Page 111 of Killaney Blood

I shake my head and kiss her, smiling against her lips. "No. That's my baby. And you're mine forever."

Her eyes shine as she looks up at me. "Okay, I guess if I have to."

I gather her into my arms, holding her against my chest. As usual, she fits perfectly there, like she was made for me. And nowthere's someone else, someone tiny, barely formed, but already fiercely protected.

"I love you," I say into her hair. "Both of you."

Lyra's arms tighten around me. "We love you too."

My hand slides down and rests on her stomach. There's nothing to feel yet, no movement, no bump, but knowing what's growing beneath my palm changes everything.

35

LYRA

"Declan, I can carry my own luggage. I'm barely pregnant, not disabled," I say as we approach the private jet.

He takes the small duffel from my hand anyway, his fingers brushing mine in that deliberate way he does that sends electricity through my veins.

It's been a month since I found out I'm pregnant, and Declan's already transformed into some overprotective beast I both resent and adore.

"Doesn't matter. I don't want you lifting a damn thing," he says as he slings the strap over his shoulder like it weighs nothing. "As a matter of fact, I'm getting one of those rolly bags when we get back."

I laugh. "You're ridiculous."

We walk down the red carpet that's between the small secluded terminal and a sleek private jet, sunlight shining off the windows.

I've never been on a private plane. The steps leading up to it might as well be the stairway to another world, one I still don't fully believe I belong in.

"This is crazy," I say, smiling at him.

"What, the plane?" he says with a smile. "You'll get used to it. This is how you travel now, baby."

I doubt it. Part of me is still waiting for this bubble to burst, for someone to point and say,There she is, the Albanian's medic. The girl who was sold. She doesn't belong here.

A flight attendant comes and takes our bags from Declan, and he turns and helps me up inside.

Somehow, with all that's going on, Declan managed to clear his entire calendar for six days. He called it a "fun getaway," and I haven't been able to pry a single detail from him.

Inside the cabin, it's all cream-colored leather and polished wood, empty except for us. Declan settles into a seat and pulls me down beside him.

"Six days, just you and me," he says, his arm sliding around my shoulders.

The flight attendant appears with a tray of drinks. Water for me, something amber for Declan.

"So, are you going to tell me where we're going yet?" I ask, genuinely curious.

Declan smiles mysteriously. "Patience."

My phone buzzes with a text from Keira,

How are you feeling today? Still puking your guts out?

I smile and type back,

No! Hopefully the morning sickness is behind me. Just very tired.

She responds immediately,