by Claire Marta
Do I care who’s child you’re carrying? No. Because you’re my wife, so it’s mine regardless.
I can’t make you trust me. But I do prefer to have you here. Our family hasn’t been the same for months.
I don’t want to kill your uncle, not today at least. So leave if you must. But we will find you. And you won’t get to see your child if that’s your choice.”
My eyes narrow on my husband’s face. “Damien, you need to stop being an arsehole. If you touch me or my child there won’t be anyone or anything on this planet that will save you because I will hunt you down and I will kill you.” I huff back.
The bastard has the audacity to smile. “I see you grew a backbone while you were gone. Come. It’s been way too long since I’ve had my family in one place. And I don’t plan on having this fucking reunion on a damn airstrip.”
Nodding at the steward I let him know it’s okay to unload my bags. If my husband thinks he’s going to get away with his threats and bullying he’s soon going to learn his mistake.
As soon as I get close enough to him Damien pulls me into his arms. “Funny,” he says lowly, “but for some reason it feels like you were meant to be here. Who knew having a wife would change a small portion of me.
I’m glad you’ve come home, princess.
I’m not sorry for what I said today. I would hate for either of us to be without our family. But I won’t handle this type of separation again. And I will not have Garron anywhere near you.
The bastard betrayed my trust. He should die, but I’m feeling rather merciful today.”
“He saved my life. Got me out of the building before it exploded. I know he took me to France and yes I was pissed but he kept me safe from harm.” I murmur. “He might have broken trust but he did it for the right reasons and if he hadn’t I might not be standing here alive right now.”
“Are you really that naïve? There’s always a rendezvous point for a reason.
No, Garron did something that is unforgivable. Are you alive and well now? Perhaps. But he hid you from me.
I can tolerate Grey’s presence in your life as we need the Chevaliers. They’re your family and I won’t deny that. But Garron needs to stay very far away.”
I know Damien won’t ever forgive my uncle. As tiredness washes over me from the long flight I decide to let it go. There is no point arguing when I know my husband won’t listen. Feeling the baby kick I rub the spot trying to sooth her.
“I’m hungry, tired, and my back hurts can we please just get in the bloody car and go home.” I grumble.
There’s humor in his voice as he says. “Very well, this sounds like it’s going to be fun. And just so you know, you have permission to boss our siblings around.”
Lifting my chin I gaze at him innocently. “Just my siblings? Not my husband? I had eight hardened bodyguards running scared after I threatened to remove their dicks because they pissed me of trying to boss me about in France.”
“Don’t push your luck, princess. I might be persuaded, but I don’t scare easily.”
“We’ll see about that.” I reply trying to hide my smile as I clamber awkwardly into the back of the car. Damien hasn’t changed. He’s still the dominering arsehole I fell in love with.
Damien
It doesn’t take long to get from MacArthur airport to Phillip and Sheila’s house, but Ava manages to fall asleep on the way.
The transformation is jarring.
My wife is going to have a child in a handful of months and I am not mentally prepared for that.
Having her next to me in the car is scary enough. After all, I wasn’t sure Garron would actually allow her to come back to the states.
I should kill the bastard, but I don’t need to piss off my wife so soon after getting her back. Some battles aren’t worth it.
It was risky allowing them to land on a runway at the airport, but then everything is risky nowadays. And I wanted there to be too many humans about so Lucius would be discouraged from coming after us.
At the house I gently stroke Ava’s cheek, “Come, princess, food and a more suitable bed await us upstairs.”
Sighing softly she burrows into my touch before her amber eyes slowly open.
“Where are we now?” She asks voice sleepily as she frowns. “This is new.”
“Long Island. Remember? Phillip and Sheila bought this place a few years ago. It’s safe, for now. Don’t worry, one day we’ll be back in the cities. The beach isn’t too far away, though. That could be a nice outing.” She looks at me like I’m insane.
Perhaps I am. “Come now, princess. I may not be the hearts and flowers type of man, but in my forty-five years I have dated, not just fucked. I know how to woo a woman.”
“We’re already mated.” She points out still giving me an odd look. “You haven’t shown interest in wooing me even before that, fucking yes but...well not this.”
“I never claimed not to be an asshole,” I reply, helping her out of the car. “And before you start thinking it, no, this is not just because you’re pregnant.
If we had mated under different circumstances you would have been treated a little nicer.
If we would have fucked and if you would have agreed to see me again the first time we met at that party, it would have gone like this.
Now everything is backwards.
And I’m still an asshole, but I can be charming.”
I lead her into the house to where our family waits.
“Charming,” Sheila snorts. “You’re about as charming as a rattlesnake.”
“A very charming one though, sister.”
My wife’s posture changes slightly becoming stiff. She’s nervous to be around everyone again, I can tell by her expression.
“You said something about feeding and bed?” She asks her hand once more draped protectively over her swollen stomach.
“Yes, we’ll go up.
You don’t have to do that. Not here. You won’t betray us. You’re carrying a child. All the reasons we won’t hurt you. We don’t hurt innocents. We’re not our parents.
