"That one," I said, gesturing to him with my chin.
"Good choice. He's kinda hot, huh?" Chloë added.
"If I didn't have Dean....mmm... His eyes are almost as green as yours get. But that isn't why I picked him," I quickly added.
"There is something about him. He has an innate goodness and drive to protect. We have to pick someone, and he seems like the best choice," Chloë said.
We casually walked past him.
"Ladies, can I speak to you a moment?" he asked.
Chloë fought to hide her smirk. "Sure detective. How can we help?" she said and smiled innocently.
He blinked a few times. It was a common reaction when men turned their full attention to Chloë. "I'm Detective Martin, and this is my partner Detective Daniels. Do you know this girl?" he asked and held up a picture of Cynthia. The picture had obviously been taken last night at the hospital because she was still bruised and bloody from her time with the auto-da-fé.
"That's Cynthia. We lived in the same dorm last year, and we have a class with her this quarter. Is she okay?" I asked.
"She went missing for a couple of days and then was dropped off at the ER. She was too traumatized to speak to us, but whoever did this to her shouldn't get away with this," he said.
"We aren't super close, so I'm not sure how much help we can be," Chloë began, "but I remember the other day she said she was going to speak to her advisor after class. Maybe he saw her talking to someone?"
Detective Martin pulled a card out of his jacket pocket. "If you think of anything else, give me a call."
I took his card and watched as he and his partner stopped other students.
When he was out of earshot, I turned to Chloë. "What the hell was that? You barely said anything. How is that going to cast the suspicion onto Dr. Tuttle?"
"Detective Hottie—" she began.
"Martin," I interrupted.
"Right. Anyway, he strikes me as particularly intelligent. He's going to go and speak to Dr. Tuttle. He has a natural intuition. He'll figure it out," she finished.
"And we were just two girls who overheard Cynthia say she was going to talk to her advisor. That was subtly brilliant," I thought aloud. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text. "Let's ditch class and go shopping. Leah and Jo are going to meet us at the campus café."
We arrived first and got a table by the window. Jo and Leah walked in a couple of moments later, but Leah turned around and ran back out.
"That was weird. I'm going to see if she is okay," I told Chloë and Jo. I stepped outside and found Leah dry heaving over the bushes out front. "What's wrong?" I asked, rubbing her back.
"I don't know. The smell made me feel sick," she rasped.
"She doesn't look so good," Chloë commented after she joined us outside.
Jo went to her sister's side. "She's been throwing up a lot since this morning."
"Do we get sick?" I asked. "I mean, I've never been sick. I never thought much about it. I thought I just had a strong immune system, but now that I think about it...I've never seen any of you guys sick either."
"I've never heard of any supernatural getting anything even as little as a cold. She was injured. Maybe she's still healing?" Chloë suggested, equally as confused.
"I'm all healed. I just feel sick, but it's passing. I don't want to get coffee though if that is all right with you guys," she said weakly.
"Do you have any idea what this is?" Jo asked, worry laced through her voice.
"I have one idea, but no... It isn't possible... Right?" Chloë began.
"Right now I'm clueless, so if you even have a hunch, spit it out," Jo demanded.
"Maybe we should make a detour to the pharmacy before we go shopping," Chloë said.
I felt my eyes pop open. Surely she wasn't suggesting that Leah was pregnant. That had to be impossible. I was pretty certain that my vampire half ruined my chances of being a mother. I'd gotten on birth control on the off chance I was wrong, but I felt certain that wasn't an option for me. Maybe I was wrong.
"There's a Safeway a couple of blocks away," I told Jo, "It looks like Leah could use some fresh air."
Jo nodded, and we walked away from the café, earning a few odd looks because of our short stay inside.
We walked inside and made a beeline for the family planning aisle, passing by the row with bandages and painkillers. Cynthia stood in front of dozens of brands of over-the-counter painkillers, looking disoriented.
