“So, let’s pass some time. Tell me, how are things with your new breeders.”
What did he want to hear? That things were great or that they sucked? “Um, you know it’s an adjustment.” Don’t give details. Avoid the questions.
“I’ll bet. Three men at once. I’m sure it’s hard to please them all.”
Do people normally come into others houses and interrogate them? I smiled sweetly. “I do my best.” Good girl. Keep knocking back those questions. You only have to make it five minutes. Then you can pretend to be distraught and hustle them out.
“Have you guys had any major disagreements yet?” The look on my face must have betrayed how I felt. “I mean, don’t hesitate to use us as a resource. We’ve got years of experience with breeder and warrior relationships and we’re also more familiar with shapeshifting in general.”
“Um, nothing so far. But, you know I’m a witch, so things are usually quite easy for me.”
Arkan laughed a bit. “That’s right. The world’s first witch to become a shapeshifter breeder in a thousand years. You’re going to be written into history.” Here’s hoping.
“Well, I don’t know that yet. One step at a time. Getting pregnant is just the first step. Surviving pregnancy and labor is another story.”
“If humans can do it, so can you, trust me.” Kara sounded bored. She looked at her watch. “One more minute.”
“I just want to do my best to serve the tribe. I have a soft spot for underdogs.” Arkan’s happy mask rippled for a second.
“What the hell do you mean underdogs? This tribe’s done nothing but take, take, and take for years.”
I raised my eyebrow and delicately posed a question I now desperately wanted the answer to. “Oh? What do you mean?”
Arkan opened his mouth to answer, but Kara slapped him across the chest with her arm. “It’s time.” She held up the pregnancy test to the light. “There’s only one line.”
I held my breath. Would the pregnancy test look like someone had peed on it? Would she be able to tell the difference?
“Well shit. She’s not pregnant. I guess you aren’t a super breeder after all.” Arkan’s face fell. Why did he look so sad that his accident hadn’t resulted in an illicit child?
“Is that a good or a bad thing?”
Kara rattled on. “Oh, it’s neither. We’re just collecting information. We’ve always got a plan, no matter what happens.”
A tingle appeared on the back of my neck. I was missing something. And I needed them out of here. “Well, I’m really beat. This week has taken it out of me. When can you guys come back for another chat? Perhaps all of us can have dinner sometime this week?”
Kara winced.
“Um
, we’re going to be really busy this week coming up, but maybe some other time.” Arkan cleared his throat.
Yeah right. They just came over here to see if I was pregnant. So what’s next? They walked towards the door.
“It was really great seeing you guys. Don’t be such strangers.” I put a fake bounce in my voice.
“Oh, we won’t my dear. We’ll see you soon.” Kara’s voice was as smooth as syrup.
As soon as they left, I shut the door and bolted it behind them.
Vivica’s voice rang out in the emptiness causing me to jump three feet in the air.
“They’re up to something.”
I turned towards her. She was clutching the door frame. A pale look of terror was set on her face.
“You’re telling me. They just made me take a pregnancy test.”
“I know. I heard the whole thing. They gave me the creeps. How did we ever think they were nice?”