“Were you dreaming about me, Gaby?” He teased with a flirtatious tone.

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get your hopes up. As I said, it was a bad dream.”

  “You wanna talk about it?” he offered. The humorous tone vanishing, replaced with one of caring and concern.

  I wanted to talk about it and what it might mean, but the hour was late and I knew I’d already selfishly woken him to satisfy my need. “It’s okay. You don’t have to.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  Sighing, I knew I shouldn’t confide in him. We were no longer in a relationship and it wasn’t right to burden him like we were. But the need to share my worry with someone had the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I dreamt of the night when Anton killed Grayson.”

  “You dream about it a lot.” It was a statement, not a question. He knew that I had. It was something we had discussed when we were together.

  “This was different. There was an ominous feeling to it.”

  “How’s that?” I heard him shift on his mattress and turn on his bedside lamp. I could almost visualize his movements. I was familiar with his room and his gestures.

  “I worry it wasn’t a dream, but perhaps a warning or even a premonition.”

  “Tell me,” Sebastian urged.

  And I did. I told him about Clive and Anton, about him being there, and about their warning, but instead of telling him that they’d both die unless I choose between them, I just said that one would die before the baby was born. He was silent for a moment.

  “Sebastian?” My voice came out as a nervous whisper.

  “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “Gaby, perhaps it’s just your subconscious working out the issue at hand.”

  “I don’t understand. What issue?”

  “That you love us both.” I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to deny it, but I knew I’d be lying to him. I had never admitted it out loud and I had no intention of ever doing so.

  “Thanks. I’m sorry for waking you. I’ll talk to you later.” I didn’t wait for a reply before disconnecting the call.

  Could he be right? Was it my subconscious trying to get me to choose one and expel the other from my heart? I wanted it to be true, but I had already chosen Grayson. I would continue to choose him, giving him my heart. Perhaps it was just a bad dream or perhaps it was a message that I should heed. Of which, I didn’t know.

  “Gaby, it’s Doctor B. I have your results back and you are pregnant. Congratulations.”

  I listened to the message for the umpteenth time, the words still ringing in my head. Pregnant? I was Pregnant. No matter how many times I heard it, I still didn’t whole-heartedly believe it. The three pregnancy tests I took all gawked at me with their plus signs confirming Dr. B’s message. This was the second time this week that I had tried these sticks. Each was a different brand and they all confirmed what I already knew. I was pregnant.

  Two weeks had gone by since I first listened to the message and I still kept the results to myself. After everything that happened with Clive, who had been a hunter living under all of our noses for over a year, I just wasn’t sure how my news would be received. He had done well keeping his profession a secret. He blew his cover when he began to believe that I was singlehandedly bringing about the apocalypse. All I knew was it had something to do with the child I was carrying. As much as I wanted to know the specifics, I couldn’t ask for information until I broke the news to the love of my life.

  Grayson had regressed a bit since the night he took Clive’s life. He was quiet, more reserved than he had been even after his kidnapping. Clive’s wasn’t the first life he took, but it was the first human and I didn’t know how to comfort him. I had withheld the news of our impending bundle, worried that it would give him more to dwell on. I wanted him to be happy and I was trying my best to wait until I thought he would be.

  The longer I waited the more the pregnancy began to take its toll. I was beginning to struggle with hiding my morning sickness from him. I even had to change my blood routine because the scent of it first thing in the morning made my stomach churn. Grayson’s libido had vanished completely since the attack from Clive. I missed him, but since I still hadn’t told him about the pregnancy, I worried that being intimate might clue him in that something was up. After all, just the feel of my bra had my breasts aching.

  I had tried calling Shawn after Clive’s death, but he didn’t answer. A few days later, Chris stopped by to pick up Shawn’s belongings that he had left at my apartment when he stayed with us.

  “Just give him some time, Gaby. He’s heartbroken,” Chris replied when I asked about Shawn.

  “I know he is, but I just want to be there for him.”

  “You don’t get it. It’s not just about the loss of his love that has him hurting; it was that he put you in danger. He almost lost you that night too and that would have devastated him more. Clive knew coming in against supernaturals was a suicide mission. I just have no idea why he would do it.” Unlike Chris, I did know the reason behind Clive’s fool hearted mission. But I wasn’t sharing that information with the werewolf and it seemed Shawn hadn’t either. It had nothing to do with my lack of trust in him. In fact, I trusted Chris with my life, but the less who knew, the better.

  While Chris was there, I had him arrange to dismiss Grayson’s bodyguard detail. With Clive gone, I didn’t think we needed it, after all Clive’s letters were a large factor in the detail.

  “You sure about that? Clive may have been the one sending you those creepy notes, but can you be sure he was the one behind the attacks?”

