“I…” she stutters again, shaking her head. But her eyes betray her, one hundred percent.
“Whatever Charles is paying you, we’ll give you double to report back the information we want,” I say. “As I’m sure you can guess, Charles isn’t the most wholesome character, and we want him out of our lives, away from our family.”
“So you’re going to help us steer the path,” Lexington says. I smile in appreciation. I love seeing him in take-charge situations such as this one. Rising to his full potential. “We need Mr. Allaway to think things aren’t going so well anymore. We need him to think that there’s a reason to deliver the baby early.”
“But your baby is perfectly healthy,” Dr. Dahl counters. She’s practically trembling.
“We know that,” I say. “But Charles needs to think there’s something wrong. You’re going to tell us some reason why you need to deliver by cesarean section in a believable timeframe for the child to survive. You’ll report it to Charles.”
“And we’ll be back in touch soon with further instructions,” Lexington says, staring the poor woman down. “Got it?”
She stares at us in terror, disbelief that this is actually happening.
She swallows once. A big, dramatic gulp.
And she nods.
“Now, what ailments are plaguing my fiancé or our baby?” Lexington requests, no bullshit.
“Can you reverse it?” I ask, staring at her from across the table.
Rose Salazar doesn’t back down, doesn’t look intimidated. She just stares at me, her eyes flicking over to Lexington.
“Look, I don’t want to ask any questions, don’t want any answers here,” I say, leaning forward. “I know you did this. I appreciate that you and Tove and Imogen protected me from Charles. But I need you to tell me: can you reverse it?”
She leans forward, running her finger along the rim of her water glass. “Why would you ask me to do something that would put you in so much danger?”
“We have a plan,” I say. “We’re keeping the details to ourselves, so certain players don’t get wind. But the time for action has to come sooner than delivery.”
Rose’s eyes slide over to Lexington, and she studies him. I’m not sure what she’s looking for.
“It won’t be easy,” she says. “It will take all three of us again.”
“Please,” Lexington says. “Without you on board, this whole plan won’t work.”
“We’ve already set it in motion,” I say, looking back at her. “We need you.”
She stares at me, and she’s totally unreadable. Which sets me on edge. Makes me nervous.
“You do this for me, and I’ll owe you another favor,” I say, my voice quiet. “I’ll make whatever you want.”
I feel Lexington’s eyes shift to me, confusion in them. But he doesn’t say a word, saving it for later.
Rose continues to study us, thinking everything over. “I’m surprised you’re willing to take such a risk, especially in your current condition and with everything that has happened during the last few months. But we’ll do it. And you will owe us.”
The ramifications of what we’ve just agreed to tightens my chest. My veins feel cold. But I nod my head.
“Thank you,” I say.
Rose stands, the conversation cut to an end. Lexington drops some bills on the table to pay for our dinner and follows us to the front doors.
“We’ll be in touch,” I say. “But plan on being in Boston on September third.”
She gives a tentative smile, nods her head, and without another word, she slips out the door, and into a waiting car.
“Oh my gosh,” Julie says, sinking into one of the couches in the huge living room. “Elle, that’s awful.”
The faces of everyone around us are grim. The annoyance they all seemed to feel toward me before we left for Silent Bend has evaporated. Now they only look at me with pity.
“I mean…” Ian struggles for words. “The baby should be okay, right? Hospitals do pretty amazing things these days.”
“The doctor thinks the baby has a good chance,” Lexington says. He holds my hand tightly. The expression on his face is so grim and devastated. He’s an incredible actor. “But this is serious. They can’t make any promises.”
“Ten weeks is incredibly premature,” I say, fixing my eyes on the floor. I’m hoping it’s coming across as empty and numb, which is my normal go-to when I’m dealing with too much. “The doctor warned us that there could be some serious complications.”
“I will have the very best doctors in the world flown in,” Cyrus says. He comes to kneel before me, pulling my hands into his. His eyes are wide, bright, terrified. “If there is anything that can be done to help you and the child, we will do it.”
I look up at him, and hope that I can carry on the ruse just a little longer. I swallow once, putting a little more emotion into my gaze, and nod. “Thank you,” I breathe quietly.
Lexington puts his hand on my back and I lean in to him, tucking my face into his chest.
We’ve just delivered the devastating news to the House of Martials that I have pre-eclampsia. It will be too dangerous for the both of us to carry to full term. The doctor has scheduled a C-section for September third, but medically there is a chance it may have to happen sooner. We aren’t sure what the outcome will be.
“Elle,” Duncan says. When I look up at him, I see in his eyes how sorry he is about how he reacted last week. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
“I can take any shifts you need at the apothecary,” Casey pops up.
Even Robert looks at me with pity, and I’m pretty sure he thinks nothing at all of me.
I shake my head. “There’s nothing we can do. Just keep living and hope and pray for the best.”
Some of them nod their heads and I almost feel bad for the grief we’re causing them all.
But the more of them that believe the story, the better our chances of Charles believing it, too.
“I think I better get home and get some sleep,” I say, standing. King Cyrus carefully helps me to my feet. “I just thought you all should know.”
