Chapter Seven

Amir leaned against the headboard, palming his belly, certain he was imagining things. The power of suggestion was a genuine phenomenon—he'd read about it. When Gabriel announced to everyone the week before that he was pregnant, he'd been overtaken with the urge to bust out laughing.

But laughing at angels was bad form, so he'd fainted instead.

And now, as he ran a hand over the slight swell in his abdomen, he was back to questioning everything in his new reality. A baby growing inside him was its own type of madness, but giving birth?

Ezekiel assured him that his angelic genes, which were once dormant, were now active, and he was equipped with a womb to carry his and Dante's child. When the time came, it would open so he could safely deliver.

Dante stepped inside their room, his eyes widening as his gaze landed on him. "Why aren't you resting? You said you were so tired." He sat on the bed next to him, the mattress dipping from his weight. "Is something wrong?"

Amir chewed on his bottom lip. He shouldn't say anything until he was absolutely sure. He sucked in a sharp breath at the movement beneath his palm. Yeah, he was sure.

"I felt the baby kick, but that's impossible, right?"

Dante's eyes went wide, and he quickly replaced Amir's hand on his abdomen with his own.

"Not at all. Ezekiel said the gestation is quick compared to what you're familiar with as a human. You're already a quarter of the way through the pregnancy." Dante let out a whoop and a laugh. "I felt it! Yes, that was definitely a kick." He grabbed Amir, wrapping him in his arms. "I'm so happy I could explode." He let Amir go with a chuckle. "It's strange not to be so pissed off all the time." He grunted. "Who knew?"

A wave of uncertainty washed over him, drowning the joy he'd been luxuriating in. "Does that bother you?" He picked at the blanket fuzz. "You told me you're over three thousand years old. You've experienced so much, done so many amazing things. You've only known me a week." Tears welled up, burning his eyes and tickling his nose. "I've upset everything in your world, changed everything, forced you into being a father." A sob broke free. "No more bar hook-ups!"

"Oh, sweet angel, no one's forced me into anything." Dante gathered him onto his lap, and Amir curled into a ball with Dante cradling him. "Why would I want some smelly old bar hook-up when I can have my gorgeous mate?"

"Are you sure?" He sniffed, snaking his hand beneath the hem of Dante's loose, black silk shirt. "Because according to Michael, now that my angel side has been activated, you're stuck with me for eternity."

Dante nuzzled him behind his ear, humming. "Eternity isn't nearly long enough."

This time when tears came, they were from elation.

They held each other in silence for several minutes, Amir basking in the warmth of Dante's comforting embrace. Already, he associated the strong scent of cedar and pine with him. He'd noticed that all of the gargoyles shared a woodsy aroma, whereas the angels emitted a more flowery scent.

He'd thought about asking Dante if there was a reason for that, whether natural or cologne, but doubted that his possessive mate would appreciate that he was sniffing around other males. He actually wasn't, it was more that all of his senses had been heightened since they'd mated and the angelic blood activated.

Someday, as his angel was completely absorbed into his body, additional attributes would emerge. Uriel had been instructing him on what to expect and would be available to help him through his metamorphosis if needed. Once he'd mastered the art of shifting from his earthly form, he"d even be able to become invisible to humans. Plus, since he was now an immortal like Dante, they could always be together.

The tingles between his shoulder blades concerned him, though. They occurred at random moments, and while he'd learned from Uriel that the sensations were normal and part of his body preparing for his wings, he wasn't ready to discuss it with anyone else yet. Being able to carry a child, in addition to everything else, was as much as he could handle right now.

Dante rubbed slow circles on his back, and he caressed the hard planes of Dante's chest and stomach in return. Ever since their first time, they hadn't been able to keep their hands off each other. They weren't jumping each other night and day, but touch had become almost mandatory when they were together.

Dante placed a kiss on top of his head, then nuzzled his curls. "Am I being too demanding of you?"

Amir gazed up at him. "How so?"

Dante gently took Amir"s hand and guided it between them, pressing it firmly against his rock-hard erection. The supple leather pants he wore added to the sensation of hardness against Amir"s palm, the soft hide accentuating the outline of Dante's impressive cock.

"I can't get enough of you, angel. But I'm a selfish bastard, lost in this unrelenting haze of need. I'm worried that I'm pressuring you too much for sex."

Dante appeared uncomfortable, his eyebrows dipping low and lips pressed together. Amir knew Dante was unfamiliar with sharing his emotions, but he could tell his mate was trying. Maybe he wasn't the only one with concerns about how new and sudden their relationship was.

