She huffed. “I’m aware—and I could say the same thing to you about the company you keep.”
Rhys said nothing. He simply continued watching her.
Sighing, Gia decided to stop beating about the bush. “He’s going to want to meet her.”
The dragon bristled, invisible scales raising and settling just beyond her sight. “She is mine.”
Gia put her hands in her pockets. “Valeria is her own person. And she thinks she’s alone in the world. But she has family, including parents who have been searching for her for years, not to mention a brother who has been denied all knowledge of her,” she added with a nod down the hill.
“You weren’t exactly concerned for Valeria when she was out on the streets on her own,” Rhys snapped. “And she isn’t alone now. She has me.”
Gia had expected a much longer macho tirade, even a little Tarzan-like chest beating. However, after the single outburst, Rhys clamped his lips shut.
Gia sighed. “Look, we did what we could for her. For the most part, though, our hands were tied. They frequently are with that family. Not to mention that too much of our attention would have put a bigger spotlight on her. But circumstances have changed. Salvador is outside his family’s sphere. As long as first contact is limited to him, Valeria should be safe enough.”
“No.”
Gia raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you think you should let her decide? From what I hear, Valeria possesses a strikingly decisive mind and manner. And I don’t think she would like you making this decision for her.”
With that, Gia left him stewing. She waved, sinking through the rocks to join her mate at the bottom of the ridge.
“That looked like it got interesting,” Salvador observed.
“It did.” She gazed into his handsomely earnest face, grimacing slightly as she made a decision. So much for not interfering.
Taking his arm, she began to lead him away. “Salvador, I have to talk to you about something. It’s about your sister.”
Concern shadowed his face. “What is it? Did Lucia get in touch? Did something go wrong with her pregnancy?”
“No. Everything is fine as far as I know. That isn’t the sister I’m talking about.”
Salvador frowned. She slipped her arm into his, leading him away from the bluffs. “This is going to be a long story…”
Epilogue
Gia tried not to laugh as Diana nearly brained Alec with the Egyptian fertility statue he had brought to serve as a focal object during her delivery.
Fortunately for everyone in the room, the vampire had excellent reflexes. He snatched the heavy stone figurine out of the air before it crushed his temple, admonishing Diana with a gentle. “It’s okay, love. I completely understand your frustration, and I’m here for you.”
It was the hundredth or so time he’d said something like that, supportive and endlessly patient. It would have been only mildly annoying, but the fact he made these pronouncements while zipping back and forth across the room like a bee on cocaine negated their intended calming effect.
Predictably, her sister had had enough. “All right. That’s it. Get him out of here,” Diana hissed.
Salvador, returning from his kitchen with a bowl of boiled water and sterilized towels, gave Gia a nudge. “Maybe it’s time,” he stage-whispered.
“Hey,” Alec protested. “That is not why I—I mean, we—chose you to deliver our baby.”
“I’m sorry, Alec, but my first duty is to my patient,” Salvador said as he set the supplies on the table next to the bed. “And Diana can burn this place down if she’s doesn’t get her way, so out you go…”
Hiding her amusement, Gia clapped her hand on the vampire’s shoulder. “I’m afraid I have to side with your physician on this one. And for future reference, I think we’ve just established delivery rooms are no place for vampires.”
Pushing down on his shoulder, she sent him through the floor, shuttling him outside the cottage. He rose in front of the fire pit, but only up to his waist. She kept the rest of him securely bound to prevent him from running back inside.
Gia approached the window, calling out to him. “My apologies, but Diana needs you to stop driving her up the wall. She is trying to give birth to your child, for the Mother’s sake.”
She turned back to Salvador with a grin. “Have I told you how convenient I find these dirt floors?”
He laughed, but subsided quickly when Diana shot him a fiery glare. Head down, he checked under the sheet covering her legs. “You are fully dilated. You can start pushing.”
Diana set her lips in a mulish line. “I don’t think so.”
Salvador’s head drew back. “Excuse me, what now?” he asked, eyes widening.
Diana was firm. “I’ve changed my mind. I won’t be having any children today.”
With an understanding nod, Salvador rose to take her hand. “That is a very common sentiment during delivery, but I’m afraid there’s no turning back now.”
Sweat beaded on her hairline, Diana stubbornly shook her head. “Nope. Not gonna do it.”
Salvador grinned, showing his straight white teeth before he caught Gia’s eye and jerked his head significantly in Diana’s direction. “I think you should be the one holding the patient’s hand,” he suggested in a strained voice.
Gia hurried to take over before Di crushed all the bones in Salvador’s hand.
“Gia, I think this was a big mistake,” Diana whispered as if Salvador couldn’t hear them. “I don’t have a maternal bone in my body. This should be you. I really think you should be doing this instead of me. Can we swap? Don’t you know a spell for that?”
Reaching for a towel, Gia wiped her sister’s damp brow. “That would be black magic. So, no, that’s definitely not happening. But you need to stop worrying. You are going to be an amazing mom.”
