by Michele Hauf
“I’m ready to get down on my hands and knees and play with blocks and in the sandbox,” he said. “Which reminds me, I want to put a sandbox out in the yard.”
“And swings.”
“And slides and go-carts. Everything. Ah, I should have done that before the snow fell.”
“You’ll have time in the spring before the little one starts toddling about.”
She closed her eyes, imagining chasing after a cooing, toddling child, but her thoughts averted to the very near future. Blu had gotten to know Lyric Santiago during their summer stays in Paris. Lyric was married to Vaillant, a vampire who, two days after his birth, had been taken from his parents, Rhys and Viviane Hawkes, by a sidhe to Faery in order to repay a bargain his father had made centuries earlier. The fact that Rhys Hawkes hadn’t been Vail’s blood father meant nothing at the time, because no one had been the wiser. Suffice it to say, Vail hadn’t returned to the mortal realm until decades later, and he’d been more than a little fucked up and pissed at his parents for giving him away.
Blu needed confirmation that what she had done was right. Hell, who was she kidding? It would never be right. But could it be reasoned she’d had to sacrifice one to save the other?
You had no idea you would have twins.
And she couldn’t keep the secret from Creed any longer and feel like she wasn’t betraying him. She needed his support.
She needed him.
Creed curled up beside her, head on her shoulder, and hand on her belly. She liked this maternal feeling of carrying life, of carrying on a family line, both hers and Creed’s. She was bringing life to this world.
And to the Faery realm.
“I have to tell you something,” she whispered. “It’s a confession. Something I should have told you months ago.”
“You can tell me anything, Blu. Is it difficult doing daily things? You’ve become so round. I’m sure you’re tired all the time. You need to rest more.”
“It’s not that. Nearly seven months and I look like I’m ready to burst, but surprisingly, I have a lot of energy. You give me that energy. What I need to tell you is…” She huffed out her breath and Creed sat up, turning to face her.
“Whatever it is, you know you can tell me. We can work through anything, yes?”
“Have you ever wondered how I was able to get pregnant?”
Creed opened his mouth, but did not respond. He looked aside. Surely he had figured it out?
“I called a faery to this realm to ask for a boon.” She spread a hand over her belly. “The boon of carrying a vampire’s child.”
He put his hand over hers, and their fingers clasped above a tiny kick.
Blu decided one of her children was giving her the kick because it was about damn time she told Daddy her deed. “You must have suspected?”
“Well, of course, that is how it was able to happen. There was no other way you could have possibly conceived my child—children.”
“Creed.” Heart pulsing so quickly she thought it would beat the rabbit, Blu spoke quickly, “I had to offer a return boon, and agreed to give the faery my firstborn child.”
The room stilled. The orchestral whispers in the background faded. Creed stood, looking down upon her, his expression unreadable. So handsome, his dark European features never failed to make her heart go pitter-patter. But now she was frightened he might react by lashing out. He’d never harmed her. But memories of her past, of being beaten and used by the pack, never left completely.
Wanting to get up, to face him—because she never backed down from anything, most especially the problems she had created—Blu struggled to lift her cumbersome weight, then gave up.
“I’m sorry, Creed. I thought it was something I could handle at the time. The faery said it was a boon so I could carry your child, and/or children, so I knew we could have more.”
“You gave up our firstborn?” he said, his tone unreadable. Was he angry? Surprised? Horrified?
All of the above, surely. And it was all her fault. She’d hurt him. She’d inflicted a wound upon their growing family that was only beginning to sink in now.
Blu nodded. Winced. “But everything is going to be okay. I’ve got two babies in here. Much as I cannot fathom giving one away, we’ll still have the other.”
Creed tilted back his head. His fists clenched at his sides. Not a pose she saw often. Her werewolf senses, heightened with pregnancy, picked up an acrid anger from his pores—or not. She didn’t know how to place him right now.
“Creed, please talk to me. What are you thinking?”
“I need some air.” And he dashed away, out the patio doors.
Mouth agape, Blu caught her head in her hands. “I’ve fucked things up. He hates me. Why did I do this?”
She smoothed a hand over her belly.
“I’m so sorry,” she said to her unborn children. “I wanted you so desperately, I had to sacrifice one of you.”
* * *
Snowflakes blanketing the ground, Creed kicked the fence gate, and charged through it and toward the back of the property. He slammed it behind him, and heard the latch snap off smartly.
What the hell had she done?
He let out an enraged burst, and then thought to himself. What the hell have I done?
* * *
It was midnight when Blu heard Creed wander into the bedroom and make a beeline for the shower. She sat in bed, e-reader propped on her belly.
Behind the bathroom door the shower stream clattered against the marble tiles. He hadn’t spoken a word to her since her confession earlier. Rarely—hell, never—did they go to bed angry with one another (save for the night she had drank his blood). They always talked things out, and generally followed with delicious makeup sex.
