Cassie blinked.“What?”
“You haven’t been sleeping,” Elora said, counting on her fingers.“You’ve been dizzy.You barely eat.If you say ‘I’m fine’ one more time, I swear?—”
“Elora.”
Her friend froze mid-gesture.
Cassie’s voice went soft, trembling despite her best effort.“First of all, have you been hallucinating?Because I don’t know where you got that list of things from.”
Elora looked a tad sheepish.“Maybe I let my imagination get carried away, but you do look tired.What’s second of all?
Cassie just ripped the bandaid off.“I’m pregnant.”
Silence cracked the clearing open.The trees seemed to hold their breath.Elora stared at her.Not blinking.Not breathing.Then slowly, “What?”
Cassie swallowed.“I found out a few days ago.”
Elora moved so fast Cassie didn’t see it, she just suddenly had an armful of best friend, warm and fierce and shaking.
“Cassie,” Elora whispered against her shoulder, voice thick.“Freaking hell.”She pulled back, cupping Cassie’s face.“Wait,” she frowned.“Found out how?Is there a store in this realm that sells pregnancy tests?”
She rolled her eyes, “No, dork.Monthly friend hasn’t visited in a while, and I’ve had some mild nausea for no reason, though it seems to have gotten better.Once I suspected, it’s like I could feel it.A magic separate from my own, it feels very much like Trik’s power.”
Elora seemed to consider this and then said, “Sure, makes sense.Not really, but we’ll go with it.Now, why didn’t you tell me?”
Cassie closed her eyes.“Because I haven’t even told Trik.I feel like he should have been the first to know.”
Elora blinked again.Hard.“Agreed.But, Cass.Why?Why haven’t you told him?”
Cassie’s throat tightened.“Because he’s not ...with me.Not really.He’s shut down, and the Book ...”
Elora’s face softened, all sarcasm gone.“Cassie.He loves you.He adores you.When he met you in your dad’s building that very first night, he practically imprinted on you like a baby duck.”
A weak laugh escaped Cassie.“A cocky, overbearing, assassin baby duck.”
“Yes,” Elora agreed.“But stillyourbaby duck.”
Cassie let out a shaky breath.She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear that.To be reminded of how Trik had made it very clear from the moment he met her that he wanted her.Those feelings had only grown over time.But still, lately she had felt very unwanted.“He hasn’t noticed,” Cassie whispered.“Cushdid.This morning.The heartbeat, the magic shift, everything.But Trik hasn’t noticed anything.Not one thing.”
Elora’s expression went sharp.“Cass.He’s been buried in that damn Book.His mind is focused on keeping you safe and keeping this realm and all its inhabitants safe.He’s got a little bit of tunnel vision going on.I’m not saying it’s okay, but that’s the only reason he hasn’t noticed.Not because he doesn’t care.”
Cassie pulled her knees up.“What if that doesn’t change?”
“It will,” Elora said instantly, her hands going up animatedly as she grew in excitement.“The moment he realizes?He will lose his mind.He’ll be like ‘Book?What Book?’Then, he will have an absolute meltdown of joy.He’ll probably cry.”
Cassie blinked.
Elora shrugged.“Deep down he’s a deeply emotional elf, with all sorts of feels going on.He’s just been hiding it.A baby will break those barriers right the crap down.”
Cassie laughed again, head falling back.Relief loosened her ribs, unexpected and overwhelming.
Elora nudged her with her knee.“You should’ve told me right away.I’m your person.”
“I know.”Cassie wiped her eyes.“I was afraid you’d tell me to turn around.”
Elora snorted.“I’mpregnantwith possibility and rage, Cass.I’m not giving up this adventure just because you’re cooking a baby.”
Cassie raised a brow.“Cooking?”
