Page 93 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Thirty

Aline

I t’s absolute chaos as we untangle from each other.

Bane stands a few feet away, comforting the still crying Charity. Veryn looks bored of the entire thing, but he allows his mom to hold him with a hand plastered to his chest as she rocks back and forth. I’m pretty sure I can see the little guy rolling his eyes from here.

Emerson dive bombs me with a hug I am in no way expecting. “Thank you,” she says, cuddling close to my shoulder. “Meena told us you’d handle it. I wanted to believe they’d be okay, but I fully admit, I was panicking.”

“I get it. I’m sorry all of you were involved in my mess.

” My hands shake as I give her a squeeze.

It makes me more emotional that she doesn’t fear me.

Then again, the residents of Haven haven’t seen me take a life to restore one.

They likely see my magic as purely a gift.

I revel in the feeling of comfort it provides as Emerson holds me tight.

“You should have seen her. It was utterly magnificent,” Malice says, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

“Meena told us all about it,” Emerson says.

“Who knew Aline was such a badass?” Laithe asks, tossing Ember up and catching her. I notice he’s keeping to the shaded area under the high branches of the oak tree. “Are you going to be a murdery little psycho too when you grow up?”

“Yes, I am,” Ember says with pure conviction. “Again.” She pats the vampire’s hands, clearly less traumatized by the trip to Faere than any of the adults.

“Okay, bossy child,” Laithe snorts.

“We’d like to have a few days to recover from the trip,” Atlas says to Dread and Ryktus.

“Ohmigod, of course.” Emerson finally releases me. She heads to Ryktus, and he pulls her close with an arm around her back and a wing tucked close to her shoulder. “And you’ll need time off once the babies are born.”

“What?” Dread’s jaw falls. “You’re pregnant? I mean, congratulations.” He looks at his packmates. “This is going to be a giant pain in the ass, considering we’ll be off too.”

I laugh, shaking my head. I swear he has a one-track mind sometimes.

“We’ll manage.” Ryktus kisses the top of Emerson’s head. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” I run a hand over my stomach. I’m going to recommend Charity help take over some of my responsibilities in my absence, but she’s still allowing Bane to console her.

“We’re very excited to see what little abominations pop out.” Malice shoves into Silence with his shoulder. “Dick.”

“I probably deserved that.” Silence bows his head. “I apologize for the disdainful way I presented myself upon our first introduction.”

“I do also,” Hex pipes in, coming to my side.

“It was a tense night.” Emerson gives a tight smile that might pass for a grimace. “It’s water under the bridge. Thank you for bringing Ember back safely.”

“Of course,” I say. I’m still grateful she’s not screaming in my face and blaming me for her daughter being taken in the first place.

“We’re going to be overrun with offspring,” Arsyn says, laughing. The incubus looks downright giddy about that fact.

“I know.” Atlas wraps himself around my back. “I can’t fucking wait.”

“Famous last words,” Dread and Hex say in unison.

Emerson’s gaze meets mine, and we both lose it.

“That’s not ominous or anything,” Malice says with a snort.

“I’ll gladly be overwhelmed,” I say truthfully.

“Look at it this way,” Silence says. “We’ll have an equal number to divide and conquer among the dads.”

“That is a good point.” Atlas kisses over my neck. “Well, at least until the next clutch.”