“Hawk came to find me after you two…bonded.” I glanced down at the still sleeping male and shook my head. “He was worried about you after you passed out again.”
Ivy grimaced. “Yeah…” She ran a hand through her mused hair, the movement giving me a peek at the mark sitting beneath her breast against her ribs. I couldn’t quite make out the unique design, but it almost looked like wings, unlike the one the demon king had graced her with over her heart. “That was…expected.”
“You knew you would pass out again?” I should feel annoyed that she would put herself in the position to get hurt, but I knew she would do it regardless. Especially when she needed her bonds completed.
“Yep.” She rolled her shoulders back, smiling at me. “But Iamcompleting my bonds. Probably to Dante’s dismay.”
Or his delight, I thought. She needed her completed bonds to be at full strength, but he likely also needed them to get the power he wanted. The idea made me physically ill, but there was no real way to prove it. He was a threat that needed to be eliminated regardless.
I nodded, moving to stand. “I’ll go get you some fresh clothes,” I said, “unless you wish to make the walk of shame.”
More colour darkened her cheeks, the sight warming my chest. “I shouldn’t care,” she said, meeting my stare. “Honestly. I think everyone has seen me naked now.”
“You did undress in front of us all in the bathroom, so yes,” I replied, cocking my head. “But I will go get you clothes.”
She sighed. “Thank you. I’m running out of pants. I think we need to ask Sao for some dresses.”
“So we can easily fuck you?” Nash groaned, wrapping an arm around her middle. “I don’t think anyone would disagree with that, Princess. Least of all Grey.”
I cleared my throat as I shook my head. “Do you still want me to request that for you knowinghisthoughts?”
Ivy stared down at the male in disbelief before pushing his arm off her. “Never mind. Walk of shame it is.”
I was no better than her male mates who loved to ogle her at any state of dress she was in. I used to like thinking I was better than them, liked to believe that my ability to remain focused and not get distracted by female bodies was a good thing.
But apparently with my mate, I wasn’t, because taking her in as she swung her naked legs over the edge of the bed to stand was apparently hunger inducing.
I offered my hand, pressure growing in my chest. “Are you certain?”
“I think I still have a shirt if there’s a chance anyone might get uncomfortable,” she replied, entwining her fingers with mine. “But I don’t think I care anymore.”
With her back to Nash, the male made a sound. “Your ass is fantastic, by the way.”
Ivy rolled her eyes without looking back, but I leaned into her. “It is.”
“Not you, too,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“Are we not allowed to admire our mate?” Nash shouted as we left the bedroom. Ivy didn’t give him a response, but it was strange, the way he seemed so…different now.
Though, hadn’t I changed after completing our bond? Hadn’t I grown as a vampire? Been inspired to change?
The hall outside the bedroom was quiet; from here, I could sense the other males around the house. Adrian in the kitchen preparing breakfast, humming to himself. Rowanin his office studying the runes, looking for a key to Ivy’s collar with Rhadamanthus. Elias and Orion moved through the forest, enhancing the wards around the island and ensuring the glamours were still securely in place.
And the last of Ivy’s unbonded mates were in the main bedroom.
“You didn’t sit there all night, did you?” Ivy asked, looking at me with worry.
I nodded once, meeting her stare as we started towards her room. “I did, why?”
She released a breath, leaning into me. “Are you getting any rest? I know you’ve been working constantly, and I haven’t really checked on you—which is my fault?—”
“Stop,” I murmured. “Don’t worry about me.” I pulled her to a stop and moved to stand in front of her. “I take care of you.”
“That’s meant to be reciprocated,” she replied quietly. “I take care of you, too. And I haven’t been doing that. I’ve been so focused on the pregnancy and the bonds, and trying to get to know Thor and Xerxes, that I?—”
“I don’t blame you or resent you for any of that,” I interjected, cupping her cheek. “Ivy, there is an entire war we need to prepare for, and I am doing what I need to do to ensure we win. That is what I need to focus on, so you can get your magic back. And after that…after we win, you can check in on me. But I need to know you will survive what happens. I need to know I will have a mate to love when all this is over. I cannot let Dante take you from me. Not again.”
Tears brimmed her eyes, making the deep brown of her irises shine. “Maeve…”
