It was Juliette who’d ordered everyone to stand down once they were located. And Caesar’s orders were obeyed.
Instead, Caesar sent people to both protect, and watch, them.
“Show me where they are. Show me where they are right now,” Juliette demanded. “If they’re at the fucking beach, while I’m having agiant fucking baby...”
“I don’t actually think the baby is going to be giant,” Sebastian whispered to Sophia. “Though Franco has a big head…”
Sophia pulled a tablet from her bag, tapping the screen.
A second later, a video appeared. Sophia turned the tablet so they could all see the image of two people walking down a narrow street in the medieval heart of a coastal city. They moved slowly, the evidence of what it had cost them to survive the explosion all too apparent.
Juliette leaned in, peering at the picture. “Is that gelato? Are they having gelato while I’m stuck withice chips?”
“Ummmm,” Sophia said.
“That’s it. Give me a phone. Someone give me a phone.”
“Maybe now isn’t the best time,” Franco said soothingly.
“Iugula,” Juliette snapped.
“Why did you teach her that?” Sebastian murmured to Sophia.
“Juliette, my love.” Devon stepped in to rub her back. “I’m not slitting our husband’s throat.”
“Maybe don’t do things that make her want to cut your throat,” Sophia said to Seb with a shrug.
“Excuse me, I’m herbest friend. It’s my job to keep her humble.”
“Shut up, Seb,” Juliette snapped as she stabbed the screen of the phone an alarmed-looking Franco had handed her.
On the tablet Sophia held, Eric tugged a phone out of his pocket. His back was to them, his expression not visible, but it took him a moment to answer, slowly bringing the phone to his ear.
“Hola?” a man’s voice came from the phone Juliette held.
Sophia exhaled, eyes sliding closed, her relief at hearing Eric’s voice apparent.
Juliette hit the speakerphone button, dropping the phone onto the bed under her belly. “Hi, Eric, how’s being dead?”
On screen, Eric whipped around, scanning the street as he pulled Nikolett against his side.
“Never mind,” Juliette panted. “I don’t care. I’m having a baby…” She paused to groan. “That means your playtime is over.”
“You…have the wrong number,” Eric said in English, though the words were resigned.
“You know what? Fuck you, Ericsson. Pass the phone to Nikolett. I don’t know why I was even trying to talk to a penis in the first place.”
“Hello?” They heard a second before the video showed Nikolett accepting the phone, raising a questioning gaze to Eric. He shook his head, but there was a slight smile on his lips.
“Hi, Nikolett. Juliette here. Surprise. We know you’re alive. We’ve known for months. Colum was either going to find you or become a necromancer. You’ve had your little vacation, but it’s time to come back.”
There was a short pause. They all watched Nikolett lean into Eric, but it didn’t look defeated. She didn’t seem sad, but accepting. “When and where?” Nikolett finally said.
“See?” Juliette said to the room at large. “This is why I needed to talk to someone with a vagina. Dublin. It’s your new headquarters.
“Oh, and by the way, we merged the societies. You’re now consul of Europe and Eric is Caesar over both societies for when shit goes sideways.”
“Caesar?” Eric said with a laugh. “That had to be Colum’s idea.”
