Prowled Darkness (Dante's Circle Book 7) (11 page)

Malik chuckled roughly before pulling out and turning her around in his arms. Instead of hugging her, he slid his arm under her knees and picked her up. “I have late meetings, and Penelope is in bed after a very early breakfast. Jonah is watching her, and I wanted to make love to my mate. Now we’ll shower before we go get breakfast because I need you all nourished up so I can fuck you again later.”

She just laughed and let him carry her into the bathroom where he then washed her; very careful to get certain parts of her squeaky clean. By the time they were done, Pen was ready for her mid-morning snack and Eliana was starving.

Malik fried up bacon and potatoes with some eggs on the side while Eliana fed Penelope. It was all so domestic, and yet Eliana knew it wouldn’t be like this every day. Soon she’d go back to the human realm so she could finish up her art projects there and find out how she could connect her old life to her new one. Each of the girls had done it before, and Eliana knew she wouldn’t be much different.

She’d also have to eventually leave the house and see more of the Pride. It had only been a couple of weeks since Malik became Leo so it wasn’t as if she were truly hiding, but it was time to figure out how to live in this next phase of her life. She couldn’t hide from her future forever.

And, of course, she wanted to make sure Malik wasn’t doing it all on his own. He might think he had to, but she would be his mate in all that counted and learn to help him where he would allow it. And in places he wouldn’t allow it, she’d figure out how to make that happen, as well.

After they had eaten, Jonah took Penelope from her arms and carted her around like it was the most normal thing in the world. Apparently, her daughter had both men wrapped around her finger. Not that she could blame Jonah or Malik, as Eliana was firmly wrapped, as well.

She’d been so scared about being a mother, and now she couldn’t quite remember how she’d lived without Pen in her life. It was amazing how quickly that had happened.

“What’s on the docket today?” Eliana asked as she finished up the dishes.

Malik rolled his shoulders, staring down at his tablet. “I need to meet with the elders about a few things and then I plan on going to the warrior bunker to oversee their training.”

She nodded as she sat next to him, one eye on Jonah and the baby. She trusted the man, but she still couldn’t quite let Pen out of her sight.

“Anything I can do?” she asked. When he didn’t say anything, she sighed. “It’s not as though I can hide here forever.”

“I want you to,” Malik said honestly. “Because I don’t know what my aunt and uncle want. They’ve been far too quiet.”

“Maybe they’ve given up? You’re mated and have a successor to the throne already. You’re the Leo. Maybe they can’t do anything.”

He gave her a look that spoke volumes, and she rolled her eyes. “They’re planning something. I know it.”

The French doors that separated the living quarters of the house from the royal part opened and the hairs on Eliana’s arms stood up.

“It’s time,” Malik’s uncle spoke softly. “You’ve been pretending to be the Leo for long enough to know you aren’t worthy of the title. Step down now before it’s too late.”

Eliana stood up as Malik did, aware that Jonah was near them, but not close enough. He had Penelope in his arms, and yet she couldn’t reach them.

This wasn’t good. Not at all.

Others began to fill the room then, quickly and in force. She met Jonah’s gaze and the other man brought Pen closer to his chest. He gave Eliana a nod, and she
knew
he would protect her child with his life. This was the part of her Ripley had told her about, the part that spoke of knowing. She might not know who exactly was against Malik, judging by the amount of people in the room now, but she
knew
Jonah was on their side.

She had to trust in that certainty or all would be lost.

“What is the meaning of his?” Malik asked, his voice deadly calm. “You come into my home where I’m with my mate and child and threaten me? You’re not in line for succession, old man. You haven’t been since I was born.”

The man threw up his hands and spat. “I was second in line for
years
before you were born. You were a mistake. I killed that bitch of a mother of yours so she couldn’t make any more brats, but I apparently should have killed you long before this.”

Eliana let out a curse as the tendons on Malik’s neck stood out.

“What do you mean, you killed my mother?” Malik’s tone was too low, too dangerous.

“Exactly what I said. Your mother didn’t simply die in childbirth, you fool.”

