“They must. Midwives at least. There are children everywhere.”
She was right about that. The shifter’s young ran wild in good weather, seemingly with very little supervision, but there was usually an adult pack member nearby. Would the Wolfsbane Clan accept a half-fae, half-minotaur child into their community, or would they be ostracized from society as I’d been?
“Get out of your head,” Monica said. “You might not even be pregnant.”
“Are congratulations in order?” The Owner asked as I paid him his coin.
“No,” Monica and I both snapped at him as I scooped up the box and stuffed it in my bag.
Twenty minutes later, we had our answer.
“Definitely preggers,” Monica said, not at all trying to hide her delight.
“What are you so excited about? This is a disaster,” I said glumly, staring at the pee stick where the two bright lines sealed my fate.
“Skylar, do you know how lucky you are? What are the chances you’d ever conceive with another fae, much less a minotaur? That’s like, unheard of. Your child will be a marvel.”
“But what if they don’t fit in? What if the other kids bully them for being different?”
“Well, you know I have a soft spot for those too.”
By now it was late afternoon and Church would be opening soon. I had the night off to spend with Monica, and all I really wanted to do was eat junk food, lie in bed, and wallow, but if I was going to tell Hiero, I needed to do it soon. I didn’t want to blindside him while he was at work.
“I should tell him,” I said, trying to psych myself up for it.
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit with it for a little while? You’re under no obligation to tell him until you’re ready.”
“Not telling him would feel too much like lying. And if he doesn’t want it…” If Hiero didn’t want it, and I carried on with the pregnancy, then I’d have to raise the child alone. My parents would be no help whatsoever, and though Monica was a great friend, she had her own life to live.
I dragged myself out of bed, braided my hair, and fixed my face, wanting to look presentable for when I told him, trying to think about the best possible way to break the news, praying that this wouldn’t be the end of us.
Chapter twenty
Hiero
Iwas just finishingup an early dinner when there was a knock on my door. Only a few people had the security code to my private quarters and, expecting it to be Frito, I was pleasantly surprised to see Skylar standing on the other side wearing a midriff bejeweled withDivaand a pair of cutoffs that showed off his long, toned limbs.
“Frito let me in,” he said quietly. “I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course, it’s okay. Did you forget the code?”
“I did. I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit out of it today.”
His face was paler than usual, and he looked a little queasy too. “How are you feeling? A little under the weather?” I asked.
“Yes, I think so.”
“Want something to eat?”
“No, thank you. I ate already.”
“Care to join me then?”
He nodded, so I led him over to the wooden table and two chairs. Gripping his stomach, he looked like he was going to be ill.
“Let me get you some ginger ale. Maybe that will help settle your stomach.”
“Thank you…Daddy,” he said with a strange timidity. Why had he hesitated?
