Page 37 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
At least he had Alastor and the lirio he trusted because hebelieved Alastor still had some sort of hold over them. Where Alastor hadn’t told him he’d released the lirio months ago, Koa’s mate, Bon, had confided in me with the truth.
While I wanted to tell Elias the truth and had intended to when we’d believed he wouldn’t have to return to the human realm, he seemed more at ease around the lirio, who were once his enemy. Telling him the truth now, when he still relied on them, didn’t feel fair or kind.
I dipped my head down to hide the tears I was sure he could smell. He cupped my chin, tilting my head up gently so that I looked at him.
“Talk to me, Teddy.” It came out as a desperate plea. “Seeing you like this . . .” When I stayed quiet, he continued. “I want to be here with you. I hope you know that.”
“I know you want to be here, just like I know why you can’t,” I told him. “It’s just . . .” I leaned into him to kiss his lips. Once, twice, a third time. I held his worried gaze. “I’m pregnant, Elias,” I whispered.
It took a few seconds for my words to register, but when they did, his lips spread into my favorite smile with two dimples digging into his cheeks.
He pressed his palms against my cheeks, a laugh spilling from his lips before he leaned into me and gave me one of those tight hugs—I could live in those forever.
“You’re pregnant?” he asked, his warm breath tickling the shell of my ear.
I nodded, pressing my head against his neck.
Another laugh before he drew me back. Worry lines marred his forehead when he asked, “You’re sure? Have you seen Leah? We must make sure you and our babe are well.”
The way he cupped my belly, his large hand spread acrossmy stomach, was both endearing and protective. His thumb skimmed over my shirt, but goosebumps spread everywhere as if he’d touched my bare skin.
“A couple of days after you left, I hurt myself while training with Everly.”
He shifted closer to me, and I didn’t have to be a fae to sense his concern.
“I tore ligaments in my foot, but I’m fine,” I said. “While I was there, Leah did a full body exam for her records, which is how she discovered I was pregnant.”
Hurt crossed his features so quickly that I would’ve missed it if I hadn’t been watching him so closely. I rested my hand on top of his.
“I should’ve been here for you,” he said, his attention on his hand that still held my belly. “I should’ve been the one to heal you.” His eyes dulled to a pale violet. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been here.”
“That’s the thing, Elias,” I said in earnest. “You can’t be here and there at the same time. I get that you want to bring your people home, but you also have friends and other warriors you can count on to help you get them home.”
He worked his jaw back and forth, his frustrated thoughts starting to filter through my mind. I did my best to shove them out, but I heard them anyway. The way he believed he was letting his people, me, and now our babies down.
Except he didn’t yet know we were having twins.
When I stood from the porch swing, he fisted his hands. I nestled on top of his lap, his arms immediately going around me to cradle my back. With slow movements, I twined my fingers behind his neck, resting my head on his shoulder. He ran a hand over my back that he then twisted in my hair.
I loved the ease of his affection. It felt good to be in hisarms. Like everything in my world had suddenly clicked into place, and I was exactly where I should be.
“We’ll figure it out,” I said into his neck, wanting to sweep away the negative thoughts I’d put in his head. “I trust you. I trust us, and I know we’re going to kick ass at this whole being a parent thing.”
He chuckled, more to appease me I realized, when it held no warmth. “We kind of already are.”
I thought about the girls and how much they adored Elias. About Javier and how he respected Elias.
“Yeah, we kind of are.”
I took my time peppering kisses along his jaw. When he inclined his face toward me, he nudged his nose against mine before our lips touched. His tongue whispered against my parted lips before it swept into my mouth. What started off slow quickly became all-consuming, as if he were pulling my very essence from me.
I tasted the breath we shared, and when he pulled me closer, his heart thudded against my own.
I inched back, kissing his nose before I said, “I need to tell you something else.”
He traced my smile with a finger that I drew into my mouth for a soft bite. The way his eyes darkened made my stomach twist all too happily. Seeing the way he reacted to me in an almost primal manner made me feel powerful and beautiful.
“It’s about the pregnancy,” I said, drawing out the moment so I could soak in his joy. The joy I’d stolen when I should’ve just let him be happy without my worries crossing his mind.