Amir held Dante's gaze. "If I felt like you were pressuring me, I would say something. But the truth is, I can't get enough of you either."

To prove his point, he shifted his position, straddling Dante"s lap and pressing himself close. Dante let out a soft groan, his hands moving to Amir"s hips, clasping them gently. His eyes darkened, and Amir smiled at how easily the connection between them had formed. As Dante leaned in for a kiss, Amir placed a finger on his lips, halting him.

"I'm not as slick, though. Is that bad? Am I broken? I mean, I barely know about regular human sex, let alone supernatural boinking."

Dante barked out a laugh. "It's normal. Can I confess I asked Ezekiel for some info? I never cared about the mating process before." To Amir's astonishment, he blushed. "That was quite the interaction. Anyway, after the razzing subsided, Ezekiel said the slick would subside now that you were pregnant. Don't worry, though. I made sure to grab an alternative the last time I was up top." He winked.

"Wow. Okay. What about the…" Amir cleared his throat. The heat in his cheeks meant he was the one blushing now. "You know, the knot?"

Dante brushed his lips across Amir's forehead then pressed tiny kisses along his temple and down his face. He whispered against Amir's mouth, "Do you like it?"

Amir's breathing hitched. "Yeah. A lot."

"Good. I can use it whenever I want, it's only automatic when you're in heat."

He poked out his tongue, tracing it slowly across Amir's lips before teasing them apart. He took Amir's mouth, soft and slow until Amir was grinding down on Dante's hard bulge. Barely a few hours had passed since the last time Dante was inside him, and he was a bit sore, but fuck. He ached to be filled again, to feel Dante's knot expanding, stretching him, pushing against his gland until Dante's hand brought him to a glorious conclusion.

Dante broke the kiss, trailing kisses along his jawline then up to his ear. He gave the lobe a sharp bite. "Baby, sweet baby. I don't want to hurt you."

Amir stilled. "You won't."

He went back to running his palms up Dante's solid frame, tweaking a plump nipple. Dante clasped his wrist.

"Don't think I didn't notice you wincing when I finally pulled out this morning. That's why I initiated this discussion in the first place. It's important for you to know that despite the fact that I'm a greedy and pushy asshat, I care about you. My job is to protect you—even if that means protecting you from me."

A lump swelled in Amir's throat. Even though his emotions had been getting wonkier the past few days, he would've been affected by Dante's words anyway. Maybe Dante wasn't in love with him, but he would be a caring, protective mate for him and their baby.

"We could just use our mouths." Amir licked his lips. "Not that you'll get that much out of it, but I can try to be better this time."

Dante sighed. "Baby…" He gave him another soft kiss before pulling away, carding his fingers through Amir's hair. "I love it when you suck the tip, it feels amazing."

Amir ducked his head. "But you have to do the rest of the work. It doesn't seem fair."

He glanced up and was met with the sight of Dante's twitching mouth as if he was trying not to laugh. Amir frowned.

"What's so funny?"

"I-I…" Dante cleared his throat then took a deep breath before continuing. "Sorry. I'm not making fun of you, I give my solemn word. It's that some things are physically impossible. It doesn't have anything to do with what is or isn't fair."

Amir huffed. Now he was cranky. Yup. His emotions were still all over the place.

"Great. You're stuck with a mate who can't satisfy you. Yay."

Dante slid his hands underneath Amir's ass then flipped him onto his back. He hovered over him on all fours, staring down at him with a feral expression that only served to confuse Amir more than he already was. Instead of being pissy, he was back to being turned on.

Dante let out a growl "Hey. Didn't I just tell you how fucking hot you make me? And how many times have I nutted in the past week?" He grunted. "I can't believe my balls haven't shriveled up and fallen off by now."

Amir burst out laughing, and Dante gaped at him as if he doubted his mate's sanity. As hysterical tears leaked from his eyes, Dante started to chuckle, his laughter building until he too was losing control. After a couple of minutes, they both managed to get hold of themselves, sniffing and wiping their fingers beneath their eyes.

"Oh man, I think we both needed that." Dante rolled onto his side then gathered Amir to him, wrapping him up in his arms. "We need cut ourselves some slack, be patient as we adjust to our new life together."

Dante gave him a gentle squeeze. "But I assure you, I've never felt this type of happiness before. Regardless of the hook-ups or occasional steady relationship, I've never given a shit whether it turned into something permanent. I think I resisted claiming my Fated One because I felt nothing for those other men. I didn't hate them, didn't wish them harm." He snorted. "For the most part. But I shuddered to think of spending an eternity with the dudes."

