Marshall lifts a finger. “Only upon her request.”
Logan winces as if he were in on it. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”
“Logan!” I smack him over the arm.
“Not the part about Dudley.” He takes a moment to glower at this older look-alike. He looks to Ezrina. “Not a thing is allowed to go wrong.”
“This is happening?” I ask as I look to Logan, but Ezrina answers for him.
“Yes, child. It is.”
Logan takes up my hand.Ezrina thinks she can use every part of your afterbirth to help put the finishing touches on the elixir. And poor Coop keeps having a reaction. She thinks the key to helping him out might lie in another component from your body.
Chloe smirks as she takes up her husband’s hand. “Thank you, honey, for not forcing such barbaric measures on me.”
Ezrina sputters a dark laugh. “My medicinal alleviation is something the women bound in hospital beds could only dream of. And there is no aftereffect on the child or mother.”
Chloe flinches as if Ezrina just struck her. “In that case, I’ll happily procure your services. I’ll be delivering in my own bedroom. You’ll be there, Ezrina. You’ll get to bring Tobie’s new little sister or brother into this world. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”
Ezrina is quick to agree, and a little too enthusiastically—and come to think of it, perhaps a bit over animated as far as Ezrina goes. I hate how Chloe and Wes have Ezrina by the lady balls just because Tobie holds her DNA. It’s sickening. I wish Chloe had never heard this conversation. The last thing I want is her having an easy princess delivery inmyfreaking bed.
“I’m certain I’m having a girl.” She looks to Gage and bats her demonic eyes his way. “It’s my privilege to gift my husband his very first daughter.”
“He has two,” I’m quick to point out. “Sage and Tobie. Aren’t they his children, Chloe?” I don’t dare look at Gage. Damn coward should have piped up himself.
Gage growls as if he heard my thoughts. “I was about to say the same. But yes, I am thrilled to have another daughter, if that’s what fate brings us.” Something catches his eye in the bushes and he cranes his neck a moment. “Excuse me.”
My blood is still boiling as I watch him take off. Chloe brings the conversation right back on herself, and I don’t bother paying attention anymore. There goes my fantasy of Chloe delivering in the woods again, howling out in pain.
Yes, I helped deliver Tobie. Only this time I wouldn’t help Chloe do a thing. I envision myself watching from a distance with a bucket of popcorn as she claws her eyes out, insane with pain.
I glance back in the direction Gage scampered off to and note an iridescent wave cresting through the air.
Hey—I give Logan’s hand a quick squeeze.I see something fishy in the direction Gage went.
I’ll check it out.
Fine, but I’m going with you.
“I think I need to go to the bathroom,” I announce in the event Chloe gets a hair up her butt and decides to seek out her husband first.
“I’ll help you find a bush,” Logan teases as he pulls me to my feet.
Chloe scoffs. “Oh, hon, I’ve seen that mess between her legs. Believe me when I say, Skyla is bringing the bush.”
I do my best to ignore the witch and waddle in the direction Gage took off in. And, sure enough, I hear his voice rumbling soft and low. He sounds angry, hostile even.
The air shimmers in sparks of unnatural light and I spot a mane of golden blonde curls. I suck in a quick breath and stomp on over.
“Mother?”
The blonde look-alike’s mouth falls open and those pale blue eyes give her away.
“Rory!” I head over and offer her a firm embrace. “Gage, why didn’t you get me?” I pin him with a dirty look. “Never mind. You’ll do anything to make my life difficult.”
His cheek rises on one side, but he doesn’t look happy about it. He glares at my sister a moment.
“Rory. It was nice seeing you.” He glances my way. “And for the record, I would have happily alerted you to her presence upon her request.” He takes off and Logan pulls him to the side, and while the two of them murmur away, I beam a huge smile at my sister.
