“Nah. I’m just a little tired.” He gave her a smile that turned into a grimace.
He was lying. Kira straightened her shoulders. “Let me give you a bit of healing energy.”
“That’s not—”
“Let me,” she interrupted softly.
Joshua hesitated but slowly nodded. “Alright. Just a little, though. I don’t need a lot.”
Kira held her hands out, and he stepped toward her. It felt awkward to touch him, even just putting her hands on his shoulders. She reached inside of herself, looking for the healing magics that she’d tapped into. It felt like golden streams running through her body, and she carefully took the edges and redirected them, pushing the magic through her palms into Joshua’s body. His eyes slid shut, and he let out a soft sigh.
As the energy moved from her to him, she felt a faint glimmer in response. Strands of a similar color, golden, echoed in his body. Kira repressed a gasp as she pushed slightly, trying to trace them. Was it magic? Or something else. But even as she tried to explore the lines of gold in his body, something trickled over their connection. Something spiky that filled the pit of her stomach with dread.
It was as though those golden lines were covered in thorns. They pricked at her, causing her magic to waver. With a gasp, she withdrew.
Joshua’s eyes snapped open. “Are you okay?”
Kira kept her expression smooth as she nodded.
She had felt those thorns the previous night, too, when she was healing him. At the time, she thought it was the demon’s energy lingering in him. Now, though, there was no sign of demonic energy lingering near him. Which only left one possibility. The witch hunter curse. She didn’t know how she knew, only that she was certain.
It was real.
Which meant it had even more danger to her unborn child. Was her baby already bound in those same thorns? It made her shudder.
Joshua saw. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She poured a cup of orange juice, wishing she could do more. Her secret stayed buried in her chest. It was easy enough to tell herself she wasn’t going to tell him about her pregnancy when it was brand-new for her, but now? Now, seeing him, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him about the thorns. If she could feel the curse, it meant they had to be able to break it, right? And she was certain she felt magic in his veins. Maybe once they broke the curse, he could use magic, too.
So yes, she desperately wanted to tell him that she was pregnant. Even though she knew his reaction would be the opposite of what she wanted.
“Do you want some coffee?” she asked, pouring a mug. She’d made it for herself, but then remembered something about coffee maybe not being good for pregnancy.
Joshua stood. His head came up, and his golden gaze pinned her to the place. He stared at her, his expression hungry as he moved his gaze up and down her. Goosebumps broke out on her arms, and she held her breath. Her stomach quivered, her heart beating faster. A chill stole down her spine as he stalked toward her, showing no signs of exhaustion.
Heat pooled between her thighs. She clutched the mug between them, holding it out slightly as though that would stop him from coming closer.
Goddess, all she wanted was for him to come closer.
“I want you,” he growled.
Her mouth went dry. “I…” She couldn’t say she didn’t want him, and if she tried to lie, he’d see right through it. “You need to rest.”
He caught her hand and took the coffee, setting it on the counter. Then he stepped closer and turned her hand toward him, putting it on his chest. She felt the drum of his pulse beneath her palm. His golden gaze searched hers as he cupped her face in his hand. Her breath came in quick gasps as she tried to remind herself of all the reasons why this was a bad idea.
“Last night, my nightmares were about you. About losing you,” he murmured. “I need to feel you close, to know you’re okay.”
Fuck! How was she supposed to stay strong when he talked like that? She melted into his arms, hating herself for giving in so easily. But the night hadn’t been easy for her, either. She’d slept next to him, but it was a restless sleep. She keptwaking up to check on him, terrified that he would have slipped away while she wasn’t looking. This pregnancy was only going to push them further apart, and right now she wanted to be close, too. She wanted to feel that he was okay.
His arm wound around her waist, pulling her tight, while his other hand combed through her hair. He let out a shaky breath as he pressed his forehead against her temple.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
Every nerve of Kira’s body seemed to be alight. “F-for what?”
“Helping me recover. Staying with me through the night when you didn’t have to. For caring.”
