Both sisters are lifemates to Carpathian males,Tomas supplied.
Sarika remembered that Tomas had mentioned that before. There was a story there, but now wasn’t the time.
Tomas turned from Jubal toward Sarika. “Jubal, this is my lifemate, Sarika.” He returned to her side, seating himself in the chair as close as he’d been before. He didn’t seem to mind showing affection for her publicly. His actions seemed claiming, as if he were declaring to Jubal and Jasmine that he and Sarika were solid. Sarika wished they were, that she didn’t have all the doubts pressing in.
It is natural that you have doubts, Sarika. And as concerning as this day has been with all the revelations, I think you’re doing very well.Once again, Tomas’ strong fingers found the knots of tension in her neck and began to work them out for her.
Jubal smiled at her. “Jasmine and Sandrine have talked of nothing but you and your extraordinary courage.”
He gave her an old-fashioned bow, when Sarika could easily see he was anything but old-fashioned. This man was born and raised in the modern world, but he seemed to be successful at navigating between the old and the new. He was also clearly capable and comfortable in the human, jaguar and Carpathian worlds.
Around his wrist he wore what appeared to be a star-shaped charm. That place inside her that seemed to have connections with other jaguarsknew immediately it was a weapon. A very deadly one—and it was made of the same material as her amulet.
“I think it was Jasmine and Sandrine displaying all the courage. I just helped stall until sunset. I knew Luiz, my cousin, would come. It was a bit of a shock to have three Carpathians come to our rescue. Fortunately, Jasmine and Sandrine clearly knew them.”
“You know they would have taken us if not for you,” Jasmine insisted. “Thank you again.”
Sarika smiled at her, trying to be reassuring. “We’ve been discussing the party for Solange and only managed to agree on one thing. No balloons. That’s it. That’s as far as we got. Hopefully, you’re a better party planner than I am.”
Jubal swept his arm around Jasmine. “She’s excellent at planning parties.” He sounded immensely proud of her. “And Solange, we’ve brought news as well. Not that we want to steal your thunder.”
Solange’s eyes widened, and she turned to Dominic. He immediately caught her hand and pulled her beneath the shelter of his shoulder.
“Are you pregnant, Jasmine? Are you going to have another baby?” Solange whispered the question. She seemed both hopeful and fearful.
Is this a huge deal?Sarika asked Tomas.
Yes, it is,Tomas replied.Jubal wanted more children, but Jasmine was afraid. No one blames her after what she went through. It took her forever to admit she loved Jubal and would agree to a life with him. From what I understand, he finally just railroaded her.
I see there is a pattern with the men around here.She tried to make it a joke, but she was serious. There did seem to be a pattern. Make the decision for the woman, and she had to learn to live with it.
I know it feels that way.
It is that way,she corrected.
Then when she tried to have a baby, she lost it,Tomas continued.That was so hard on both her and Jubal. Sandrine was devastated right along with them. She wanted to be a big sister so much.
Sarika’s heart went out to the two women. They’d gone through so much. She wanted the best for them, and she was grateful it appeared that Dominic and Jubal really loved and cared for their wives. The two women needed that, after all they had been through.
She glanced up at Tomas. She didn’t want to fight with him. She wanted to share this moment with Solange and Jasmine, a new pregnancy, a new life beginning. She wanted to be able to feel their shared joy in that moment.
“We waited to tell you until we were certain I’d carry,” Jasmine told Solange. “Our baby will be nearly the same age as yours. Cousins to play together. And Sandrine is so excited to be able to look after both.” She smiled at her daughter, who began to jump up and down.
“I didn’t give away the secret this time,” she announced, her silky curls bouncing nearly over her head. She grinned mischievously at Sarika. “I always tell secrets. It is so hard to keep them. I try really hard, but they burst out of me all by themselves.”
She looked up at Jubal. “Daddy never gets mad at me, though. He laughs about it and says I’ll get better at not letting secrets escape, and I did this time. I didn’t let it get away from me.”
Jubal immediately reached down to lift her into his arms. “That’s right, pixie. You did good. I’m so proud of you. Wrangling secrets and putting them behind locked doors is very difficult.”
Sandrine’s little arms snaked around Jubal’s neck. She laid her head on his chest and squeezed hard, determined to give him the best hug she could.
“I think we need balloons, Daddy,” she murmured, clearly a cajoling, manipulative move on her part. She looked innocent and even sounded it, but Sarika knew she was far from it. “Bright red ones.”
Dominic groaned, and Solange covered her face with her hands.
Sarika laughed. “Sandrine, I’m sure bright red balloons would be wonderful, but did you know that they freak your aunt out? She doesn’t like them, and neither does her jaguar. If you’re planning the specialparty just for her, it might be a good thing to see what she likes and doesn’t like. I have never planned a party, but if you have, is that the way you do it? Find out what your client likes?”
At once, Sandrine lifted her head and looked around the room. Suddenly looking important, she directed her question at Solange. “Are you my client, Auntie?”
