Darnell crossed to the door and opened it a crack.
Étienne, Lisette, Tracy, Sheldon, Yuri, Stanislov, Ethan, and Edward all stood out in the hallway, expressions uncertain.
Étienne cleared his throat. “Everything all right in there?”
“Yes,” Darnell said, deadpan. “Why do you ask?”
Étienne pointed to the ceiling. “Because the house is about to collapse around us.”
Everyone in the quiet room looked to Seth.
Seth closed his eyes and drew in several deep, calming breaths.
The rumbling quieted. The quaking ceased.
Darnell addressed the others. “We’re fine. Thanks.”
Étienne was opening his mouth to speak when Darnell closed the door in their faces and leaned back against it.
“Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Marcus demanded and turned to Seth. “Who told you I bit Ami?”
“I did,” Darnell said.
“It was a misunderstanding,” she interjected, her body beginning to tremble. Marcus would be devastated when she told him.
Marcus looked around, face full of confusion. “A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?” He drew in another deep breath. “And what the hell is that smell? Did someone vomit in here or something?”
“I did,” Ami admitted.
Brow furrowing, Marcus moved to stand in front of her and cupped her face in his big hands. “I knew something was off earlier. What’s the matter, honey? Are you sick?”
“Ami doesn’t get sick,” David pronounced.
Marcus gave him an irritated glance. “Clearly, she does.”
“No,” Seth added, “she doesn’t.”
Marcus met Ami’s gaze, not yet understanding.
“Tell him,” Darnell murmured.
“I’m infected,” she whispered, tears again welling and spilling over her lashes.
Marcus stilled, his face draining of color. “What?”
“I’m transforming.”
“That’s impossible. You can’t be. I’ve never bitten you.”
“Was it a vampire?” Darnell asked.
Marcus’s eyes flashed amber. “A vampire bit you? When?”
“No. No vampire bit me.”
“Then who infected you?”
Ami stared up at him, saying nothing.
David suddenly swore, then Seth.
“What?” Darnell asked, frowning at them.
Seth dragged a hand down over his face. “Please tell me you use condoms, Marcus.”
“Of course I don’t,” he said, confusion crinkling his forehead. “Why would I need to? Our sperm die as soon as we ejaculate and the virus dies with them.”
“In a human female, yes,” David said. “But Ami isn’t human and her body possesses remarkable regenerative properties. If her body kept the sperm from dying, then . . .”
“I infected her?” Marcus concluded, his horrified gaze returning to Ami. “I infected you?”
She bit her lip. “It was an accident.”
“Do you think that matters to me?” he nearly shouted. Yanking her to him, he wrapped his arms around her in a crushing embrace fraught with fear. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just put it together today and—”
“You knew when I left.”
“I wasn’t completely sure until I threw up. I’ve never done that before. And I’m running a fever and . . . I didn’t know my sense of smell had become so acute until you told me you were surprised I could smell Tracy’s deodorant,” she told him, hugging him back. “I didn’t want to believe it.”
“You idiot!” Darnell shouted at Marcus. “How could you be so fucking stupid?”
“Darnell!” Ami bit out. “I said it was an accident!”
“Stepping on your toe is an accident, Ami,” Darnell protested. “Spilling your tea is an accident. This is fucking stupidity!” he bellowed, his fear for her plain.
Not wanting Marcus to condemn himself even more, Ami jumped to his defense, bickering with Darnell while Marcus silently held her, face buried in the crook of her neck, squeezing her tighter and tighter until his grip bordered on pain.
“Wait,” Seth said suddenly.
Ami and Darnell fell silent.
“Ami, what are your symptoms again?”
She saw a look pass between him and David.
“Fever. Nausea. Vomiting. Fatigue. A heightened sense of smell.”
Again, he and David shared a look.
“Everyone be quiet for a moment,” Seth commanded.
No one said a word.
A minute passed, during which Seth didn’t move.
David suddenly sucked in a breath. His eyes widened.
“You hear it?” Seth asked him.
“Yes.”
Marcus straightened. Keeping one arm around Ami, he faced the elder immortals. “Hear what?”
“Ami,” Seth said, “you aren’t infected with the virus.”
“I’m not?” Relief suffused her . . . until she realized they did not look relieved. “Then, what is it?”
David drew her gaze. “You’re pregnant.”
For the first time in a month, Melanie felt only happiness. She adored Bastien and felt so loved in return. They grew closer every day. They were going to marry.
And now they had their own home. No more watching every word spoken outside their bedroom because anyone could be listening. And would.
As Bastien guided her Chevy up the last stretch of a very long drive, the headlights fell upon a lovely one-story home. Melanie was still getting used to the way color appeared at night with her newly enhanced vision, but thought it was tan or some similar pale earth tone with white trim and dark shutters. Solar panels on the roof reflected the light of the moon overhead. A quaint front porch . . . was occupied.
