Page 144 of He Who Sleeps

Carter came jogging around the massive house, his cheeks ruddy from the fresh air and the way he was smiling. "I thought I heard your car," he said to Finn. "Welcome back, brother. I hope it went well."

"It did." Finn grinned, clapping Carter on the back. "You came just in time. Apparently, Petra has something to tell us."

She nodded to them. “Come on, let’s go find the guys.”

Ten minutes later they were all wrangled into the living room, and she was standing with her back to them, fidgeting with her hands.

“Baby girl, what’s going on?” Jack asked.

“Yeah,” Emerson said from his seat in the new wingback chair he had been going on and on about sitting in, with a pipe reading books about war in. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m comfortable as fuck...”

"Well tell them then," Carter said. "Don't keep everyone in suspense."

“You act like you know,” Rix said as he sat his tablet down.

Taking a deep breath, she bit her lip and then spoke. “We have been blessed.”

“No shit,” Jack said.

"Well I had guessed." Carter shrugged. "She hasn't had wine at dinner the last three nights running and she keeps touching her stomach. It was either digestive issues or a baby, and she keeps smiling, so of the two it wasn't hard to figure it out. What?" He threw up his hands when everyone turned to stare at him. "Not my fault you're a bunch of unobservant apes."

“Way to steal my thunder.” She laughed and shook her head, turning around, her hand on her stomach.

"I didn't say anything!" he protested. "I let you tell them! That was what you meant by being blessed, yes?"

“I was working up to it,” she said and shook her head again, mirth in her eyes. “Big old meanie. I thought East would be the one to know.”

“Hold on...you’re pregnant?” Emerson said, his eyes wide as he looked at her.

"I was starting to suspect, but I haven't seen you as much as Carter has," Easton laughed. "You're not very good at hiding it. But I'm happy. Really happy."

"Same!" Finn said, breaking out of his shocked stillness and grabbing her up in a hug. "This is awesome news!"

“When exactly did this happen?” Rix said as he kissed her on the head, his smile broad.

“I think Leo’s birthday,” she offered. That had been a wild weekend. Emerson had surprised them and took them all to Bali for four days, and it had gotten really naughty.

"Well, I guess we need to start booking appointments and classes and figuring out which of these empty rooms the nursery is going into," Carter said, ever practical, nudging Leo who was still sitting there with his jaw hanging.

“But we are close to All Souls...” Jack said. “This is great news but...can we...can you work as a devotion?”

She nodded to him. “It’s only been about three months,” she offered. “No problems playing with my boys in our new playground this year.”

“Fuck yes,” he said and pulled her into a hug, kissing her sweetly.

"He will protect her," Easton reassured them. "He is pleased. And I'm sure the rest of The Order will be, too, when we announce it."

“The first of a new generation.” Emerson went to his knees and kissed her still mostly flat belly. “Hello, you special, perfect child,” he whispered to it. “We all can’t wait to meet you.”

She sighed and ran her fingers through his hair and then looked up. “I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly but...by His will...” The guys all nodded.

“We should celebrate,” Rix said, the look in his eye pure possession. “We really do have much to be thankful for.”

“I got first...since you know...it’s my baby...” Jack said and they erupted into arguments on whose kid it was. She went to Leo, who was still clearly astonished and smiled at him. “This okay?” she asked softly.

"I'm gonna be a daddy," he whispered, tears in his eyes. "I can't believe it."

“You’re going to be a daddy,” she agreed. “And the best daddy.” Her lips found his with a sweet kiss.

"I can't believe it," he said again, a tear seeping from the corner of his eye, but at least now she knew they were tears of joy.

She grinned. “The first of at least seven. I love you.”

“God...pregnancy kink is really going to be a thing,” Jack said. “The five of you are a mess right now.”

She looked over from where she stood in Leo’s arms to see the six of them standing there, desire and need in their eyes.

“How can a girl say no to a scene like that?” Standing, she slipped her flats off and grinned. “You want your devotion? Well, your Devotion wants you. Hope you got your masks handy...” She looked at each of them, as Emerson handed them their masks, seemingly from out of nowhere, feral grins gracing their faces. “Whoever catches me first wins...”

She whooped as the guys tore out of the living room after her as she raced through the massive house. She knew someone would catch her, and quickly, though it didn’t matter who. They would all celebrate the gift He had given them, and much like she wanted when all this began, nothing would ever tear them apart.