Plus, you’re our family.
Everyone here knows why you’re scared. Hopefully in time you can learn to be less afraid, and start to think of us as your family.”
Our family backs away slowly, like one would handle a wild animal. Gently I take Ava’s arm and begin leading her upstairs.
Thanks to Garron we have to start all over with the trust issues.
Glancing down at the princess I can see tears sparkling in her eyes. Whatever she’s thinking, it’s hurting her.
“Even if it’s not yours, Damien?” The words are a barely breathy whisper but I hear them as we reach the top of the stairs.
Cupping her face in my hands I wipe her tears. “You’re my wife, aren’t you?” She nods. “Then that child is mine.
Would I prefer it to have my blood? Of course. But we don’t hurt innocents. And we don’t turn away from family, unless they turn away from us first.
We can only count on each other, Ava.” She gasps at my use of her name, but this is important. I need her to understand that.
“Do not be afraid. Our family won’t judge you. They’ll take care of you. That’s a promise.”
Arms shaking she wraps them round my waist her cheek resting on my chest. “I’m glad I came back then. It’s been...hard the last few months without you all. I didn’t even know if you were all alive until recently.”
It takes all my well practiced control not to let her know how I feel about that. I wish I had it in me to kill Garron now. But we’ve lost so much in this war already. It’s not worth it.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Ava
ROLLING OVER I FIND DAMIEN’S side of the bed empty. After letting me feed my fill from the blood packs they have stored he laid with me until I fell asleep.
Murmuring, I touch the sheets confirm that they’re cold. He’s been gone a while.
Not once has he tried to touch me in a sexual wa
y. He avoids my stomach as much as he can. As if he cannot come to terms with the fact that I am with child. I can only guess his shock. The last time we saw each other I wasn’t even showing and now you would have to be blind not to notice.
Rearranging the pillows I lounge back in the huge luxurious bed. Although some of my fears remain his words of reassurance have gone some way to soothing my worries. If he had wanted to hurt me I know in my heart he would have done so on the airstrip.
All his threats hurt, but then when hasn’t Damien threatened me? Yet, he also seems different. His comment about wanting to woo me I still find odd.
Maybe it’s true what he said. If we had been two completely different people who had hooked up at the party with families not as fucked-up as ours, are maybe things would have been different.
How different would our relationship have been?
Lying quietly I stare up at the ceiling. I don’t want to think about the past. Tears sting my eyes at the thought of Kylie. Her loss still weighs heavily, even with so much happening since she died. She would have liked to have seen my daughter.
Damien is going to accept the baby. Calling me family like he had started before I left was one thing, but the fact he is going to accept a child that might not even be his makes me love him even more.
The knock at the door startles me.
Clumsily I try to sit up. I never undressed so I don’t have to worry about nakedness. At my call it opens.
Oscar opens the door. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
Tracking his movements I watch him slowly enter the room. He moves to the other side far as way as possible as if he’s frightened to startle me.
“I wanted to see how you we’re feeling now that you’re back. How you were when you were away as well. I know you overthink things.” His tone is the same one from our sessions before I left.
Strangely since first opening up I had no trouble talking to Oscar and even with several months absence it just feels natural to talk to him again.
“It feels weird being back in the states.” I admit, trying to smooth down my messy shoulder length hair while wondering if Damien noticed the difference.
“And?”
“I still can’t believe Damien is accepting my child. I’ve been terrified of his reaction after he told me he didn’t want a child on our wedding night.”
“You have to understand where my brother is coming from, sister. He’s a bastard. Only named heir because he happened to be two days older than Phillip. Damien’s life was on the line every single day. The only reason Lucius hadn’t killed him was because he didn’t have a good reason to. After losing one son, you become protective over your children, bastards or not.
Damien knew the consequences if he mated or had a child. Lucius would be after him just that much more.
Plus, you know my brother. He’s not exactly what one would call warm.”
I smile at that. No Damien isn’t warm, but he’s more complex than the thug I first thought he was when he kidnapped me. And doesn’t that feel like a lifetime ago.
My fears at Lucius finding out about the baby bubble up but I push them aside. I am home now. I won’t let that bastard ruin this for me. Won’t live in fear, especially as this family, my family might kill him soon.
“I haven’t exactly come from a loving home either.” I point out shifting as my extra weight becomes uncomfortable. “I hope we can be better for her.”
“Her?” Oscar raises an eyebrow. “I saw the sonogram Grey sent over, but it’s really a girl?” A grin stretches his lips. “Don’t tell Damien. I want to see his reaction when she’s born. Oh this is good, cold hard, asshole Damien will have a daughter.”
Patting my belly lovingly I laugh. “Your uncle Oscar wants to be an arsehole to your daddy.” I coo. “Although it’s going to be hard to pick a name that way.”
“Don’t tell me you wouldn’t love to see how he reacts? You’re part of this family, you need to start learning how to pick the best opportunities to poke and prod. Especially Damien and Michael. Those two are so much fun.
