Page 44

Nyx appeared without her normal, glowering escort. The smile plastered to her lips was contagious, even in my weakened state. I’d depleted my strength, yet a steady stream of it flowed to me throughout the night. I feared examining it too closely, knowing it would lead me to tug on the connection I now shared with Rhys.

“I can’t believe you would do that to me,” Nyx huffed dramatically. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, she leaned down, speaking to Bullet. “She’s new here, but you’ve got me, baby girl.”

“Or boy,” I chimed in, smiling as she eyed my belly, then awarded me with a stern look. “Unless you know something I don’t?”

One side of her mouth quirked up at the corner. “No, but I’m certain it’s a girl.” There was no hesitation in her reply. It caused laughter to bubble in my chest. “Besides, Remi. Acyn said it’s a boy, and he guarantees Rhys will sire a son. He’s so sure that he bet me a years’ worth of head on it.” I slowly blinked at what she’d relayed while silently praying she hadn’t taken that bet.

Rhys had stated something similar. He’d warned me that my chance of ever having a daughter was very slim. According to him, his family and incubus demons didn’t breed female offspring. I’d pointed out Nyota, but he’d laughed and slowly shook his dark head. Nyota was a miracle, or something close to it, according to Rhys.

Only one out of one-hundred thousand incubuses are born female.

“So, you assume Bullet will be a rarity like Nyota?” Nyx’s thought process wasn’t akin to other people. She had a way of twisting even the most mundane things.

“She’s special. Plus, I know our baby will aid me in proving Acyn wrong. Either that, or I’ll be enslaved to him forever or at least until a time of his choosing. My precious Bullet wouldn’t allow her aunty to be enslaved.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I shook my head as laughter bubbled out. “Nyx, please tell me you didn’t agree to be his eternal sex slave based on the sex of the child.”

“Of course I did. I love his cock. It’s truly perfect in every way. Fits snug in all the right places.” Righting her stance, she shrugged her shoulders. It caused the airy gown she wore to reveal the slender curve of her thighs. “Being a kept woman isn’t something I’ve ever pondered before. Now being someone’s sex slave? A slave to his every decadent whim? Oh-la-la, Mommy is all aboard that train. Choo-choo!”

“If you want to be his sex slave, then why not just offer?” I wasn’t sure why she played hard to get with Acyn. It was obvious to everyone else that the duo was obsessed with one another.

Nyx’s face twisted into a mask of disgust. “It’s not my job to make shit easy for him. If he wants easy, I’m not the girl he’s looking for.”

“So, you’re enjoying playing hard to get?”

Grabbing a chair, she pulled it across the floor. It scraped the entire way over until she plopped down on it. Smiling as she grabbed a bag, she produced a nail file from it before setting to work, sharpening her claws.

“I really like him, Remi. The thing is this. Men like Acyn aren’t interested in a woman like me. I’m a short time, or a good time, or even a fun time sorta girl. I’m a nymph, one who isn’t meant for a meaningful relationship.” The dropping of her shoulders and biting of her lip told me she didn’t enjoy being shoved into that stereotype.

“Nyx, you’re more than that. Being a nymph isn’t your personality. I mean, it is a little. Like the things you say, or the way you react . . . sure. But you’re much more than that. You’re bright and while you are a little scatterbrained sometimes, you are more than just a pretty face with really nice thighs. You’re unique and ethereal.”

“I need to say something, Remi. I need you to listen without judging me for how I feel.”

“When have I ever judged you for anything?” I questioned as worry trickled up my spine, planting itself in my chest.

Nyx set the nail file down and fidgeted with her fingers. “I thought I lost you. When you went home with Winchester, I didn’t think you’d come back for me.” Chewing her bottom lip, she aimed violet eyes swimming with unshed tears at me. “I thought when you went home, you’d decide to stay with them. I wouldn’t blame you, of course. Nice house, no leg being humped all the time . . . but you’re my person. I wasn’t sure you’d want anything to do with me anymore.”

A lump formed in my throat as the tears broke free. “You thought I’d choose to live there with them?”

Sniffling, she shook her head. “I thought you’d decide to cut me loose. You know, break ties.”

“How could I ever choose them over you?”

“I’m only your friend. Friends come and go, but family is forever in our world.” She sniffled, scrubbing at the tears threatening to trickle down her cheeks.

“You’re not just a friend. You’re not even just my person. You are so much more to me! You’re the first person I call when anything goes wrong. You are the keeper of my secrets. The sister I choose. I never had a friend until the first day we met. I’d only ever had family and sisters until you, Nyx.” Pausing, I took in her dejected frown.

“If tomorrow a billion people chose to be my friend, I’d still choose you over every single one of them. No matter how many people I meet, they’ll never be or replace you. No one can ever replace the person who touched your soul and taught you what true friendship was. You are my soulmate. My best friend, and so much more to me. I don’t care if you accidentally hump my leg. You and me, we’re more than merely friends. We’re soul sisters.”

“I would’ve settled on a promise not to abandon me,” she whispered, her eyes swelling with tears.

