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My hands balled into fists.
Even if the child survived, the Council had been hunting them down and killing them for centuries. Rarely did they grant clemency. My aunt Briar was one such exception, and that was only because she’d been turned, not born.
Fear formed an icy pit in my stomach. If anything happened to Sunday because of me... I didn’t know what I’d do. I couldn’t even meet the sun and end it all because of the blood running through my veins. I was as near to immortal as it got. Perhaps I could get Kingston to do the job; he’d seemed eager enough. He’d probably rejoice if given the opportunity to kill me. Not that I blamed him. I’d do the same if someone hurt her the way I had.
The look on her face when I’d reacted to the news would forever be burned into my mind. I’d crushed her, unintentionally. But the instant the word pregnant was uttered, all I saw was Death riding in on his pale white steed. Coming for her.
Because of me.
If I’d known there was a chance of getting her pregnant, I would have taken every precaution available to me. But I’d checked. She hadn’t been fertile. A small voice whispered in the back of my mind.Perhaps it isn’t yours.
But the sick, slithering feeling in my belly refused to latch onto the hope. I’d known I was going to kill her from the moment I first laid eyes on her. I just hadn’t planned on doing it this way. I’d been a fool to think I could have her and keep her. The stars weren’t on our side, proven only by the events leading up to this moment. Nothing had worked out in our favor yet; why would they start now?
There was only one person I could think of who might know how I could save her. I couldn’t think about the child. My priority was my mate. She could have more children, but I would never have another Sunday.
My hands shook so fiercely I struggled to dial Lucas on my phone. I finally managed after the third attempt. As I stood in the moonlit woods, surrounded by entrails and blood-soaked dirt, I waited for him to answer.
“Nephew, this is an unexpected surprise,” my uncle said, his voice not holding his usual sarcastic bite.
“I...” I had to clear my throat to get through the anxiety tightening everything in me. “I’ve killed her.”
“Already?”
“Oh, sod off. This isn’t a joking matter. Sunday’s pregnant.”
“That’s my boy. Virile and unstoppable. Your father will be glad someone is carrying on the Blackthorne name.”
My uncle’s lackadaisical manner was both infuriating and calming. This was Lucas’s way. And while I appreciated it on most occasions, I really needed him to be serious right now. This was a literal matter of life or death.
“I think you’re missing the point. Sunday’s a wolf. I’m a vampire. Any child of ours is doomed.”
“Oh, nephew, I’m so sorry. I forgot she was a shifter.”
Unbridled emotion hit me like a stake straight to the heart. The thickness in my throat grew unbearable as tears swam in my eyes. I was going to lose any hold I had on my control right here and now.
“I can’t lose her. She can’t die. Tell me she’s going to be all right, Lucas.”
My uncle’s voice was far gentler than I’d ever heard. “I can’t promise you that. But we will do everything in our power to save them both. When the time comes, bring her to us. We will help her through it.”
“If she dies... I won’t be far behind.” Even if I had to beg Kingston to kill me, I’d follow her into the next life.
“She wouldn’t want that, not if she’s your true mate.”
“I don’t care. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t do the same if it was Briar on the line.”
“What if the baby survives? Don’t you want to be there to raise your child?”
“I want it all. Desperately. Nothing would make me happier than building a family with Sunday, but not at the cost of her life.” This should be a time for celebrating. Instead things were strained and her life was in danger.
“I lost Briar once to death. All I could think about was the time I wasted not being with her. I would have given anything to have those moments I let slip through my fingers. Don’t be a stupid git because you’re afraid.”
“You’re right. Thank you, Uncle.”
“Anytime. I’m always here if you need me.”
I hung up, not really feeling much better as his words tumbled through my brain. Was fear enough of a reason to be separating myself from her right now? Could I live with myself if something happened and I’d wasted the time we could have had? Would I survive if I started to care about the baby only to lose it? To lose them both?
In another life, I would have been proud to have filled her with my child. Even now, knowing she was at risk, the thought of her belly swelling as the baby grew safely in her womb sent a wash of pure male pride through me.
I couldn’t get too attached to the baby. Not while working to find a way to save them. But I wouldn’t abandon Sunday. That’s all I seemed to do when things were hard. Run. I wouldn’t do it again. She deserved better than that.
I was her mate. It was time to start acting like it.
It was time to prove I’d do anything to save her.
