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"Oh?"I kissed him on his forehead. "Is itthething? You aren't afraidanymore?"

"I'm still afraid.But I'm ready to tell you. Are you ready to hearit?"

"Of course."

He brushed my hair back,and he smiled, his eyes sparkling. Was he crying? I rubbed the corner of his eye with my thumb, curious about what could be making him feel thisway.

"Ijust wanted to say,"he announced, straightening the front of my shirt, "that... I loveyou."

Ilaughed."I know that. I love youtoo."

"And!And, even though Gregor has been my husband for thirteen years... You havealwaysbeen mymate."

My heart caughtin my throat. "You know I feel the same way," I said. "Always."

"And the other thing.It's a bigone."

"Okay."

"I'm pregnant."

It tookme several seconds to comprehend what Perry had just said to me.Pregnant?I was so shocked, the possibility that I might be the father hardly even entered my head, until he said to me, "It'syours."

Istammered,trying to make sense of it. "But, it's only been like, a week. Is itpossible?"

He nodded."I can tell. When I shift, I can sense it. And I know without a doubt that it's yours, because, well... You're the only one it couldbe."

My head was spinning."Hounds of Hell," I said, stunned. "We're going to have ababy..."

Perryand I hadn't taken the precaution of protected sex, so it really shouldn't have been a surprise. He was pregnant with mychild.

"Are you... okay?"he asked, looking concerned. "I thought it was important to tell you before the race. I didn't want to keep it fromyou."

"I'm fine, Perry,"I said, shaking away the shock. "I just... We're going to have a baby." I laughed and hugged him. "We're going to have ababy!"

Jupiter prancedover and sat down at our feet, her tail wagging. "Why are you crying, Papa Arthur?" sheasked.

"You're goingto be a big sister soon," I toldher.

Her tail wagged furiously,and she shifted back into human form and jumped up into my arms. Perry laughed and hugged the both of us. I was overwhelmed; it just didn't feel real. We were going to have a baby. Regardless of what happened, Perry and I were bound together. For a brief moment, the whirl of happiness was replaced by a sharp fear. Our situation had become infinitely more complicated. Now, more than ever, Ihadto win thatrace.

Icould seethat same glimmer of uncertainty in Perry's eye. "We're going to be okay," I told him. "I'll make sure of it. This baby will be yours and mine, okay? No one will come between our family. Noone."

That night,I couldn't sleep. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts back on the track. Now, the news of my child had joined the thoughts of tomorrow's race. Perry stirred and nuzzled his face into myneck.

"Ican hear you thinking,"he said, his voice gravelly with sleep. "Can't fall asleep,huh?"

"Ididn't expectI'd be able to," I said. "Tomorrow is the most important day of mylife."

"Mine too,"hesaid.

"Our lives,"Isaid.

"No matter what happens tomorrow,"he said. "I know we'll find a way to be together. Do you know why? Because we'remates."

Inodded,silently.

"IthinkI know a way to help us sleep," he said. "It's tried andtrue."