I leaned down resting my forehead against his running my fingers through his blonde hair. “Sebastian… I….”

  Sebastian’s index finger and thumb lightly pinched my chin tilting it up. “I don’t blame you. You love him. How can I hold that against you?”

  I smiled gently then tilted my chin forward placing a friendly peck on his cheek. After what we had just done, a kiss seemed more cordial than intimate. I made my way to the door. Glancing back one last time, I saw Sebastian revert back to the same position with his elbows on his knees radiating guilt.

  When I closed the door behind me, Grayson’s eyes racked over me. I watched as his jaw clenched. I dropped my gaze realizing I wasn’t quite as presentable as I thought. It seemed I missed a button when redoing my shirt and now they were skewed. His eyes flicked to the door behind me. In a flash, he was trying to move me out of the way to get through the door.

  “No, Grayson!” I yelled. Jade and I held him from ripping the door off the hinges to get to Sebastian.

  “It wasn’t his fault,” Jade tried to get through to him, but either he wasn’t hearing her or he was choosing to ignore her. I shot her a wide-eyed glare begging her to be quiet.

  “Move, Gaby.” He didn’t break his focus. His attention was fixed on his task, which I was sure involved his fist and Sebastian’s face.

  “Grayson!” I grabbed his face, similar to how I had just held Sebastian’s making me feel guilty, but I pushed it aside. “It wasn’t his fault.”

  His eyes pinched in anger focused on me. “Not his fault?” he spoke through clenched teeth. “You look freshly fucked, Gaby.”

  I shook my head. “I swear it didn’t get that far.”

  “How far did it get?”

  I hesitated, but Jade spoke for me. “Grayson, man, don’t do that to yourself. I was in there the entire time and I saw no skin,” she put two fingers up into the air. “Scouts honor.” I wanted to roll my eyes because I doubted Jade was ever a Girl Scout, but it wasn’t the right time. “I only left so she could calm the boy down. He’s beating himself up enough for everyone.” I didn’t think she was helping. She may not have seen any skin, but my shirt was messed up. I’m sure Grayson was wondering why.

  Grabbing my arm he pulled me down the hall to the elevators.

  Grayson didn’t speak the entire way back to the apartment. When we walked inside, he led me straight into the bathroom. He didn’t say a word but I knew I smelled like Sebastian. He started the shower then stripped off my clothes, followed by his before pulling us both into the shower. He took care washing me and examining my injury. I saw his brow knit when he discovered that the black lines were no longer covering my ribs. Once he was done he finally broke the mounting silence.

  “Are you feeling better?”

  I knew he was asking about the blood. “Pain’s gone. I’m not as drained as I was and…” I gestured to my ribs. “So far it’s working.”

  He closed his eyes and let out a long breath. It wasn’t a relieved noise. He sounded like he was building up to something. “I don’t know if I can go through this again, Gaby, if Sebastian’s blood is the solution… Not knowing what happened is enough to drive me crazy.”

  “Maybe Maria will have a different solution? She has been doing this longer than Ethan.” I cupped his face. Poor Grayson looked defeated. I knew what happened hurt him and I hated that. The only positive side was I didn’t feel like I was going to fall over anymore and the pain I felt had vanished. Sebastian was to thank for that.

  “And that? Can we even trust them with this information? We don’t know what they’ll do with it. What if they know about this damn prophecy?”

  “I doubt they do,” I explained. “Damien said it was long forgotten.”

  “Clive knew.” It was the first time he’d spoken the hunter’s name since his death.

  “We don’t have a ton of options here, Grayson.” I threw my hands up. “Either we do nothing or we do what Ethan suggested and I continue feeding on Sebastian. Which I don’t even know if that is even an option. For one he might not be okay with it.”

  “Having moments like tonight with you? I think he’d be fine with it,” he mumbled.