She wasn’t much for full-on sex, being as big as she was right now, but she craved his reassuring touch.
“He won’t touch me,” she whispered. “I’ve given away one of his children as if bundle of blankets to a homeless shelter.”
The shower stopped and Blu contemplated turning off the light and rolling over to fake sleep. She was no coward, though, and she wanted to talk about this. They needed to talk before she gave birth and all Hell broke lose. Make that Faery.
“I can’t do this alone.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. She clasped her hands over her belly. “I won’t. If I have to battle all of Faery, I won’t let them take my child.”
Creed wandered into the bedroom, a towel about his hips, and steam drifting from his gorgeous, tight muscles. Blu licked her lips even as she wiped away the tears. She would never tire of that view. An erection bobbed beneath the towel. The fact he was turned on by her now was heartening.
“Want me to take care of that?” she asked lightly as he slipped off the towel and slid into bed. “I’ve got some mad jack-off skills, as you well know.”
He kissed her, lingering on her mouth, nuzzling his nose against hers, and for a moment she believed he had forgiven her. “It’s impossible not to be turned on by you, bright one.” He smoothed a palm over her stomach. “And to see you round with my children is an even bigger turn-on.”
“Seriously? You go in for fat chicks?”
“You’re not fat, Blu. You’re abundant with life.”
He had such a way of putting things, she was constantly reminded why she had fallen in love with the enemy.
“I’m sorry about charging out on you earlier,” he said. “That was wrong. I needed some time
to think.”
“We’ve both been in the mood for contemplation lately. What’s happening to us, Creed?”
He sat facing her, and she wanted more than anything to pull him down to nestle his head against her belly, but she would let him play this one.
“Can you forgive me?” she asked, hating the wobble in her voice.
He kissed her belly. “There’s nothing to forgive. Had you not made the boon this wouldn’t have been possible. But Blu, I have a confession as well.”
“You don’t have to be pleased with me, Creed. You can hate me for this. Hell, if you want a divorce—”
He shook his head vehemently. “Don’t say things like that. Not ever. I love you , Blu. Good and bad. Thick and thin. Blood, howls and talons. I would never hate you for any of your actions. Don’t you know me better than that?”
She shrugged. “Then what’s your confession, my vampire husband?”
He clasped her hands in his, and didn’t speak right away. It was hard for him, and that troubled her. What dire news was he about to unleash upon her?
“I, too, called a faery to this realm and asked for the boon you might carry my child.”
“You did? When? How did you…?”
“I suspect it was on that same night you said you were going for a run under the full moon, and stayed out until the morning. You usually come in before the sun rises, so it was out of character for you.”
“That was the night. Sorry to lie to you.”
“Don’t apologize, Blu. I kept a secret from you as well. I got a spell from Rhys Hawkes, who has access to some faery magic thanks to his business, and the faery agreed to grant me the boon.”
“So we had double the power going into this. Go, Creed! Oh.” Her breath hushed out. No boon was ever given without a return boon. Now she understood his reluctance and his inability to look at her right now. “Our firstborn?” she tried.
Creed swallowed and bowed his head, and shook it slowly.
“What then? What more could a faery want?”
“I thought it a wise deal at the time. That perhaps it would be a bargain I might never have to make good on. But now it’s become the worst thing I can imagine.” He met her gaze with watery dark eyes. All his one thousand years seemed to crease upon his face and sadden his soul. “Blu, I promised the faery our second born.”
Chapter Eight
His confession out there in the air between them, Creed bowed his head to his wife’s belly. She stroked his hair, but he sensed it was an absent gesture for he had taken the breath from her, and neither of them spoke. He’d always enjoyed their shared silences. Now, the quiet felt like a stake to the heart.
They had, each of them separately, promised the faery a child. Neither could have known the consequences. Both must have been relieved to learn Blu carried twins; their hearts would not be completely broken, because one baby would be left in their arms.
Not so.
Why had he not promised the first? Because he’d thought it much better to promise the second. Perhaps then they would only have one child, and never have to face repaying such an unspeakable price.
“What have we done?” Blu’s voice shook. “Oh, Creed, both our babies?”
“Blu, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you had also made a promise. Hell, I had thought it my boon that had allowed you to conceive. But I won’t let the faery take them both. She can’t. I’ll do what I can. I’ll give myself for the babies.”
“No, Creed, don’t say that.” She bracketed his face with her warm, slender hands. Too fragile, even in her abundance. “I need you. You have to stay here with me, no matter what happens. Promise you won’t do something stupid like give away your soul, or even your life? Promise me!”
He nodded. “I promise. I vow it to you.” And he took vows seriously. A man was nothing without his word.
