“Of course we’ll stand with you, brother,” Westley said, looking every bit as fierce as his father.
“You’d go to war for a child you think will end the world?” I asked, disbelief heavy in my voice.
“I’d go to war for my family’s sake,” the youngest Blackthorne insisted.
“And if Natalie was right?” Noah’s words were tight with pain.
“We will not let that come to pass,” Cashel said.
Something about the promise had my eyes narrowing. I did not trust the vampire king. Not as far as I could throw him. Although... I could throw him pretty far. I didn’t trust him as far as Kingston could throw him.
“This is all a pointless discussion because nothing is going to happen to my kid,” Kingston said.
Ah, there he is. Finally stepping up to the plate.Good to see I had an ally after all.
“Ourkid,” I amended.
“I still don’t understand how that happened,” Kingston mumbled.
“Don’t question it. Magic baby. That’s all you need to know.”
“Maybe, but it still means my swimmers got there first. So she’s more mine than the rest of yours.”
“You should be so proud to be the first to make a donation to the apocalypse. Bravo.” Caleb’s words were laced with sarcasm so thick, if I had a knife, I could’ve sliced through them.
“You’re one to talk. If this prophecy or whatever the fuck it is required all of us to participate, then we wouldn’t be here if you could have kept it in your pants, buddy. But sure, take shots at me.” Kingston crossed his arms and stared down the priest with a level of derision I wasn’t used to seeing from him. Mocking disrespect, sure, but outright hostility? That was usually reserved for the other vampire.
“All of you are so quick to lay my sins at my feet, and yet you conveniently ignore your own.”
“None of us made holy vows to God that we’d keep our dicks dry. That sin was all on you, Saint Caleb ‘I hate myself’ Gallagher.”
Caleb’s eyes burned with anger, and he spun toward the door. “The devil take you all. I’ve had enough of this.”
“Good riddance.” Kingston crossed the floor and went straight for the bar cart, pouring a full glass of some amber liquid, leaving it on the cart, and then taking a pull straight from the decanter.
“Why pour the drink at all?” I asked as he came to stand beside me.
“Didn’t want to be rude and not leave some for somebody else.”
A surprised snort escaped me. There was something about this wolf I found impossible not to like. Whether it was his penchant for chaos or simply his completely unapologetic way of being himself, it was hard not to respect him. Even if he made you want to punch him in the balls from time to time.
“So we stay here, keep her protected, until...” Noah began.
“Until it’s time.” Cashel snatched the decanter from Kingston and drank deeply. “This is a thirty-year-old scotch. I’m not letting you have it all.”
“I left you the glass...”
“You have that. I paid for this.”
Kingston shook his head. “Way to cheap out now, Blackthorne.”
“I think you’re all missing the biggest point. Just keeping her here and safe won’t be enough. Sunday will die if she gives birth to this... child.” Noah’s fingers were wrapped tightly around the back of a chair, knuckles white, the wood and leather creaking.
Kingston paled at the reminder. “So we plan ahead, have healers on hand. The best thing that came out of today is that we won’t be caught off guard.”
“You’re an ignorant fool if you believe that will be enough,” Cashel said.
“So you want us to what, just let her die? Not even try to save her? That’s never going to happen,” Kingston said.
“No, I want Noah to turn her.”