“Oh,” I muttered, then laughed as she lifted her gaze, smirking at me.

Nyx rubbed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. “I took a bullet meant for you. They are literally trying to kill you. I’m going to murder every one of them and fuck their faces when I’m finished doing so.”

Blinking slowly, I swallowed the laughter that trickled up my throat. “Not sure you should be hunting these ones down alone. They’re ruthless and they murdered my brother.”

“Acyn said Rhys’ going to have to handle Illeron now. That he’s now honor-bound as your protector to end him,” she muttered, then peeked at me from under her lashes. “He says it will break Rhys. It could allow Mikel to issue a challenge for the alpha of their house.” The worry she felt filled her voice. It created a notable tension and strain in her delicate features.

“I want Illeron dead, Nyx. He’ll come after our child if given the chance. It’s my job to protect my child. I can’t give him a chance to hurt Bullet.”

The sound of feet moving quickly down the hallway caused the hair on my nape to rise. Staring out the large window that peered into the hallway, I watched several Van Helsings rush toward Nyota’s room.

Sliding my legs over the edge of the bed, I made quick work of unhooking the fetal monitor. Landing on my feet, I moved toward the door as Nyx made a sound of shock from deep in the back of her throat.

“Remington!”

“It’s Nyota, Nyx,” I explained as a burst of strength rushed through my system. Rhys knew I was up and moving. It was discombobulating. Grabbing the silk robe, I struggled to shove my arms through the sleeves.

Nyx grabbed it, as if she intended to prevent me from leaving the room. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

“You’re my sister, too. My family.”

The tears in her voice took me by surprise. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tightly.

“The family you choose is more special than the one you’re born into,” I offered as I pulled back, smiling at her.

Nyx nodded, then held the robe for me to push my hands through the bell sleeves. Once I was dressed, we both inched toward the crowd of people gathered outside of Nyota’s room.

The faces of the Van Helsing brood were mixed from worry to apprehension. It created a sense of dread that clawed its way up my chest, choking my words off as it gripped my throat.

“What’s wrong with her?” Mikel demanded, his cold, merciless eyes locked with mine as he asked.

“Lay off her, Mikel. If it weren’t for her, I’d be fucking dead,” Nyota’s weakened, stern refutation made my knees give out as relief shot through me.

“Nyota,” I whispered as arms slid around me, pulling me up before I reached the floor. Nyx made a growling sound. It caused one side of Mikel’s mouth to jerk up at the corner.

“Let her through,” Rhys demanded, forcing a chuckle from Nyx.

“You heard him. Let us through, Neanderthals. Make way for the VIP coming through.”

“Careful, Nymph. I like my women wanton and willing. I heard you’re both,” one of the brothers said in a dark, silky tenor.

“Move, Mikel. Without her, we’d be planning a funeral instead of cracking jokes with our baby sister. Let my sunshine through.” Cole appeared beside me, his arm sliding behind my back as he escorted me to Nyota’s bedside.

“You lived,” I whispered through the quiver in my lips. “Nyota, I’m so sorry they used my silver on you.”

Nyota’s vibrant blue eyes opened as her mouth curved into a smile. “Remind me never to piss you off. I never want to be on the other end of your silver again. But this, it wasn’t your fault.”

“You protected me. If you hadn’t, it wouldn’t have harmed either of us. My silver cannot be used against me, Nyota. It cannot harm the host. I am that host.”

She made a strangled sound before chuckling. “You could lead with that next time we’re under attack. I didn’t know it was your silver.”

“Regretfully, neither did I. I didn’t recognize it. It was tainted but held enough of mine to prevent me from being harmed. Don’t bitch me out for saving you, either. I couldn’t let you die for protecting me. There was a chance I could do it without harm to myself.” The fact that I had known Bullet could be lost hovered in the room like a heavy mist.

“Rhys told me what you did for me. Next time, I need you to know that I’ve lived my life. I’ve loved, lost love, and been loved, Silversmith. You’ve yet to live. Next time, let me go if the price is your life or that of my brother’s child.” Holding out her hand, I placed mine into hers.

“I think I liked you better writhing in pain.”

She laughed, ending in a bout of coughing. “I think I like you better sulking while you pine for my brother.”

“I wasn’t pining for him,” I sniffed, refusing to admit how accurate her description was. “He’s insufferable at his best.”

“Insufferable, is it?” Rhys’ heated breath fanned against the shell of my ear. “That’s not what you were complaining about earlier, Love.”

“Insufferable is aptly the word I’d use,” Nyota muttered. “If you two are going to fuck, do it somewhere else, please. I can’t get up and leave.”

“I’m too much of a gentleman to fuck her over your bed, Nyota. Remington’s a lady. One who deserves to be treated as such.” Pressing his lips against my ear, he chuckled seductively. “That courtesy isn’t included behind our bedroom door, Love.”

“You two are dismissed,” Nyota chuckled, her dark tawny head shaking. “I need to rest soon and there are others waiting to see me before I can do so.”