She said the last part quickly, and Malik let out a breath before leaning forward and kissing her softly. She loved when he did that—just a quick kiss to remind her that she wasn’t alone. The fact that Pen laid between them gurgling adorably brought the fact home.
“We won’t be going alone,” Malik said suddenly. “I have my trusted people here in case my aunt and uncle try something during my absence, but I also want to make sure I have someone with us.”
Eliana frowned. “Will the other realm be okay with that?”
He nodded. “I mentioned it, and frankly, as the Leo, they’ll be expecting me to show up with a guard of some sort. Until we find out exactly what powers you have, if any, and train you to protect yourself, I don’t want you and Pen out and about without a guard.”
She scrunched her face. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
He cupped her face and sighed. “I don’t like the sound of you being hurt because I wasn’t there to protect you.”
She let out a sigh but didn’t say anything. He was right, and this was just another way that her life had changed dramatically since he’d first stepped into it.
Someone cleared his throat from behind Malik and she pulled away, ready to take Pen from her mate so he could use his claws on the intruder. She shook her head as Malik raised a brow at her. Apparently, she hadn’t hidden her thoughts well and she hated that. She hated that her first instinct was to let a man fight for her so she could protect their baby. She would have to learn how to protect herself soon because this new life of hers left no other option. Not that they’d been attacked since they’d been there, but there had been such a nervous tension in the air since Malik had become Leo, she wasn’t sure what to think anymore.
“Eliana, this is Jonah, my friend and our guard.” Malik moved so she could see the man in the doorway.
She’d seen him before in passing but had never met him. He was tall, broad-shouldered and had the air of someone who took no bullshit. He also had a prosthetic leg but seemed as though he’d been using it for years; from the way he walked, you couldn’t even tell.
He raised a brow at her as she studied him. “Hello, Eliana. It’s good to formally meet you. Malik and I go way back.” He smiled wryly and gestured at his leg before shrugging. “I lost it in a battle long before you were born. I’m just as capable as any guard.”
She blushed and cursed under her breath. “Actually, I was thinking that you walk as though the prosthetic is truly a part of you. I apologize if I was staring.”
Jonah. “You weren’t, actually. I was just making sure you knew I will protect you and your child with everything I have.”
She smiled then and reached out for Pen. “Let me hold her as we go.” She snuggled the baby close when Malik handed her over. “And let’s get a move on because the longer we stand here, the more nervous I will be.”
Malik kissed her again before leading the way. Jonah brought up the rear, and for some reason, she felt immediately at ease with him around.
Malik must have noticed the way her shoulders relaxed and took her free hand. “Jonah is much older than me. And a jaguar. He came to live with my father when Dad was a child. Jonah was one of the ones that raised me. I trust him with my life.”
There was so much she didn’t know about Malik, and with each new piece of information, she knew she’d never learn it all. And that was the point. She wanted to learn more about him every day until the end of their days.
She looked over her shoulder at Jonah, who gave her a mock salute. She couldn’t help but grin at him.
“I’m glad he was there for you,” she said loud enough for the other man to hear it. Though really, if he were a shifter, she probably didn’t need to speak up at all. Apparently, it was going to take longer than a few weeks for her to get used to living with paranormals. They all had such different senses and powers. Yet the only thing she seemed to have was this glow and new ink. Hopefully, she’d find out more today.
Malik led them toward the tree line where he pulled her through the wards the same way he had when she’d been in labor. Except instead of coming straight through to the human realm, she found herself in a new place full of light, white fire, and an energy she couldn’t quite place.
“What is this place?” she asked though she already knew.
“The phoenixes arranged a portal to connect through the opening at our wards for this journey,” Malik answered. “They wanted to meet you.”
Suddenly nervous again, she bit her lip and brought Penelope to her shoulder so she could rub the baby’s back. Pen seemed fine, but Mom needed some reassurance. The phoenix realm had promised a safe journey and had wanted to not only meet her, but her mate and child, as well. While it could have been a trap to kill her off for not being a pure-blood or something, for some reason, Eliana trusted it wouldn’t end in pain.
She didn’t know why she trusted that, but she did.
“Yes, we did,” a voice said from behind a tree.
Eliana froze, but Malik didn’t look too worried. Apparently, having an inner predator helped sense when others were approaching. She was going to have to talk to him about that because she didn’t like being out of the loop.
Two phoenixes walked toward them, each wearing a long, white robe. Both were exquisite beauties. Eliana couldn’t help but stare.
“Hello, Eliana, I am Ripley,” the tall woman said. She gestured toward the man at her side. “This is my mate, Thorne.” The man bowed.
“Hello, Eliana, Leo, sir,” Thorne said. “I am the King of our kind and this is my Queen. Welcome to our home.”
Eliana smiled and knew this could be a home. Her skin warmed and Penelope let out another gurgle.
Ripley smiled brightly, and, if it were possible, became even more beautiful. “Oh, she is a darling. Let us go inside so you can ask any questions you may have of us.”
Malik gripped her hand, and she knew she would be safe here. No matter what happened in the lion realm, she had another home. It was a weird feeling, knowing that so quickly after coming, yet she had to trust intuition. And fate. After all, it had brought her Malik and Penelope.
