“I think I’ll stay in your bed. For right now,” I agreed, mostly because with the way he was looking at me I didn’t want to be anywhere else. “But only because I’m tired.”
“Then you should sleep.” His look was far too triumphant. He nudged a couple of the extra pillows out from under me, and pulled the blanket up to my chin, acting like a mother hen instead of the fierce alpha he was.
“When I wake up, I need to talk to Cass about our case, and break the big news that I’m knocked up. Then I need to think about moving back into Gran’s cabin, so I can have my own space to think.” My voice had become groggy.
At the words “space to think” his face contorted in confusion, as if he didn’t know what that was, or he didn’t understand why I’d need it.
“Shhh, you don’t need to do anything but take care of yourself. Just sleep.” His soft lips pressed against my neck, right above the spot where Nathan had gnawed it, and I lost the battle, drifting off to sleep.
“Ma petite renard…”
I wasn’t sure whether I was already dreaming or not, but I swore I heard him whisper before he slipped out the door. Thanks to Gran’s French roots, I registered that he’d called me his little fox. I just wasn’t certain whether he really said it, or if I was sappier than I’d ever admit to myself, deep inside.
Then dreamless sleep fully claimed me, and I was able to rest from the madness of my life. I’d figure everything out later.
11Crotch Goblin
“You what!”Cass hissed, shuffling backward across Brock’s bed as if I were laden with a contagious disease, not a fetus.
We were alone in Brock’s room. I’d awoken to discover I’d received another blood transfusion, and now I felt like a million bucks—physically, that is. I still needed to have a much-needed breakdown.
“I’m pregnant with the alpha’s baby,” I confessed for the seventh time, feeling more ridiculous each time I said it.
Cass wiggled a stumpy finger in my face. “No, no, no. I don’t do babies. They poop and scream, and you can’t smoke in front of them, or cuss, or do anything fun. No, no. I got sterilized a century ago for a reason.”
I pointed right back at him. “Cassius, you’re going to become an uncle. You’d damn well better get excited about it and deal. If I can handle this shit-storm of a day, then you can too.”
He blew out a long-suffering sigh and plopped down onto the bed, his pot belly hanging over the purple glitter dance shorts he wore like a second skin. He forced a fake smile, the cigarette behind his ear begging to be smoked. “So we’re excited about this, then?”
Was I excited? Not yet. I was scared, freaked out, and overwhelmed… but ultimately hopeful. “We’re okay with it, yeah.”
He grimaced. “Great! A baby. I can’t wait.”
My lips stretched into a grin. “Uncle Cass is gonna be the best babysitter ever.”
He glared at me. His eyes went reddish as his demon nature rose to the surface. “The little crotch goblin will call me Cass, Duke, or some other cool name. Neveruncle. And I will only babysit once he’s sixteen, and can drive me to bars to pick up fae.”
Laughter bubbled out of me. “Crotch goblin!” Tears leaked from my eyes, I was laughing so hard. “And Duke? Really? That’s the random name you chose? When he or she is sixteen they won’t need a babysitter.”
He put the cigarette in his mouth. “Good.”
Cass pretended to be a hardass, but it was an act. He’d once gone to mush over a tiny Pomeranian puppy we’d seen at the park. Still, he was legitimately scared of children, so we’d have to work on that. It was funny considering he shopped at the toddler rack in Target.
“Enough about me. What did you find out about our case?” I asked my imp partner.
I sat up, letting the covers fall to my waist. I had much more energy. This alpha blood was some good stuff; my little parasite baby liked it.
Cass’ face grew serious, then he looked back at the closed door, probably to make sure Brock wasn’t standing there. “Some deeper shit is going on here. Molly told me she saw Calista at the local seethe party.”
I burst into a standing position. “When?”
It took me a second to realize I wasn’t dizzy.Score.Prego Evie was back in the game!
Cass looked at my flat stomach, as if expecting a possessed baby to jump out and attack him.
“Like a half hour ago. I was on my way over there when you called, and said you were...” He shivered a little, unable to say the word “pregnant.”
Looking around the room for my boots, I found them against the far wall. “Can you get us into that party? We can take her down tonight. End this whole thing now.”