"Hey," I said, trying not to scare her.
She looked up, and her face was still badly bruised.
"Sorry we couldn't take away all of the bruises," Chloë apologized.
Cynthia nodded. "You all saved me. I've been such a bitch to you, but you saved me anyway. I'm sorry for how I've acted."
"How are your sister and your boyfriend?" I asked.
"My sister is in shock, but she seems to be recovering. My boyfriend hasn't spoken a single word. I'm not sure he's going to recover from everything he went through," she said softly.
"What about you?" Chloë asked her.
"I...I...I don't know honestly. I knew there was something different about you, but I didn't know you were what kept the things that go bump in the night away. I was just so jealous of you. I mean, you’re beautiful, rich, and you have Finn. That was hard for me to swallow. I've always been the popular one, but I felt like nothing next to you. Then I met Brad, and I didn't care anymore," she said and shrugged.
"I guess my life doesn't look so great when you know what I'm expected to fight against," Chloë said.
"I certainly wouldn't trade places with you," Cynthia said with a small smile.
"Listen. I'm sure you don't want anything more to do with magic, but we do have special medical facilities that can help your boyfriend recover, both physically and mentally. All three of you can go there if you'd like," Chloë offered.
"The bitch in me wants to say no, but I know now that you aren't the freak I wanted to make you out to be. Can our parents visit us there?" she asked.
"Yes. We can make it seem like a normal, if not very privileged hospital," Chloë assured her.
"Thank you," Cynthia said simply.
Chloë gently patted her on the arm. "Just get better. Someone will be around to pick you up this afternoon. I'll message my mother and make the arrangements."
"Are you sure Marguerite will allow that?" I whispered.
Chloë nodded. "She told me to suggest it. She feels guilty for the damage Angeline left behind. If she hadn't helped summon the demon in the first place, Cynthia might never have been tortured. I just have to tell her the offer was accepted."
We found Leah and Jo staring at rows of pregnancy tests.
"Which one do I choose?" Leah whispered.
"Uh...let's grab three. One is bound to work," I suggested. We grabbed three boxes that advertized their accuracy and went to pay.
"Where do we go?" Leah asked nervously, eying the bag like it was going to bite her.
"I'll kick Cooper out and we can have the garage apartment all to ourselves," Jo offered.
It turned out that Cooper was working on his truck and too busy to notice our odd behavior. Dean and Finn were in the class that Chloë and I had blown off, and I had already received texts asking where we were. I put down my phone after reading the fifth text from Dean. I hadn't decided yet what I was going to tell him. This wasn't my secret to tell.
Dean
Anita was acting weird. First, she ditched class this afternoon without saying anything, and now, she wasn't returning any of my texts. I checked my phone again and still didn't have a message from her.
I saw Finn sneaking a peek at his phone. "Haven't heard from Chloë either?"
He stuck his phone back in his pocket and shook his head. "Not a word. We shouldn't have let them go by themselves this morning. Tuttle is still out there, and we let them go alone."
I shoved my books into my bag. "Yeah, I'm done for the day. I can't concentrate on class wi
th Anita not answering her messages. Let's go home and see if they went back there."
Once outside of town, I raced down the county roads. I peeled into the driveway and saw Chloë's car parked in its usual spot.
Cooper strolled out of the garage, wiping engine grease off his hands. "Aren't college students expected to go to class?" he said.
"Have you seen the girls?" I asked, not wanting to stand around bullshitting.
"Yeah. They went upstairs about an hour ago. I think I did something to piss Jo off, because she didn't even say hi to me."
Finn and I barreled up the stairs and threw open the door. The girls were sitting around in the living room, staring off into space. Leah was curled up on the couch with her head on her sister's lap while Jo was absentmindedly stroking her hair.
"What happened?" I asked, panicked.
Anita blinked several times as if she hadn't noticed us burst in the room. "Nothing ha—"
"Don't lie to me, Anita. The four of you are sitting here in a daze, so don't tell me nothing happened," I spit out.