And names? I don’t think my brother would care too much. Unless it’s something stupid. Then he’ll change it behind your back.” Oscar sits down in the chair by the window. “Enough of that. We have plenty of time to discuss how to get a rise out of Damien.
Tell me, what has you so scared? Even now I can tell you’re uncomfortable being alone with me.”
He’s right I am. My worries still linger even though I know they are unfounded, but I can’t switch them off.
“I...when I first realised I was pregnant I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if Damien ever died. Phillip is next in line. Where I come from if there is an obstacle you remove it, even if that’s a child.
I know you’re all family and have strong ties, but after twenty-five years living under Jonathan Carr, a mindset like that isn’t easy to change. It’s taken me a long time to see the difference between you and him. But that doesn’t stop be fearing for my baby.”
Oscar taps his finger against his lips. Shifting forward so he’s sitting on the edge of the chair. “I’m only going to say this once, you need to understand and accept it as truth.
We’re rewriting the rules. The Rochester family has existed a long time. Playing by rules that were created long ago, you won’t find bonds as tight as ours most places.
My siblings and I are all we have, have been for years. That includes you now.
If something were to happen to Damien—let’s face it stubborn bastard will hang on until there isn’t a scrap left of him—but if something were to happen, Phillip will take responsibility.
You’d have to consent, but really, he’d do it anyway, he’s too much like Damien, way more than he’d like to admit. He’d raise your child as if it were his bastard. He’d claim it as his heir.
Which, is both good for you and bad. You know who our sister is. She’s not exactly the best role model.
But that child’s claim to the coven will be protected. Even if they decide to have children of their own. Which at this point I don’t know if they will.
But if so, you never have to worry. We’ll take care of you.” He sits back and studies me. “What else? What happened in France?”
His news is both soothing and unsettling. Imagining someone else raising my little girl hurts, although I know he’s right. I don’t even want to think about losing Damien.
Now I know I love him even, if I don’t ever admit it to him, I don’t want to be without him. He’s not soft. But he’s what I want.
“Nothing...I don’t know.” I grumble. “Overthinking. Trying to get back here to you bastards, worrying about you all and hoping you didn’t get your arses blown up.”
Dropping his gaze I fidget with the blankets. “Hoping Lucius would be dead by the time I got back here...hoping...hoping Ivan wasn’t breathing anymore and I wouldn’t have to worry about ever seeing the Russian bastard again.”
Oscar lets out a small laugh. “I think we’re corrupting you, sister. You sounded like a Rochester right then.
I’m sorry to tell you that Lucius is still alive and that fucking savage has gone dark.” A murderous look crosses over his face. “I can tell you that the bitch who bore your asshole husband is dead. It was quick and messy and I know it messed with Damien’s head. He hated her so much, killing her is going to feed the dark side of him for a long time.
Also, I hope you weren’t attached to your childhood home. We let the Benson brothers blow it up. Along with ours.
Our allies have gone home for now, so you’ll see more of Sheila’s brothers around. They’re just as dangerous as her. But if you ever need anything, you can track one of the red headed bastards down and they’ll accommodate you.
Now, tell me about Garron. We’re not pleased with how he stole you away.
We know you think he was doing what was best, but he went against orders. Everyone reported to the check-in except him.
The thought of Damien coming after me gives me a warming feeling inside, if the only reason he didn’t was because he was injured...it must have been horrible.
“How bad was it?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
“Fucker’s lucky to be alive. You’ve seen Michael. Notice he no longer has most of his right arm. He was too close to the blast. Debris from the roof fell on him.
Same with Damien more or less. Only the fucker slammed back first into a tree. Cracked his spine. He made it worse because with all the adrenaline and worry over Michael he decided getting up and walking around the danger zone was a good fucking idea.
To be honest it’s a fucking miracle he didn’t die after that.
He was out for three days. Went through two bags of vampire blood and about four human bags.
Also I had to feed him my own once he woke up and he found out you were gone. I just barely got it in his system in time.”
I had almost lost him. The thought makes me feel sick and dizzy. Clutching my stomach I breathe through my nose until the nausea passes.
Michael’s arm. I can’t even imagine what it feels like to lose a limb. Something that despite being a vampire will never grow back.
“When the blast went off we were thrown forward outside. Garron saw how I was trying to protect my stomach and I think realising I was pregnant spooked him.” I say answering his earlier question. “That’s the reason he decided to take me away.
Oscar, my uncle lost his sister and older brother. He’s just as loyal to his family as all of you are to this one. Losing them...it’s made him feel guilty.
I think removing me to France he was overcompensating. Maybe I am naïve and shouldn’t trust him, but he saved me.
If he hadn’t done what he did that night I might not be sitting here now. I saw my father’s allies after the house went up in flames.
The place was crawling with them. There was no guarantee we could have gotten away to the meeting point.
I know what he did was wrong but I can’t hate him for that, or want him dead because of it like Damien does.”
