“Marked”—Nev nods—“with a thin filament, half the size of a human hair, in two different locations in their bodies. They don’t know where. They don’t know about the chips. We have the ability to track their genetics, their blood pressure, and their chemical makeup. Ezrina had them swear their allegiance to Celestra. Should they break faith or decide to animate into a Spectator on their own, we not only have the ability to know—we have the ability to shut down their vital organs.”
“We can kill them,” I whisper mostly to myself.
Logan takes up my hand again. “We have them on a leash.”
I glance to Marshall. “You’re awfully quiet. Spectator got your tongue?”
“Faction business is none of my own. I’m simply an observer. I suspect we’ll see a reversal of fortune shortly and the Sectors will return to their rightful positions and you as well.”
“Will.” Ezrina glares at me a moment. “We’re leaving.” She takes up Nev’s hand and they start toward the house. “Logan, we’ll need assistance with transport back to Whitehorse.”
Logan twists his lips as he looks to me. “I’ll be right back.”And then maybe you can tell me why you’re giving me the cold shoulder.His brows bounce and he looks mildly amused that he’s calling me out on it.
“Fine.” I lean in and offer him a wet kiss on the lips. “I’m sorry,” I whisper as he takes off with them.
“Ms. Messenger.” Marshall offers a slight bow my way. “That was a powerful pulse of electricity I felt surge between the two of us as we made our way over.”
“You don’t need to pretend to hit on me, Marshall. I know I look hideous.” I pluck at the white lace number that makes me look twice my gargantuan size.
“I’m talking about that contraction.”
“Oh, that. It was just a Braxton Hicks.” I grimace at him as I say it because I’m pretty sure we both know it wasn’t.
“Skyla?” He inches back. “You’ve had three in the time we’ve been out here. You’re in labor.”
“Really? And you expect me to know this? I’m not an expert. I’ve only done this once before,” I say, quickly trying to waddle my way back to the house. I’m half-afraid Marshall will force me to lie down on a patch of hay in the barn and deliver.
“Now, now, no need to run.” I can tell by his playful tone he finds my predicament entertaining. Not to worry. I’ll get him back when I all but staple our bodies together. He’s giving me some relief, and if some celestial body in the sky decides his feel-good vibes are off-limits like she did last time, there will be hell to pay. “Why don’t you lie down in my chambers?”
“The one we’ve already determined I’d give birth in? No thanks. That’s tantamount to a death chamber at the moment. I’d like to keep out for the next two weeks, thank you very much.”
We hit the thick of the party, and soon enough we’re weaving our way around costumed bodies. Everyone is looking skyward, taking pictures of the thousands of glowing butterflies, the fireflies, and, my God, I want to do the same.
“Ms. Messenger, I’d like to have a word in private with you.”
“Request denied.” Another quickening of pain grips me, and I let out a yelp as I fish for his hand and latch onto it. “Oh God, Marshall, I can’t take this.” I give his hand a vicious squeeze and those vibratronics of his pulsate into me far more effectively than before. “Wow, what a rush.”
A dull laugh tremors through his chest. “You’re welcome. And I’m afraid you know how your mother feels about this.”
“My mother can suck a lemon. She can suck an egg—an entire carton of eggs. She can—”
A hard crackle of lightning explodes overhead in a plethora of large jagged shards.
Marshall growls, “As you were saying?”
“Never mind. I’m afraid you’ll have to stay close all night. Maybe if we don’t talk about it, if we don’t acknowledge it, she’ll let this one slide.” I glance to the sky. “After all, this is Logan’s baby!” I shout, and nothing spectacular happens.
Marshall wraps an arm around my shoulders and navigates us toward the expansive patio. “Do you really think that will matter?”
“Oh, yes, my mother loves Logan as much as I do. Of course, I had to suffer when having the boys. She detests Gage. She wanted to spread the misery. But this time it’s different. This time I’ll be holding my precious daughter in my arms and not even have noticed I was in labor.”
He averts those fiery eyes a moment. “Keep believing that, Skyla.”
A small crowd pours out of the house, and among them are Mom and Tad.
Mom lunges at me dressed as a flapper. Her beaded skirt catches the light and glitters with her every move.
“You look beautiful,” I say. She looks thin, too, but then everyone does compared to me. Her hair is curled up at the tips and she’s overdrawn her eyes and has bright red lipstick on. “Mom, you look like a million bucks tonight.”