Anita shot me a look that showed irritation and exhaustion. "There's nothing to fight this time, Dean. You'll find out soon enough. For now just let it be."
I took a deep breath. We didn't fight, and I wasn't going to pick one now no matter how irritated I was. "You didn't return any of my texts," I said, trying not to sound angry.
"You're pissed. Fine. But we've been dealing with something that I can't talk to you about right now," she shot back, her eyes flashing with controlled anger.
Finn must have realized that Anita and I were nearing dangerous territory and shoved me out of the room. "Come on. Let's leave the girls to their secrets," he said, shutting the door behind us.
"How are you not pissed too?" I asked.
"Chloë and I have had our fair share of problems. We've learned how to fight. Now is not the time for you to figure that out. They will tell us when they are ready."
Anita ran down the stairs and walked up to me. "Can I borrow your truck?"
I raked my fingers through my hair. "You don't have to ask. You're my wife. If you need the truck, take it."
"I'm not keeping anything from you," she said softly. She reached up and brushed her hand across my jaw. "It isn't my secret to tell. And right now, I need to take Leah home. She isn't feeling well."
I stood there, confused, watching them drive off.
"Do we get sick?" Finn asked, saying aloud what was bothering me.
"No, we don't."
Grey
I heard tires crunch over the gravel in front of the house. I had no idea who it could be. Leah was in class with Chloë and Anita. I hated being away from her during the day, but I couldn't change it. I hoped she didn't get tired of what little I had to offer her. Her life was going to be limited being with me. I failed to see that I was enough considering what she would have to give up.
The door to the basement opened, and I stepped away to avoid the light. Leah walked into the room, and I immediately noticed that something was wrong. She looked tired and nauseated.
I was at her side in an instant. "What's wrong?" I asked, trying to hide my rising panic.
"You better sit," she said quietly.
I moved us to the sitting area and pulled her down next to me. "Leah, baby, tell me what's wrong. What can I do?"
"Nothing's wrong," she began. I looked at her pale complexion and obvious discomfort. She shook her head at my skeptical expression. "Really, I'm perfectly healthy. But..." she trailed off, fidgeting.
"But..." I encouraged her to continue.
"I'm pregnant," she blurted out.
My mouth fell open and I sucked in a breath I didn't need. How could this be? "Are you sure?" I asked, daring not to hope.
She nodded several times. "Jo, Chloë, and Anita took me to the store today after I threw up in the bushes outside the coffee place Chloë and Anita like. We bought three pregnancy tests, and they were all positive."
"How do you feel about this?" I asked. Please be happy, I silently begged.
She cocked her head to the side and thought for an uncomfortably long time. Dammit, she was scared. What kind of baby would a vampire sire? Of course she wasn't okay with this.
"I can see the wheels turning in there. Stop. I'm shocked and a little scared because I'm only nineteen, but I'm mostly happy," she finally said.
"I didn't think about how young you are. Of course this must be a shock. But you, I mean… You want the baby, right?" I asked nervously.
She smiled at me, and I felt young again. "I've never wanted anything more than our family. You and this baby are all I'll ever want or need."
With those words, the millennium I'd lived fell away. For the first time since the end of my human life, I felt like I was living and not just existing.
Leah’s coming into my life had been a surprise. I’d never expected to find the other half of my soul. Honestly, I hadn't been sure I still had a soul until I’d felt it stir with the news that I was going to be a father.
She started to nod off while sitting on the couch. I lifted her up and tucked her into our bed. Within moments, she was sleeping, curled up to my body. I brushed her ink-black hair away from her heart-shaped face and felt hopeful for the first time in ages.
It wouldn't always be peaceful. Our coven was bound to be tested again, but this moment was perfect. There would be fear and ignorant hatred directed at my family. My child was something never before seen in our world, and that would spark a reaction. None of that mattered right now, because right now, I had my woman safe by my side and our future growing inside her.
