Page 62 of Beyond Fate

“I swear to you I killed him,” Casimir said frantically. “I ran my blade through his heart. He fell dead at my feet.” He wiped his tears with the back of his arm. “I’m so sorry, nékah. Our babe…” He clenched his eyes shut as a sob escaped.

“No one is going to stop this child from being born.” Aldrin’s voice sounded demonic. When Damon glanced at him, he was stunned to see the man’s irises had turned into swirling galaxies, and his features were… Damon had never seen anything that terrifying.

Elouan screeched as he was lifted up into the air, his weirdly cut hair a falling cascade.

“I erase you from existence.” Aldrin’s voice sounded like it was echoing as Elouan slowly dissolved into tiny particles before they died out. Then Aldrin lowered to one knee and poised his splayed hand above Damon’s stomach.

The intense pain eased. Damon yanked his shirt up, and although there was blood on his skin, he didn’t see a wound.

“I just keep pulling your ass out of messes.” Aldrin shook his head.

“This one wasn’t my doing,” Damon replied, pressing his hand against his stomach, almost too afraid to ask. “The baby?”

“Safe and sound, and since danger keeps riding your ass…” Aldrin closed his eyes and spoke in a language Damon couldn’t understand, but he felt a tingle race through him.

“What was that?” Damon was too overwhelmed about the pup to even put his emotions into words. His pumpkin seed was fine, still tucked away inside of him.

Aldrin opened his eyes. “A powerful enchantment that will keep your babe safe. When you give birth, it will stay with your child for their entire existence.”

Damon was blown away. “What exactly is my pup’s purpose?”

“You wouldn’t happen to know if it’s going to be a boy or girl, would you?” Casimir asked.

Damon slapped his mate’s arm. “I think my question is more important.”

Aldrin vanished.

“Damn it,” Damon snarled as he pushed to his feet. “Why was I lying on a dirty floor? Do you know how disgusting public floors are?”

“Care to tell me why you had vampires after you?” Nazaryth asked.

Damon frowned. He recalled Arion warning that they were coming, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember who Arion was talking about or why they were being attacked.

Casimir shook his head. “I was in the forest when I was ambushed by a swarm of vampires, but I don’t know why they attacked me. And tonight…” He frowned. “Arion warned us about the impending attack, but I have no clue why those vampires wanted us dead.”

“Arion…” Casimir cursed. “I need to find out if Jax and Elvine found him.”

“They did.” Kalen walked through the door. An image flickered in Damon’s mind—destroyed floor and walls, broken glass—but as quickly as it came, it disappeared. When he glanced around, the interior of the restaurant looked fine. Why had Damon thought Wild Tiger Barbeque had been demolished?

“Is he okay?” Raidh asked.

“He’s alive,” Kalen replied. “Jax and Elvine took him home. Jax called Jaytee to give him the update.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Does anyone know why those vampires attacked us?”

“We were just trying to figure that out,” Casimir replied.

“Whose clothes are you wearing?” Damon asked his dad.

“Mason had some extra in his go-bag. I think it’s time we head home.”

Damon couldn’t have agreed more. He took Casimir’s hand as they headed for the door.

* * * *

“How’d it go?” Panahasi asked when Aldrin walked inside the demon leader’s apartment.

“The babe is safe.” Like he’d told Elouan, no one would stop the child from being born. It was more important than anyone knew.

Currently, Zennor slumbered. He was a vile, merciless god the likes of which no one had ever seen before.

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