Pregnant.Holy shit.
Hawkyn stumbled backward, banging the backs of his legs intothe bed he and Aurora had made love in last night.But there was no way hecould have impregnated her.Memitim weren’t fertile.There had to be anotherexplanation.
She was watching him with glassy eyes, and he realized shewas just as stunned as he was.She’d gone through so much recently, and then toadd this to the mix...Damn.
“You said you haven’t had sex in a long time.”At her nod,he continued, somehow managing to sound calm instead offreakedout.“Is it possible that your species has an extended gestation period?I’veheard that some female demons hold sperm inside their bodies for years beforeit fertilizes an egg.And others—”
“No,” she said sharply.“That’s not what’s going on.Wytchesare, for the most part, just like humans.”She looked down at her hands.“Except for the silver nails.”
“You’re sure.”He swallowed, buying time to process this.Itdidn’t help.“You’re positive that I’m the father.”
She glared.“I’m sure.This is your doing, Hawkyn.”
His legs gave out, and he sank down on the mattress.He hadtruly never thought about having kids.Not when it could be hundreds, or eventhousands, of years before he Ascended, became fertile, and took a mate.Thiswasn’t just unexpected; it was unprecedented.
And he was in a shitload of trouble.
This would end in his expulsion from the Memitim order.He’dbe stripped of his powers and left to live in the human realm for eternity.
The human realm.With Aurora.And his child.
Maybe...maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
“Look,” she said as she finished packing her duffel.“I’velearned enough about Memitim from you, Suzanne, Lilliana, and the people hereto know that this is probably really,really badforyou.No onehas toknow that you’re the father—”
He didn’t even know he’d made the decision to flash himselftoher until he found himself in front of her, his hands onher slender shoulders, his face in hers.
“That,” he growled, “is not an option.I grew up without afather, and that willneverhappen to any child of mine.We’ll getthrough this, Aurora.Things might be a little rough until we get it allfigured out, but we’ll doit.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, and dammit, he couldn’t handleit if she cried.Gently, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her,tentatively at first, letting her decide if this was what she wanted.Did shewant his kiss?Did she wanthim?
His pulse raced as he waited for more than her passive kiss.He wanted the passion she’d brought to bed last night.The passion she had forlife and all that came with it.
Nothing.She stood stiffly, her spine as straight as asword, her pulse fluttering in the vein in her temple.
Please, Aurora.
He increased the pressure on her mouth, using his tongue tostroke the seam of her lips, and finally, blessedly, she responded.With amoan, she sagged against him, wrapping her arms around him andopening upto his kiss.
This was what he’d wanted his entire life, even if he hadn’tknown it.He’d lived for duty, never for himself, and for the first time, heunderstood his sister Suzanne’s desire for a life and interests outside of theconfines of Sheoul-gra.
The problem was that it wasn’t possible.Not for Memitim.Idess was proof of that.She’d lost her angel status and was all but human now.
Idess is happy.
Yes, she was.But Hawkyn knew himself well enough to knowthat, while he could survive being expelled from the Memitim order, especiallyif he had Aurora and a family, he would always have regrets.He’d always wonderif he should have done things differently.Because he wanted it all.He wantedAurora and the life she carried inside her.But he also wanted to serve on theMemitim Council.
He couldn’t have both, and he knew it.
Reluctantly, he pulled back and gazed into Aurora’s drowsyeyes.“We have to get you someplace where you’re allowed as Primori.”
“How about my home?Can we at least stop by there so I cancheck mail and pack a few more things?We left in such a rush last time.”Sherolled her bottom lip between her teeth.“If you think it’ll be safe for alittle while.”
He started to object, but her new status had just changedthings.She would never be safer than she was right now.
“You’re Primori, so you have your own guardian angel.”Butwho?He was going to need to find out.He hated to admit it, but some of hissiblings were far more reliable than others, and he wanted Aurora to have onlythe best.
“No,” she said, putting her palm on his chest.“I have two.”
