by Larissa Ione
Everything was falling apart. Her friends were dead, her guilt about what she’d done to Thanatos was raging, and now that Pestilence knew she was pregnant, her baby was in terrible danger. Regan sucked air, trying to keep from hyperventilating.
Didn’t work.
She pinged around the room like a ricocheting bullet, her mind a whirlwind as she tried to focus on something to alleviate her racing mind. When her gaze lit on a scattered collection of tiny pewter soldiers on Than’s dresser, that focus sharpened into a plan.
She fell on the little soldiers like a cat on a flock of chicks.
“They’re out of order,” she whispered, as she grouped the toys into trios, all perfectly spaced an inch apart. Next, she hit the wardrobe, where she rearranged Than’s clothes by color… which was easy, considering most everything was black. She spaced his hangers so there was an inch between each, and then she lined up the boots, running shoes, and flip-flops at the bottom of the wardrobe.
The bed. The bed was off-center in the room. And it was facing the wrong direction. The headboard needed to be beneath the window.
She shoved at it, but the thing must have been made from solid logs. She marched over to the door, whipped it open, and as suspected, there was a vampire standing guard a few feet away.
“What’s your name?”
“Peter.”
“Peter?” What kind of scary vampire name was that? His accent, Russian, she thought, was scarier than his name. And his slicked-back blond hair. Whatever. “I need your help,” she said crisply.
“I can get Thanatos.”
“I just need help moving the bed.”
He looked at her like she was a nutcase, but he shoved the giant thing where she wanted it. “The dresser, too. It needs to go three inches to the right.” She got another you’re insane look, but he moved the dresser.
When he finished, he hightailed it toward the door. He moved fast, too fast for her to shift out of his way, and his arm slammed into her shoulder on his way past. The next thing she knew, he was sailing through the air. At least, he was until the wall interrupted his flight and he crumpled to the floor.
“Oh, crap.” Regan started toward him. “Sorry. That hasn’t happened to any other vampires.”
Peter came to his feet, fangs bared. Fangs … wait, they were big, but not super-sized.
“Are you a daywalker?” she asked.
“Fuck no.” The way he said it, as if it was an insult, was curious.
“The one who tried to stop me from leaving earlier … is he a daywalker?”
“Was he, you mean? Yes, he was.”
Okay, well, that answered the question about whether or not Thanatos had killed him. But why would day-walkers be able to touch her, but not the common night-walkers?
“I should thank you,” Peter said. “He was a bastard. But watch your back, slayer. There are daywalkers who aren’t as thrilled about his demise as my night brethren and I are.” Peter left, this time giving her a wide berth. He might not be a scary vampire, but he was smart.
Regan pondered the new information and the fact that Peter had helped her by giving her a warning as she went to work on the drawers—dresser drawers, bathroom drawers… everything she could find. She didn’t come up with any reasonable explanations for the difference in the baby’s reaction to the vampires, but hey, Thanatos got his socks folded properly and his toothpaste tube rolled so there were no dents.
She set her sights on the window next… a window that was narrow, filled with thick, medieval-style glass. The bubbles in it, unevenly spaced and multiple sizes, were going to give her seizures. She couldn’t fix it, but she could hide it. Oh, it would still bother her, but hopefully if it was out of sight, she’d be okay.
She grabbed one of Than’s T-shirts from a drawer and stuffed it into the recessed sill against the window.
But when it fell, wadded up and wrinkled onto the bed, to the exact spot on the mattress where she and Thanatos had had sex, it struck her that no, nothing was ever going to be okay again.
Once everyone was out of his keep, Thanatos considered his next move. The last twenty-four hours had been a nightmare whirlwind, and unfortunately, he had a feeling that the nightmare was only just beginning.
Pestilence had managed to outsmart all of them, and if they couldn’t stop him, Than wouldn’t have a chance to enjoy fatherhood. And he definitely wanted to be a father. It was something he’d never thought he’d be, and as furious as he was with Regan for using him to get pregnant, he was just as thrilled that she was pregnant.