  I shook my head. “You didn’t see him, Grayson. Sebastian may have feelings for me, but having his willpower stripped away like that and mine… He was so guilt ridden. He wouldn’t even look at me.” I understood Sebastian’s feelings over the situation. I wasn’t willingly giving myself over to him. I was being forced and he took that guilt onto himself. Whether it was our angel tie or my drinking from him, it all came back to one thing, blood. I didn’t hold him accountable for it. When I stopped him, he stopped; even if it took a moment to break free from the blood induced, lust haze we were in.

  “Not even married two days and you’ve already kissed another guy.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  He rubbed his palm down his face. “You’re right. It wasn’t,” he paused locking his gray eyes on my blue ones. “But you did kiss him.”

  I bit my lip nervously. I hadn’t even seen the trap he set for me until I stepped right into it. If he truly wanted to know, I wouldn’t lie to him. “Yes,” I watched as he turned away. His hurt was evident. Cupping his face, I made him look at me. “On the cheek.” His brow narrowed in confusion. “Besides feeding from him, my lips only touched his cheek.”

  He sighed in relief. “I know why you didn’t want me in there.” I waited for him to continue. “You knew if I saw his hands on you I’d punch him.” I smiled nervously. It was partially true. The truth was I didn’t want for him to see me lose control like that. It was bad enough that he’d already seen me kiss Sebastian on two separate occasions; he didn’t need to be forced to endure anything else. “The irrational part of me thinks that you wanted me gone so you could lose control with him and blame it on the blood.”

  “Grayson,” I sighed. I appreciated his honesty, but his words still hurt and it bothered me that he even had those thoughts. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’ve fed from Sebastian before and nothing happened. This time was only different because I wasn’t in control of the walls I keep up to hold the angel tie at bay. I was too weak, even weaker than last time. It was solely on him, but even if I had been in better control, I still would have asked you to leave. You remember feeding from that girl? You lost a little control and you practically felt her up. Now reverse the situation. If you saw Sebastian and me like that, would you maintain a cool head?”

  He hesitated for a moment before looking away. “No,” he sighed knowing I had a point.

  I waited until his gaze met mine before continuing. “And I love you for that. I really do. Knowing you want to punch someone out over me. It’s a bit of a turn on,” I teased. He gave me a half grin. “But we both know that that kind of reaction is hotheaded and irrational. If I thought you would remain calm and spot me, for lack of a better term, I’d let you be in there.” And I truly would.

  He sighed pulling me into his arms. “I don’t want to share you, Gaby.”

  “You’re not. I’m here with you. You’re who I belong with.”

  Monday arrived faster than I had wanted. It found me a little weaker, but I didn’t let it show. I had plans today. It was time to see my wedding gift from Grayson.

  “I didn’t expect you to jump into things so quickly. I figured maybe after the baby was here,” Grayson spoke as he adjusted his tie while I tried to find an outfit that fit and didn’t show my slight baby bump.

  “Just like you couldn’t give up your life after turning into a vampire, or even after you were kidnapped, I refuse to stop living all because of some prophecy that someone may or may not know about.”

  He let out a long breath before coming to lean against the doorway of the closet where I stood. I was wearing a white, loose fitting, chiffon, spaghetti strap top that would hide my bump, but it looked like I’d have to leave my charcoal dress pants unbuttoned. Maternity clothes were in my near future whether I was ready or not.

  “I know better than to ask that of you,” he walked into the tiny space wrapping his arms around me, forcing me to stop fidgeting with my attire. “But for my peace of mind, can you take someone with you?” I tilted my head so I could see his somber expression and nodded. I knew when our roles were reversed he did it for me.

  “I’ll call Shawn and see if he wants to spend the day with me.”

  “You’re planning on being there all day?”

  I giggled shaking my head. “No but it looks like I need to get some shopping done too.” I lifted my shirt up to show him my unbuttoned pants.

  Grayson smiled before dropping to his knees. He peered up at me, his gray eyes full of love and admiration, before placing a gentle kiss over my stomach. I gasped and my muscles tensed from the overwhelming sensation. “You look stunning.” He stood brushing his lips against mine. The way he looked at me, I believed him.

  After calling Shawn, he told me to be outside my apartment in thirty. When I did, I was surprised to see Chris.

