Page 63 of Fall of a Kingdom

“Then it’s someone on the guest list,” I replied. I wrinkled my nose. “She needs changing. I’ll take care of it and meet you down there.”

“You sure? I don’t mind,” he said.

The doorbell rang again.

“Go,” I insisted. “I’ve got Piper.”

Flynn nodded and headed to the door. At the last second, he turned and looked at me. “Hen? The nursery?”

I smiled. “You did good. It’s perfect. Better than anything I could’ve envisioned.”

He flashed a satisfied grin and then left the room, closing the door behind him. I couldn’t hear his fading footsteps over Piper’s cries.

I went to the changing table and placed Piper on top.

Flynn had thought of everything, of course. There were diapers and wipes, and our favorite cream for diaper rashes, the one we’d used on the boys.

“I want you, Barrett,” Igor said simply.

“What are you doing here?” I hissed at Igor. “This was a private family moment and you spoiled it.”

He was wearing a three-piece black suit, his dark hair combed off his forehead. His hands were shoved into his trouser pockets.

“You can’t have me,” I snapped. “I don’t belong to you.”

“I beg to differ,” he said. “I’ve owned you since I first laid eyes on you.”

I took off Piper’s soiled diaper and pitched it into the bin. I cleaned her bottom and had her in a new diaper in less than a minute.

“You do that so well, Barrett,” Igor said.

“And to think I never wanted children.”

“You were born to be a mother.”

“Now I know for sure you’re a figment of my imagination.” I said as I rolled my eyes. “I am not maternal.”

Knowing Flynn, he’d already made sure Piper had clothes for me to change her into after cleaning her up. I picked up Piper and settled her against my shoulder and then opened the top drawer of the changing table that doubled as a dresser.

Yup, full of baby girl onesies. Pink, yellow, green. Every other color of the rainbow.

My husband thought of everything. He always did.

I quickly slipped Piper into a onesie that fit her and then lifted her into my arms, cuddling her against my shoulder.

When I headed toward the door, Igor moved from the corner of the room and began to follow me.

“Stop,” I commanded. “You’re done. You don’t get to do this.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Da, I do. I want you.”

“This is unbelievable,” I muttered. “I don’t know if I should talk to a shrink or a priest. I’ll talk to both if it means getting rid of you for good.”

“You can’t get rid of me. I’m inside you. There is no purging me.”

I opened the door and stalked out into the hallway. I heard voices before I’d even made it down the stairs. When I walked into the den, my mouth gaped.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked in surprise.