He’s not going to touch me, is he? He knows I’m already pregnant.
I paled at the thought. Me being pregnant wouldn’t stop him from having sex with me…
Suddenly nervous, I backed away from him, but Blaze held out his wing. It was like a feathery wall and I bumped into it.
“Don’t be nervous,” Blaze said.
“What are you doing?” I asked loudly, as if someone on the other side of the door could hear. I prayed Noro was out there. He would’ve followed us, right? Maybe he’d barge in and save me from whatever Blaze was planning.
But Blaze made no move to come towards me. He stayed still, eyeing me in an unusual way. His lack of action made me even more nervous.
“What?” I asked again.
“Tell me,” Blaze murmured, “about your magic.”
I frowned. When I didn’t reply, he went on.
“When you first arrived here, you mentioned something about yourmates.” Blaze removed his wing, to my relief, but now he paced around me in a loose circles. His front claws clicked on the marble floor while his back lion paws were utterly silent. “I thought maybe it was a slip of the tongue until you clarified that you had three.” He stopped. “Others might have thought it strange that you claimed to be pregnant with the child of three mates, but not me. I know there areways.”
My throat felt dry and tight.
“What I didn’t expect was thatyouwere the one who made it happen,” Blaze said, almost a little excitedly. “An omega and a mage. How rare. How perfect.”
I shuddered as Blaze lifted my chin with the tip of one claw, careful not to cut me. The fact that he wasn’t making any move to hurt me was somehow even more unnerving.
“Tell me what magic you know,” Blaze demanded.
I hesitated. I didn’t want to tell him, but I didn’t think that was an acceptable answer.
“Fire? Air?” Blaze guessed.
“No,” I murmured.
“Earth?” He lashed his tail hard, like not knowing the answer was killing him. “Water?”
As he cycled through the elements, I felt a deep, cold pang of dread.
“No,” I said quietly.
He went shock still, his eagle’s eyes widening. My body was frozen with terror.
“I see,” Blaze whispered. “Then only one remains.”
He came in closer so that his beak almost brushed my nose. I felt his hot breath against my skin and winced. “Clear magic. Isn’t that right?”
I couldn’t find my voice, so I nodded.
Blaze reared his head back and he laughed, loud and satisfied. “Yes!” he cried. “Thank the gods! Oh, such a blessing for the Mountain Pride.”
He sounded insane. I frowned deeply, wanting to make a break for it.
He whirled back around, circling me again like a cat with its prey. An excited aura radiated off him. Whatever I said had pleased him, and I didn’t think that was a good thing.
Blaze stood directly in front of me again and unfurled his wings so they created a barrier behind my back, blocking off any escape route. His eyes pierced mine, hooking into me and refusing to let go. I couldn’t look away. I had to meet his stare.
“Yes, Matheson, youarea blessing,” Blaze murmured, his voice low and rhythmic. “Can you see that? You’re the best gift to our pride anyone could ever ask for. An omega mage, and pregnant, too… You’re amazing.Perfect.”
I wanted to back away, but Blaze’s wings stopped me. I was frozen to the spot, my legs like lead. Unable to move.
