Page 61 of The Mafia Bloodline
When he saw me stir, he stood immediately, moving with that silent, predatory grace all the changelings had. “You’re awake.”
I swallowed, my voice rough. “Apparently.”
He gave a slight nod. “How do you feel?”
“Like I lost a fight,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my stomach. The bump was still there, solid and round, and my pulse jumped when I felt a faint, reassuring flutter from within. “The baby…?”
“Stable,” Gideon said quickly. “Doctor says both of you will be fine if you rest.”
I exhaled shakily, sinking back into the pillows. “Good. Because if something happened, Volken would probably blame himself.”
That earned me a rare, faint smile. “That sounds accurate.”
I tried to push myself up, ignoring the way the IV line tugged at my arm. “Speaking of Volken, where is he? Did he get home before daylight?”
“He did,” Gideon said, his tone steady. “Viking took him back right before sunrise. He wanted to stay, but…”
“But someone dragged him out before he caught fire,” I finished, smiling faintly despite the ache in my chest.
Gideon’s expression softened just enough for me to catch it before he straightened again, professional to his core.
“Well,” I said, reaching for the bed controls and raising myself a little higher, “since I’m awake and not dying, I’d like to go home now.”
The way his brow furrowed made it clear he’d been expecting that. “You can’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“The doctor said you need at least two more days of observation.”
“I feel fine.”
He gave me a look that could’ve come straight from Volken himself, that cool, immovable calm that said don’t even try me.“You nearly gave birth six weeks early. You are not fine.”
“I’m bored,” I shot back.
He sighed, and I could’ve sworn there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. “You’re his mate, all right.”
I huffed, crossing my arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you’re impossible,” he said simply, then stepped toward the door and cracked it open. “Ivan get the doctor. She’s awake and plotting her escape.”
“I’m not plotting,” I muttered under my breath.
Gideon shot me a look over his shoulder. “You are. I can smell it.”
A laugh bubbled up, weak but real. “I see why Layla likes you. Can you really smell it?”
He didn’t answer that, just crossed back to stand near the foot of the bed again, every inch of him a sentry.
When the door opened again, Ivan stepped in, his blond hair a mess, his expression torn between irritation and concern. “I told you she’d try to get up the second she woke,” he muttered to Gideon.
“Traitor,” I mumbled.
Ivan ignored me. “Doctor’s on his way.”
I sighed, looking between the two of them. “You both know Volken’s going to lose his mind when he wakes up and realizes I’m still here.”
“Already did,” Gideon said. “He sent word before dawn that if you even think about getting out of bed, I’m supposed to chain you to it.”