He couldn’t fathom being away from Blu. To lose a child he did not yet know would be, not easier, but perhaps less devastating. Already, though, he loved both children.
He swept a hand over his wife’s belly and she joined him. Blu must see her family line carried on. And he, how would he ever learn innocence if he did not have a child to teach him?
“This one is the fighter,” she said, sniffing at tears. Beneath their clasped hands a tiny fist or heel nudged up her belly. “The other is quiet. She’s kind of dark.”
“She is?” It was the first time he’d heard her label them as boy or girl, beyond fantasizing about it.
“I know she’s a girl. My sweet, quiet one. I’ve been thinking about names lately, but now…”
He clasped her head and kissed her fiercely, wanting to erase all the bad and make it all good. They had committed a grave sin against their unborn children, but now, more than ever, they needed to stand together, to face this as one.
“Tell me?” he asked. “Let’s talk about names.”
“Like nothing else matters? Like we didn’t give away our children?”
He nodded and winced. “Please?”
“Yes, we need to be positive. For the children.” Releasing a heavy sigh, she clasped his hand. “I like the name Kambriel for a girl. Kam for short. It’s dark yet regal. Girlie, too.”
“I like it. And if the other is a boy may I name him?”
“Of course. Do you have a name in mind?”
He hadn’t, but now he’d been asked, the obvious choice jumped into his brain. “My father’s name was Malakai.”
“I love that name. Kam and Kai?”
“Strong, vibrant names.”
“Creed, we’ve got to keep our children. We need to call that faery back and do something. I’ll die if I have to give them away. They’re mine. Ours.”
“I agree.” He spread his hands possessively over her belly. “We’ve been foolish for the sake of our greatest desire. But there’s no reason we must be punished so harshly for wanting a family.”
“Maybe she’ll agree to take one? Was it the same faery?”
“I don’t know. She was tall and thin, yet dark, and she had markings on her face. I didn’t get a name.”
“Neither did I. Creed, if it was the same faery, we might be able to deal with her, but if it was two different faeries…”
“Don’t think about it, Blu. Your emotions transfer to the children. We mustn’t allow this dire ordeal to affect them.”
“I’ve tried to keep my chin up. Now that I’ve finally told you I feel as if a weight has been lifted. But, oh…now it’s been replaced by a more crushing weight. Creed?”
They held each other’s gazes, desperation joining them in a wicked bond. They had betrayed their children, and one another. And yet, love had motivated their selfishness.
“Let me talk to Rhys Hawkes about this,” he said.
“Or Bree, she might know more than Hawkes.”
“Yes, but Rhys’s nephew is Vaillant.”
“The vampire who was taken to Faery as a baby. Oh, Creed, we’ve got to be smart about this. But we don’t have much time. A few more weeks, at the most.”
He kissed her belly and rested his head there, where a tiny heartbeat called to him. His future son or daughter. He would not suffer the faery to take either from him now. If it brought a war to his doorstep, he would stand and defend his own.
* * *
Two days later, Vaillant greeted Creed with a buss to both his cheeks. Frenchmen, Blu thought, as she observed from the doorway. How she loved them.
&nb
sp; The sexy vampire with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe walked over and kissed each of her cheeks, then stood back to look at her. “You’ve got the glow,” Vail remarked. “Gorgeous. How many months?”
“Seven.” She rubbed her belly. “I could go any week now. Good to see you again, Vail. How’s Lyric?”
“She sends her love and said you’re supposed to Skype her later. She wants to stare at your belly.”
“Will do.”
Vail chuckled. “I think she’s ready for another one herself.”
“Thank you for stopping by on such short notice,” Creed said as he led them into the living room, where Blu plopped onto the couch and put up her feet. “I appreciate your willingness to help us with our situation.”
“I was in the area with my brother Trystan—he’s here for a snowboarding competition up north—so it was easy enough to stop by.” Vail raked his fingers through his short dark hair, causing the silver chain bracelets at his wrist to clank together. “Sounds like you two have made a deal with the devil.”
“More like faeries,” Blu muttered.
“Even worse,” Vail said.
He paced before the coffee table, one hand hooked at his hip and pushing aside his black suit coat to reveal a silver-threaded black silk shirt. The silver studding his boots glinted, and Blu knew exactly what it was about the man that had attracted Lyric. Pure, unadulterated sex appeal.
“So, you each, on separate occasions, promised one of your children to some nameless faery?” Vail asked.
Creed sat next to Blu and took her hand. “Right. Blu promised our firstborn. I promised our second born. It was a foolish bargain, and now we want to know if there’s any way we can renegotiate the deal.”
“Was it made with the same faery?” Vail asked.
“Not sure.” Blu sighed. “Why would the same faery make such a cruel deal with the two of us?”
“Why not? Faeries are malicious and cold,” Vail said. “If given a choice, I’d much rather deal with the devil Himself.”