Seth sat on the steps leading up to it.
Bastien pulled the car up close to the garage and parked.
As they exited the car and crunched their way up the gravel path, Seth rose.
He seemed . . . very somber. Or upset. His eyes were glowing a faint, entrancing gold.
“What’s up?” Bastien asked. He touched a hand to Melanie’s back.
Melanie leaned into his side.
“We have a situation.”
Oh, no. Not Cliff, she thought. Please, not Cliff. He’s been doing so well.
“It isn’t Cliff,” Seth told her.
“Then what is it?” Bastien asked.
Seth hesitated. His long hair, usually neatly combed and confined by a leather tie, was loose and disheveled as if he had run his hands through it repeatedly. “I’m betraying a confidence here. But I need your help.”
Melanie glanced up at Bastien. Judging by his puckered brow, he was picking up on their leader’s anxiety, too. “We’ll do whatever we can,” she said.
Bastien seconded her vow. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Seth drew in a deep breath. “Ami is pregnant.”
The stark declaration sent shock rippling through Melanie. Beside her, Bastien stopped breathing.
“I thought immortals were incapable of impregnating a mortal,” she said slowly.
Seth’s lips stretched in a tight smile that held no amusement. “Ami isn’t your ordinary mortal.”
“That moron!” Bastien blurted, face darkening with fury. “Of all the half-witted, imbecilic, numbnutted things to do! Didn’t he use condoms?”
“No. He thought it unnecessary because technically she’s mortal.”
“She isn’t human!” Bastien bellowed. “She heals at an accelerated rate! Did he never think that—”
Seth held up a hand. “He didn’t.”
Melanie studied the men. “Are you worried that Ami has become infected with the virus? Or are you worried that the fetus is infected?”
“Both,” Seth confided. “I can’t smell the virus on her, but . . . because her physiology is different . . . on her I may not be able to.”
Melanie understood their concern. There was no way of anticipating what the virus would do to her, if it would transform her or kill her. Make her vampire or immortal. And an infant . . .
Would the virus keep it from developing properly? From aging?
And what of Ami’s origins? Would a fetus that resulted from gifted one DNA and alien DNA combining be . . . healthy?
“How are they taking it?” she asked.
Seth shook his head. “Marcus is devastated and is doing his damnedest to hide it because Ami is thrilled. The primary reason she came here was because a virus used as a bioweapon by people from another solar system has rendered an overwhelming majority of the women on her planet either infertile or unable to carry a baby to term. Births are extremely rare on her home world, so . . . yeah. She’s excited.”
Bastien swore. “She doesn’t understand.”
“No,” Seth agreed, “she doesn’t.”
“You have to tell her,” Melanie said. “She deserves to know the truth.”
Seth met her gaze. “Would you talk to her? Examine her?”
“I don’t think she’ll—”
“She wants you to. I told her that, because difficult pregnancies are the norm now for her people, she would need nearly constant medical supervision by immortal healers and human physicians. David and I may have both delivered babies in the past—”
Bastien’s eyebrows rose. “You have?”
“But our overall knowledge of gestation and the various problems that can arise is limited. Unless her health is threatened, I’m not sure we would know what was normal and what wasn’t. I told her as much and . . . she asked that you examine her, Melanie, and guide her through her pregnancy.”
Melanie would be happy to do so. Ami must have lost her fear of Melanie while caring for her during her transformation. And, because Melanie had spent so much time studying the intricate differences in physiology between vampires and immortals, she was the most qualified to monitor the fetus—and Ami—for signs of infection.
“My specialty isn’t obstetrics, but I can read a lot faster now and can learn everything I need to know in very little time. I’ll get started tonight if you’d like.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough. Tell Chris what books and other materials you need and he’ll have them here by sunrise.”
“Great. I’ll do that.”
“I was also thinking of bringing in an immortal from Germany who has been doing his own research on the virus. He might know more about its effect on babies.”
“I’d welcome his knowledge.”
“David and I discussed it and . . . either he or I will remain here at his home in case anything goes wrong or she should need our healing abilities to help her carry the baby to term.”
Bastien said, “I know nothing about any of this, but I’ll do whatever I can to help, too. Anything you need, just say the word.”
Melanie knew he thought of Ami as a sister and was very protective of her.
Melanie felt protective of her, too. Ami had been the first in the Immortal Guardians’ world to offer Bastien friendship without strings attached. And Melanie had been one of the few people who had been told Ami’s true origins. Most believed her a gifted one.
“So,” Bastien broached hesitantly, “how are you going to keep this quiet?”
“I don’t think we can. We all missed the fetus’s heartbeat because the pregnancy is so new and babies just aren’t part of our world. I realize now that I heard it at dinner. I just assumed it was Slim. But, that heartbeat will grow stronger.”
