“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.
“I can never repay you,” Malik said, his voice cracking once more.
Jonah shook his head. “You are my Leo and I’d like to think, my son. I would do anything for you.”
Malik blinked back tears and met Eliana’s gaze. She nodded, and Malik swallowed hard. “Will you be godfather? Will you be Penelope’s family?”
Jonah smiled. “I would be honored.”
Malik held his family close, knowing that he would be able to rule his Pride and find his own path with them at his side. He’d almost lost them once, he had lost Eliana more than once, and now he would ensure that would never happen again.
He was Leo. He was Eliana’s mate, Penelope’s father.
And he was home.
Epilogue
5 Years Later
Time changed in an instant. One minute, you’re drinking a beer with your friends, talking about the increasingly scary storm outside; the next you’re flying through the air with your body slamming into the nearest wall when lightning strikes. Or rather, when lightning strikes inside the room and hits you and six of your friends dead center.
Eliana looked around Dante’s Circle and knew her life had changed the night the lightning struck, yet she wouldn’t take that back for anything. Her life had changed again when she’d met Malik, and once more when she had her child.
Five years had passed since she’d risen from the ashes, and as she ran her fingers over her skin where the glamour covered that new feather, she knew she’d finally learned to take the changes in her life as they came.
Malik kissed her temple. “Doing okay?”
She smiled. “I’m doing fantastic. Though I still think it’s weird that we’re celebrating Pen’s fifth birthday in a bar.”
Her mate rolled his eyes before giving a shrug. “She wanted to see all her aunts and uncles, and this place is the easiest place for everyone to meet without having to deal with going to new realms.”