As she sat on Kain’s lap watching the land disappear beneath them, her mate’s hand rubbing slow circles on her belly, Selma gave up on trying to make sense of the creatures who had filled her world from the moment she was born. They were not human, and even when she gave birth and her mark would once again blind her to their otherness, they would never be human.

Yet that didn’t stop her from knowing, despite the unease in her stomach at her lover’s current look, that she belonged here with him.

Perhaps Bealith was right. Perhaps it was her fate to bring love to the demon who held her in his arms, as well as to the one growing in her womb.

27

Kain

“You know what will happen the moment this gets out!” Kain threaded a hand through his hair in agitation as he stared at his father. “A Breeder with power? Someone will try to kill her. I won’t allow it! I’d rather let Naharan get away with treason than put Selma in more danger.”

Kirigan lightly tapped at the glass of bourbon in his hand. “Nothing you do will stop this from getting out. We left way too many of the Queen’s subjects alive for this not to spread like wildfire. We’re better off nipping it in the bud and facing the royal family head-on.”

“You mean confront them? Publicly?” Kesh cocked an eyebrow in surprise. “That will lead to—”

“A coup.” Kirigan smiled wryly, though it didn’t touch his black eyes. Nothing did anymore. “We have one of the Stones of Power and your mate killed the reigning queen. She does have a legitimate claim to the throne, despite being a Breeder rather than a demon.”

“You’re mad. I’m not bringing her to Europe, and I have no desire to challenge the royal family in their own territory. We may have one Stone, and I am sure we will have supporters once we divulge Naharan’s treason, but they have the other two Stones and it’s their home,” Kain said. As much as he wanted to tear the prince limb from limb, it wasn’t worth risking his mate’s life. “All I want is to find somewhere safe to bring up my family.”

“That’s the point; nowhere is safe until we have dealt with the threat of the traitorous royal family.” Despite the nature of the topic, Kirigan’s tone remained calm. “You will never find a safe place for that girl unless you seize power over those who would harm her.”

“Fuck!” Kain slapped his palm against the nearest wall hard enough for the structure to shake. He was right—his insane monster of a father was right. Unless he established himself at the very top of the food chain, they would always be looking over their shoulders.