Page 50 of Stolen Salvation

“No!”

“Yes. Those girls never had terminations. They were forced to be human incubators, and when they were done their babies were taken from them and they disappeared. Does that sound like something a man sworn to do no harm should be involved with?”

Her only answer was his sobs as he realised it was over, the dream, the myth. Charlie had pulled the blinkers from his eyes in spectacular fashion.

Guiding Charlie out of the shed, he pulled her to his chest, cupping her head with his palm. “I’ll call Watchdog and have someone come and deal with Nkosi.”

“How could he do that and think he was helping?”

Bishop shook his head. “I don’t know. People are messed up.”

Looking up at him from under her long lashes she sighed and then reached up to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Not giving up on me.”

“Never, Charlie. I’ll never give up on you, ever.”

Chapter 18

The last five days had been a mixed bag of challenges. Reaper was tiptoeing around her, and Noah was like a growly mama bear, protective and hovering. She kind of loved that second part, but she didn’t want Reaper thinking she held a grudge. Right now though, she had a bigger problem and no idea who to turn to about it.

“Hey, you okay?”

Charlie blinked an automatic smile tipping her lips as Snow walked into the room. She adored this woman who was part Disney Princess and all the cool parts of the villain.

“Yeah, fine. Just thinking.”

Rubbing her hands on her knees she stood and went to get more coffee from the pot on the island, but the smell caused a wave of nausea to sweep over her, further confirming her fears.

“You sure? You’ve gone an ugly shade of green.”

Lotus bounded into the room full of her usual energy and bluster. “Hey, what’s the shizz?”

“Charlie doesn’t feel well.”

Placing a hand over her tummy, she tried to argue that she was fine but every breath she took was to keep from hurling all over the floor.

“Oh no, what’s up? Is it catching?”

Duchess walked into the room and took an assessment of the situation before she pierced Charlie with a stare. The battle was lost as Lotus poured herself a coffee and Charlie ran for the nearest bathroom, barely making it through the door before she vomited everywhere.

On her knees, she finally sat back and took the cold washcloth Duchess handed her.

“Does he know?”

Charlie shook her head, not having the energy to speak for a second. Wiping her face she accepted the hand Duchess offered her and stood to splash her face again and rinse her mouth. “I’m not even sure myself, yet.”

Duchess crossed her arms and looked at her with a raised brow. Although they were the same age, she felt like Duchess definitely took the protective, motherly role inside the group, as did Valentina.

“Well, let’s fix that first.”

Duchess went to walk away but Charlie grabbed her arm, fear bitter in her mouth. Duchess stilled, her eyes moving over Charlie as her eyes stung with tears.

“I’m scared.”

Duchess’ features softened as she wrapped an arm around Charlie’s shoulders and guided her out of the small toilet and back toward the kitchen. Lotus and Snow both looked at her, Lotus with a buttered crumpet hanging out of her mouth. Funnily enough, that didn’t make the nausea any worse and had her tummy grumbling.