Page 93 of Lady of Darkness
“Fuck no,” Alaric says, glaring at him. “I’m not having this conversation right now.” He turns to face me again. “We can’t just walk away, little monster. We all took an oath. To serve and protect until the next generation takes over.”
I nod. “I know that. I love this job, don’t get me wrong. But having a baby was always this abstract thing. When I really think about it, I’m… I’m not sure I could handle something bad happening.”
My voice breaks on the last word, and Alaric squeezes my thighs as he leans forward to kiss me.
“Nothing is ever guaranteed, though. Even if we weren’t the Lords of Darkness, we could get hit by a car walking down the street.”
“He’s right,” Sterling murmurs. “My mum died because of complications during my birth. No one expected or planned that.” He walks around to my side of the table. “Like Alaric said, nothing is guaranteed. You know that. Doing this job… you must know that, because it hits you in the face every single day.”
I look at all four of them–at the faint crinkles around Alaric’s eyes, the silver strands in Gideon’s hair, the lines around Theo’s mouth, and Sterling’s dark circles. This life has taken a toll on all of us. It’s turned me into someone people whisper about at dinner parties–someone who makes headlines in gossip magazines. I’ve clung to my art like a life raft, but even that is sort of falling to the wayside.
This life–this job–it takes, and it takes, and it takes. I’m exhausted. I love it, but I’m exhausted.
“I will get pregnant tomorrow if you promise me one thing.”
Alaric’s eyes swim with mirth. “Okay, shoot.”
I swallow. “I’m not asking you to give this up. But when we all die, the Lords die with us. Our kids will not inherit this.”
Sterling rolls his jaw. “How the hell are we going to keep the world together, then?”
I shrug. “We have plenty of time to figure it out. I don’t want our future children subjected toanyof this,” I growl, my emotions getting the better of me.
I hold my hand out. “So, I agree to your terms, as long as you agree to mine. No surrogates. No sperm donors. And the Lords of Darkness die with us.”
They all hesitate for several seconds as my heart beats wildly in my chest.
Please say yes.
Please say yes.
Please say yes.
“Deal,” Alaric growls, taking my hand.
The other guys lay their hands on top of ours, and I’ve never been more relieved in my entire life.
EPILOGUE, PART THREE
Theo
Harlow tossesand turns in our gigantic bed, and I roll over to face her. Checking my watch, I see that it’s nearly midnight.
Fucking close enough.
The other guys are asleep, and my cock won’t stay down.
Four years.
She promised we could knock her up in four years.
Not counting the leap year, because I’m impatient as fuck, that lands us on tomorrow’s date.
Harlow lets out a low moan as she writhes and rolls her hips. Is she dreaming about us? Her nipples harden as she turns over onto her back, completely naked. She’s so goddamn beautiful when she sleeps. Long, dark hair spilling around her face, bronzed skin, full lips… I could watch her like this for hours.
I prop myself up on my elbows and glance around. These fuckers are conked out. Now that we all share my home, we usually sleep together in my Alaskan king bed. My finger trails up her bare leg, and she moans in her sleep again. I sit up and position myself between her legs, knocking them apart gently, so that I don’t wake her. I fist my aching cock as I look down at her–at the way her dark curls gather near the apex of her thigh, at the way her flesh is so perfect, soft, and round.
I let out a low groan as she pulls one knee to the side in her sleep, baring herself to me.
