I sent out a pulse to Alaric to reassure him of our mate’s safety. I wasn’t sure if he’d detect it this far away, but what the hell.
Waging war and destroying my enemies were all I was good at. Yet when I faced the most critical battle of my life, I surrendered to ensure we all lived. My little mate finished the job for me, and I was forever grateful.
This situation tore me apart and put me back together. Left me changed. A new man. One of peace and capitulation. I’d never felt so free before. So light. So utterly fucking happy.
The last threat to the club and my family was dealt with. At last, we were safe and could move forward unhindered. My lungs expanded, taking in the freedom from threats and worry.
Castor grazed his nose behind her ear. “My Dark Sorceress knows how to break a contract and reckon like a goddess.”
She let out a remorseful laugh. “It wasn’t my contract, it was Slade’s.”
I let out an ironic laugh.
Castor let out a belly laugh that released the remaining tension on his bond. “From a legal perspective, the contract extended to all of us, Sorceress.” He leaned back to clap her ass gently.
She snorted and hit his arm. “That’s up to a jury to decide, and I think they’d lean in my favor.”
The ordeal didn’t break her. Hardened her, yes. Terrified her, fuck yeah. Burned her from how close she came to death. My fierce, resilient little mate emerged a phoenix. A fucking goddess reborn.
Castor nipped her neck. “I fucking love it when you talk contracts.”
She snorted and pushed at his jaw. “Stop encouraging me.”
“Fuck that, sugar, I’m encouraging it.” I burrowed my fingers in her hair, tilting her head back, dragging her aqua gaze to me. “You’ve got a vengeful heart. A sleeping War goddess inside you. Watching you take out Raine got me so hard.”
“I think he means proud,” Castor corrected, and she let out a lighter laugh, her contrition at taking another life slowly morphing into acceptance.
I tucked her head to my chest, warding off her remorse. “What’s done is done, sugar. No fucking regrets.”
“No fucking regrets,” she murmured, her warm breath the sweetest sensation on my skin when we came so close to losing her.
Castor’s dark chuckle roused her bond. “I’m sorry they took you. We’ll never let anything hurt you again.” His mouth traced every inch of skin, his bond praising her bravery, retribution, and eliminating the threat to us all.
“The babies and I are safe now.” Her voice soothed our tense, frayed nerves, the bond going from one hundred to ten. “That’s all that matters.”
Unnerved, my hands mapped her face, checking for more wounds. All clear. The same couldn’t be said about her abdomen. My fingers traced the scar she healed over.
I moved to her belly, lovingly swirling my fingers over her expanding curve. “Daddy’s here, little ones.”
My lips slanted over hers in a soft kiss that promised to worship my goddess every day for the rest of my life.
Zethan returned moments later with a red cheek, bond aching with desperation to hold his mate.
“Nice shiner,” I grunted, being courteous and passing our mate to him. “A thank you from Faline?”
“Fuck, baby, I was so worried.” The knot of terror in his chest unwound as he scooped her into his arms. Bond quivering with emotion, ready to break and flood, she threaded her legs and arms around him.
Her palm covered his blooming bruise, taking the inflammation and swelling out of it. “Take me home, Hellhound Dick. I want a bath, a hot chocolate, and to snuggle with my baby girl and read a bedtime story with Daddy and my hawk.”
Hot chocolate replaced her nightly whisky with us since she got pregnant. The hot milk relaxed her and sent her to sleep. Hormones drove her cravings for chocolate through the roof.
Zethan kissed her palm and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Castor scoffed at our mate’s simple demand. “Fuck no, Sorceress. We’re celebrating. Caviar, lobster, Vendome Mademoiselle. No expense spared.”
Fuck. The alcohol-free rosé shit she liked tasted like piss.
She cupped her mouth and mumbled through her hand. “Oh, God, don’t mention caviar.”
