Page 145 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Epilogue

Wraith

I ’m fairly sure there’s nothing in the world that compares to the frantic energy that comes when four men huddle around a bedside to watch their mate give birth.

Malice is always levelheaded, except apparently, during the birth of his children.

I visit both rooms during the deliveries, but I do my best to keep my eyes on my feet. I have no great interest in being exposed to childbirth prior to witnessing my own being born.

I have to physically hold myself back when the hellhound snarls at Nadia and Meena.

Nan is tough. She points at the door, giving the beast a look that would melt the skin off a lesser man. “Continue to be problematic, and I will stick you to the wall in the hallway. I won’t release you until all four of your children are born.”

Dread frowns, swiping his hand over his face. He sure does begin pacing back in the opposite direction without another word.

It’s several hours later before the chaos completely dies down. In all honesty, it seemed to go quite smoothly.

I’m leaning near the door when Saber opens it a few inches. “This child is done with me,” he says, shoving the small girl into my arms.

“I thought I was invisible,” I mutter in confusion.

“Yeah, I’ll thank my sentinel DNA.” Saber shrugs. “I’ve always been able to see the three of you.”

I assume he means Knight, Malice, and me.

Ember wiggles, stretching toward her mother. “I want Mommy.”

“Would it be all right to bring her a little closer?” I ask.

Nadia nods, coming to scoop the child out of my arms. “Do you want to meet your little brothers?”

“I guess,” the small shifter says with a huff.

I chuckle. That was exceptionally cute. I wait for my mate to hand off the girl and pull Nadia into my arms. She’s utterly exhausted. It’s time for us to gather our pack and get home.

Our packmates join us as we head for the exit.

I frown when I realize all three of them are in different clothes than what they started the night in.

“I’m more than happy to walk you home if the dragon has become unreliable in his duties.” Athos floats along at Charity’s side. They approach the back door from the long hallway where the offices are.

Both Charity and Nadia have been chipping in to handle some of the administrative tasks while Aline takes time off. I have noticed Bane, the cranky dragon shifter, often walks Charity home following her shift.

“I’m good, thanks.” Charity gives a tight smile. “Contrary to popular belief, Haven is really safe, and I’m completely capable of walking three blocks on my own.”

“The last time you walked home alone, the wyvern kidnapped you,” Nadia mumbles sleepily. She cuddles closer to my chest. My heart pounds rapidly, like it does every time I realize how lucky I got when she claimed me.

“Oh, you hush.” Charity smiles at Nadia. “That wyvern is my mate. It was quite the romantic introduction.”

“Being kidnapped?” Echo snorts derisively. “Hey, darling, why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because I definitely would have kicked you in the balls?” Nadia mutters.

“I fear you may be mistaken,” Athos says sincerely. “I’m nearly positive you’re my?—”

Charity spins around, shoving a finger at the djinn. “Don’t even say it.”

“My mate.” Athos smirks.

“I’m moving.” Charity’s head shakes. “I’m taking my kid and my wyvern and leaving town. This is insane.”

“He wasn’t lying,” Knight adds helpfully. Charity glares so intently that Knight shrugs, shoving his hands into his back pockets. “My bad. I’m just saying he believes that you’re his mate.”

“The fuck he is,” Bane growls, stomping inside the back door.

Nadia snorts. “Okay, so I’m beat. Someone will get Charity home safely?”

“I’ve got it.” Bane steps forward, extending an arm to the half-fae female. She sighs but lets him pull her into his side.

“That was hurtful,” Athos mutters. “I was going to discuss romantic ways of asking if you’d accept my jar.”

“What?” Charity gasps, spinning to face him. “You’re serious?”

“Of course.” Athos crosses his arms. “It’s the greatest affection my kind can offer.”

“We’ll talk about this more soon,” Charity says, smiling over her shoulder as Bane drags her out the door.

“She’s so damn pretty,” Athos says dreamily.

“Take me to bed.” Nadia pats my chest. “I’m freaking beat.”

I don’t hesitate to siphon us away from the craziness and straight home.

“Wilma and Norma?” Knight suggests a few weeks later.

“You’ve lost your vote in naming rights,” Nadia scoffs, grabbing an apple slice off the tray of snacks she’s currently devouring. She’s got the small rounding on her lower stomach that signals she’s taken.

Fine, whatever.

Maybe it’s slightly barbaric to be fascinated with her ever-growing shape, but I couldn’t give a fuck less. Every male who looks in her direction can clearly tell she’s claimed. We didn’t just bond her—we bred her—and my God, I’m elated by that fact.

Honestly, I can’t wait for her belly to grow even larger. Demons only gestate three months, but shifters usually last around five. We have no definitive answers, but we’ll manage.

“Winifred and Magda?” Knight tries again, wiggling his eyebrows at our mate.

Nadia snorts but frowns at her breasts. “You distracted me. I dripped caramel on my boob.”

“I’ll be happy to lick it off for you.” He continues wiggling his eyebrows until it becomes obnoxious.

She glances between us. “Want to get dirty in the shower?”

“Yes.” I nod, grabbing the plate and tossing it on the end table. I scoop up my beautiful little witch, and then we’re siphoning through the shadows.

Knight meets us in the main bathroom with the shower already running. “Damn, I love second trimester hormones.”

Nadia laughs, yanking at my shirt. “I’m barely six or seven weeks along.”

I bite my lip to keep from telling her that she’s likely nearing the halfway point based on our estimations. I bend down, allowing her to pull my shirt off over my head. She blinks up at me under her lashes, and I melt inside.

“I love you.”

“I know.” I nuzzle my cheek to hers. “And I love you more than life itself.”

“Suck up.” Knight laughs.

Sometimes it’s very inconvenient that my powers don’t work on him.

I settle for flipping him off with the hand wrapped around Nadia’s back.

My little witch pushes up on her tiptoes, licking my chest, since she can’t quite meet my neck, and all thought quickly fades to how I can get inside her as fast as supernaturally possible.