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“He’s taken her on an outing to the zoo. I didn’t realize Bec had never been to a zoo. Did you?”
Again, she looks confused. “A zoo? To see some animals?”
“Followed by lunch and a movie then dinner.”
“Do you think that’s appropriate?”
“I think it’s perfectly appropriate. Bec is feeling better, Grandmother. She needs to be out and doing things, normal things. She’s almost sixteen and, apart from doctor visits, she has spent more than a year in the house, much of it in her room.”
“Because she’s sick.”
When I hear a door open and close and footsteps upstairs, I glance over Salomé’s shoulder and smile to see Willow. She smiles back but waits there as I shift my gaze back to Salomé who has noticed my expression with displeasure.
“Excuse me, Grandmother. I’m taking my wife out. You’ll be on your own for dinner tonight.”
She purses her lips.
I don’t wait for a reply but head up to Willow, wrapping a hand around her hip and brushing my lips over hers. It’s so natural, yet so new. She sets her hands on my shoulders and her eyes are still closed when I draw back.
“Morning,” I say.
She blinks, licks her lips like maybe she was expecting more, and I find I like that. “I have a bone to pick with you,” she says, trying to sound angry.
“Well, it’ll have to wait. We need to pack an overnight bag. I’m taking you out.”
I take her hand and lead her back to the bedroom.
“Out where?” she asks as I take a duffel out of my closet and set it on the bed.
I notice the still-full breakfast tray. “You didn’t eat?” I go to her, touch her cheek, then her belly. “Do you feel well? Morning sickness? Your grandmother’s tea, it’s in the car. I forgot—”
She laughs. “I’m fine, Azrael. No morning sickness yet. Salomé brought that in this morning, and I don’t want to take a chance she’ll poison me.”
“She wouldn’t, Willow.” As I say it, a nagging sliver of doubt creases my brow.
“She doesn’t know yet, does she?” Willow asks.
I shake my head, the lightness of the morning quickly vanishing. “We’re not worrying about that today. We need a break from everything. Come on, get what you need to spend the night away. Just essentials.”
“That’s spontaneous of you. Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” I choose a suit for myself.
“Do I need a fancy dress?” she asks as she returns with a small bag of toiletries.
“Nope. I’ll take care of that.”
Fiona comes around the corner and wraps herself around Willow’s legs. She crouches down to pet the cat.
“If we’ll be gone overnight, I’ll need to bring her.”
“I’ll have someone drop her off with your family. We can pick her up on our way back. I’ll get her carrier.”
“You’re being really weird,” she says when I return with the carrier. I hear the strain in her voice as I try to coax the cat in. The asshole, of course, isn’t having it.
“I just want to get out of here, Willow. I think we both could use the change.”
“Okay,” she says, managing to get the cat settled without trouble.
I roll my eyes, take both carrier and duffel and walk Willow out, glad to see Salomé is nowhere to be found as we exit the house. We settle into my car after handing the cat off to one of the guards and instructing them to deliver her to the Wildblood home.
“I’d better text Raven that I’m fine. She’ll think something happened to me when she sees a stranger dropping Fiona off.”
I glance at Willow, the comment strange, but don’t say anything. That’s what today is about, I remind myself. A little time for us together, to build on the trust that allowed her to share her story about Caleb last night.
“Where should I tell her we’ll be?” she asks, giving me her sweetest smile.
“Nice try,” I say, squeezing her knee before shifting gears and pulling out of the gates. Two men follow discreetly. Willow must see me looking in the rearview mirror and glances over her shoulder.
“Is that for Caleb?”
I nod but don’t tell her what I learned from Ezra. I don’t want to worry her any more than she already is.
“Thanks for taking care of my family, too. That means a lot to me.”
I look at her. “I told you once that I’d protect you and I failed. Willow, I realize what you saw in that book… well, I understand you wouldn’t trust me, but I am telling you the truth. Nothing is going to happen to you or your family. Not at those idiots’ hands. And certainly not at my own.”
She searches my eyes. “For the baby?”
“What kind of question is that? For both of you.”
“I want…” she trails off, her eyes darkening as she bites her lip.
