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"And I would never ask you to," my father replies.
I take a moment calm myself down, thoughts of going above ground and beheading every last one of the human leaders filling my mind. But that moment lets me focus on Leah. Looking at her across the space, I hear her thoughts. Her sisters are telling her much the same thing my father and brothers are. What her leaders want, us separated, her back with them.
"I will never leave his side," she tells them, the resolution in her voice giving me chills. "And I won't let any harm come to him."
Keri smiles at her. "So, you love him then?"
"More than I thought possible." She blows out a hard breath. "He saved me, and then...he saved me. If you get what I mean."
I close my eyes, savoring those words, wishing I could grab her into my arms right now to tell her that she saved me just as much.
"Are there negotiations happening?" I ask, a bit calmer now.
My father nods. "We see them tomorrow, their president, his vice president, and some of his cabinet. So far, each meeting has consisted of exchanged threats, them demanding I turn over Leah, then demanding I hand over youandher. I've had to remind them of the carnage we tore through their lands when they thought it was just four monsters in total and asked him what he thought we could do with whole villages of warriors now."
"I want to be there tomorrow."
He narrows his eyes on me. "Why?"
"Because my actions caused this. And I want to make sure that those around him know exactly what he was doing to Leah, what truly brought this on. They don't care about what he plans to do to monsters, but maybe they'll care about what he did to one of their own in an effort to protect his secrets."
"I will...consider it."
I open my mouth, ready to press him to change his answer, but then Leah's laughter reaches me, and I look at her instead. She is so damn beautiful.
"I like the effect she's having on you," my father says, making me look back at him. He's smiling a knowing smile. "Mates tend to have that effect on you. To calm you, ground you."
I nod, but then his words remind me of the celebration around us, and the reason for it. I turn towards Linc. "So, you somehow made her fell for you, huh?"
He chuckles. "Somehow is right. I'm lucky enough to realize I could never deserve her, but I'll spend my life trying to make her believe I do anyway. Maybe she'll even have some children with me along the way."
I start then, looking at Olex. "Grace. The baby."
His grin is infectious, making my own grow. "Come and meet my son. Bazin."
We begin walking back towards our mates, but a pair of males approach my father, their questions already beginning. I take a step towards him, thinking I should be the one to explain some of what's happened, but he just waves me on.
"Go to your mate. Make sure she's comfortable." I start to walk away, but his call of my name makes me pause. "Kayo. I'm glad you're home."
"I smile at him. "Glad to be home."
"If I could steal my mate," Linc says when we reach our mates.
"Of course." Leah smiles at him as she walks into my arms.
I look at the baby in her arms as she speaks. I have a nephew. I'm an uncle. I look up at Olex to see him looking at his son with so much love and pride. I can't wait to have that look too.
"I have to feed Bazin anyway," Grace states. "But we're all getting together after to discuss—"
Linc shakes his head, and she stops talking, arching an eyebrow.
"Me and Keri aren't going anywhere but back to our cavern. We will see all of you tomorrow...maybe."
Leah laughs, tucking in closer to my side as Linc grabs Keri to him. I'm still staring at Bazin in Grace's arms when everyone erupts into cheers, and I look up to see Keri thrown over Linc's shoulders as he takes her away. I join in, enjoying them, but truly reveling in the absolute joy rushing through Leah right now.
Everything will be all right,I tell myself with my mate at my side and my family around me.Everything will be okay. Everything has to be okay.
I just have no idea how it will be.
