It wasn’t that she hadn’t understood how much trouble the prince’s kidnapping and the awakening of her powers had caused—and every event since then, too. But the understanding that the demon who’d saved her from his own kind time and time again was about to overthrow the entire structure of demonic society in an effort to keep her safe hadn’t fully dawned on her until now, and a fresh wave of terror made her gut clench.

Kain stopped next to her, his grip on her hand making her follow suit.

“We will be with you in a minute,” he called to the others who had paused when he did.

Obediently they continued, disappearing around a corner soon after.

Kain turned to her, letting his free hand cup her cheek. “My love, there is nothing to fear. I promise.”

The softness in his eyes contrasted with the firm conviction in his voice, and she leaned in toward him like a flower reaching for the sun. She needed him with every part of her body and soul.

“I just want to live in peace—you, me, and our baby. And I want a white picket fence and a porch swing, and Sundays spent in the garden. But instead we’re preparing for war. How can you say that there’s nothing to fear? If I lose you…” Just the thought made her throat close up.

Kain’s mouth pulled into a wry smile. “So that’s what you wanted instead of my casino apartment? A white picket fence and little demon kids running around, setting fire to the begonias?”

Selma blushed and smacked his chest with her free hand. “Now is not the time to mock my dreams!”

Kain grinned at her reaction, but instead of continuing his teasing, he bent his head and pecked her lips. When he straightened again she was breathing shallowly, and something lower down murmured about forgetting war plans and worries and focusing on more interesting things instead—such as the thick cock she knew rested between his powerful thighs.

Her mate chuckled when her gaze drifted downward, propping her chin up with a finger. “I can promise you that there is nothing to fear because as turbulent as the next few months will be, I will not allow anything to happen to you or our little one.

“Furthermore, no power in this world will stop me from being by your side—not now, not ever. And once we take over control of North America, there won’t be a male demon on this continent that wouldn’t lay their life down for you.

“That is my pledge to you, Selma. I will love you for an eternity, and you and every child you bear will be safe and happy.”