While everyone is watching me, as if waiting for me to crack and splinter all over the floor, I see Lexington carefully slip Cyrus a note. He discreetly looks down at it, reading the hurriedly scribbled request. He looks up at Lexington, suspicion in his eyes, but nods his head just once.
Lexington and I say goodnight, and we head down the five flights of stairs from the enormous new penthouse, the new home to the House of Martials, to street level.
Neither of us says a word, cautious to not be overheard by strong vampire ears. So we walk three blocks before breathing a word.
“I think they all bought it,” Lexington says, looking back over his shoulder as we head home through the dark.
“I feel terrible,” I say. “Did you see the look on Ian’s face? On Cyrus’?”
Lexington nods. “You’re a pretty good little actress when you want to be.”
“Not near as good as you,” I say, bumping him with my shoulder.
“Not sure that’s something I should be proud of,” he says, looping his arms over my shoulders and hugging me tighter to him. “But being a good liar does come in handy every now and then.”
We get home and Lexington helps himself to a bag of donor blood while I make a late night snack. Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at my door.
“No one followed you over, right?” Lexington asks as he opens it and lets King Cyrus inside.
“No, they are organizing more search parties for Charles,” he says as he walks in and makes his way to the kitchen.
I sit at the island, eating a bowl of applesauce. And the look on Cyrus’ face just crushes my heart.
There are times when he wears his emotions right there on the surface. And my heart breaks for the wicked man.
“Everything we said back there was a lie,” I say, sitting up straighter. “I’m fine, the baby is perfectly healthy.?
??
Emotions spark in Cyrus’ eyes, and he takes a step forward.
“We have a plan to capture Charles,” Lexington steps forward, blocking Cyrus’ path. “But we’re going to need a little help from you, and a lot of digression.”
Cyrus looks from Lexington to me, uncertainty clouding his vision. But as he studies me, as understanding dawns in the back of his brain, a little smile curls on his lips.
“How can I help?”
We get legitimate, actual peace over the next two weeks.
I feel a little guilty that Ian is under so much stress, knowing his timeframe to find and kill Charles is shortened. Knowing how difficult it is for him to think there is a chance that his niece won’t make it through this ailment. He and all the Martials have really stepped up their game, hunting and searching day and night.
I do feel bad about that.
But I’m happy right now. Relaxed.
Lexington and I just get normal days. We plan our wedding. Hammer out all the details. Do the shopping we need to do for it. I go with Julie and we find a wedding dress. My options are limited somewhat, considering my growing stomach. I will be six months pregnant when we get married, after all.
Julie throws me a baby shower, which throws me off at first. But then I remind myself, they all think that I’m going to be delivering in three weeks.
I swallow hard at that. Because it means, in reality, that I will be delivering in just thirteen weeks.
“Do you realize she will be here in just under three months?” I ask, awe in my voice.
I sit in the rocking chair in the corner, my hands folded over my stomach. I watch as Lexington assembles the crib, a beautiful dark wood number, a gift from Valentina, Eva, and Po-Sun.
“Do you realize we’re getting married in five days?” He looks over at me, and I hope the way he’s looking at me never fades away.
“Wow,” I breathe, a happy smile pulling on my lips. “Five days.”
He tosses the pieces he’s working on assembling aside, and crawls over the floor over to me, kneeling in front of me, his hands braced on the arms of the chair.
His eyes burn into mine, so full of promise and wonder.
“I’ve never, ever been so happy, Elle,” he says, leaning in. “Thank you for being…everything that you are. For loving me.”
I bring my hands up to either side of his face. “Marry me?” I ask softly.
The smile on his face is brilliant. He leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips, nodding against them.
I blush, thinking of what is to come in a few days. Becoming his wife is such a big deal, yet nothing will really change.
Except what follows the wedding.
I’m a virgin.
Not necessarily by conscious choice. There just has never been anyone significant before Lexington. No one I ever felt close enough to let into my body, to connect with on that level. To open up to in a way that I know will change me.
And despite our closeness in the last few months, despite our engagement, he and I haven’t crossed that line yet. Not that it’s been talked about, not that we made some decision to wait.
Lexington just knows me so well. Knows me without having to ask.
I press my lips to his once more, my hands running down his body, appreciating the hard lines of him, the rises and falls.
And my face flushes hot at the thought of having all of him, every bit of him, in just a few days.
I hold the phone to my ear, listening to it ring and ring. Finally the voicemail catches on.
You’ve got Kai Ioane, you know what to do.
Beep.
“Kai,” I say, my throat feeling thick. “I… I just wanted to hear your voice. Talk to you about…everything, I guess.” I pause, taking a deep breath as I lean against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry for the way things went last time we saw each other. I don’t take it back, I just… You know.”
I bite my lower lip, to keep it from trembling. “I’m getting married in two days. And I wish you could be here. I know it’s too dangerous, but still. It’s not fair.” I take a deep breath, knowing I’m running out of time before I’m cut off. “Anyway. I just wanted to talk to you. I hope you call me back this time.”
