“I was at your wedding,” she counters. “You’re in your own body. Isn’t that freeing?”
It’s true, she made a ghostly appearance, but I only saw her once for less than three seconds and we certainly didn’t exchange words.
I tip my head her way. “I had to poison my body to get here.”
“So be it.” She bears those icy blue eyes into mine. “All is well that ends well.” Her lips curl into a malevolent smile, and my fingers twitch to wrap themselves around her neck.
She takes a breath. “Shall we get to the gift, Nathan?”
“Please,” I say. “There are some people I can’t stand to be around for very long.” She happens to be one of them.
A tiny dimple dips in next to her lips. “Are you feeling under the weather, Skyla?”
“Now and again. So let’s have it.”
“Logan.” She motions for him to stand next to me before taking up his hands. “How I loved you before I knew you. How I adored you so when we finally met. Instantly, I knew there was no other for my daughter.”
A strange chill rides through me. It’s one thing to say this in front of Gage, but Marshall is here, too.
She nods my way. “Sector Marshall is for you as well. Nothing but the finest, Skyla. Choice souls. It is imperative you attain the noblest character, the largest of hearts, the highest pedigree.”
“And there you have it,” I say under my breath. “Am I nothing but a breeding mare to you?”
“Oh, Skyla.” She scoffs. “Must you speak of children as if they were a curse?”
My father steps in. “Candace. Enough with the theatrics. Get to the point.”
“Very well.” She flicks her finger and a spray of pink stars envelops the vicinity.
My body heats unnaturally before leveling off to a warm, soothing strum as if Marshall were still touching me. A flash of light surrounds me as my abdomen tingles and I look down to see a small pink glow emanating from deep inside of me—deep inside of my…womb.
Dozens of cobalt blue butterflies appear from nowhere, fluttering around my body, and my mind races as I try to take it all in.
“Mother?”
Logan steps before me.
“Skyla.” A laugh rumbles through his chest. “Are we having a baby?”
“We’re having a baby?” The words yelp from me as I look to my mother first then my father.
They both offer up slow smiles, sober nods, and I wrap my arms around Logan so tight I can hardly breathe.
“She’s here,” I whisper as I lay my hand over my belly. The little girl who my mother teased us with a few years back, whose sweet body we were able to love and to hold is finally on her way. “I know it’s her, Logan. I can feel it.”
Tears swell in both of our eyes as he nods.
“And she’ll have three big brothers ready to watch over her.” He dots a kiss to my lips.
My father embraces us and presses a gentle kiss to my cheek.
“Skyla, Logan.” He pulls back with his signature warm grin. “I’m absolutely thrilled for you. Another great addition to the family is on the way. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I glance back to see Demetri chatting away with my mother and Marshall.
Dad grunts, “Don’t worry about that. She can more than handle him. Say, would you mind asking Mia to come out? I hear congratulations are in order for her, too.”
“Absolutely.” I quickly text my sister. “I told her you’d be at the bottom of the porch.” My sister is more than apprised of my father’s guest appearances in our lives, and we’re both more than thankful for them.
