Page 124 of Vengeance and Vipers

‘And, in this room right now, there are three.’

Yep, definitely wasn’t a normal cigarette.

I frown at her. ‘Me and you. That’s two.’ I say.

She comes closer. ‘No, dear.’

She puts her hand gently on my lower abdomen.

‘There are three.’

I rear back in the chair, almost toppling it over.

‘That’s impossible!’ I say. ‘No, that that’s not true. I–I can’t have– They told me …’

‘Whoever they were,’ Tabitha says quietly, ‘they were wrong, and I never am. It’s early, very early, but you’re pregnant, Jules.’

I gape at her for about a minute.

‘Why did you tell me?’ I ask her finally.

Tabitha looks worriedly at the door. ‘I just thought you should know before you made any big decisions.’

My eyes widen—the contract.

Julian literally told me he’d never trust me with anything valuable. Iron’s words come back to me from the Mountain. They’d take it from me as soon as it was born.

‘Thank you,’ I say, taking her hand. ‘Please don’t tell anyone.’

She squeezes mine back, and I leave the kitchen, slowly going back through the party to the library. I slip inside and go to the desk. The contract I signed is gone.

It’s too late.

Feeling numb, I go back through the party, taking pains not to be seen by any of the clan; I drift up the stairs and into my bedroom. I stare at myself in the mirror as I take off my mask, my eyes going down to my abdomen. There’s not even a bump, but I believe Tabitha. I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow, I’m pregnant.

What am I going to do?