It was so fucked up. Her betrayal was giving him what he’d most wanted in life. Even more fucked up was the fact that he was stung by her betrayal, but still so damned possessive. He’d come uncorked when he’d seen Regan with Decker, and his inner caveman had done a cock-blocking, chest-pounding, you-mine bunch of bullshit with some growls and threats thrown in for good measure.
Then he’d compounded his stupidity by bringing sex into the situation again. But dammit, he’d been pissed when she’d begged to go back to The Aegis. She was pregnant, and it was his job to take care of her. He’d missed so much that he should have been a part of, and all he wanted was these last few days.
On his arm, Styx bucked, sensing Than’s agitation and still restless after months of inactivity. “Styx, out.”
The stallion materialized in the middle of the room and did a playful crowhop before looking around for his Jolly Ball. Styx loved to fling the thing around by the handle, especially inside the keep, where his aim—for breakable objects and vampires, was impressive.
Than left him to find his toy and went in search of Artur, whom he found in the kitchen, supervising the final touches on dinner.
“Sire.” Artur inclined his head in greeting. “I hear Styx. Shall I take a beer to him?”
The horse loved cheap beer, and Than figured giving him a can now and then wouldn’t hurt, seeing how Styx was pretty much immortal. “Send someone else. I need to talk to you.”
Artur assigned Viktor to beer duty, and followed Than outside into the courtyard just off the kitchen’s side entrance.
“Yes, Bludrexe?”
“Artur, I need baby things.”
From the way Artur’s brows shot up, what Than said was not what the vampire had been expecting to hear. “Baby things?”
What a weird conversation to be having with an ancient vampire. “You know, things babies need. Clothes and bottles and diapers. Stuff like that. Oh, and books. Definitely books. Can you do some shopping?”
“Ah … yes, sire.”
“Not too much,” Than said quickly. “Just the basics. I want to buy the other stuff myself.” Man, he was going to look like a fool in Babies “R” Us, wasn’t he? “And…” He trailed off, his cheeks heating. “And could you get some lotion? Something pregnant women use for stretch marks? And back rubs?” Regan had mentioned the stretch marks, and although Than hadn’t noticed any, he had seen the way she winced when she reached behind to her back.
“Yes, sire. Is that all?”
“I think so. Oh, wait. And something for swollen feet.”
“I’ll take care of it. Will you be killing any more of us today?” Artur’s tone was so deadpan that Thanatos had to rerun that last sentence in his mind a couple of times to make sure he’d heard it right. Of all Than’s vampires, only Artur would be brave enough to say that.
“No plans right now,” Than said. “But that could always change. Why? Are the others concerned?”
Artur inclined his head. “No one disputes your right to protect your female and son, but it’s not like you to be so out of control with us in your own home.”
Yeah, that was weighing on Thanatos, too. He’d snapped, had hardly realized what he’d done until it was over and Regan was gone. Had he kept his cool, the vampire would have been in the dungeon and Regan would never have been able to get out of the keep to get attacked by the frost demon.
The kitchen door opened, and Peter ste
pped out. “Your, um, the Aegi female is acting crazy.”
“You have to be more specific,” Than sighed, “since that seems to be her natural state.”
“She’s rearranging your room as if her life depends on it.”
Rearranging his room? No, not even close. Regan was rearranging his entire freaking life.
Thirteen
“Woman, what are you doing?”
Choking on a startled scream, Regan spun around to Than, who stood in the doorway, looking utterly perplexed. At some point, he’d changed into a pair of black leather pants and a black turtleneck that emphasized his hard, masculine body. Every feminine instinct she had came awake and started panting despite the inappropriateness of the situation.
“I’m rearranging.” At least her voice didn’t sound as breathless as she felt. “If I’m going to be a prisoner, I want to be a comfortable one.”
“You aren’t a prisoner.”