After they’d settled themselves in the couple’s grand home with ornate furnishings, Malik ended up holding the baby as Jonah guarded them all. Thorne sat next to Malik, speaking of duties fit for a king while Eliana sucked up all the information she could from Ripley as if she were a sponge.
“So we really burn?” Elaina asked, a little nervous.
Ripley nodded. “Yes, if we die from a wound not of our fatal curse, our bodies burn, but we rise from the ashes, whole and new.”
“And are you the same? I mean, are you different? Do you keep your scars? Or do you show up completely fresh and new? And what about your soul? What does it do when you’re ash?” She blushed. “I’m sorry for all the questions. It’s just…so freaking weird.”
Ripley took Eliana’s hand. “Ask all the questions you have. Honestly, you are the first of your kind and it has to be a daunting experience. Our children learn from a young age what they can do what they cannot. It’s inherent.” She looked over at Malik. “Your mate doesn’t know much about our world because we work hard to make it that way. If the others knew exactly how we could be killed, or worse, think they could find a way to use us to not die from mortal wounds themselves…well, it wouldn’t be good.”
Eliana squeezed the other woman’s hand. “I understand. I do.”
“I know you do. You’re one of us, even if you’re mated to a lion.” The other woman winked. “Fate doesn’t usually provide us a true half outside our realm. Again, you are unique. But you are still one of us, Eliana. As for your questions. You will come back whole and exactly as you were before the wound. Though you will gain a feather that is the history of that rebirth. Thorne?” She called out. “Show her your arms, darling.” She slid up her own sleeve and Eliana’s eyes widened. “I’ve only been killed twice, so I don’t have as many extra fathers as some.”
/> The colors on Ripley’s arms were decadent and she did indeed have more feathers than Eliana did. But when she turned to see Throne’s arms, she couldn’t help but gasp.
The man’s entire arms were covered in feathers. They reached up to his shoulders where the sleeves of his robe were bunched up, and she had a feeling the feathers covered far more than just his arms.
“I’m a warrior, child,” Thorne said simply, though there wasn’t anything simple about death. “I’m a good warrior now, though I wasn’t when I was younger, when I was still learning.” He met Ripley’s gaze, and Eliana felt as though she were intruding at the love she witnessed there. “I have died for those I love countless times because it was—is—my duty. I will always fight for those in my realm and those I care for. No matter the cost.”
Eliana’s eyes filled with tears, and Malik moved to sit next to her. She leaned into his hold and reached out to grip Pen’s little foot.
“That brings me to something that I should have said before this,” Ripley said softly. “Jonah, dear, do you mind leaving us for a moment?”
Jonah stood where he was, and Eliana frowned. “Why does he have to leave?”
“Because, as the Queen, I can read feathers. No one else can because if that were the case, anyone could find out what would be our final death. I need to tell you yours so you can protect it, but it’s best if others don’t know.”
Jonah let out a growl then but sighed. “I will leave.”
“You don’t have to,” Eliana said suddenly. “I…I don’t know why I know this, but you need to stay.” She frowned. “Why do I know this?”
Ripley pressed her lips together. “It is because you are from the Foreseer line, Eliana.”
Thorne let out a curse.
“What does that mean?” Eliana leaned closer to Malik, needing his warmth.
“It means that one day when you are comfortable in your skin, your sense of knowing will deepen. At least, that is the case for those of us born into this realm. But with that line comes a sense of responsibility that no one else faces.” Ripley let out a breath. “Thorne told you he died for those he loved, but Eliana, you can never do that.”
Eliana leaned forward but didn’t let Malik’s touch leave her. “What do you mean?”
“You can only die to save yourself. If you were to die to save someone you love such as Malik or Penelope, you might not come back. Your line doesn’t have a true cause of death, but one of unknowing because you are knowing. If you die for those you love, you could remain in ash, never to return.”
Eliana’s heart sped up, and Malik held her closer, kissing her temple. “I…I don’t know what to think of that.”
Ripley gripped her hand. “I’m sorry, Eliana. It’s not ideal, but it is your curse. All of us hold one, and we learn to live with it. I hope one day soon you will be able to, as well.”
Eliana’s mind whirled as they continued to talk for another hour or so, but soon she grew tired. Penelope had already fallen asleep in Malik’s arms. They said their goodbyes to Ripley and Thorne with reassurances that they would return soon.
By the time they made it back to the lion realm, night had fallen and she needed to feed her daughter and deal with the normal routine of life. Because if she thought about death and a future in a realm where she didn’t know when and if an attack would come, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.
She sat in her rocking chair and put Penelope to her breast. Her daughter ate while Eliana rocked, trying to focus her mind on the here and now, instead of what was to come…or what could never come.
Malik prowled into the room and sat on the floor beside her. When he leaned his head on her knee, she ran her free hand through his hair, petting him like the cat he was.
She had her family, and though the others had told her she couldn’t die for them, Eliana knew she would do it anyway. If the time came where she had to sacrifice herself for her baby, for her mate, she would. Because it wasn’t a true sacrifice if she knew she would come back.