Diana’s usual confidence was nowhere in sight. “I know you think you’re telling the truth, but you’re wrong. I don’t know how to do anything motherly. I don’t knit or sew, I don’t clean, and Mother knows I can’t cook.”
“So what?” Gia scoffed. “You don’t have to do any of those things. You can be the kind of mother who wields a sword and lops off a few heads before dinner. In my opinion, that’s the best kind. Let Alec do the cooking, cleaning, and diaper changing. He’s more maternal than all of us put together.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Diana acknowledged with a frown. “But I’m not sure that’s enough.”
“Maybe it isn’t.” Gia shrugged.
Diana shot her a disgusted glance before her fine features twisted with another contraction. “Reverse psychology. Now? Really?”
“What I was going to say is that you and Alec don’t have to do this alone. You have a literal village eager to help raise this baby. I can name over a dozen people in Telerin who would drop everything to babysit or do an aura cleanse—whatever you need. In fact, Nana told me if you don’t bring the baby by in the first few months, she’s going to stop making me tamales, so put that on your calendar now.”
Resting her hip on the bed, she gave Diana a squeeze. “Then there’s T’Kaieri. The Elders are working around the clock on a new baptism ceremony. Apparently, none of the existing ones are special enough for your child. Serin says they’ve been purifying the temple every day for weeks now.”
She leaned over to kiss her sister’s forehead. “And don’t forget this baby has three bad-ass aunties who will do whatever is necessary to help and guide her. And I don’t mean just the fun parts like teaching her how to ride the air currents or wield a mace. I mean the little things, too, like…”
She looked at Salvador, prompting him to help her out with a suggestion by waving her fingers.
“Like helping with potty training or when the baby gets croup,” he supplied, checking under the blanket one more time before giving Gia a thumbs-up.
“Okay, that last one is medical, so I’ll let you handle it,” she admitted, wrinkling her nose.
“I can help
with the first one, too.” He laughed. “My patients tend to come back for advice on that, so consider me an expert.” Salvador sighed, cocking his head as his expression turned rueful. “The things I brag about around you all come back to haunt me later…”
Gia giggled while Diana grunted. “Fine. All right. If I have to do this.”
“Good,” Salvador said. “Now, when you feel the next contraction, I want you to push.”
Gritting her teeth, Diana didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. A wooden picture frame on the dresser burst into flame, which said everything they needed to know. Gia smothered it before it became an issue.
The delivery was fairly quick after her sister began to cooperate. At least the first one was. Diana gave birth to a beautiful little girl, but no sooner had Salvador cleaned and swaddled her than a second head appeared.
Figuring one child was enough to keep Alec occupied, Gia released him, ushering him inside. “Uh, surprise?” she said, handing over his daughter before resuming her station next to Diana.
Bewildered, he cuddled the baby close. “What’s happening?”
“Alec, I love you, but please shut up,” Diana hissed, her face redder than Gia had ever seen it.
Holding Diana’s hand connected them more closely. It was obvious to Gia’s sense the second babe was a male, but he appeared to share his mother’s stubbornness. It took another hour and every bit of Salvador’s skills to coax him into the world.
“How did we not know it was twins?” Salvador appeared as confused as Gia was as he cleaned the baby boy.
“Well, the girl is what we thought,” she told the new parents. The gleam of Elemental magic in the sleepy girl’s eyes was unmistakable. Gia didn’t know if she would be a Fire like her mother, but the newborn girl had inherited one of the four elements. That much was clear.
With a nod from Diana, Gia took the boy from Salvador, holding him close for a detailed assessment.
“Well, I guess that explains that,” she said, gazing down at the baby boy. He blinked, then gave her a gummy toothless grin. “We didn’t know about the second babe for good reason. No heartbeat.”
“But vampires aren’t born,” Alec muttered, studying the boy’s bright blue and pupil-less eyes with trepidation. “Neither are Elementals for that matter.”
“Oh, this little guy isn’t a vampire,” Gia said, laying the child next to his sister. “For one, he’s warm-blooded.”
“Then what is he?” Diana whispered, eyeing her surprise second baby. She held the twins, one in each arm, then stared at Gia with wide eyes. “What are they?”
Gia crossed her arms, studying the next generation for a moment before smiling. “Something old… and something new.”
The End
Check out my other books written as Lucy Leroux! The steamy second installment of the hilarious Shifter’s Claim Series is available now.
Dmitri, a werewolf and thief-for-hire, finds his true mate under the worst possible circumstances—at 35,000 feet.
Free on Kindle Unlimited
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About the Author
L.B. Gilbert is another name for USA Today Bestselling Author Lucy Leroux.
L.B. spent years getting degrees from the most prestigious universities in America, including a PhD that she is not using at all. She moved to France for work and found love. She’s married now and has a polyglot 4 year old. The family moved back to California a few years ago.