I was filled with lightness that I didn’t remember ever feeling and simultaneously with more worry than I'd ever felt. I wouldn't let the worry win out. My coven might bring an unusual amount of obligation and violence into my life, but there was also no stronger group of people to surround my child with.
The Central Coven was no longer just a group thrown together by the Council's desire for the ultimate weapon. The eight of us had become a family, one I would be happy to raise my child with.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on listening harder than I ever had before. I heard the soft inhale and exhale of Leah sleeping soundly. I heard the strong, steady rhythm of her heart, and finally, I heard the fast thrumming of another heartbeat. Focusing only on that sound, I too drifted off.
Finn
I walked outside and found Chloë leaning against one of the posts on the porch, watching the sun set. I walked up behind her, wrapped my arms around her, and watched as the sky seemed to catch fire before the sun finally slipped behind the trees.
"Is Dean still pissed?" she asked.
I shook my head and realized that she couldn't see me. "I think he's confused. They've never really argued before. It scares him."
"Are you out here to find out what we didn't tell you earlier? You only have to wait a little bit longer. It's almost dark now," she said, lifting her chin to the sky.
"No, I came out here for this," I said and squeezed her tighter.
"Who would have thought we would be the mature ones?" she giggled.
The thundering of feet vibrated through the house followed by a feminine screech and giggling.
"What was that?" she asked, looking back at the house, confused.
I chuckled at her innocent question. "That was the best part of a fight," I said, smirking. She scrunched up her face in confusion. "Make-up sex. My guess? Dean just chased Anita upstairs," I clarified.
"Maybe I don't want to be the mature ones," she said, her eyes briefly flashing green.
I kissed her forehead. "You can pick a fight with me later. I see one of Grey's cars coming down the drive."
I watched Grey get out of the car and instantly appear at the passenger’s side. He opened the door and carefully helped Leah out. It was like he thought she was made of glass. I'd seen the girl in battle. She was fierce. His treatment of her confused me.
Well, for a second at
least, until the scent of her pheromones reached me. "Holy shit!" I exclaimed. I pulled Chloë closer against me. She could feel the effect it had on me.
"I haven't picked a fight with you yet," she whispered huskily.
I dragged my nose across her skin, replacing the scent with the smell of Chloë. "You don't smell that? It smells like sunshine, flowers, and rain. It smells like—"
"Spring," she interrupted. "Like life."
"Exactly. So who goes to get Dean and Anita?" I asked.
"Ugh. Let's give them a few more minutes," she suggested.
Cooper and Jo walked down the path from the garage apartment. Cooper froze halfway to the house, and his eyes changed for a split second. "Shit," he muttered before releasing a booming laugh that echoed off the trees. He picked up Jo and spun her in a circle. "Can it be our turn next?" he whispered loudly.
"You want a baby?" she asked quietly. Cooper grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Okay," she agreed, smiling.
Cooper picked her up and draped her over his shoulder. "Fill us in later!" he shouted.
Dean and Anita came down the stairs. I watched as the pheromones hit Dean. A low rumble started in his chest, and he buried his face in Anita's neck.
"They can smell it, can't they?" Anita asked.
Chloë simply nodded. No one made a move to go inside. If Leah's pregnancy affected this strongly outside, confined space was probably a bad idea.
Grey looked happy. He watched Leah with reverence. I looked at Chloë and realized that she was studying me.
"They look happy," she said, smiling.
I couldn't help myself. I placed my hands on either side of her face and kissed her long and deep. I knew she was mine—mostly. I had a lingering fear that a small part of her heart would always belong to Grey. Her pure joy for them showed me that she was mine completely.
"You aren't going to tell me you want a baby now, are you? Because I am so not ready for that," she said against my lips.
I laughed. "You won't even marry me yet. No, let's graduate and get married before we have any kids."
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