Her words instantly trigger my protective instinct. I squeeze ra’s hand, still in mine, and for a moment I consider stopping all of this. Her eyes and her small smile are what keep me moving forward.

    “We will try to make the process as smooth as possible, Cassian,” adds the banshee. “I know you are worried, and it’s logical that you are. Naja has attended births like this beforei, /iso I think the best thing is for ra to stay here. She will be in the best hands.”

    “You must promise me that I will be granted entrance and exit to the camp.”

    “Please…” ra whispers.

    Evanora and Naja exchange a nce.

    “You will have to request it from the Elder.”

    I grimace, remembering the only time I exchanged words with her. Not long ago, when ra fell ill, we had toe for help. It was strange enough that she agreed to help us then. I’m surprised we’re even here right now. It doesn’t seem to be a problem for them that ra remain in the camp. I can’t say the same for me.

    “I will see to it that your request reaches her,” Evanora says with a tense smile.

    “Is there anything else I should know?” ra asks.

    “Everything will be fine, ra.” The banshee’s hands go to her cheeks and caress her as a mother would. She winks before returning to her serious, measured demeanor.

    “How far along is she?” I ask.

    “We believe almost a month.”

    I hold my breath, knowing that gives us little time to prepare. In just a few months, it won’t be just two of us. It won’t be just her that I must protect. All the threats and problems flood my mind; it’s hard to push them aside knowing that at this very moment we have few allies and many enemies. I suppose it’s that knowledge that drives me ito /ice my hand on Evanora’s shoulder.

    “Thank you,” I say withplete sincerity.

    “ra is very special. We will take care of her and bring that child into the world safe and sound. You are not

    a man I’m fond of; however, that little one has not had the chance to choose his father.”

    ra stifles a gasp in her throat, and Evanora raises her hands, asking for calm in the room. Contrary to what might be expected, I don’t erupt in anger but instead let augh escape my chest.

    “I think it’s best we leave now.i” /i

    The banshee pushes me, cing her hands against my chest and steering me toward the exit. At no point do I release ra’s hand, and when we are outside the hut, I see her body even more rxed. ! move closer, drape my arm around her shoulder, and pull her to me. We walk through the camp as any normal couple would on any given day, and then I know I will fight for this not to be something rare, but our normality.

    ra presses her cheek to my chest, seeking my warmth and affection. A whistle pulls me from my thoughts, and I quickly catch what the banshee tosses to me. I open my fist and see what looks like a key.

    “It’s yours for tonight.” She smiles. “It’s the cabin you’ll see near the sea.”

    As soon as she disappears from sight, I scoop ra into my arms and,ughing, carry her to the little house

    by the sea. It’s small and a bit old, but when we enter, we isee /ithey’ve cleaned it and prepared it perfectly for us. I’m used to opulence; however, this ce does not repel me in the slightest. I don’t think I could be more

    “It looks as if you’re about to cry…

    I blink and look down, where ra remains within the circle of my arms.

    “Then you are the only woman capable of making me cry.”

    “Are you happy?”

    “With you, I am always happy.”

    I close the door behind us and press her against it before lowering my lips to meet hers. My hands roam her body and, unconsciously, one of them rests over her stomach. She moans against me when my fangs graze her lower lip. Her hips move against mine, searching for friction. Blood roars through my veins. I nip at her flesh with my teeth and taste a small drop of wild vor on my tongue. I lick the wound, lift her into my arms, and pull her against me, erasing every inch of space between us.

    For a few minutes nothing exists beyond her mouth and mine. Our kiss mixes with blood while her fingers

    wander down ito /imy trousers, loosening them.

    “Cassian… we have to talk about something first.”

    Yet her words don’t match her actions. Her mouth says we need to talk even as her hands search for my

    cock.

    “Are you sure you want to talk right now?i” /i

    I feel my erection twitch in her hand, Between kisses, I nearly manage to undo the knot of her robe. Her breastse into view and the temptation to take one into my mouth is too great.

    “How did I get pregnant, Cassian?” she asks between gasps.

    “Do you really need me to exin that?” I reply as my tongue circles her nipple.

    “You take a tonic to prevent it.”

    With her nipple in my mouth, 1 freeze. I hadn’t thought of that—I’d let myself be carried away by all the emotions of the moment and hadn’t stopped to wonder how we found ourselves in this situation in the first ce. I don’t get a chance to answer, because a deep voice clears its throat behind us. ra cries out and I immediately cover her nakedness with my body. I nce over my shoulder to see a man with ck hair down to his corbones and eyes gray as storm clouds.

    “I think I might have an answer for that.”

    “Father!”

    Surprise shes across both our faces at the word that leaves ra’s lips. She quickly averts her gaze to the ground, embarrassed, while the god cannot hide his wide grin.

    “Better now than if I had appeared a few minutester.”

    He turns away, granting her privacy topose herself and tie her robe. I do the same without bothering to hide the effect his daughter has on me. I sit in a chair across from him, refusing to let his presence intimidate me. I know he expects his title as a god to cow me; that’s because he doesn’t know me.

    He raises an eyebrow, defiant, and I curve one corner of my mouth in an arrogant smile.

    “What do you mean, you might have an answer for that?” ra asks.

    She walks toward us, the most adorable blush decorating her cheeks. I catch her wrist and make her sit on myp. If she was already flushed before, it’s nothingpared to now. She ces a hand on my neck for support, and without realizing it, her nervousness makes her toy with my hair.

    “I believe this all has to do with your mother, ra.”

    “Lilith?”

    “I heard she escaped the Pits,” Iment.

    He nods.

    田