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“I'll probably fuck up.”

“Definitely.”

My eyes narrowed. She kissed me before I could answer. It was a soft, warm, love filled kiss. When she pulled away, I kept her close because the berserker was still there. The enemies were still out there. A war was gathering in the darkness. None of that had changed, but Draugr's words stayed with me. I'd been so fucking terrified someone would take my future that I'd forgotten I was already living it.

Bryn slipped her hand into mine. “Walk with me?”

Every instinct immediately started calculating routes, exits, guards, sightlines and threats. I crushed them down, mostly. “Yeah.”

Her smile nearly fucking killed me. We started down the garden path together, I kept my pace slow. My hand stayed wrapped around hers and when she stopped to smell some ridiculous purple flower, I didn't tell her to be careful. I didn't tell her not to bend, I didn't order Luka closer. I just watched my pregnant mate standing beneath the moonlight. Alive. Happy. Mine.

And for the first time since I'd learned there was another tiny heartbeat inside her, I allowed myself to feel something stronger than fear. I allowed myself to be happy too. We continued slowly along the garden path beneath the moonlight, Bryn tucked against my side, my arm wrapped around her waist as though even here, surrounded by our walls and our people, I couldn't quite convince myself to loosen my hold on her.

The gardens were quiet at this hour. Moonlight spilled across the lawns, turning the stone pathways silver and catching on the leaves of the old trees surrounding the estate. Somewhere beyond the hedges, water trickled from one of the fountains. The night air carried roses, damp earth and Bryn.

Always Bryn. She leaned her head against my shoulder as we walked. My hand drifted unconsciously across her stomach again. Nothing showed yet. There was no outward sign that my child was growing inside her.

But I knew. I could hear it. That tiny, impossible heartbeat beneath hers. Every time I focused on it, something happened inside my chest that I didn't have a fucking name for.

Bryn looked up at me. “You're doing it again.”

“What?”

“Staring at my stomach.”

“My child is in there.”

“Our child.”

I looked at her. She raised an eyebrow. “Our child,” I corrected.

“Better.”

My lips twitched. I bent and kissed her temple. Then my phone vibrated in my pocket but I ignored it. Tonight belonged to her. It rang again. Bryn sighed. “You should probably answer that.”

“No.”

“Viking.”

“No.”

She stopped walking, forcing me to stop with her. “What if it's important?”

“Nothing is more important than you.” Her expression softened. Then the fucking phone rang a third time.

I pulled it out with a growl. Draugr. My irritation vanished, he knew better. I answered immediately. “What?”

“Get inside.” Something in his voice made every instinct sharpen.

“What happened?”

“We have a visual on Ceasar.” The night changed, my arm tightened around Bryn. She felt it immediately. Her head lifted.

“Where?”

“Industrial site outside the city. Volken's team confirmed him less than a minute ago. He's moving around the property, so if we're taking him, it needs to be tonight and very soon.” I looked at Bryn.

She knew from my face. “Ceasar,” she whispered.