Mate.
Oh, she wished he could be her mate. But was her wolf even strong enough to have a mate? She hadn’t shifted in years. Not since—
Joshua nipped her neck. He thrust into her again, his movements growing jerky. His breath against her was hot, and Kira let the pleasure take her. It washed over her, stealing her strength and leaving behind warmth that filled her, completed her. The water washed down Joshua’s back as he panted, then groaned.
They stayed like that, wedged into their small, impossible paradise, until Kira’s legs started to shake from holding against the glass door. They washed each other’s bodies in silence, and afterwards dried off and returned to the bed. Kira laid down a clean quilt to stop them from getting sticky with the potion.
Joshua nestled his head against her breast as they lay together, warm and cozy in the quiet.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Kira said after a while, brushing her fingers through his hair. “I was so afraid when I heard that you’d been attacked.”
Joshua turned and kissed her collarbone. “It’ll take more than a demon to take me down.”
She laughed softly, even though his words knotted her stomach. Would it really? He had a curse wound throughout him. So there was more than demons working against him.
“Last night… I had dreams. Nightmares. Over and over again, I saw you in danger,” Joshua continued, his voice turning somber. “It was so terrifying. And it felt so real. It was so dark, and I couldn’t reach you, no matter how hard I tried. It felt like prophecy. If I had any magical aptitude, I’d say it was a vision.”
The air left her lungs. He did have magical aptitude. She felt it in him, even as choked as it was by the curse. His mother was witch-descended. The witch hunters possessed some form of magic to counteract the witches’ magic. He was able to makepotions; yeah, it was mostly following a recipe, but not everyone could actually make the potions. He could.
So maybe it was prophecy after all.
And to see her in danger? Right at the same time that Gwen sensed she was pregnant? After everything that had happened on the island over these last few months, Kira doubted it was a coincidence.
Joshua must have felt the change in her. His arms wrapped lightly around her, and he propped himself up on his elbow, pushing himself up to look into her eyes. “I know I messed up, Kira. I’ve acted on my fears before, being controlling. I’m still afraid, yes. But I will do whatever it takes to make up for my mistakes.”
Did he really mean that? Or rather, could he follow through when he knew the truth?
Fuck it. Secrets didn’t help. She took a deep breath. “I told you I had a secret before we had sex.”
His golden gaze darkened. “You don’t have to—”
“I do. I… I’m pregnant, Joshua. With your baby.”
Maybe he’d see it as good news. Maybe they’d be able to work together to find the truth. He only had hearsay to know that he was cursed. She hadn’t found anything in her research to support witches and witch hunters being unable to have children. Maybe—
Joshua jerked away from her. “What did you just say?”
Chapter 22 - Joshua
Joshua stood, pacing from one end of the room to the next. Pregnant. After everything he’d told himself about protecting her, it was his own actions that put her in the most danger. He shouldn’t have lost control that day in the forest. Why had he completely forgotten everything when her body had been pressed up against his?
He’d worried. Of course, he had. But he trusted that since it was just once, it was unlikely for her to get pregnant as a result.
“I should have been smarter,” he muttered, tearing at his hair. “I’ve killed you.”
He stopped in front of the window, staring at the blinds that hid them from the world. He wanted to scream, to rage, to tear himself to pieces. His wolf growled, anxious to protect his mate. Their child. But the child was what was putting her in danger!
“I haven’t found anything in the grimoires to indicate that this pregnancy is doomed,” Kira said softly, her voice wavering.
She expected him to go back to his controlling ways. Part of him wanted to. To layer so much protection around her that she wasn’t going to be harmed… but that would also limit her movements. He was on his last chance. He knew that. Even in trying to protect her, he couldn’t lock her up.
Joshua released his hair, trying to calm himself down. He turned back to her, unable to draw close. “Maybe it’s best if you leave me for good. Then I’d stop being a threat to you.”
“Stop.” Kira stood and strode to him. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Just because you haven’t found evidence doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
She lifted her chin. “I know it’s real. I’ve felt your curse, Joshua. When I was healing you.”