  To be honest, I wasn’t positive. I knew Clive had cursed items similar to the ones I’d been attacked with, and Grayson had been tortured with. That didn’t mean that someone else out there, probably Ava, still wanted us killed. Not to mention there was still the prophecy I had triggered. But I’d worry about that later. Right now I just wanted Grayson to feel more comfortable, to try to find our way to some semblance of normalcy.

  “I’m sure.”

  As I sat in the guest bathroom staring at the pregnancy tests that were mocking me, I debated on my predicament. I wanted to talk about it with someone, but Grayson didn’t know, Shawn wasn’t speaking to me, and I hadn’t spoken to Sebastian since I had my nightmare.

  I opened the bathroom cabinet and saw the yellow gift bag that held the present I had bought for Grayson. I wanted it close by for when I was ready to tell him. As if I summoned him with my thoughts, I heard the front door open along with the jingle of keys. Quickly I swiped the pregnancy tests into the trash bin then covered them with spare toilet paper. After washing my hands, I made my way out of the bathroom when I caught sight of my reflection. I ran my hand down my abdomen and saw just the slightest swell of a baby bump. I needed to tell Grayson soon.

  Grayson eyed me suspiciously when I entered the room. No doubt because of my rapid heartbeat. I had panicked when I heard him come home. “What were you doing back there?”

  Not wanting to tell him the truth, I lied. “Just making sure that Shawn hadn’t left anything behind.”

  “Have you heard from him?” His face shifted into a mask that he wore too often lately. It was his poker face, the same one he wore during countless business meetings to show no sign of what he was thinking or feeling and I hated that he wore it for me.

  “No, just looking for an excuse to go see him.”

  Grayson nodded as he sorted through the mail. Without another word, he turned heading to his office. I groaned when I heard the door shut realizing this wasn’t going to be the day.

  I couldn’t bear another night of our noiseless existence. I longed for space to clear my head. I was doing my best to give him the room he desired, while making myself available for whatever he might need, but I wanted him too. I was pregnant for God’s sake, not that he knew that. Grabbing my keys, I left without a word. Slowly making my way to the elevator, I glanced back at our apartment door standing not only as a barrier into our home but also between Grayson and me. I almost hoped he might come after me since I hadn’t mentioned that I was leaving, but if he heard my departure, he didn’t respond, causing an ache to fill my chest. Sighing, I climbed into the elevator car.

  Before I knew it, I was strolling the streets of the busy city feeling so alone in the bustling crowd. It was then I felt the hum in my blood begin. I scanned the crowd, even though I knew he was stealthier than that, yet it didn’t stop me from attempting to decipher his location nor the smile from tugging at my lips at the idea of his presence. I stepped into a shop and watched the crowd of people pass, looking for him. I felt the tie grow like he was getting closer, but I never saw him.

  “You looking for something?” a familiar voice whispered in my ear.

  Turning, I beamed at him, “More like someone,” I smirked feeling happy for the first time in weeks. He grinned devilishly at me while his emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. His blonde hair was tousled from the wind begging me to run my fingers through it, which I fought against. He wasn’t mine, I reminded myself. I sometimes forgot how incredibly handsome he was until I had his undivided attention. “What are you doing here, Sebastian?”

  He raised his brow. “I was going to ask you the same thing. It’s not safe for you, especially alone.” I winced at the word alone because that was exactly how I felt. Noticing my reaction, he began studying me. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

  I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. Shaking my head, I tried to placate him. Damn hormones.

  “Hey—” he sighed, hesitating about taking me in his arms. We hadn’t touched since the night on the balcony when we kissed.

  It was that moment the sales lady decided to appear. “Can I help you find something?” Either she didn’t notice my emotional state or she didn’t care. Her tone suggested the latter. Her attention was focused solely on Sebastian.

  “We’re fine,” Sebastian answered, not taking his attention from me. Using his body, he shielded me from the associate then escorted me outside with his hand hovering over the small of my back. He guided me to the side of the building away from the chaos of the bustling street. I didn’t know why, but I followed without hesitation. Perhaps because all I had been doing since the night Clive died was think and overthink every decision, but I trusted Sebastian and knew that he would never do anything to harm me. It gave me an opportunity to not worry. Without warning, he wrapped me into his arms and we dissipated.

  When we reappeared, I spun away from him, staggered and then vomited. He was by my side instantly pulling my hair away from my face while rubbing gentle circles on my back.

  “I’m sorry, Gaby,” he spoke after my insides settled. “I forgot that your stomach is probably a little uneasy lately.” He was one of the two people who knew I was pregnant. He’d actually been the one to give me the news first.