You killed your Queen because you’re a power-hungry asshole?” Malik snarled. “Did you poison your brother, too? Did you kill my father?”

The old man shook his head. “No, I didn’t do that.”

“But I did,” Malik’s aunt spoke up, her shrill voice sending shivers down Eliana’s spine. “The man was far stronger than he should have been,” she cursed. “It took
decades
for the poison to work and still he wouldn’t die. He clung to life like the mangy cur he was. My mate should have been Leo, not you or that father of yours. We will rule the Pride as it should be. Pure and with power. Not with random scraps coming in to muddle the bloodlines.” She narrowed her gaze at Eliana. Apparently, Eliana was the scrap in this case.

If it all weren’t so deadly, she’d have laughed at the drama.

Malik didn’t say anything for a moment, and she knew he was biding his time. There had to be forty lions in the room now, men and woman who were traitors to the throne and to his family. He’d been dealt blow after blow, and yet he hadn’t lashed out. He was waiting because he knew he was outnumbered.

And Eliana wasn’t strong enough to protect herself.

She just prayed Jonah could get Penelope out in time.

“I’ll give you twenty seconds to get out of my home,” Malik growled.

“You’re a clueless idiot, not fit to rule the Pride,” the old man spat.

With that, the forty lions shifted at once with Malik joining them. Eliana screamed and turned toward Jonah, needing to get to her child. But as soon as she turned, Jonah jumped…
jumped
. He was a jaguar, not a lion, and even with one leg, could run faster than the others, and could apparently jump faster, as well.

“Save the Leo!” Jonah called out as he smashed through the large glass window, his body protecting Penelope’s small frame. Some of the lions chased him, but she prayed he would be fast enough.

Malik roared again, and she turned on her heel as he fought off four lions. He was stronger than all of them, including the two left in human form—his aunt and uncle. Eliana did the only thing she could and picked up a lamp, smashing it on the head of the nearest lion. She was stronger as a phoenix than she was as a human, but she still wasn’t a freaking shifter. She’d fight until she couldn’t anymore and pray that it would be enough.

Another lion swiped at her and she screamed when his claws ripped through her side. She’d moved just enough that it hadn’t gone deep, but it still hurt. She wasn’t a warrior. She was an artist and a mother, but damn if she’d let her mate die alone.

Others came into the room then, Malik’s guards, and she prayed they were on their side. When the new group began to fight the other lions, she almost let out a breath of relief. They weren’t alone anymore.

But it might be too late.

Malik’s Aunt Prudence moved forward, shifting as she did, her intent on Malik. Malik had his back to the other woman and his attention on the other lions fighting him. If he didn’t turn soon, it would be too late and Eliana would lose him.

Eliana did the only thing she could do.

She moved between Prudence and Malik, using her body as a shield. Maybe she wouldn’t die here, maybe it would only hurt and Malik would have time to live. Or maybe she’d turn to ash as her kind did. She
knew
she was risking it all, risking her life and her future with this one action, but she couldn’t
not
do it.

If she died here protecting the one she loved, she might not come back. She might not rise from the ashes.

When the lioness’s fangs slid into her throat, Eliana knew this would be the end. There was no way she could survive this, but Malik would live. That would have to be enough.

Malik roared over her, and she felt weightless, even as his arms came around her.

He was worth this pain, worth it all. Because he would raise their child and he would be
Malik
. She wasn’t anything less than him, but this was something she could do. She could take this risk because it was hers to take.

And perhaps she would come back.

Perhaps she would rise again.

Perhaps.

****

Malik couldn’t let her die but he didn’t think he had a choice. Her throat was ripped out and his mate was bleeding in his arms, her life quickly fading. She blinked up at him, once, twice, then didn’t blink again.

He had his hand around her throat, trying to keep her skin together, but he knew it was a lost cause. As soon as his aunt had clawed through that precious, smooth skin, Eliana had taken her last breath.

Before he could kiss her goodbye, before he could process what had just happened, Eliana’s body erupted in flames. The red and white flames didn’t burn, but warmed him before leaving him cold and holding the ash of the one he loved, the one he’d thought would be in his life from now until eternity.

