Page 90 of Vipers and Vendettas

He puts his hand to my cheek. ‘Look at me, Julia.’

My eyes flick down to his, and I see sorrow and anger but, thankfully, no pity.

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

‘This is why you stole from us the first time? Why you left?’

I nod.

‘I didn’t want to,’ I whisper, tears falling. ‘I cried for days afterward.’

I look away from him. ‘But I had no choice. My conjure was days away from failing, and I couldn’t let them take me back to that place.’

‘I know,’ he says.

He bends down and picks up the blanket, putting it around me again. As he does, his hand brushes against my belly, and I gasp as I feel a tiny sensation.

‘What is it,’ he asks in concern.

I smile wide. ‘I felt the baby,’ I say. ‘Just then, like a flutter.’

‘Surely it’s too soon,’ Krase says from next to me, also looking concerned.

‘It’s the quickening,’ Dameon says from next to me, a small smile playing on his lips.

‘Yes,’ Maddox says, his lips curving upwards in the same fashion. ‘But it’s a little early, isn’t it? The books said sixteen weeks and onwards, later for a first pregnancy.’

‘Yes, but they also said it can be sooner. It depends on the mother and the baby. Nothing to worry about.’

I look from one to the other in surprise. ‘What books?’

Maddox looks awkward. ‘We went to your hovel of a flat and found your pregnancy books. We were going to return them to you …’

‘But we started looking through them and …’ Daemon interjects.

‘You read up about human pregnancy?’ I ask, astonished and touched, fresh tears coming to my eyes but for an entirely different reason. ‘For me?’

‘And supe human ones as well,’ Daemon says quietly.

‘We thought we should know what to expect,’ Maddox says.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ I say with a small, hiccupping sob.

‘You don’t have to say anything,’ Maddox smiles, wiping my cheeks with his thumbs. ‘And,’ he looks back at Iron. ‘Iron told us what you’ve been afraid of. I’m sorry for that. I didn’t realize you thought ... I’ll sign anything you want to ensure your baby remains yours, Jules. But I do want him to be a part of our lives.’ He steps away. ‘Indeed, it would be best if he is when he begins to mature, or he won’t understand what he is.’

‘She,’ I correct absently.

‘Pardon?’ Maddox asks.

‘The baby is a she,’ I clarify.

‘That’s impossible,’ Jayce and Daemon both say at the same time.

I frown. ‘Theo told me when he checked me out. He was sure.’

‘He must have got it wrong,’ Maddox says, his brow furrowing as he glances at Daemon, who shrugs.

‘Why?’ I ask. ‘Theo didn’t seem to think it was odd.’