“Gee, he couldn’t walk the ten steps to get inside the house?” Saxon whispers.
“Watch it, boy. That male is your king,” Mauricio snaps.
Saxon drops his chin. “Sorry.”
The baby in Cheryl’s arm starts to cry loudly. I didn’t know such tiny lungs could produce so much noise. Is that what I have to look forward to?
“What’s wrong with him?” Saxon asks.
“He must be hungry.” Cheryl bites her finger and lets the baby suck her blood.
The front door opens again, and there comes Vivi with Aurora. I’m surprised they didn’t follow us sooner. “Did I hear a baby crying?”
“You couldn’t wait inside, could you, babe?” I smile. “You’re supposed to stay off your feet.”
“What’s wrong? Is she sick?” Ronan asks.
Vivi cradles her belly. “Not sick. Pregnant.”
Fifty-Nine
VIVIENNE
King Raphael asked us to go home. For some reason, he wanted his house to himself. But a minute after we returned, the king showed up in Lucca’s living room. I shouldn’t even try to figure the male out.
I still can’t believe my father’s plan worked. King Raphael just finished telling us how they were able to rescue everyone, and how my mother, lost in her cruelty, accidentally lifted the curse she had put on Manu that forced her separation from Karl, her mate, for centuries.
I knew Karl was her familiar, but the mate angle was something I only found out last month from my father. King Raphael made everyone forget that detail per Manu’s request.
“Wow. My mind is spiraling with so much information.” I massage my temple.
“You’re not the only one overwhelmed,” Cheryl replies, cuddling Rio, the baby boy she rescued. “Look at you, ready to pop.”
I curl my arm around my belly. “Yeah. Lots has changed.”
“I’ll say.” Manu stares at Sophie, who’s been quiet this whole time, sitting next to Vaughn. “I can’t believe Jacques had adaughter with Tatiana, and she’s now dating Vaughn. It’s likeThe Twilight Zone.”
“Hey! I take offense at that,” Vaughn complains.
“I don’t think she meant it as an offense, darling. Itisbizarre,” Sophie agrees. “And you haven’t even met my familiar yet.”
“Oh?” Manu arches a brow.
“I’m glad Tish isn’t around,” Vaughn adds. “King Raphael wouldn’t have finished the story otherwise. She talks a lot.”
“I think everyone got your meaning.” Saxon laughs.
“Let me get this straight.” Lucca stares at Manu and Karl. “You’ve found the Magna Vis, the object needed to defeat Queen Maewe, but you lost it? How?”
“We don’t know,” Karl replies. “One moment we had it—I mean, Adrian had it—and then it was gone.”
Everyone in the room turns to the Van Helsing heir, who’s standing in a corner looking like a lost sheep. He shuffles from side to side with his hands in his pockets. King Raphael stares at him as if he’s bewildered.
“I don’t know how I lost it. I swear. I had it in my hand, and then it disappeared.”
“No one is accusing you of lying.” King Raphael is quick to come to his defense.
Saxon lifts his hand. “Eh… my mind went there. He’s a Van Helsing! What reason would he have to help us?”