“You’re not going to die for me,” Malik said simply into the darkness. “We won’t put ourselves into that situation.”
She continued to pet him. “We both know it’s not us that puts ourselves in that situation.”
He leaned closer. “You’re mine, Eliana. I’m not going to lose you.”
She was his, as he was hers, but none of that could stop the sense of knowing that washed over her. The sense that her knowing would soon become unknown.
And that was far scarier than any form of fate and mating.
Chapter Nine
Eliana’s back pressed against the door as Malik pounded into her. She raked her nails down his back, needing to hold onto him but not able to fully grip him when she was so close to coming. He had one hand on her ass, keeping her up while the other slid between them to rub on her clit.
As soon as he touched her, she shattered, her body shuddering as she came in violent breaths. Malik growled as she came around his cock, his gaze on hers.
“Can you come again?” he panted. “I need you to come again so I can feel you squeeze my cock. Then I’ll fill you up. How does that sound, beauty?” Want me to come inside you?”
She rolled her hips and bit her lip. “I think you’re going to have to try harder to make me come,” she taunted.
They were both naked, sweaty, and exhilarated. They’d already made love that morning in the bed and on the floor beside the bed. Now they were against the door in the bedroom. At some point, they were both going to run out of energy, but apparently, being a paranormal also meant you were supernatural in bed.
Score.
Malik let out a roar before pulling out of her. She whimpered as he set her feet on the floor then gasped as he turned her around.
“Put your hands on the door,” he ordered, his voice a low growl. She did as he said, and he pushed her so close to the door her breasts were pressed against it. “Now let me fuck you.” He gripped her hips and pounded into her. Each time he slid into her from behind, her pussy clenched and she groaned. She knew they were being loud enough to wake the entire compound, but she didn’t care.
This was her mate, and damn if she was going to be quiet as he fucked her into oblivion.
“That’s my beauty,” Malik groaned. “You’re taking my cock and loving it. Your ass is so fucking amazing. I’m going to fuck that, too. Just watching your cunt eat my cock like this makes me want to come. But I can’t until you come, so push back on my dick, beauty so I can fill you up. Fuck me back, Eliana.”
She arched since he had one hand on her upper back, keeping her in place. He slammed into her again, and this time, she came, his cock hitting the right spot at the right time. Malik roared as he followed her, filling her up just as he’d promised.
With her cheek to the door, she couldn’t help but smile. “If we wake up like this every morning, we might not make it through the rest of the day.”
Malik chuckled roughly before pulling out and turning her around in his arms. Instead of hugging her, he slid his arm under her knees and picked her up. “I have late meetings, and Penelope is in bed after a very early breakfast. Jonah is watching her, and I wanted to make love to my mate. Now we’ll shower before we go get breakfast because I need you all nourished up so I can fuck you again later.”
She just laughed and let him carry her into the bathroom where he then washed her; very careful to get certain parts of her squeaky clean. By the time they were done, Pen was ready for her mid-morning snack and Eliana was starving.
Malik fried up bacon and potatoes with some eggs on the side while Eliana fed Penelope. It was all so domestic, and yet Eliana knew it wouldn’t be like this every day. Soon she’d go back to the human realm so she could finish up her art projects there and find out how she could connect her old life to her new one. Each of the girls had done it before, and Eliana knew she wouldn’t be much different.
She’d also have to eventually leave the house and see more of the Pride
. It had only been a couple of weeks since Malik became Leo so it wasn’t as if she were truly hiding, but it was time to figure out how to live in this next phase of her life. She couldn’t hide from her future forever.
And, of course, she wanted to make sure Malik wasn’t doing it all on his own. He might think he had to, but she would be his mate in all that counted and learn to help him where he would allow it. And in places he wouldn’t allow it, she’d figure out how to make that happen, as well.
After they had eaten, Jonah took Penelope from her arms and carted her around like it was the most normal thing in the world. Apparently, her daughter had both men wrapped around her finger. Not that she could blame Jonah or Malik, as Eliana was firmly wrapped, as well.
She’d been so scared about being a mother, and now she couldn’t quite remember how she’d lived without Pen in her life. It was amazing how quickly that had happened.
“What’s on the docket today?” Eliana asked as she finished up the dishes.
Malik rolled his shoulders, staring down at his tablet. “I need to meet with the elders about a few things and then I plan on going to the warrior bunker to oversee their training.”
She nodded as she sat next to him, one eye on Jonah and the baby. She trusted the man, but she still couldn’t quite let Pen out of her sight.
“Anything I can do?” she asked. When he didn’t say anything, she sighed. “It’s not as though I can hide here forever.”
“I want you to,” Malik said honestly. “Because I don’t know what my aunt and uncle want. They’ve been far too quiet.”
“Maybe they’ve given up? You’re mated and have a successor to the throne already. You’re the Leo. Maybe they can’t do anything.”
He gave her a look that spoke volumes, and she rolled her eyes. “They’re planning something. I know it.”
The French doors that separated the living quarters of the house from the royal part opened and the hairs on Eliana’s arms stood up.
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