"The Underworld," he answers.
It's a bomb. We haven't mentioned it in over a year. I consider the question. The old world is still there, but it's silent and dormant, a true ghost without claws. Membership only exists now. There are no rituals, punishments, or meetings in shadowed chambers. There're only names on lists that Kirill keeps locked away.
I shake my head. "Not in the least."
He presses his lips to my temple. "Good."
"Don't tell me you suddenly developed a love for them?" I tease.
He scoffs, "The only thing I miss is hacking their systems for fun."
"You still hack their systems."
He grins. "Only to make sure they're not stupid enough to rise again."
"And if they do?" I fret, and old worries wake up inside my gut.
His arms tighten around me. "They won't. Kirill sends out too many reminders to stay quiet until it's safe to reconvene."
But it's not temporary. We all know it, but they don't. The Underworld can't resurrect itself. And none of us will allow it to even try.
So for now, they obey, unaware they're submitting to extinction.
Brax shifts. His hand slides up to cradle my jaw. "You happy, Minx?"
I don't hesitate. "More than I ever thought I could be."
His arrogant grin floods his expression. "Good. Because I'm not done with you."
I arch a brow. "You never are."
He smirks. "And I never will be."
A shriek cuts through the yard. "Da-da!"
Aurora barrels toward us at top speed, half toddler, half demolition crew. Brax turns just in time to scoop her up before she slams into me.
She launches her tiny arms around his neck. "Da-da, I fall down!"
He kisses her cheek. "Did the ground survive?"
She nods, then beams. "I win." She puts her arms in the air.
He chuckles. "Yes, you did."
She gasps suddenly, eyes swelling wide. She reaches for my stomach. "Finn!"
I laugh softly. Finn's foot presses so hard against my stomach you can see it. I say, "He's saying hi."
She presses both hands to my belly, awe on her face. "Hi, Finn. I wuv you."
Brax's arm slides around my shoulders as our daughter whispers secrets to her unborn brother. Sunlight glows across her curls. Thebreeze carries the sound of Luca laughing, Zara humming to her baby, Fiona telling Kirill to stop trying to inseminate her with his stare, and River and Willow bouncing around from too much sugar.
For the first time in my life, my world isn't divided between loyalty and survival.
It's whole, warm, and full of light.
Brax kisses the top of my head. He murmurs, "Happy birthday to our girl."