  “Where’s Shawn?”

  Chris bowed his head focusing on the ground. “He sent me instead.”

  “What?” Shawn hadn’t mentioned that. He hadn’t even hinted that it wouldn’t be him. “I’m sorry Chris. It’s not that I’m not glad to see you and you’re more than welcome to tag along, but today wasn’t simply about guard detail. I wanted to spend time with my best friend and maybe a little retail therapy.”

  Chris grinned bashfully. “He needs someone to light a fire under his ass to get him out of that apartment.”

  “Then consider me a pyro,” I stated sliding into the backseat while Chris got behind the steering wheel. Grayson had gifted Chris the SUV after he had been helping guard me before Clive was taken out.

  Soon after, I rapped my knuckles against Shawn’s door. Not just a knock; a steady drumming of my fist against the door until a freshly showered Shawn answered.

  “Really?” I demanded taking in his appearance. “After ditching me, I was expecting to have to drag your ass into the shower to get you out of this place, but here you are. Going somewhere?” I popped my hip out, resting my hand on it.

  “I sent Chris...” Shawn gestured to Chris who wisely was staying out of the line of fire.

  “If you don’t understand that what you did was wrong, I don’t even know how we’re still friends. I asked you to join me, Shawn. There were things I wanted to do. Things I needed to discuss.”

  “You didn’t say that,” he mumbled looking ashamed.

  “I didn’t think I had to, but if you’re too busy for me or…” I knew I was treading a thin line, but I had to go there. “If you resent me over what happened that night…” I couldn’t finish the sentence without my emotions taking over.

  “Gaby,” Shawn wrapped his arms around me. “Of course I don’t resent you.”

  I had to ask the question on my mind. I needed to know the answer. My senses were a little weak even after feeding from Sebastian. I still had poison in my body. I saw the black lines starting to reappear that morning. Grayson had spoken to Ethan while I’d been feeding from Sebastian that night. He hadn’t known how long the blood would keep the poison at bay, but once the lines appeared, I’d need to feed again from him in a day or two before they spread past my ribs, like they had the night I’d met the new witch.

  Focusing the best I could, I asked the one question I needed the truth to. My ear tuned into his heartbeat. “What about Grayson?” He was my husband now. Besides my child, Grayson came first before anyone. I listened closely, but I was weaker than I expected.

  “No. I don’t resent him either.” I didn’t think Shawn was lying, but without my supernatural hearing, there was no way to be one hundred percent sure.

  “Then please come spend the day with me.” I watched as thoughts filtered across his face. Finally he let out a deep breath and I knew I’d won.

  I had wanted to stop by Social Productions before lunch, but my stomach had other ideas and before I could protest, Shawn dragged me into Chez Antonio.

  I was looking over the menu when I felt eyes on me. After everything that had happened, I was on high alert. I glanced up and saw Chris’s eyes locked on my left hand. It took me a moment to calm my nerves and realize that I wasn’t about to be attacked. Perhaps Grayson was correct and I should be keeping a lower profile. The moment the thought occurred I shoved it from my head. I wasn’t going to a hermit for the next six months unless I had real reason to.

  “Congratulations, Gaby!” He seemed genuinely happy for me. Chris had become a closer friend of late and his approval meant so much to me.

  “Thanks,” I beamed.

  Shawn looked confused when I showed him my rings. He stared at first, not understanding. My engagement ring was the focal point on my left hand. It made the band appear understated, but that was how I wanted it. Shawn’s eyes narrowed before realization flashed across his face.

  “You dirty bitch,” he hissed jokingly, a genuine smile spread across his face. “How dare you get married without me! I was supposed to be your maid of honor. I feel robbed.”

  I giggled, “I’m sorry Shawn. We didn’t want to wait anymore. I love him and now with the baby…”

  “How’d Sebastian take it?” Shawn knew that things between Sebastian and me weren’t just black and white. There was a large spectrum of gray in there.

  “Not great, but…” I shrugged. I didn’t know if I should tell him about the feeding or my onset blood intolerance.