“Really?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Can I leave?”
He folded his arms across his chest in blatant mockery. “No.”
“So I’m curious about how that doesn’t make me a prisoner.”
“You’re here by necessity now, Regan.”
Grudgingly, she had to admit he was right. Not out loud, of course. Not when she knew damned good and well he’d keep her here even if she didn’t need to be for her own safety.
“So why are you here?” she asked. “To tell me more about the demon I woke in you?” The one he wanted her to … sate.
That thought shouldn’t make her pulse pick up the way it did.
His eyes flared with heat, and she waited for the raunchy comeback. “We need to talk. We can do it over dinner.”
Well, that wasn’t the response she’d expected. “Dinner?”
“Yes. It’s an interesting concept that’s been around as long as I can remember. Food is served at a table, and we eat it.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “There is something seriously wrong with you.” When he said nothing, she followed his gaze. Her belly. He was looking at her belly, and the expression on his face, one of tender longing, touched her someplace deep inside. Someplace she hadn’t even known existed, but it was now all mushy and warm. “Than?” She said quietly, remembering Reaver asking her to be gentle with him. “You can touch, if you want.”
His gaze snapped up. “No. I…ah…”
“It’s okay.” Slowly, she took his hand and brought it toward her.
The moment she put his palm to her stomach, the baby kicked. A slow smile spread across Than’s face. God, she’d never seen anything so beautiful or sweet. This deadly, powerful warrior was lost to a tiny, unborn infant.
Heat swamped her… a strange heat that wasn’t entirely sexual. There was a connection between them, like a circuit that had been completed when Thanatos put his hand on her belly. The current surged through her veins, delivering a powerful punch of energy that made her vibrate. It was so corny, but Thanatos must have felt it, too, because his eyes were fastened on hers, their color shifting from yellow to gold, and the tattoos on his neck pulsing to the beat of her heart.
She swallowed as a tense, wonderful thrill charged the air between them. It was as if they were in a bubble where only they existed, the three of them somehow becoming a single unit.
His watch beeped, and as if startled out of a spell, he stepped back, breaking contact. The lovely energy cut off like a switch had been thrown, and the cool air swept in again, leaving her feeling oddly exposed. The baby made his displeasure known by doing something that felt like a karate lesson.
“So.” She cleared her throat of the sand that had settled in it. “What are we having for dinner?”
Thanatos gestured for her to follow. “Come see.” His voice was rough, edged with emotion, and she was happy she wasn’t alone in that. It was truly shocking how much she enjoyed the way his touch made her feel.
Eagerly, because she was starving, she followed him into the great room, which was empty except for a couple of Thanatos’s vampires. “Where is everyone?”
“They’ve been gone for a while now. You were rearranging my room for over two hours.”
“Nesting instinct.” She pretended not to notice Than’s dubious glance.
Regan inhaled, taking in the savory aromas coming from the kitchen. The trestle table along the far wall was set with two plates, one at the head and one at the corner. So many covered trays loaded one end of the table that, they could have been expecting a dinner party of twenty.
“How many people do you think I’m eating for?” she muttered as she approached the table.
“I didn’t know what you like, so I had my staff prepare several dishes.” He pulled out the side chair for her. She didn’t know why she was surprised by his manners, but she was.
She sank awkwardly into the seat, and when Than gripped her upper arm to help her, she was once again surprised. And flustered.
“Um, thank you.” She glanced at the huge spread. “But you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
He sat at the head of the table. “My son is inside you,” he said simply. “You need to eat.”
Right. Of course this was about the baby. Not that she’d expected anything else, but … it still smarted. And what was it Lance had said? That once she delivered the baby, she’d be nothing? He was being an ass, but what he’d said had gone to the very core of why she worked so hard at The Aegis, why she volunteered for everything, why she’d tried to become their expert on vampires and dhampires… all so she’d be useful. All so she’d be needed. They’d kept her close because of her soul-sucking gift, but now that it was gone, what if Lance was right?
