Page 58 of Lyon

I tilted my head up at him, half smiling. “We should just go to Vegas. That way, we won’t have to plan a wedding.” I meant it as a joke. Mostly. The last thing I wanted was to stress over dresses, invitations, or flowers. I just wanted to wake up and be married to Lyon.

We took our seats, and I relaxed. He didn’t even hesitate. “Why don’t we go home, rest, and then drive to Vegas? Just me and you. We’ll have someone bring your things to our house. After we marry, I’m taking a year off work. Just the two of us. Peace and quiet.”

I chuckled at that. “Peace and quiet?” I snuggled into his arms, letting fatigue settle into my bones. “It won’t be just the two of us for long.”

His speech faltered. His body went rigid. He gathered me even closer as if trying to shield me from the world.

“Our baby will be here in about seven months. Maybe six and a half,” I whispered.

I felt it the moment the air left his lungs. The moment it hit him. His grip tightened, and a shudder ran through him.

“I’m going to take such good care of you,” he murmured. His voice was thick, raw. “You and our baby. I love you so much.”

I felt the tear before I saw it, warm as it slipped onto my forehead.

Cyclone and Raven sat across from us, silent. Watching. Lyon held me tighter, and my eyes grew heavy.

When I woke up, they were still there.

I blinked at them. “Did you two watch me sleep this whole time?”

Cyclone smirked. “I’m just making sure you’re real.” His expression softened. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. But I’m happy for you. A baby. That’s a start on the six, right?”

I gave him a confused look. “Six?”

He grinned. “You want six kids. Remember. This baby girl will be here by Christmas. Then you can have another one.”

A baby girl? I frowned. “I feel like I’m having a boy. Why do you think it’s a girl?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a feeling. I’m usually right.”

I let out a watery laugh. “Maybe you are. Maybe I am having a girl.” The thought sent a fresh wave of emotion crashing over me, and suddenly, I was crying.

Lyon stroked my back, whispering soothing words. “Shh, sweetheart. You’re safe. We’re safe.”

I wiped at my face. “I will never risk my life like that again. Not for anything. Not for anyone. I’m going to raise my kids and be a stay-at-home mom.”

Cyclone smirked. “That’ll keep you busy. At least, that’s what Kat says.”

“You’ll be the best mom in the world,” Lyon murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. His arms never loosened, never wavered.

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

“I’m so tired of this life,” I whispered.

Lyon’s arms tightened, as if he could hold me together through sheer force alone. “Then we’ll build a new one,” he promised.

And for the first time in a long time, I believed him.

26

Lyon

We’d been homefor two weeks, settling into a quiet routine—if life with Niki could ever be called quiet. But today was different. Today, we were going to see our baby for the first time.

It was still too early to know if we were having a boy or a girl, but that didn’t matter. We just wanted to seeher, to know she was safe. I sayherbecause Oliver, who had been crashing at our place, refused to call the baby anything else.

Brutus had also made his stance on the matter clear. He had taken to growling at anyone who got too close to Niki, his massive form positioning itself between her and anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way.

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