“And Ami will get bigger,” Bastien added.
“What will you tell the others?” Melanie asked.
“I don’t know. We haven’t gotten that far. Hell, we just found out she’s pregnant twenty minutes ago.” He sighed and ran his hands down his face. “I’m sorry to lay this on you two. And on tonight of all nights. Congratulations on your engagement.”
Surprised, Melanie smiled. “Thank you. Although I think I kind of pushed him into it.”
Seth smiled. “No, you didn’t. He’s wanted to spend the rest of his life with you since before the network was attacked.”
Melanie looked up at Bastien. “Really?”
Bastien frowned at Seth. “If you’re as busy as you claim you are, how do you manage to spend so much time in my head?”
“It’s because I’m so busy that I spend time in your head. If I know what you’re thinking, I don’t have to worry about what you’ll do next. I already know it.”
Melanie took Bastien’s hand and spoke quickly to prevent him from pursuing the subject further. “Thank you for the house, Seth. We really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. I hope it will be to your liking.”
“What about Tanner?” Bastien asked. “Is he still going to be my Second?”
“Yes. The two of you work well together and he’s fervently loyal to you. There’s a small guesthouse in back for Tanner. That way he’ll be near enough to be here when you need him and far enough away to give you privacy.”
“Perfect.” Melanie looked forward to getting to know Bastien’s friend better.
Seth continued to look anxious. Somehow she thought that wasn’t a look he wore very often.
“Is there anything we can do for you?”
Much to her surprise, Bastien nodded. “Would you like to come in? Have something to eat? Chris said the kitchen is fully stocked.”
At last, Seth’s lips tilted up in a small smile. “Careful there. I might think you’re actually starting to like me.”
Bastien flipped him the bird.
Seth shook his head. “If I told you just how alike you and Roland are you would crap your pants.”
“Please, don’t,” Melanie quipped with a smile.
Both men laughed.
“Thank you for your gracious offer, but I need to check on something in Denmark. I just . . . needed to . . .”
“Talk?” she suggested softly.
He nodded. “Yes. Why don’t the two of you take the night off? Get a feel for the house. See what you’d like to change.”
“Make love in every room?” Bastien added with a teasing leer at Melanie.
She laughed.
As did Seth. “That would be my choice were I you. In fact, take tomorrow night off as well.” He drew out a pocket watch, flipped it open, and consulted the face. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Thank you both.”
“Stay safe,” Melanie told him.
Smiling, he nodded.
“Seth,” Bastien said suddenly.
Seth met his gaze.
Melanie waited for Bastien to speak. When he didn’t, she wondered if he might not be thinking what he wanted to say instead.
Seth smiled and clapped Bastien on the shoulder, then vanished.
“What did you say?” she asked curiously.
“Nothing,” he disclosed with a faint frown. “I wasn’t sure how to say it.”
“Well, what did you want to say?”
“I wanted to thank him.” Facing her, he reached out and toyed with the hair she had left loose. “If he hadn’t ignored all of the calls for my execution and taken me under his wing, I never would have found you.”
Smiling, Melanie leaned into him and kissed his chin. “I think he heard you.”
He hugged her close.
“So . . .” she said.
Bastien quirked an eyebrow. “So?”
“Every room, huh?”
A slow smile spread across his handsome features. “Every room.” He lifted her into his arms and started up the steps.
She wrapped her own arms around his neck. “Did you really know before the network was attacked that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“I may have fantasized about it a time or two. Or twenty. I just couldn’t let myself believe that you would want to spend the rest of yours with me. Especially after you were transformed. Eternity is a long time.”
She pressed her lip
s to his in a tender kiss. “Then I’ll have plenty of time to convince you I love you.”
He kissed her hard. “I don’t know what the hell you see in me, Melanie, but I am so glad you see it. I never thought I would be happy again.”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes. With you.”
She claimed his lips once more, stroked them with her tongue, heard his heartbeat pick up its pace.
He groaned. “I’d be happier if I could get the front door open without splintering it. Where the hell are those keys?”
Grinning, she dangled them in front of his face, then unlocked the front door. “Which room do you want to break in first?”
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Melanie flipped on the light switch just inside the door, illuminating a lovely living room.
Bastien grinned. “How about the living room?”
Melanie laughed as he kicked the door shut and headed for a nice, long, cushy sofa.
Did you miss the other books in the Immortal Guardians series?
DARKNESS DAWNS
In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts . . . where passion can last forever, if you’re willing to pay the price . . .
Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control . . .
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible—when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect . . .
NIGHT REIGNS
Dianne Duvall portrays a world of temptation, loyalty, and heartbreak . . . a world where danger and desire walk hand in hand . . .
Ami isn’t much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she’s no coward, and she’s no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn’t hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into . . .
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