The mating bond beat once before fading and he roared, his body shaking. In a fog, he stood up through the ash and shifted back to his lion form. He ripped out Prudence’s throat with one slash and clawed his way through anyone who dared approach him. His uncle shook against the wall, his face pale.

Malik would have liked to have shifted back to human form so he could scream at the bastard and tell him everything he’d done wrong, but instead, he let the cat take over. He slashed the old man’s throat and watched as his uncle fell to the ground, clutching his neck.

His eyes bulged and he let out his last gasping breath, alone and forsaken.

Still in lion form, Malik prowled through the line of dead bodies around him. His people had lived, stronger than those who had opposed his throne. The only ones who perished were the ones who had taken the wrong side.

And his mate.

His beauty.

His Eliana.

She had died for him, died for his throne, and yet he prayed she would come back. The others had said there was a chance she wouldn’t, but that meant there was a chance she would.

Before he could grieve, before he could hope, before he could find Jonah and Penelope, there was something he had to do.

He went to the balcony that looked out over the Pride and roared. His mane shook as he put everything he had into the roar. Around the Pride, every single person stopped what they were doing and roared back. Some fell to their knees while others bowed their heads. It was a roar of grief, a roar of power, a roar of the Leo.

When he was finished, he shifted back to human and clutched the stone railing in front of him.

“I am Leo,” he called out. “I am King. Those that threaten our Pride, that threaten my family, shall perish. Know this and follow. Know this and live within the Pride.”

His head still lowered, he closed his eyes, aware that others watched him. He had to leave soon before they saw him break, before he became his father and a hollow ache of the man he’d once been.

“Malik,” Jonah said from his side.

Malik turned and ran toward the man who held Penelope in his arms. He put one hand on Jonah’s shoulder and cupped his child to his chest with the other. He would
not
be his father. If the mating bond never returned, if fate had taken his mate from him in an everlasting sorrow of death and sacrifice, he would not allow Penelope to be raised as he was.

But he couldn’t think of more than that now.

He couldn’t think at all.

Because Eliana was dead, and he hadn’t had the chance to prove to her that he was worthy of her sacrifice; that he was worthy of the mating mark she bore on her shoulder.

“Malik.”

He froze and raised his head. Jonah blinked up at him and took Penelope from his arms as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

“Malik,” the soft voice said once again.

He let out a shuddering breath and turned on his heel. “Eliana,” he rasped, his voice breaking. “Eliana.”

She stood before him in a long robe, reminiscent of the one Ripley had worn in the phoenix realm. A new feather covered her arm—fresh ink and a new life.

He tried to take a step toward her, but fell to his knees. He held out an arm, tears falling down his cheeks.

She ran toward him, sliding to her knees at the same time to end up in his arms. He crushed her body to his before kissing up her cheeks and temple. He licked her mating mark, his hands roaming her body to make sure she was there and that this wasn’t a dream.

“You’re back,” he whispered. “You came back.”

“I can’t explain it,” she said in awe. “I was here, and then I was…well, I don’t know where I was. But I came back. I’ll always come back for you.” And with that, she kissed him. He slid his tongue along hers, needing her taste.

Dimly, he could hear the roar of the crowd, but he ignored it, his soul, his mind only for Eliana.

“I love you, Eliana. You’re mine for now and forever, for this lifetime and the next. You rose from the ashes for me and for our child, and until the end of my days, I will show you that I’m worthy of that flame, worthy of your soul.” The mating bond pulsed between them and he let out a shuddering breath.

She cupped his face and smiled. “I love you, too, Malik. And you are already worthy of me and everything I do. I’m yours from now until the end of our days,” she said softly before looking over her shoulder. “Now I want to hold my baby and be in your arms until I can catch my breath again. Because what just happened? Talk about breathless.”

He shook his head in reverence before standing up with her in his arms. Jonah handed Penelope over, and Eliana clutched their child close, murmuring sweet words even as she held out a hand for Jonah.