He gave Amir another squeeze, adding a firm kiss to his head this time. "But with you, all my apathy has fallen away. The gray existence that's all I've known for thousands of years has been replaced with color and life, with a joy I never believed possible."

Amir's chest tightened. He wasn't sure, had no experience to draw from, but he thought he might be falling in love the tiniest bit. Reaching up to cup Dante's cheek, he stroked his thumb across his skin.

"I'm happy, too."

Silence stretched between them, the only sound in the room being their soft breathing. Then Dante smiled, his grin slowly spreading, illuminating his features. He leaned into Amir"s touch, his eyelashes fluttering shut.

He tipped back his head right as Dante lowered his, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that seemed to suspend time. Dante rested his hand on the back of Amir"s neck, his fingers warm and steady, a reassuring touch that mirrored the intensity of their connection. As he deepened the kiss, his tongue explored Amir"s mouth softly, sending a jolt of electricity down his spine.

This was more than Amir had expected to feel in such a short time. His heart pounded like a drum, the rhythm echoing throughout every limb, a testament to the depth of his emotions. Dante"s pulse had quickened too—erratic as if matching his own rhythm, a physical confirmation of the emotional connection they shared.

Right as the kiss deepened, a furious knocking sounded at the door, followed by Mal's anxious voice. "Dante! Are you in there? We've got an emergency!"

Dante groaned. "We've seriously got to get our own place." He pressed a final kiss to Amir's mouth then rose. "Sorry, baby." As he made his way to the door, he yelled, "Hang on, I'm coming!"

Amir rose from the bed, grabbing a sweater he'd left draped on Dante's fancy chair. Ever since his heat had subsided, he'd gone from sweltering to freezing. Being underground made him feel the dampness down to his bones. Dante was right. They needed their own place for many reasons.

He crept nearer to the door, curious about the urgent whispers between Dante and Mal. Dante had positioned himself in the threshold, his massive frame blocking Amir's view. While he knew it was Mal who'd been knocking, he didn't know who else might be in the hallway.

Right as he reached Dante, his fear-tinged words cut through.

"How does Lucifer know the Rogues have a second relic? Have they had it awhile?"

Amir gasped. Dante startled then stepped aside, pulling Amir close.It turned out that Mal was the only one at their door after all, but his furrowed brow and strained expression weren't reassuring.

Mal's features softened as he regarded him. "I'm sorry about this abrupt intrusion." He returned his attention to Dante. "I don't have all the details. Only a message from Michael ordering the Slayers from this and the other four lairs from the Western Hemisphere to meet him in the Hidden Caves."

"Mount Shasta?"

Mal nodded. "Yes. Be prepared. Michael has even given Lucifer permission to attend if he wants to."

Dante choke-coughed. "Holy…"

Mal winced. "Yeah. Exactly. Talk about awkward. They haven't been in each others' presence since before the pyramids were built."

Amir couldn't believe what he was hearing. If the situation wasn't so dire, he would've loved to hear firsthand accounts of historic events, grand civilizations, and epic tales from the ancient world. He imagined there was also plenty of juicy gossip to be had. Now that he was getting to know everyone better, his inner snoop needed all the details.

Dante looked down at him as he rubbed his back. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I can"t bring you with me—it's too dangerous. But Ezekiel will be here. He typically stays behind in situations like this in case his healing powers are needed. Plus, there will be Slayer Sentinels protecting the liar."

Amir was now less intrigued and more concerned. "Are you expecting a battle?"

He'd been so preoccupied with his own worries that he'd forgotten who his mate was, his main purpose as a gargoyle. Dante was a slayer, he was made to fight the evil, vicious Rogues that had torn his uncle apart. Amir swallowed past a lump in his throat. And unfortunately, he'd experienced firsthand what the brutal reality of fighting against Rogues was like.

Dante smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Everything will be fine. This is only a meeting to gather more information. After we get the details, Michael will decide our next move."

"But I heard you say something about the Rogues getting a second relic. If they only need three to take power, then we're in big trouble, right?"

Dante pulled him in for a hug, stroking his head with one hand and his back with the other. "We don't know that. And even if it's all true, we're strong. We've kept ahead of these fuckers for centuries." He grasped Amir's shoulders and locked eyes with him. "Everything's going to be okay, I promise."

Amir did his best to keep from crying. He couldn't face losing Dante, didn't want their child to never know their father. But he also needed to be strong, to show Dante he'd be fine so his mate could focus on his duties as a Slayer.

He finally managed a smile. "I'm not worried, Dante. I know you guys have got this."

Now, all he had to do was believe his own words.