Max‘s breath hitches. “Thank you. But, Ava,” he turns to me, his face imploring. “I promise you that we have everything we need here to make sure you can deliver those babies safely. I’ve been preparing for this since you first arrived. Most births happen without any issues, and if anything did go wrong, I promise we have everything we need to deal with it here. Do you understand?”
Closing my eyes, I press my forehead against his. “I do, Max. I’m still scared, but I’m not scared about you. You’re the only part that gives me any reassurance about the whole thing.”
Max’s hand reaches up, and he strokes my hair. “I’ll be there at every stage,” he promises. “I won’t leave you.”
“I know.”
We share a smile, before I look around at the others. Nik’s watching me with his hands crossed over his chest.
“Little bird,” he says in a chastising tone. “What’s this I hear about you being scared of food?”
I flush, shifting in my seat as they all turn back to me, Max included. “I’m notscaredof food. But… every time I eat around you, it feels wrong. Like I’m breaking one of their stupid laws. It makes me nauseous.”
Bastien’s jaw tenses. “I didn’t think you were eating properly, sweetheart. But I thought it was the pregnancy.”
I shake my head. “It’s not,” I admit. “I’m actually hungry pretty much all of the time.”
My shoulders lighten as I share my worries with them. This has been playing on my mind for weeks. Hunger pains, combined with worry that the babies aren’t getting what they need, makes for a cranky, tired Ava.
I shrug a little. “I’m not sure how to fix it, to be honest. Maybe time will make it better.”
Luc turns to me. “Trust me?” he says carefully. There’s a glint in his eyes, and my stomach flips.
“Always.” I say it jokingly, but an undercurrent of truth runs through my words.
Without another word, he grabs my hand and waits for me to slide off the trolley before tugging me out of the door. My curiosity wars with trepidation as the others follow us. “What are you planning?” I ask Luc, and he shakes his head, a smile playing at his lips.
“We’re fixing your food worries. Right now.”
My eyebrows raise. “Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?”
Snorting, he pulls me into the kitchen before he abruptly stops. “Nik, where’s Nash?”
“With Leah,” Nik answers, leaning against the edge of the doorframe and watching with curiosity. “Why?”
“Close the door.”
With the door shut, all four of them feel impossibly large in the small space. Their scents battle – Luc’s sandalwood is the most prominent, but I can smell traces of apple pie and gingerbread, with Bastien’s sage aroma underneath. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Fuck, they smell good. A murmur of appreciation slips out, and my eyes flash open as a growl thrums through the air. Nikolai, Max and Bastien all take a step closer to me, their eyes burning.
Luc turns from the counter and slides a platter in front of me. I glance down at the plate, my heart beating a little faster. Sliced strawberries, dark cherries and grapes sit on one side, separated from a selection of small cuts of meat by some soft-looking bread. My heart sinks as my stomach threatens to revolt.
“Luc…,” I say pleadingly. “I’m not sure…,”
He takes my face in his hands and leans in. “You said you trusted me, sweetheart,” he whispers, resting his forehead against mine. “I won’t sit back and watch you suffer when we can do something about it. This, I can help with.”
My heart pulses. “What are you going to do?”
He pulls back. “You associate food with bad memories.” He gives me a small smile. “So we’re going to replace them with good ones.”
My mouth dries up at the look he gives me. His green eyes darken as they trace my body, and I can’t stop myself squirming a little. “Like the bed?”
“Exactly.” Luc turns to look at the others, and Nikolai steps forward. “I volunteer as tribute,” he says with a wink, and I can’t help but laugh. “Okay. I’m game.”
Taking a seat on one of the wooden chairs, Nik pats his knees. “Over here, baby.”
I move towards him, glancing at Luc for confirmation as he nods. Gingerly, I set myself down on Nik’s knee, gasping as he turns me in his lap until my back is pressed against his chest. His hard thighs move under me, nudging my legs apart as he slides his feet between mine to hold my legs open. At the same time, he draws my hair to the side and presses a deep, lingering kiss to my neck.
I flush scarlet from head to toe, dampness soaking my cotton underwear. “Nikolai…,”
