“So, what’s next for you?” Kira asked her, flicking back her spiral hair.
“For now, I must go back to New Orleans, check on my apartment, get my pets, and fill my best friend in on what happened. Saia worries?—”
“Saia?” Kira stopped dead, a plate in hand. Eyes like saucers. “Saia, whose mate is Riley? That Saia?”
“Yes…” Nia frowned. “You know them?”
A wide grin appeared. “Yes, I do. Riley’s my brother! Hey guys, Nia knows Saia and Riley!”
Good-natured laughter broke out at her excitement.
Nia’s jaw almost hit the floor. “What?”
“He’s my half-brother.” Kira set the plate down on the table. “I met him briefly two years back, but only about a year ago did I learn who he was. Long story.”
“It truly is a small world.” Nia set her juice down, grabbed the tray with the crystal glasses, and crossed to the table. As she positioned them at each place setting, Hedori walked out with the meal tray for her sister and mate.
Darci transported steaming platters of roast beef and veggies to the table, followed by tureens of broth, the savory aromas drenching the air.
The door opened, and the pregnant woman Nia had seen in the living room earlier entered, holding a glass of half-drunk orange juice.
“Can I help?” she asked, sweeping back her inky, shoulder-length hair sporting a streak of white at the front.
“Nope.” Kira waved her away. “You go sit and rest.”
She cast them a rueful smile and took a seat at the far back.
With nothing else to do, Nia made her way to the woman she had yet to meet. “You’re Shadow, right?”
“I am.” Her striking starburst eyes lit up. “And sadly banished from helping.”
Her friendly demeanor instantly put Nia at ease. “And you’re Nia. It’s really good to meet you finally. Echo’s so excited at having her whole family together again.”
“Yeah, me, too,” Nia said, taking the chair next to her. “So, when’s the baby due?”
“God, don’t ask,” she groaned, rubbing her small baby bump.
“Why?”
“How far along do you think I am?” she countered.
“Hmm, about four months.”
Shadow laughed, sipping some of her orange juice. “I’m just over seven and a half months along.”
Ohhh. Nia frowned. “So, you have about two months left, not too long now.”
“I wish. But not when you’re mated to an immortal. With Nik being a deity… Well, he is a fallen, like the rest of the guys are, for failing to protect an important goddess. So, they were all banished from their pantheons.” Nia nodded. “Anyway, their pregnancies last around eighteen months.” Shadow grimaced. “I’m hoping it really, really isn’t so.”
Nia had learned that the warriors were deities and that Aethan was an Empyrean angel. Echo had filled her in while she lived with Nate. Still, hearing why, questions arose. Then, what Shadow said struck her with a hard wallop. She gaped at the woman.
“You’re joking, right?Eighteenmonths?”
“I wish it weren’t so,” Shadow said with a wry smile. “I can’t complain, though. Nik is wonderful, and I cannot wait for this little one to come.” She caressed her belly.
“Boy or girl, do you know?” Nia asked.
Shadow shook her head. “No. I don’t mind either, though I like teasing Nik it’s a girl…”
