Page 43 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Epilogue

Arsyn

“ I hate to break it to you,” Emerson says, running a hand over her slightly swollen stomach. “This is not normal.”

“It's likely the baby is a gargoyle,” Ryk says, beaming from ear to ear.

The fucker.

I'm going to punch him in the balls next time Emerson isn't looking.... Or pump him so full of lust that he finishes before her the next time they're fucking.

I smirk.

That sounds quite entertaining, indeed.

Payback is hell.

“It's a hound,” Dread says, running his massive hand over Emerson's lower stomach.

“I feel like a few of you are going to be disappointed when the baby comes,” Emerson says, frowning. “Also, there's no way my belly should be this big. It's only been three weeks since we found out.”

“The baby book said sometimes mothers show more quickly after the first pregnancy.” Laithe tosses Ember up and catches her.

“Plane rides,” she says, trying to pull his hands to her belly.

“Okay, bossy child,” Laithe says, zooming her around like an airplane.

Emerson is still blinking at Laithe like she can't believe he had the audacity to use something in the baby book against her.

“Octavia put out the call for healers and specialists of each species,” Ryktus says, distracting Emerson from her death stare.

“I know,” she grumbles. “I'm complaining because it feels like it's taking forever, and we don't have any clear-cut answers.”

“There's rarely a sense of emergency in the supernatural world.” I wiggle my eyebrows to try to lighten the mood. “Immortality tends to remove rushing from the equation.”

“If this pregnancy progresses as quickly as Ember's, then I'll likely give birth before any of the specialists arrive,” Emerson says.

She's been grumpy as hell the last few weeks, but more than anything, I think it's the fear of the unknown.

“The demon who delivered me and my siblings should arrive within the week,” Dread reminds her carefully. “She's knowledgeable about all demon pregnancies.”

I smirk at that. I don't hate the idea of the baby being mine. But, ultimately, whatever species he or she ends up being, it doesn't matter. They'll be loved.

“Time for bed, bossy wolf,” Laithe says, popping up from lying on the floor.

Ember blinks once she realizes they're upright.

“No complaints,” Ryk says, pushing himself up to collect her for their nighttime bedtime story routine. “Mommy will come in and give you goodnight kisses after we continue our adventure. Don't you want to know what happens to the princess?”

“Okay,” Ember huffs.

“Love you,” Emerson says, kissing her daughter on her way by. “Call when you're done, and I'll come tuck you in.”

“Love you,” Ember says.

“I'm not sure,” Reima says, shrugging. “I can feel energy, but it's indecipherable.” She looks at me. “Which the incubus could have told you, without me needing to travel around the world.”

“What does that mean?” Emerson asks, sounding panicked.

“It could mean nothing,” I assure her. “It's likely a side effect of our unusual circumstances.”

“The baby could be a hybrid, I suppose,” Reima says, pulling Em's shirt down to cover her quickly growing stomach.

“Would someone please explain things for the former human?” Emerson snaps with a huff.

“Sometimes magic does strange things,” the demon healer says, patting Emerson's hand. “You might end up with a half-gargoyle and half-incubus child or any other combination of your mates.”

“Oh,” Emerson says, sounding relieved. “So, it's no big deal?”

I shoot the demon healer a look that promises death and pain if she says a word other than to reassure my mate.

“All will be fine.” Reima pushes herself off the couch.

“Why can't I see a human doctor?” Emerson asks for the seven-hundredth time.

“Because you're no longer mortal,” Dread replies, running a hand over the baby bump. “Can you imagine what would happen if the baby has wings or horns? How would a human doctor handle that?”

“But there have to be human doctors in Haven, right?” Emerson looks at Laithe. “And you could mind fuck them if you had to...right?” Her desperation has all our eyes flying to Ryktus.

There's a very specific reason we've avoided the closest human doctor. Well, from what I understand, she's no longer human, but she did continue her practice even after changing into a vampire.

“For the love of God,” Emerson groans. “Tell me you didn't bang the doctor.”

“Hell, no,” Ryktus assures her. “She's my father's replacement mate.”

“Ryk,” Emerson whispers. She wobbles, and with Dread's help, eventually turns to face Ryktus fully.

He pulls her into his lap and runs his hand over the back of her head. “I'll reach out to my father,” he grumbles.

My jaw isn't the only one to fall open. I honestly believed we'd need to travel the four hours to the next closest sanctuary city.

Ryktus has ignored his father's very existence for the last fifty or sixty years since his mother's death. He didn't even know Willa had chosen to be changed until Dread told him when discussing options for doctors.

“Thank you,” Emerson says, pushing her mouth to his.