  “But what?” Shawn pressed taking a sip of his water.

  I figured I might as well tell him. “We ran into some trouble in Vegas. There are people out there that don’t want this baby born and someone tried to poison me while we were there.”

  “What?” Both Chris and Shawn cried out in unison.

  I nodded. “I got pretty sick and Grayson had to call Sebastian to dissipate me back to the compound. Nothing can be done about it until the baby is born. The solution will not allow the baby to survive. The only option is to prevent the poison from reaching the baby and to do that I need to drink, regularly, the blood of an angel.” I looked down not sure of what I might see in Shawn’s eyes.

  “You fed from Sebastian?” This time it was Chris that was stunned.

  I didn’t know what to say so I simply nodded. “It’s not the first time, but things are pretty messed up right now. He fed me and things blurred.”

  “Blurred?” Shawn was curious. I could hear it in how he dragged out the word with the hint of a lingering question.

  “Jade was watching us. I was sick and didn’t have control over the blood tie. I don’t know what was going on in her head, but she didn’t stop us until Sebastian got his hand under my shirt.” Both men’s eyes widened so I quickly added, “But nothing really happened.”

  “Holy fuck…. How’d Grayson take it?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to talk about it, but I had opened the can of worms. “He doesn’t know the details, I mean we were just married and then that happened. He’s been a little distant after everything that happened after Cliv—” Clive, I let it hang in the air, not wishing to upset Shawn by reminding him of that night. With the way he stiffened and his eyes dropped to the table, I was sure he knew what I meant. When he glanced back up he smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something seemed off and I hated that I ruined a perfectly good lunch by almost mentioning Clive. We continued chatting but it felt like there was barrier that was up that hadn’t been before. Shawn wouldn’t even look at me for longer than half a second before darting his eyes anywhere else. I thought it was grief but it almost appeared more like shame.

  I put Shawn’s reaction out of my mind as we arrived at Social Productions. We were given a quick tour of the company and shown my office, or what would be. There was an interim CEO that I learned was my CFO. I liked him. I liked him even more when I realized he was gay and was admiring my best friend discreetly. I nudged Shawn when Mark had his back turned, trying to be a good wing woman and help my friend out.

  “It’s too soon,” he whispered and as much as I wanted to give him the advice he gave me, I let him be.

  Shawn’s reaction from lunch was completely forgotten when we made our way into store after store hunting for maternity clothes. Chris left us. Shopping wasn’t his scene. Shawn refused to allow me to buy from an actual maternity store. It wasn’t until I showed him a shirt that said Life is Better with a Bump, from one of their sites that he relented and we soon walked out with several bags that, according to the sales lady, should see me through to the end of my pregnancy.

  I tried to take the bags from Shawn so he didn’t have to enter the apartment. The memories were still fresh for me so I couldn’t imagine how they were for him. Shawn refused and played it off as no big deal. But when we walked in, I saw his eyes fall to the spot where Clive’s body had lain. I knew he was underplaying his insecurities.

  “Shawn?” I slowly approached him.

  He broke away from his haze and raised the bags into the air. “Where do you want these?”

  I gave him a gentle smile and led him to my bedroom.

  Jade showed up the next evening with a small cooler. “Delivery,” she announced holding up the cooler. “Courtesy of angel boy.”

  I opened it and found two blood bags. My brow knitted. Jade noticing my confusion enlightened me. “To save Sebastian’s face, Damien thought you should try drinking angel blood this way.” It was strange but I felt disappointed. Recovering quickly I invited Jade inside. It seemed rude to take the cooler and send her on her way. “It’s Sebastian’s, by the way. I know I said angel, but…” she shrugged her petite shoulders her red hair barely moving with the gesture. Jade was a tiny thing. Her delicate frame made you forget that she reviled even Damien in strength. “Lover boy home?”

  “He’s out.” I stared at the blood trying to stop myself from salivating. I was starving. I had been close to calling Sebastian, but I put it off worried about making him or Grayson uncomfortable. At the same time, I knew there was a risk the longer I held off.