzy at the sight, as though reflecting on what I was seeing wasn’t possible.
“Mina?” Without warning, I fell to my knees before her. My hand reached out, and her smile never wavered, even as tears spilled down her cheeks.
The world spun around me. Only the feeling of her soft fingers curling around my wrist and pulling my hand forward brought me back to reality. My nephew giggled in Knox’s arms as I felt the flutter of life in Mina’s belly.
“I’m so glad you’re alive. I missed you so much.” Mina wept openly. On my knees we were eye level, and I tore my gaze from her body to look at her. She was ephemeral, glowing like the divine.
“I missed you more with every day that passed. Now that you’re here, I can hardly believe what I’m seeing.” Both of my hands cupped her swollen belly, and I felt the warmth within.
“Well, you better believe it. You don’t get to knock me up and leave for war ever again. Do you hear me?” Mina cried, but her stuttered laughter caused me to smile.
“Never again shall I leave you as I did. You’re my mate, little one. I need you with me.” I reached up for her face without thinking.
Mina closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to mine as I cradled her cheek. “I know you are. Now shut up and kiss me already.”
“As the Lady commands, so I shall.” And I’d never been happier to obey an order than I was right then.
Thirty-Five
Vadric Ascian, the rightful Lord of Nadirn and leader of the Nefellim, had returned to his throne. Somewhere along the way, through my frightful journey to this world, I found myself at his side. We first met in a dungeon where our undeniable attraction pulled us together. Now we reunited in a throne room, knowing what we are to one another.
There was no doubt in my mind that this eight-foot tall, horned demon was mine. In every sense of the word, fate destined Vadric and me to be together. It might very well be the reason the universe pushed me through that portal. Because I was his. Fated to be together.
We were mates.
“How is this possible?” Vadric caressed his hand over the swell of my stomach while cuddled together in the massive bed of the Lord’s chambers.
Dimly flickering lights from wall sconces illuminated the sculpted planes of his midnight blue skin. Those low lights also revealed the healing scars slashed across every surface of his body. They reminded me of where he’d been and what he’d been through, even though he wouldn’t speak of it.
“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” I shrugged out, mesmerized by the sight of his claw-tipped large hand covering my pale skin.
“I knew you were my mate before we left.” Vadric sighed heavily before rolling onto his back. He stared up at the maroon curtains around the bed. “It’s a regret of mine that I didn’t tell you. Even though I couldn’t say goodbye, I should have said something.”
“It’s alright,” I assured him. My fingers ran over his chest, careful of the healing scars I imagined a sword had caused.
“It’s a stupid tradition.”
“I told Ilya the same thing when I woke up the next morning.” A laugh slipped out of me at the memory.
There was a silence between us for a moment. Both of us thinking of the past six months apart after so little time together. As much as I wanted to say, I didn’t seem to have the words.
“You know, this isn’t what I expected to have after the war. Some days I didn’t think I’d live to see you again at all—”
“Vadric,” I started, pushing up onto my elbow.
“No, listen.” With one hand, he easily settled me back into the plush pillows and blankets under my bare back as his fingers idly danced across my skin. The movement elicited goosebumps everywhere he touched me.
“Alright.” I didn’t want to relent, to think about our time apart any longer. Though I could tell Vadric needed to speak his mind.
