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“You really believe that?” His fingers curl tighter around mine, sending a lightning bolt of hope flashing through my chest.
“I do,” I promise. “With all my heart.”
“Then you’re as naïve and childish as I thought,” he says, squeezing my hand tight enough to make me flinch before he releases it and vanishes.
My jaw drops and a startled sound escapes my chest. I spin, searching the air and then the lawn and the street beyond, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
Still, I swear I can sense him nearby, lingering close enough to hopefully hear me as I shout, “I’m not naïve or childish. And I’m not giving up on you, Baron Blackmore.” I prop my hands on my hips, trusting my gut enough to add, “And if I want to get naked with every vampire in town, I will, and nothing you say can stop me.”
A soft growl echoes through the night, bringing a smile to my lips.
He can push me away all he wants, but Baron’s made it clear he isn’t as immune to the connection between us as he would like me to believe.
And that’s a reason for hope, no matter how small.
* * *
The next morning, I’m up bright and early to help Kitty fix breakfast for the family.
Most of my sisters are still scattered to the wind, but with Casey and Amy here, Sophie popping over almost every morning before work for tea, and Blaire and Darcy shacked up in the basement, it’s starting to feel like old times, back when our love-filled cottage in the Maine woods was my whole world—save one major exception.
I would like my world, and my family circle, to expand a bit. Preferably before the baby is born. Call me old fashioned, but I’d like my partner by my side as I face the daunting task of childbirth and raising what might be a vampire baby.
I’m not sure how the genetics of something like this work, but I’m betting a baby conceived by a vampire and a half witch-half wyvern is going to be something special.
And challenging…
“Casey, can I talk to you?” I whisper as a sleepy-looking, wild-haired Blaire collects Amy in her arms and totes her down to the basement for Darcy to feed. The Most Adorable Baby Ever to Sprout Horns still isn’t a fan of shifter blood first thing in the morning, even when we warm it on the stove and put a little cinnamon in it to mask the “been in cold storage” bitterness Darcy says occasionally sets in.
But Amy tolerates it well enough at lunch and dinner and Casey feels confident her daughter will soon transition to taking her morning feeding from the fridge, too, instead of Darcy’s throat. In the meantime, Darcy seems to be relishing the excuse to stay with Blaire instead of moving them both into his home on the Blackmore estate. He’s a stuffy gentleman from way back, but he clearly enjoys the chaos and laughter in our crumbling home, and I can’t blame him.
We’re a rather delightful crew, a fact proven when Casey gives Kitty’s eagerly wagging tentacle a hug and says, “Absolutely. Let’s talk. And then we’ll get dressed and hit the market. I’m making my famous turkey chili for dinner to celebrate my new gig.”
I clap my hands with a soft squeal. “Congratulations! You got the job? I was afraid to ask at the Pug and Crone last night. The bartender on duty looked cranky.”
“She is,” Casey says with a laugh as she collects her plate of scrambled eggs and toast. “Probably because she hasn’t had a night off in six months, since the other bartender quit. Emily, the owner, said her entire crew is jazzed for some fresh blood.” She sticks out her tongue. “Sorry. Bad choice of words. Amy’s weird eating habits are rubbing off on me.” She slides her plate onto the table and angles her long body into her chair. “Anyway, I start training tomorrow and will be on the schedule soon. Thank Goddess the daycare has evening hours, since I’ll be working the night shift most of the time.”
“One of the benefits of living in a town with a large ‘only goes out at night’ population.” I collect my plate and sit down beside her. I wait until Darcy’s cat—Punky—has finished her bowl of cat food and sashayed off to nap in the sunny spot in the living room before I lean closer to my sister and whisper, “I need to talk about boys.”
Her lips twitch. “Okay. That’s exciting. But why are we whispering?”
“Punky is a terrible gossip and tells Blaire everything,” I say.
Casey’s brows shoot up. “The cat can talk?”
“Not to everyone, but she communicates telepathically with Blaire and has never met a secret she won’t spill in exchange for a toy mouse filled with catnip.” I glance toward the living room, making sure the cat hasn’t decided to come back into the kitchen before I add, “And I don’t want Blaire to worry.”
“Why would she be worried?” Casey frowns and points her fork my way. “Is this boy a bad-for-you boy?”
“I don’t think so, but he does.” I sigh. “And Blaire might think so, too. Hooking up with a vampire is okay for her, apparently, but she almost lost her mind when she thought I was going to marry Colin.”
“Well, vampires can be…intense. And Blaire knows you want to have children someday. Vampires can’t have children, right?”
“Right,” I say, but something in my tone must tip Casey off that I’m not telling her the complete truth.
She leans in closer, her eyes wide. “Is that not true? If so, you’d better tell Blaire—ASAP—because I’m pretty sure she and Darcy aren’t using protection. And you know Blaire has always wanted to be the cool auntie, not a mom.”
“Blaire’s fine,” I say, somehow sure of it. Something deep in my bones is positive that what happened with Baron and me is a miraculous thing. Maybe it’s the future-telling Wyvern side of myself or my witchy knowing, but I’m not worried about Blaire and Darcy. I am, however, worried about time slipping through my fingers, especially after what Colin told me last night. “But I’m not fine. I have to make this man see how perfect we are for each other, and I have to do it fast, before he leaves town.”
