Chapter One
Thalia
Sweet gray eyes looked at me with mischief in their depths before taking off across the lush field toward a large tree.
“Where are you going, little one?”
The sound of giggles behind the tree had me walking towards that angelical sound. As I got closer, the little boy’s head peeked out from around the trunk of the tree.
“Why don’t you come out and tell me who you are, little one?” I stretched my hand out for him to take. He looked around nervously before putting his hand in mine. His was so small in my own, but it felt right. My other hand reached out and brushed the light brown hair that was hanging over his eyes.
“Who are you, little one?” I repeated my question. He smiled and leaned in to give me a hug. Catching me off guard, we fell to the ground, but I wrapped my arms around him so he would be safe.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered into his hair.
“They want me dead. Please don’t let them take me, mommy.” My heart dropped.
I woke with a loud scream, my hand reaching for my heart to calm its erratic beating. I looked around and realized I was in Tristan’s bed, in his apartment. Seconds later, Tristan appeared.
“Thalia, are you okay? What’s wrong?” He looked scared, which was not something I was used to seeing on him. Being the god Anubis, not too many things frightened him.
“I had a dream; there was a little boy.” I shook my head, trying to tell him about the rest of it, but I could not. Then it all came back to me. Our wedding. The quick escape and revelation.
“I’m pregnant.” The words came out on a whisper as my hand went to my stomach in shock. Isis said I was pregnant, but how? I mean, I had my period before the wedding. My head was spinning with thoughts of a baby. Tristan’s arms were around me, holding me.
“I can feel it now; I’m not sure how I didn’t feel the change in you before. You carry life, my love.” He whispered into me. Tears leaked from my eyes. I wasn’t sure what emotions I was feeling. Mine? His? I felt elated, fearful, scared, relieved. I didn’t know how I felt about this revelation.
“How do you feel about this?” I asked, turning to see his face. Was he upset? Was the fear and worry from him? He kissed my cheek and put his forehead to mine.
“I was worried when we left the reception. You passed out and wouldn’t wake up. About the baby? I’m beyond happy that you carry my child, but I am also anxious because I do not know what the others will do. Something like this has never happened before.” You could tell he was nervous. I was, too.
“What do we do?” I pulled back and looked him in those gray eyes.
“We stay together, and keep you healthy so you can grow our child safely. Everything else we will figure out as it comes.” I nodded. What he said made sense. I think I was still in shock from everything I didn’t even know how to feel.
“How about I make you some breakfast? You were passed out all night.” My stomach growled at the thought of food, making him grin like a fool.
“I guess that’s a yes. Why don’t you go soak in the tub, and breakfast will be done when you get out.” He gave me a kiss on the forehead and left the room to make me food. I slowly rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom, taking care of my morning business then starting his large soaker tub. The tub was becoming my thinking tub. I soaked in it when I first found out Tristan was Anubis, the Egyptian god of the underworld. I was so confused, feeling like my world was upside down. But I embraced it, and even found out I was a big part of it. I was the daughter of Aphrodite and Alexander the Great, reborn after destroying the god-killing blade that had killed me. I had been through so much. My eyes drifted to my left hand, to the black rings I had given Tristan back in ancient Memphis, Egypt. The rings gave me eternal life with Tristan as long as I wore them. They also kept me grounded when I first came to consciousness after being taken by Orion, and my past and present self were battling inside my head.
On its own, my hand moved to my flat stomach.
Pregnant.
I still couldn’t believe it. I had never really thought about children. Me, a mother. The thought didn’t scare me too much, so that was good. An image of the little boy in my dream popped into my head. Was that my son?
“A sweet boy,” I whispered to my stomach. A boy much like his father. Black hair, gray eyes. My heart warmed, thinking about having a child with my love. Tristan would make a wonderful father. So fierce and protective, but patient, and so wise.
The child of a Greek demigoddess and an Egyptian god. What a mixture.
“What were you thinking of, love?” Tristan’s soft voice came from the door. I looked up to see him smirking at me. I loved that smirk.
“The baby,” I confessed. He stayed silent, but his eyes moved down to my stomach.
“My dream was about a little boy with brown hair and gray eyes. I was wondering if we were having a boy.” There was little hitch in my voice. The next thing I knew, Tristan was naked and in the tub, holding me.
“It’s going to be all right, love.” He tried to comfort me.
“They are going to come after him.” Tears started to flow. I was feeling protective of our child already.