I hang up, looking down at my screen, hoping it will ring, showing me a picture of his face. But it doesn’t.
He hasn’t returned any of my calls in weeks.
I can only hope that he is okay.
That he is alive.
“You okay?”
I look over my shoulder and see Lexington step out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel around his waist. But the expression on his face is one of genuine concern.
“Yeah,” I say. “No answer again.”
He walks toward me, placing his hands on my hips. “Probably for the best. He’s going to keep laying low while Cyrus is around. And he knows that the House is no longer on his side.”
“Just a few more weeks and Cyrus can leave,” I say, my eyes fixing on the edge of my bed, not really seeing anything.
“Hard to believe he’s already been here for over a month,” Lexington marvels. “Wow, it’s already been a month since he released me.”
I suddenly hear the front door open and two sets of feet sound through the house.
“We’re back,” my sister-in-law’s voice nearly sing songs through the house. The next moment, they both appear in my doorway.
Ian’s eyes instantly ignite.
“Put some damn clothes on, man!” Ian yells, staring down Lexington’s mostly naked form. “You’ve got company and you’re just parading around wearing nothing. And that’s-”
“Your baby sister,” Lexington cuts him off, glaring at him with impatience. “I know. You did just show up at our house without any announcement.”
He turns, heading for the closet, where all of his clothes now reside. He’s been fully moved in to my room for weeks, now. The extra bedroom he once occupied is fully set up as a nursery now.
“Not your house just yet,” Ian says, scowling after my retreating fiancé. “Not till there’s a ring on your finger, too.”
“Knock it off,” Alivia warns him. But she still smiles as she steps forward, wrapping her arms around me.
“How was your flight?” I ask.
“Fine,” she says, releasing me. She gives Ian this little side smile, mischief in her eyes. And I remember that her flight actually got in a few hours ago.
And she and my brother haven’t seen each other in two months, now.
Gross.
No wonder Ian’s always being such a pain to Lexington.
“Anyway,” Alivia moves on. “Are you ready for a night of pampering?” She wags her eyebrows at me, the smile growing on her lips.
“I guess,” I say with a smile. “Not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous. I’ve never been to a spa before.”
“You’re going to love it,” she says. “Now go get dressed. We need to get out of here so everyone can get things ready for the wedding!”
It is indeed a day full of pampering. While Julie, Valentina, and Casey prepare my rooftop garden for the ceremony, and Eva makes our wedding cake, and while Ian, Duncan, Danny, Smith, and Christian take Lexington out for a bachelor party, Alivia and I spend a very long day at some fancy spa, her bridal gift to me.
They buff my skin. Wax nearly every part of my body. Make a huge fuss over my nails, which look absolutely amazing when they’re done, not a trace of garden dirt underneath them. They trim my hair. My skin practically glows when they’re done with it.
And toward the end of the day, Alivia and I both lie on massage tables, undressed with only a towel across our bottoms. My belly rests in a little hole in the table.
“Why have I not been getting one of these every week for the past six months?” I moan as the woman digs her thumbs into the tight places of my back.
“Pretty sure if you mention it to Cyrus he’ll hire a live-in massage therapist for you until you have the baby,” A
livia chuckles. Her eyes are closed, a blissful look on her face.
“Probably,” I agree. “He’s doing everything to make sure she’s taken care of.”
I feel the air grow cold and look over to see Alivia looking at me.
“You’re sure it’s a girl?” she asks. Her face is pale, her eyes displaying all her fear.
I nod. “I’m sure. And I’m really sorry you have to face him again. I know…I know the hurt he caused you last time you saw him. But I needed his help.”
I still do.
She doesn’t say anything, her eyes dropping away from mine. She doesn’t offer an it’s okay. No reassurances that I just did what I had to do. Cyrus broke her too much for that.
“Have you thought of a name yet?” she asks instead, changing the subject.
“Not yet.”
I went to bed that night, fully relaxed, feeling amazing, and immediately slipped into sleep. I had dreams that night of a happy little blonde girl running through the flowers of the Public Garden, looking back at me and smiling like nothing could ever go wrong in her world.
When I wake, it is to the scent of flowers.
A soft light filters in through the window and my eyes immediately land on leaves and petals.
I sit up, pulling myself to a sitting position, smiling as I take in what rests on the pillow where Lexington normally sleeps.
There’s a floral crown. Roses, eucalyptus, astilbe, daisies, and ranunculi are woven into a perfect circle. The scent of it is amazing. I hold it up to my face, breathing in a deep scent, letting familiarity and happiness flood through me.
The crown was lying atop a piece of white paper. On it, I immediately recognize Lexington’s handwriting.
Marry me?
I smile to myself, hoping he never stops asking me to marry him, even when it’s done today.
A soft knock on the door draws my eyes to it and Alivia opens it.
She drags me down to the dining room, where I’m amazed all the voices didn’t wake me. Leigh and Valentina, Julie, Eva, Casey, and of course, Alivia. They all are busy in the kitchen. They’re all a gaggle of enthusiasm as we eat breakfast, fussing over details, sharing my excitement.