Page 100
Story: Princes of Legacy
For some reason, this makes her laugh. “It’s a test, Princess. A Baron and his sinister sister have to be invisible. Silent. Ruthless. If a Baron catches the Baroness, that means he’s good at hiding, following, adapting to the shadows.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Her head cocks. “Doesn’t what?”
“Catch her.”
“Oh, Princess, healwayscatches her.” The words are said without mirth. “The King chooses his darklings very well.”
Reluctantly, I wonder, “What happens after they catch you?”
She hugs her knees, lifting a shoulder. “They bind you to their wicked path and worship death upon you.”
Shaking my head, I admit, “I don’t know what that means.”
Barons and their stupid, cryptic bullshit.
“You couldn’t. You’re a creator.” Smiling softly, Regina’s arm stretches over the distance between us, hand brushing the swell of my belly. “You foster life and light. But we’re servants of death, and this boy in your belly? He’ll be a part of it, one way or another.”
I watch her hand touch me, heart in my throat. “I’ll never let that happen.”
“Aren’t you willing to die for your Princes?” Her eyes dart down to my stomach. “Your son?”
“I’m willing to do something a lot more dangerous than dying for them.” Reaching out, I brush her hair over a delicate shoulder, heart clenching at the misery in her eyes. “I’m willing to live for them.”
We return homewith a carload of gifts and a deep desire for a nap.
“Where do you want all this?” Ballsy asks, parking in the front circle.
“I’m not sure.” I eye the pile of boxes and bags. The women of Forsyth went all out, giving me everything I’ll need for when the baby arrives. Everything I didn’t even realize I would need. From binkies to boxes of diapers, to clothes and blankets. There are cute things like stuffed animals, and Lavinia gave us a starter set of children’s books, but then Kira gave me some kind of paste for my nipples and a cream for stretch marks.
Ugh.
I forgot about stretch marks.
I decide, “Let’s just leave it for now, and I’ll talk to the guys about where we want to store it until the nursery is finished.”
The nursery is another one of those things on my never-ending ‘to do’ list that’s been weighing on me. It falls somewhere between fitting in my pregnancy yoga class and figuring out what to do with Danner down in his room. Yes, my ‘to do’ list involves everything from prenatal care to scheduled torture. I really may be an Ashby.
Danner doesn’t seem to mind being locked up day and night. If I had to guess, this is probably closer to a vacation than anything he’s had in years. Not having to pick up after and take care of three grown men and their father? Sounds like bliss. Although, I think we all know this has to come to an end soon. I get the feeling Wicker is the one dragging it out. I get it. Sometimes evil comes in difficult shades of gray.
Leaving the gifts behind, Ballsack and I walk in the front door. Without Danner manning the entry, there’s a rotating crew of PNZ who stand guard, which is why Tommy is standing in the foyer.
“Hey,” he says, looking bored, “how was the party?”
“Long, but fun.” I rub the crown of my belly, feeling more and more of a strain when I’m on my feet for extended periods of time. “I saw your girlfriend.”
He grins. “Yeah?”
“Sounds like you gave that Tucker kid the ass-kicking he needed.”
“Turns out DKS isn’t wrongallthe time.” He lifts his chin at Ballsack. “At least about this.”
Tommy may be less hostile to me, but I doubt that extends to the rest of my West End family, so I distract him by saying, “There are leftovers in the backseat if you’re interested.”
His eyes light up, and once again, I’m reminded these hardened PNZ soldiers are really just boys. “I’m definitely interested, but I told the guys I’d take you upstairs when you got home. And…” He holds out his hand, revealing a strip of fabric, “that I’d make you wear this.”
“Is…” I frown and peer at the scrap of fabric, “is that a thong?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182