Page 42 of Taste of Danger

He did as Casimir asked, noticing how badly his hands were shaking as he rested them on Elvine’s stomach. Please let her baby be okay.

Casimir placed his hands just above her breasts then began to chant. Raidh knew the spell, so he joined in, adding his own infused powers to help bring her back from the brink of death. It was no easy task. Once struck by a black bolt, only fae with immense powers could even hope to revive a victim, and even then it wasn’t always successful.

Thankfully, Elvine had two powerful fae at her side. Raidh just prayed they could save her and her unborn child.

Tears stung at his eyes as he kept a watchful gaze on her neck, willing the line to return to its pale pink hue.

The devastation would be heartbreaking if she lost her child. He had always looked at her as a little sister, and Elvine had always been the one constant in his life, the only person who had truly understood him until Raidh had met his mate.

As soon as he felt her heartbeat growing stronger, he created a passageway. They couldn’t spare any more time.

So far, he hadn’t seen any villagers around. They’d most likely shut themselves inside their homes and businesses when they’d seen the guards surrounding Elvine.

But they would soon trickle back onto the streets, and Raidh couldn’t allow them to see him or Casimir.

The warrior lifted Elvine’s unconscious body into his arms before they quickly raced through.

* * * *

“How long are they going to take?” Jax snarled as he paced the kitchen. He didn’t think Elvine would run into the guard looking for her, but she was pregnant, so he didn’t want her anywhere near the realm.

“They just walked through that weird slit,” Damon said. “Didn’t it remind you of a—”

“Don’t say it,” their dad interrupted firmly. “I won’t pop you on the head since you’re carrying my grandchild but I will cook your favorite dinner and eat it right in front of you.”

“You don’t have to be cruel about it,” Damon grumbled. “I can’t help it that line looked like a female’s you-know-what opening up.”

“Dude.” Jaytee scowled. “Please don’t tell me your pregnancy has turned you crass.” He stuck out his tongue. “Now all I can think about is that my mate walked through—”

Kalen’s low, menacing growl stopped Jaytee from finishing his sentence. If Jax wasn’t so panicked, he would have found humor in the situation.

“I can’t believe me and brat are going to be pregos at the same time. I swear, she better not hog all the good snacks.” Damon threw an arm over the back of the empty chair next to him, the smashed table at his feet. “Shit, now I want a snack.”

As Damon rummaged through the pantry, Jax kept an eye on the spot where the shimmering line had vanished, waiting for it to reappear. It wasn’t just his mate at stake. He didn’t want anything to happen to Damon’s and Jaytee’s mates either. Their family had been through enough, and Jax wished to god trouble would leave them the hell alone.

He glanced over to where his mate stood by the stove, seeming lost in thought. Jax wanted to go to him, because they should be leaning on each other at a time like this. But, as soon as Casimir and Raidh had left, Arion had become sullen and hadn’t wanted to talk.

Was this how his mate dealt with stress, closing himself off? That was not how things worked in their home. Jax crossed the room and stopped in front of his mate. “Talk to me, pumpkin.”

Arion glanced toward the floor. “I just don’t like feeling helpless. We should have been the ones going after her.”

Jax leaned his ass against the edge of the counter. “Trust me, babe, I feel your frustration. It’s killing me to sit around and wait. I’m ready to pull my hair out.”

“Although the situation is tense, I like having someone to talk to about how I’m feeling,” Arion admitted. “Elvine had Raidh and then you guys, and you have your family.” He shrugged. “It’s pretty much just been me.”

Jax gently gripped Arion’s chin, rubbing the pad of his thumb over his mate’s soft skin. “You can always talk to me about anything, hon.”

He gave a slight nod. “Do you think she’s okay? I understand why she has to go there, but I don’t understand why she went alone.”

“We’ll have a long talk with our young lady when she gets back.” Jax kissed his forehead.

From under his lashes, Arion grinned. “Maybe she needs a spanking.”

“Jesus,” Jax groaned. “Don’t put those kinds of thoughts in my head when my family is standing in the same room, pumpkin.” He leaned down and growled softly in Arion’s ear. “The offer still stands of you two getting naked and squirming on my chest.”

Heat blossomed over Arion’s cheeks. “Maybe when she gets back.”

Damon groaned, pulling Jax’s attention away from his mate. “I should have asked Casimir to grab me some food from one of their taverns. I bet fairy food is amazing.”

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