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“Are you sure? You should’ve seen Sawyer and Monroe’s faces when I pulverized the donor’s heart. They were afraid. They’re probably still afraid, which is why they sent you here.” I heave a breath, trying not to think about it.
“Oh, Hayley. Those guys are only afraid of losing you. What you saw was their fear toward what can happen if how powerful you truly are gets out. They know you’re a badass. You’re incomparable to anyone. And it scares them that it makes you a target.” Knox tightens his fingers around my hand, giving it a little shake. “But they’ll see there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Why is that?” Because I am fucking terrified now that he mentions it. I know that Alexander no longer underestimates me. Probably why he hasn’t had the nerve to come here and face me himself.
“You can and will destroy anyone who tries to hurt us. We’ll take control of the city. You will be the one who truly leads us.” Knox leans in and kisses me softly, sensually, without getting carried away. “And I think you will only get stronger and stronger. I think with your pregnancy, you will truly come into your nature as a dhampir.”
What that exactly means? I wish I knew. What is my nature, after all? Am I a vampire hunter? Am I a donor’s worst nightmare? How do I fit into this world where there is such a huge divide between donor and vampire.
I am an oddity. I just don’t fit.
“Now, come on. Let’s see exactly what we’re dealing with. We need to monitor how far along you are so we know exactly how much time we have to prepare.” Guiding me from the bathroom, Knox tugs me into his suite, taking me to where he has some strange machine next to the bed. It’s gleaming metal, lights, and some sort of band hanging from it. I haven’t ever seen one of them before.
“Why don’t you put on a robe and lay down while I figure out the ultrasound machine. It’s been several decades since I’ve messed with one, and this is not the kind of machine I was trained on in the back-world. Technology is far more advanced now.” Knox lets go of my hand and pats the top of the machine. “Do you want me to call the others? Or do you want to wait until we know for certain.”
Know for certain? I wonder if he might doubt that I’m truly pregnant. It’s funny how I never even questioned it, but now that I think about it... What if it was all in my head? What if I was manipulated into—fuck. I can’t think like that. I know what I remember is true. It has to be. It was the only saving grace of mine.
“Maybe just a quick look,” I say, strolling to the dresser. Instead of grabbing my robe, I pull out one of his shirts and a pair of my shorts, just wanting to wear something familiar that smells like Knox, even after being washed.
“You got it, vixen.” Knox wiggles his fingers, inviting me closer to him. “And it’s truly an honor to be able to share this moment with you. I hope you know that. I love you. No matter what.”
I twist my lips to the side and tap my index finger to my chin. “No matter what, huh? What if I—”
He chuckles and relocates me onto the bed. “No matter what. Now don’t be a brat. It just makes me want to bend you over and smack that cute ass. Maybe bite it. I enjoy when you’re a little bit wild.” Knox snaps his teeth together, pretending to try to bite me.
“Wow, if that’s what you want.” I surprise him by bowing forward and arching my back, popping my ass for him to get a view of.
He play-growls and swats me, making me laugh. I flip over onto my back and tease him by flashing my boobs. It’s far too much fun to mess around with them. It’s so easy to forget everything when we’re just being silly.
He shakes his head and chuckles, grabbing the strange clear belt from the machine. I don’t even get a chance to move before he grabs my shirt and rolls it up, exposing my breasts at the same time he rubs a cool, jelly-like substance over my abdomen.
The sensation is enough to pebble my nipples and freeze me in my spot. Knox wags his eyebrows and reaches up, caressing my breasts once more before pulling my T-shirt down and draping a clear band across my stomach.
He taps a couple buttons on the machine, and I startle at the bright light that glows from the band, sending a projection across the wall.
And then I hear the heartbeat. Fast and strong, completely breathtaking.
Knox intakes a soft breath, staring at the screen on the machine and turning his gaze toward the projection. “It’s measuring fourteen weeks according to the computer. A bit ahead of my calculations, but not too far off. It’s a bit more difficult without knowing your last menstruation.”
Fourteen weeks. So it’s true. What I’m looking at on the screen in oranges and blacks is a 3D glimpse at my baby. I can’t believe it. Even with it wiggling and moving and the heart beating, I can’t believe that thing is inside of me. I’m going to be a mother.
Holy hell. I don’t know how to be a mother. I can barely take care of myself.
“Ten fingers. Ten toes. No fangs that I can see.” Knox grazes his hand over the clear band rubbing across my stomach. “It can’t be any more real than this. We’re going to be parents, vixen.”
I blink a few times as my emotions get the best of me. Tears well in my eyes, but they’re not because I’m sad or scared. It’s because I’m happy. I never imagined this kind of life, and despite everything I’ve been through, it all led to this moment, seeing this beautiful piece of me and one of my guys growing inside me. It’s unreal. It’s better than anything I could’ve ever dreamed of.
“Call the others. We need them here. They need to see our baby.” I lick my lips, unable to keep my eyes away from the projection.
Knox pulls out his com device and hesitates, reading something flashing across the screen. Tightening his jaw, he clears the message and clicks on his contacts, sending a message to the others.
It is as if they’re all waiting nearby because the door to Knox’s suite flings open and Monroe and Cooper nearly take each other out as they try to come in at the same time with Sawyer behind them.
“Did you see—” Sawyer snaps his mouth shut, whipping his attention to the projection on the wall.
“Oh shit.” Cooper steps closer, scrubbing his hands over his cheeks. “It’s incredible.”
“It looks like a little alien. It’s like a little mini monster and as cute as our girl when she gets all wild.” Monroe hops on the bed, bouncing the mattress as he lies down beside me. Grabbing my chin, he turns me toward him and kisses me without hesitation, acting as if this is all normal and we didn’t just get the proof we needed to know for certain. It’s as if he didn’t have any doubt at all. And maybe he didn’t. “I’m going to need a picture, Knoxy. I’m going to show everyone.”
