Page 45 of Taste of Danger

That was exactly what Arion was talking about. That feeling right in his chest now that she was awake and they were a team again.

“Because his angel was sleeping too long,” Jax answered as they sat on the bed. “How do you feel, ma petite?”

Her face erupted in rage. “That parasite snuck up on me like a creep in the night!”

Thief in the night?

“I’m going to rain down heck on him! The slimy son of a mother is going to feel my wrath.” She threw the covers back as Arion heard thundering footsteps heading their way. Jax cracked the door open, but Arion still saw everyone out there, including the family friends.

“I’m going to teach him about ripping a lady’s shirt!” The house began to shake as Elvine’s wings shot out and she flew up toward the ceiling then paced. “I’ll dip his testicles in boiling oil while I beat him black and red!”

“Black and blue,” Damon said from the hallway, and Arion could hear him smacking the back of his hand over his palm. “It’s black and blue, brat. And stop shaking the damn house. You’re making baby Casimir jiggle around in my gut.”

“You are the strangest guy I have ever met,” one of the newcomers said.

The house stopped shaking as Elvine flew to the door and ripped it out of Jax’s grasp.

“Elvine, no!” But Arion’s warning was too late. She saw all the men gathered in the hallway but ignored them as she flew right to Damon. “I’ll paddle your bum black and blue if you keep correcting me.”

Casimir let out a low growl. Elvine turned to him with a scowl. “Sip it, warrior!”

“Zip it,” Damon groaned.

He and Elvine had a glare-off, and no one said a word. Arion wasn’t sure if he should intervene or back just a little farther away. He’d never seen her on the warpath before, and it was kind of scary and arousing.

At the same time, Elvine and Damon burst out laughing.

“Whoever she is, I like her,” the same newcomers said. “She’s got fire!”

Jax growled as Arion hissed.

“Dude, she’s mated and impregnated,” Damon said. “You might want to back down before you get a beatdown, and why am I spitting rhymes?”

“I’m what?” Elvine squeaked then her mouth dropped open as her brows slowly hiked upward. Arion was peeved that Damon had told her before he and Jax had had a chance to talk to her. That had been their news to share.

“I don’t think they had a chance to discuss that, nékah,” Casimir said in a strained singsong voice.

“Shit. My bad, guys. I didn’t know she was still in the dark.” Damon held his hands up, palms out, deep regret in his eyes as he looked Arion’s way. “Sorry,” he mouthed, which reminded Arion of when he’d said the same thing to Casimir the night of the attack in the forest.

“I’m what?” Elvine repeated, seeming dazed. Maybe he needed to rub her ears so he could turn her back on. Then Arion watched her zip into the bedroom and glance in the mirror. She shrieked then flew back out, dancing in the air. “Mr. Baby Belly, I’m Mrs. Baby Hump!”

“Baby Bump,” Damon chuckled. “It’s good to see you up and around, brat. Don’t scare us like that again.”

Arion grinned so wide his cheeks hurt, happy his mate was this excited. Honestly, he was scared to death. What did he know about babies? And was it his or Jax’s? Did it matter? Maybe a little, since he still didn’t feel as if he belonged.

You just have to get over your insecurities. This family wants you, despite your rocky start. Arion was going to keep telling himself that until he believed it, but knew in his heart only time would help. Though he could honestly say, he never cared more about anyone in his life than he did about his sweet little Tinker Bell and his Big Bad Wolf.

They had changed his life in such an epic way, and now he was going to be a daddy. As terrified as he was, Arion was also the happiest man alive.

“Is she on caffeine or something?” one of the other newcomers asked. “And it’s so weird seeing her dance in the air.”

Her smile fell as she whispered, “Oh no, they’re here.”

* * * *

“Stay with the other mates,” Jax said to Arion before he and the others raced downstairs. He knew sooner or later Akai would show up, but why did it have to be the moment they were celebrating such good news?

For that alone Jax was going to kill the son of a bitch.

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