The sudden urge to rearrange the silverware and food platters made her fingers twitch.
“Regan?” Thanatos gripped her hand. “Hey. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” She offered a shaky smile, and was relieved when one of his vamps strode out of the kitchen with a steaming bowl. He stopped next to her and used a pair of tongs to lift a hot, wet towel into her hands. The light, lemony scent should have sparked her appetite, but somewhere in her head, her hunger had died.
As the vampire removed the lids from the dishes, she watched him, uncertain about his night or day status. He was big, but she didn’t get the daywalker vibe from him. Was it rude to ask?
She waited until he left to lean close to Than and ask quietly, “Was he a day or night vampire?”
“He’s a daywalker. Why?”
“Because earlier in my room, one of your night guys, Peter, brushed by me and got blasted across the room. I think only you and the daywalkers can touch me. Do you know why that would be?”
Thanatos’s expression shuttered, and when he spoke a flat, toneless, “No,” she got the distinct impression he was lying. Okay, new tack. “One of the vampires at headquarters…he called you Bludrexe. What does that mean?”
“I have no idea.” His tone was as bland as his expression.
“Well, I also got the same word from the vampire who tried to stop me from leaving. And I’ve read it somewhere before.”
Than gave a vague shrug. “Why the questions?”
Because I need The Aegis to need me. “Because I’m The Aegis’s resident vampire expert.” She turned her plate an inch clockwise so the Italian grape design was sitting straight. “Do you know how the daywalkers came into existence?”
“Why the hell would I know?”
“Maybe because you’re employing the only daywalkers we’ve ever come across.”
“And that’s why you kidnapped them? To find out how they came into existence?” His voice was as hard as the look he gave her. “What was the plan? Torture? Dissection?”
Yikes. He’d hit that nail on the head. “I didn’t know about their capture, Than. Neither did Kynan. He was just as pissed as I was. It was stupid of us to do that.”
He stared at her as if gauging the truth of what she’d said, and then he jerked his head toward the f
ood. “Eat.”
Resigned, she turned her attention to the food, and now that she got a good look at everything, her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
The table was a buffet of roast beef, fried chicken, spaghetti, enchiladas, a variety of side dishes, including a leafy green salad, pasta salad, steamed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, three kinds of breads, and two soups.
“This could feed an army,” she said, even as she dug into the mac and cheese—her favorite.
She loaded her plate with a scoop of everything except the roast beef, and it was only after she’d taken a dozen bites that she realized Thanatos wasn’t eating. He was just … watching her.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
His eyes darkened, and again, she expected some typical male answer full of subtext, an “Oh, yeah, I’m hungry, all right,” but this man was full of surprises.
“I’ll eat after I’m sure you’ve had enough.”
“Why?”
He glanced down at his empty plate and then back at her. “Because my people…the people who raised me… made sure pregnant women ate first and got the best food.”
Something fluttered in her chest. How could he be so rough and angry one minute, and yet respectful and attentive the next? She felt her guard slipping with every caring gesture and word, and it occurred to her that the danger he presented to her might not be merely physical.
She forced herself to concentrate on the food before she let her mind wander into places it didn’t belong. “But there’s so much here. Far more than I could eat in a month.” The baby wriggled, and she revised that thought. “A week, anyway.” When Than didn’t seem inclined to budge, she gestured to the platter laden with roast beef slices. “Beef hasn’t sat well with me for the last couple of months, so please, go ahead.”
Thanatos inclined his head in a polite nod and loaded his plate with beef and gravy. “Do you have cravings?”
“Food,” she said, and there went the fluttering again at his low chuckle. “Any food. You name it, I want it.” She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. “I try to eat as large a variety as I can so the little guy develops a taste for lots of different ethnic dishes. I read somewhere that a varied diet can prevent picky eaters, both in the womb and then later when toddlers are eating solids.” Than looked at her as if she’d grown another head. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