She has always enjoyed reading books as far from her reality as possible but eventually the voices in her head told her to write her own. So far the voices are enjoying them. And judging by the awards, a few other people are as well. You can check out the geeky things she likes on Twitter or Facebook.
If you like a little more steam with your Fire, check out the author's award-winning Lucy Leroux titles, FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited.
www.elementalauthor.com
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www.authorlucyleroux.com
Other books by L.B. Gilbert
Discordia
A FREE Elemental’s Prequel Short
Fire Elemental Diana’s first solo mission is a disappointing one—stop a pack of carrion-eating fae from eating tourists in the Everglades. But then a Greek God’s relic complicates her simple case.
Free on Amazon
Fire
The Elementals Book One
A Readers’ Favorite Silver Medalist
A kick-ass heroine with pyrokinetic abilities and a license to kill. Enter Alec...vampire, scholar, and worst of all—fan. What could possibly go wrong?
Diana, the fire Elemental, is nearly burned out. Tired of traveling the world and losing innocent lives, she's slowly slipping into a depression that may consume her. But when she discovers that a child's life is in danger, she feels compelled to help. However, teaming up with one of the most powerful vampires in North America is the last thing she wants to do.
Academic scion, Alec Broussard prefers his studies over the opulent and vicious lifestyles of vampires. And when he learns of another missing child, Alec can't shake the suspicion that his coven may be to blame. Joining forces with an Elemental may be his only hope to save the child and clear his coven’s name.
As Diana and Alec work together to save the children, they must relinquish their prejudices and trust one another. In time, Alec is wearing down the walls around her. But just when their friendship intensifies, Alec's future is threatened. Now, it's up to Diana to save him before it's too late. Can this Elemental find the fire within her to protect him once and for all?
Kindle Unlimited
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Air
The Elementals Book Two
A Readers’ Favorite Silver Medalist
Despite being the junior Elemental, Logan’s never had to worry about failing a mission before. Not until an overgrown and annoyingly attractive shifter comes along.
Being an Elemental is in Logan’s blood. Hers is the gift of Air, a vast power she’s still struggling to control. Then a Were named Connell hunts her down. His wolf is missing, and he blames her.
A den of werewolves is the last place Logan wants to be. The testosterone alone is enough to make her choke. But she has a mystery to solve. She will find out who is stealing wolves even if kills her.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the enemy has planned…
Kindle Unlimited
Audible
Water
The Elementals Book Three
A Readers’ Favorite Five Star Read
Hellbent on seeking justice and answers for her mate’s mysterious disappearance, Serin takes no prisoners as she explores the truth. As a high-ranking elemental in ass-kicking stilettos, she embarks upon a perilous quest for vengeance.
In her manhunt, Serin encounters DEA agent Daniel Romero, who’s strangely connected to her bonded mate's vanishing. Teaming up with the officer forces Serin to accept the truth. Daniel just may be her destiny. And with time running out, Serin knows that she must protect her sisters and ignore the pull she has for Daniel. Come Hell or high water, Serin will put her life on the line to protect everyone--and everything she loves.
Kindle Unlimited
Earth
The Elementals Book Four
A madman is trying to kill off mother earth.
Earth Elemental Gia has been poisoned, and the only man who can heal her is the scion of the most evil witch family in history, Salvador. If she fails to trust him—or if putting her trust in him fails her—Mother Earth will die.
After a madman ingratiated himself to the Water Elementals, only to later betray them, Gia’s trust is shaken. But the same misogynist man who infected her with poison threatens to infect Mother Earth as well—an act that could change life on earth irrevocably…or end it forever.
A dangerous journey to the Mother is only half the battle. The real challenge comes in the form of what Gia must agree to once she arrives: wipe out the human race she’s spent her whole life protecting…or
wipe out the supernatural race she belongs to herself.
Kindle Unlimited
Kin Selection
A Shifter’s Claim Novella
Animal activist Deena Hammond had no idea the wolf cub she just rescued is a shifter—not until the Werewolf sent to recover him kidnaps her.
Saving a wolf cub from an animal testing facility changes everything for Deena Hammond, a feisty and dedicated animal activist. Determined to protect the innocent animal, Deena's shocked when the cub shifts into a small toddler right before her eyes.
Bound by honor to keep their existence a secret, Yogi, a wolf shifter, kidnaps Deena and brings her back to the cub's family. Knowing a hellion with curves likes hers is the ultimate temptation for the other males in his pack, Yogi stays close to Deena, fighting to keep his desire for her under control. But she just might ignite the animal within him.
Amazon
Eat You Up
A Shifter’s Claim Book Two
Dmitri, a werewolf and thief-for-hire, finds out his next job is to destroy his new mate’s career.
Dmitri, a high-end thief, is flying cross-country for a lucrative job when his destined mate is seated next to him. He manages to control himself on the flight by the skin on his teeth and only because their flight is diverted by a terrible storm.
The Elementals Collection Page 113
