Her vehicle, if it can be termed such, is an off-roading beast with two seats and yet more weapons. Grace climbs behind the wheel. “Which way?”
I point north. “They’ll be heading for Montana where my father’s compound is.”
“I see.” She worries her bottom lip, a small line appearing between her dark brows. “We can’t drive this the whole way, but there’s a good stopping point a few hours from here that will take us in that general direction.”
It will have to do. “That works.”
She guns the engine and then we’re off, flying over a trail that barely seems to exist. The engine is too loud for easy conversation, which is just as well. I don’t know this woman, and all I can focus on in the worry about what comes next.
My fathertookmy men.
I close my eyes and welcome the anger that knowledge brings. Better that he’d taken me instead. At least I know how to survive in that compound, though that was back when he actively underestimated me. I doubt he’ll make the same mistake again.
Nausea rolls over me in a wave, and I have to open my eyes. What the hell? I press my hand to my chest and try to focus on the area in front of the vehicle, but it doesn’t help. Another wave, stronger this time. “Pull over.”
Grace glances at me. “What?”
“Pull over!”
She slams the vehicle to a stop, and I barely get out of it in time to lose the power bars and apple I ate earlier. I keep dry heaving for several long moments as my stomach tries to exit my body.
I have never thrown up once in my life. I don’t get sick at all, not really. I search the bond as best I can, but it doesn’t seem to be originating from there. What the hell?
Another wave of nausea nearly has me dry heaving again.
“You okay?” Grace gives a rough laugh. “You’re not like, pregnant or something, are you?”
Surely not.
Except…
I close my eyes, feeling with my power on instinct alone. I’ve gotten really good at feeling the parameters of the bond. Searching within my actual body isn’t all that different. To be thorough, I scan myself from head to toe. There, nestled in my lower stomach, I find it.
The tiniest, most fragile spark of life inside me.
I open my eyes. “Holy shit.”
I struggle to my feet to find Grace offering me a pack of mint gum. “Don’t get back in here until you chew through one of these. I’m super sensitive to smell and puke breath is gross.”
“Thanks,” I say faintly, my mind still spinning.
“Is there a reason you’re muttering ‘holy shit’ at the forest after you throw up?” She sounds vaguely curious, almost like she’s asking out of politeness.
If I’m really pregnant, it means I have what I need to fight my father. It would be significantly simpler if I also had my men at my side, but I’ll make do. All I need to do is get onto the compound and make a public declaration. It will take careful planning. I can’t think about it right now.
I press my hand to my stomach, and the little flicker of life seems to flare brighter in response. I wish I could be happy. This is what we wanted, after all. Except my being alone and stranded with some strangemonster hunterwhile my men are taken captive by my father was never part of the plan.
“Turns out you were right.” I swallow hard. “I’m pregnant.”
PARTIII
QUEEN
33
Inever gave much thought to pregnancy. Not even when my father sent me to Malachi’s home with the intention of sacrificing me, body and blood, to the trapped vampire. At the time, I’d planned on escaping or dying before he knocked me up.
Look at me now.