“We’re having another baby,” Jen whispered when Decebel pulled back.
“I know. I heard.” He smirked, all of his previous displeasure had vanished.
Jen’s face suddenly fell, and she sucked in a deep breath. “Are you happy? I mean, we didn’t plan it. And obviously it really isn’t the greatest time to be pregnant. No offense, Sally.”
“Why in the world would I find that offensive?”
“Of course, I’m happy, silly female.”
Zara coughed again, but not to cover laughter. This time, it was to cover words. “Maybe don’t call her silly.”
“Good point.” Jacque nodded and pointed at Jen. “She’s like a ticking time bomb.”
“We’re having a moment.” Jen growled, her eyes still on her mate’s. “Keep your sassy comments to yourself.”
“I’m not leaving,” Decebel warned. “So don’t ask, and don’t you dare attempt to order me to.” He shifted so he could wrap an arm around her back and one under her knees, lifting her up, then sliding his large frame around to face the circle of people. Then he plopped her down in his lap so that she also faced the room. Jacque watched as Decebel placed both his large hands on her stomach and rubbed them in circles. Jen sighed happily and leaned back against him.
“We better not freaking die tonight.” Jen huffed. “Or I will be thoroughly put out.”
Jacque’s heart swelled in her chest as she soaked up the amazing news that had chased away the heaviness that had previously filled the room. The world was such a dark place, and yet there were moments like this that lit it up like a full moon in a black night sky.
“Congratulations,” Thad said, his voice formal. He bowed his head at the couple. Then the djinn’s face grew serious. “But I’m afraid we will have to postpone the celebration. We need to discuss the strategy for tonight. We cannot just go in on a wing and a prayer.”
Jen waved him off. “Slow your roll, jacked-in-the-head djinn. This ishowwe get ready to discuss important things. Didn’t you learn that at the last meeting? We have to get all the ridiculous, innocuous, weird, and inappropriate things out of the way, or we won’t be able to concentrate. And sometimes we have mental breakdowns that turn into babies.”
“Pretty sure that’s not how babies are made.” Wadim waggled his eyebrows at his mate. Zara shoved his shoulder, but her lips turned up in a grin.
Crina sighed. “They’re like toddlers that have to run off all of their energy before they can go to sleep.”
“They?” Zara asked. “Because I seeyousitting here, too.”
The she-wolf grinned. “I come for the entertainment. It’s better than anything on television. I mean this”—she motioned to Jen—“was awesome.”
“You’re right, Thadrick,” Jacque said. “We need to get down to business. But Jen is also correct in her own way, though that is a troublesome thing for me to admit. I nearly just choked on my words.”
Jen raised a brow at her. “Say it again, and maybe this time we’ll get lucky.”
Jacque shot her a look. “You get a pass because you’re pregnant. But I will keep a tally of each pass I give you. Then when that kid pops out of your overused vagina, I will kick your big, just-had-a-baby ass. The more tallies you’ve accumulated, the worse it will be.”
“Holy crap, I want to be her when I grow up.” Awe filled Bethany’s voice.
“She learned everything she knows from me.” Jen’s eyes held Jacque’s. “And since that was a verbal smackdown of epic proportion, I will giveyoua pass in return. But I accept your challenge to chick fight at later date. Would you like a lingerie match or mud wrestling?”
Growls erupted from two of the males, sniggers from the others.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Jacque inclined her head. “We will schedule the details of our brawl once it gets closer to the time.”
Wadim raised his hand and tentatively asked, “Is this just reserved for you two? Because Zara can kick some serious—”
“Do you want to die?” Decebel rumbled.
“Painfully?” Fane added.
Wadim’s eyes danced with mirth, not intimidated in the least by the alpha and beta. He’d obviously been threatened one too many times with no follow through. “Don’t worry, Z will make me pay for that comment later.”
Jen clapped her hands. “My brother from another mother. Making the comments that youknowwill get you spanked. I like it.”
“Fracking frack.” Adam spoke for the first time since walking into the room, “Not an image I needed in my head of either of you.”
