ELIA

She couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't move, could only throw her hands back to find his shoulder, his neck, his hair, and hold on as he took her like he would die if he didn't.

And with every thrust the flames inside her roared higher, until his fingers found her, cupped her, slid from the point where they were joined up to press on that swollen bundle of nerves and she shattered.

Screaming his name, she arched, clenching down on him as she rode out the wave of love and pleasure that called to her soul.

"Elia! So beautiful!

" Reth thrust again, again, and a third time, then he roared as his entire body shuddered, overwhelmed and wrecked then collapsed, drenched in sweat, panting in her ear.

Neither of them moved, both of them frozen, locked together as they slowly slid back to earth—but didn't want to.

Elia's skin throbbed and her heart swelled. But she didn't want to cry. She wanted to shout for joy. She wanted to roll over, but she couldn't bear to lose him inside her, and so she pulled his hand from between her legs to rest on her stomach, sliding her fingers down the stiff hair of his forearms until her fingers slid between his..

Something within her, tight and hot, wasn't letting go and she was glad for it, for this reminder of what they were, what they had, what they could do to each other.

Reth's chest heaved like a bellows, but he finally moved his head to lay soft lips at that spot below her ear.

"Are you okay?

" he whispered, then kissed her again.

"Oh, Reth,

" she sighed, on the edge of tears again.

But before she could finish the thought, feet pounded in the hallway outside and Reth hurriedly yanked the furs up and over Elia's nakedness, snarling a growl as the door flew open to reveal a furious Aymora standing in the light of the tunnel outside.

"What the ** are you thinking, Reth? Both of you!

"

Reth's growl rolled, deep and aggressive, his instincts clearly pushing him to protect her from the potential threat of an angry lioness.

"Reth, it's okay,

" Elia whispered and tried to squeeze his fingers over her stomach. But just then her entire belly gave a sharp tug and she clenched around him again.

Reth groaned and raised his head from hers, turning to look at Aymora in the doorway, anger painted on every feature of his rugged face.

"Aymora. Get. Out.

"

"No, Reth, YOU get out! You can't mate right now! You'll get her contractions started again!

"

"I'm fine,

" Elia said, her voice shakier than it should have been, partly with nerves, partly from the pain of the cramp searing across her belly.

"Get. OUT!

" Reth snarled.

"Reth!

" Aymora snapped.

"Listen!

"

"Both of you, stop.

" Elia tried to make it a command, but it came out on a rush of breath as the entire lower half of her body seemed to suddenly bear down and pain speared through her.

Elia grunted and curled over her stomach, suddenly sick, her hands shaking as she refused to let go of Reth's hand.

"Elia?

" he asked quietly, shocked out of his anger.

"What's wrong?

"

"I'll b-be… f-fine—oh!

"

"Shit!

" Aymora strode into the room.

Reth snarled and started to rise, to pull out of Elia, but she didn't want him to leave, grasped for his arms and spluttered,

"No!

"

Half-sitting, still holding her hip, he snapped his head to look at her, his eyes sharp and zeroed in like a hawk about to dive.

"Elia, what's wrong?

"

"I just… I just…

" She couldn't quite get her breath. The pain in her stomach and lower back felt like someone had held a blade over the fire until it glowed red, then plunged it into her.

"She's going into labor again, you **ing idiot,

" Aymora snarled as she reached the end of the sleeping platform.

"Elia, I know you don't like this, but I need to examine you. You'll need to… separate yourselves so I can see if there's anything we can do.

"

Elia wanted to swear. And disappear. But instead she buried her face in her hands as Reth, whispering promises of Hades on Aymora, slid out of her and kissed her neck and her hair, breathed promises of more love, forever love in her ear, then pulled the furs up to Elia's chin and growled at Aymora to just give her a damn minute.

"A minute might be too long, Reth! If you've triggered actual labor, we might all be spending today delivering a cub. What the hell were you thinking?!

"

"I was thinking that my mate is finally returned and I needed her.

"

"Well, I hope it was worth it. After the night we had I can't believe you didn't think!

"

"Stop,

" Elia whispered, but neither of them heard her.

Another set of footsteps entered the room and Elia smelled wolf. For a moment her entire body tensed—which sent her back and stomach into another round of white-hot spasms.

"He couldn't keep it in his pants for five **ing hours!

" Aymora ranted.

"Can you get the tonic and the warming poultice. It could just be a response to the activity, but we need to get her relaxed immediately.

"

"Then stop y-yelling,

" Elia groaned into her hands.

"Please.

"

"Love, are you—

"

"Reth, get out of those furs, you've done enough.

"

"I am not leaving my mate!

"

"No one has to leave—

" Elia tried to say, but it turned into another groan and she dropped her hands to her belly, hugging it to her, suddenly not able to speak as the pain slammed into the base of her spine, like a truck barreling over her.

There wasn't anymore yelling then. Aymora's voice became all cool and calm collection as she put one hand to Elia's head and the other to the side of her belly.

"Hold on, sweetheart,

" she said softly as Jayah clinked bottles and rustled through bags somewhere else in the room.

"Try to breathe. Try to relax. And just hold on.

"

"Reth?

" Elia said in a tiny, wavering voice.

"I'm here, Love. I'm not going anywhere.

"