Page 4

CHAPTER 2

Becky sat at the table scrolling through her phone while Mira and Steve dealt with whatever was going on with Drew. She was trying to give them some privacy, but when Drew revealed that Steve had told her to kick someone in the willy, a chuckle escaped before she could stop it. Of course he had.

Glancing at her untouched breakfast, her grin slowly slipped. She’d actually woken up feeling pretty good this morning. Hell, she’d even managed to get out of bed without calling for Sloan, which hadn’t happened in a while. Her huge belly had made the simple task of getting out of bed every morning damn near impossible, and she hated having to call for him to help her. Not that Sloan cared. He never made her feel like she was bothering him, but still, he was a busy man and she liked being able to do things for herself when she could.

After getting dressed, she’d noticed her feet were more swollen than usual, but she remembered the same thing happening when she was pregnant with Frankie. With less than a month until her due date, she knew her body was getting ready for the baby. Just thinking about finally meeting the little one had excitement fluttering through her chest, right along with the damn heartburn that had started after one bite of scrambled eggs.

It still felt like a dream that she was pregnant with Sloan’s baby. She had always thought after having Frankie and going through her awful divorce that she was one and done, and honestly, she’d been okay with that. Frankie had been such a blessing, an easy baby who had grown into an amazing young man. She couldn’t have asked for more.

The one and done belief had been even more solidified when she married a full-blooded vampire. Having another baby wasn’t something she ever thought would be possible, and well, here she was, majorly pregnant and less than a month away from giving birth to her and Sloan’s baby.

Her hand automatically went to her stomach, and as if the baby felt her touch, a tiny foot kicked directly beneath her palm. Becky smiled, rubbing the spot, only to frown when a small cramp quickly followed. It wasn't anything horrible, barely more than a twinge, but enough to keep her hand where it was as she glanced across the kitchen. Daniel, Mira, and Steve were still talking to Drew, who seemed to have everyone's full attention.

“Something wrong with your breakfast?” Sid asked, making her jump.

After fixing her something to eat, he'd taken a plate to Lana, who was lying down in one of the rooms. Their due dates were only weeks apart, and while both of them had been lucky enough to have relatively easy pregnancies, the closer they got, the harder it seemed to become. Becky didn't remember being this exhausted when she'd carried Frankie, but then again, she'd been a hell of a lot younger.

“No, not at all.” Becky continued rubbing her stomach as another cramp tightened low in her belly. “Just having a little heartburn this morning. I'm sure Lana's dealing with the same thing. Comes with being pregnant... usually.”

“Why are you rubbing your stomach?” Sid frowned, completely ignoring her comment about his mate as his gaze dropped to her hand before shooting back to her face.

Surprised by the concern she saw there, Becky smiled. “Just a little cramping, but⁠—”

“No.” Sid immediately shook his head and backed away from her. “Where's Sloan? Hell, where's Slade and that new baby doctor lady? Ah... shit. What's her name?”

“Dawn,” Becky answered slowly, her smile slipping. “Sid, I'm fine.”

“Yeah, I've heard that before.” His eyes dropped suspiciously back to her stomach. “Dammit, why is it every time I'm around, you pregnant women are about to shoot a baby out with no doctor in sight and your man nowhere to be found?”

“Really, I'm fine.” Becky dropped her hand from her stomach, hoping that would calm him down, but another cramp hit, sharper this time, and she couldn't stop the grimace that crossed her face.

“Fine, huh?” Sid snorted, already pulling out his phone.

Before Becky could tell him to put the damn thing away, something fluttered past her face. Then another.

Frowning, she glanced toward the table as several butterflies landed in front of her. More drifted lazily through the kitchen, and when she looked up, she realized the entire room was filled with them. Her gaze immediately went to Mira and Steve, who were staring openmouthed at Drew.

Butterflies covered the little girl.

“Oh, Drew,” Kira said softly as she turned in a slow circle, taking in the sight around them.

“What in the hell is happening?” Sid growled, swatting at a butterfly fluttering dangerously close to his face. “How in the hell did these things get in my kitchen?”

“I have a feeling I know how.” Becky watched as Mira walked over and knelt in front of Drew.

“Honey, why didn't you come to me?” Mira asked, glancing at the butterflies before looking back at her daughter.

“Because you told Aunt Kira you didn't want me to be a witch.” Drew stared at the butterfly perched on her finger instead of meeting her mother's eyes. “And I didn't want you to be mad at me.”

Mira's expression softened instantly. “I'm not mad at you, Drew.” She pulled her into her arms and held her tight. “You should've come to me. Aunt Kira and I knew there was a chance you'd have the gift of magic. There's just a lot of responsibility that comes with it.”

“How clean are these things?” Sid grumbled from behind them, shooing butterflies away from the cooking counter. “Do they shit? Because I'm not cleaning up butterfly shit all damn day.”

Becky couldn't help the grin that tugged at her lips. Leave it to Sid to stand in the middle of something this beautiful and worry about butterfly shit. Leaning back in her chair, she lifted one finger, smiling when a butterfly immediately landed on it. They were beautiful, and strangely enough, watching them flutter peacefully around the room eased some of the tension she'd been carrying since the cramping started.

“Well, I think it's awesome, Drew Boo.” Steve scooped Drew into his arms, making her giggle as they both looked around at the butterflies. “But you should've told your mom. She and Aunt Kira are the most powerful witches around, and they're the ones who can teach you how to control this stuff. Your mom is just worried about you.”

“I know,” Drew sighed, her shoulders slumped.