Page 34 of Rathgar

No, our house.

The thought fills me with a sense of pride for once in my life. Of belonging. The future, with all its uncertainty, looms before us. I still don’t know what will happen to Rathgar and I over the long term. We’ve grown closer, and Iris positively adores him, but actually marrying the man? Making a real life together with the three — no, the four of us?

I just don’t know.

So it’s with those thoughts in mind that I’m lying awake in the middle of the night, curled up in my nest and gazing out the window at the stars above.

I wonder where he is right now. I wonder what he’s doing. If he’s thinking of me.

I hear a knock on the door and I jump, before hearing Iris’s soft voice on the other side. “Mommy?”

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“I can’t sleep. Can I stay with you?”

I get up and open the door to find her standing there in her nightgown, holding her stuffed bunny in one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other. How could I say no to that face?

“Of course. Why don’t you come in here and get comfy.”

She crawls into the nest and burrows under the blankets, instantly looking more at ease. I can’t blame her — the nest has a soothing effect on me, too. But I’m still not used to sleeping alone after spending time with Rathgar. Somewhere along the way, I not only got used to his body pressed against mine as I slept, but I came to expect it.

To need it, even.

Now he wasn’t here, and no matter how I tossed and turned, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Maybe Iris was feeling the same.

With her curled up in bed next to me, my anxiety slows down to a dull roar. Soon enough, I hear the soft sounds of her breathing as she falls asleep, and it’s not long before I do the same.

The sound of splintering wood forces me awake, all grogginess gone in a matter of seconds. Iris jerks up as well, wailing and burying herself in my arms. Shouts, screams, angry voices. My heart leaps into my throat.

I glance at the door then back at the window. I have no idea what time it is, but it’s still dark. That is, it would be if not for the flames right outside my window.

With a shriek, I leap out of bed, mind racing. What was going on? Rathgar, Soren, and several of the other alphas were gone, but that didn’t leave us completely unprotected, right?

Iris continues to wail and I look around the room for something, anything I can use to ward off the attackers. It’s not much of a plan, especially since I’m not only much weaker than any Aesir man or woman, but I’m also pregnant. But my maternal instincts kick into overdrive and I have to do something.

We can’t get out the window — the flames are too close. Oh God, what about Lara? Was she okay? What about Ray?

The shouts grow closer and stomping footsteps join them. The splintering sound booms through the house again and this time I have to cover my mouth to hold in a scream. Someone was breaking in!

“Mommy!” Iris wails, clinging to my side. There’s no way out, but I can’t have them getting in here, either. I need to buy time. I need to do something…

Grabbing the chair Rathgar uses for his desk, I throw it in front of the bedroom door. “Mommy, what’s happening?” Iris cries. I know she’s scared and I know she can’t help it, but there’s no way we’re going to stay hidden like this.

There’s only one choice.

We’ll have to fight.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” I mutter over and over, trying to soothe her cries. “Mommy’s here, Mommy’s got you.” All the while, I’m scrambling, picking through the dresser, looking for anything that might help us. Yanking open Soren’s desk drawer I spot the letter opener and grab it, brandishing it like a knife. It’s a pitiful weapon, especially against a fully armed intruder, but it’s all I have.

And if this is how I’m going to go out, I will not go quietly.

“Shhh,” I whisper to Iris, holding a finger to my lips. “Get behind me.” She whimpers once more and sniffs, rubbing her eyes.

I hold my breath, straining to listen for any words or names I might recognize. Nothing. Then, just like before, the walls and floor shake with impact and the door flies open, the huge silhouette of our attacker looming in the doorway.

To my credit, I don’t scream. There’s a little whimper in the back of my throat and I’m shaking like crazy, but I don’t cry. I don’t scream. If I hadn’t been going to the bathroom nonstop due to pregnancy belly, I would have wet my pants.

Holding the letter opener out in front of me with both shaking hands, I try to take in the brute of a man before me. He’s nearly as large as Soren and Rathgar, but thicker around the middle and with legs like tree trunks. His face has a long scar across one eye, and the tendons on his neck stick out with rage or excitement, I can’t tell.

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