Page 119 of Blood Red Rage

Viking looked at me. “Come here.”

“I am literally touching you.”

“Closer.”

I laughed, then carefully climbed onto the edge of his bed when he finally allowed me to help him back onto it. He pulled me against his side, his hand immediately returned to my stomach. For a long time, neither of us spoke.

“I was scared,” I finally whispered.

“I know.”

“No. I mean really scared.”

His fingers moved slowly over mine. “I know, my Angel.”

“I don't think I can do that again.”

“You won't.”

“You can't promise that.”

He was quiet. “No.” That surprised me because a month ago, Viking would have promised me the impossible, he would have sworn nobody could touch him, that he'd kill every enemy, that nothing would ever happen, but now he simply kissed my hair. “I can't promise I'll never get hurt.” I swallowed. “But I can promise I won't throw myself at Ceasar again without thinking about what I'm leaving behind.”

My eyes lifted. “Us.”

“You.” His hand pressed gently against my stomach. “Our child.” His expression became fierce. “My family.”

I kissed him again. “That I can live with.”

“So can I.”

We stayed that way until I fell asleep against him, and for the first time in two days, I slept without counting his breaths.

***

Roman and Draugr came back several hours later, I was awake this time. Viking was sitting propped against the headboard, looking significantly better and already complaining that Dragan wouldn't let him leave. I sat beside him eating toast.

Pregnancy had apparently decided toast was one of the few foods that didn't offend me. Roman closed the door quietly behind him, Viking took one look at his face and tensed.

“Ceasar?”

My appetite disappeared, Draugr leaned against the wall. “Gone.” He updates.

Viking's jaw clenched, I felt the anger through the bond immediately, it was hot, sharp, but controlled. “How?” Viking asked.

“Escape route beneath the warehouse,” Roman said. “Old drainage system. By the time Draugr went after him, Ceasar was already underground.”

“How many demons survived?”

“Not many.”

Draugr folded his arms. “We counted thirty-seven dead inside and around the warehouse. Another nine were killed during extraction.”

Forty-six, my stomach rolled. Roman continued. “A handful escaped. We don't know how many.”

“And ours?” Viking asked it quietly.

Roman's expression changed. “We lost seven.”