  “It’s okay,” I spoke as I wiped my mouth with my fingers. Sebastian handed me something. I looked and saw it was a stick of gum. Smiling, I popped it in my mouth. It tasted like spearmint. My mind flashed to all those times when I kissed Sebastian. He had always tasted like spearmint. Now it made sense. I felt my cheeks flush with the memories and hoped he’d contribute it to my recent tummy problems. “Where are we?” I gazed around not recognizing anything.

  Sebastian intently inspected his toes sheepishly. I grew suspicious that we weren’t in the city.

  “Sebastian?”

  He sighed, “We’re in the Hamptons.”

  “The Hamptons? Why?” I peered around trying to find some reason why he brought me there.

  “Come on,” he led me away from the side of the building where we appeared. We moved along until I saw the beach. The area was vacant. I was surprised that there weren’t more people out around this time of year, but it was during the week and the season was coming to a close. Sebastian urged me along until we were near the water’s edge. Squatting down in front of me, he regarded me expectantly.

  “I’m not stripping down if that’s what you’re thinking,” I joked.

  He gave me a crooked grin as he went to remove my shoe. “I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t stop you if that’s what you wanted to do.”

  I rolled my eyes. He tapped my leg and I lifted it while placing my hands on his shoulders for balance. I could feel the blood in my palms hum with the contact. He removed my shoe then repeated the same with the other. I waited patiently as he did the same thing to himself.

  Soon we were both walking the beach leaving imprints in the sand as we went.

  “You wanna tell me what’s wrong?” he asked as the waves lapsed at the shore.

  The walk was so nice. The warm water flowed across my feet, the sand squished between my toes. It wasn’t until Sebastian spoke that I remembered how I ended up here.

  I halted and just tilted my head up at the sun letting the rays soak into my skin with my arms outstretched behind me.

  “Gaby?” He beckoned me for an answer.

  With my eyes clenched I spoke in a hushed voice almost like the words could break me. “I’m just feeling overwhelmed.”

  It was quiet for a pregnant moment. When I risked a glance at Sebastian, I saw nothing but understanding and a hint of a smile on his handsome face. “I’d be surprised if you weren’t.” He reached his hand out to me, silently asking for mine. I eyed it for a moment then placed mine in his, sighing when I felt that familiar hum. He tugged me forward to continue walking before releasing his hold. I hated that I was a little disappointed for the severed contact. “How’d he take the news?” he asked bringing me back to the conversation.

  This time I looked at the ground sheepishly. “I haven’t told him yet.”

  “Gaby,” he groaned running his fingers through his hair. “This isn’t something you can keep from him. I may not think much of the guy, but I’m sure he’d eventually notice.”

  “He’s going through his own issues—” I defended Grayson and my decision, “with Clive’s death— I just haven’t found the right time.”

  He sighed, “Was the time right for you when you found out?”

  It wasn’t, but I wanted to try and make it special for Grayson. I also knew Sebastian was right. I may never find the perfect moment. I wanted to talk about how things had been with Grayson since Clive, but I didn’t think it was right to share those things with Sebastian. It didn’t seem fair to either of them.

  “Just tell him,” he smirked but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s going to have a baby with you. I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic.” Sebastian’s words hung in the air like something were missing from them, but I gave it little thought.

  Once I felt that my stomach could handle the dissipating process, Sebastian returned me home. I stared up into his eyes when we reappeared and thanked him. I had really needed someone to talk to. Leaving him on the side of the apartment building, I made my way inside. The tether hummed between us until the elevator closed.

  When I opened the apartment door, everything appeared the same as it had when I left. I wondered if Grayson had even noticed my disappearance. I moved through the bedroom, into our bathroom, to brush my teeth. Then I quickly showered to remove the sand from my feet and wash away the scent of Sebastian. I knew Grayson wouldn’t be okay with me spending time with him and I wasn’t looking for a fight. Perhaps it was a lie by omission, but I needed to get back the man I loved, then I wouldn’t feel the need to keep things from him.

  Once I was cleaned and dressed, I went to Grayson’s office to see if he wanted dinner. Lately he’d been drinking just blood since food wasn’t necessary for us. My eyes widened, startled, seeing him seated behind his desk, with his forehead resting against his knuckles. But that wasn’t what rooted me to the floor. There sitting in the center of his desk was a little, yellow, gift bag.

  “I knew you were lying to me earlier and I wondered why,” he spoke without looking at me, fingering the bag’s handle. “I haven’t opened it.” For the first time since I walked in the room, Grayson’s eyes shifted to me. “Where were you?”

  “I needed some air,” I answered, but Grayson continued staring at me knowing there was more. “I ran into Sebastian.”

  “And this?” He nudged the bag. “Were you hiding it to give to him?”

  “No!” I exaggerated taking a few steps into the room and quickly softening my tone. I wasn’t surprised that he thought that, but it hurt all the same. “It’s for you.”

  “Me?”

  I nodded sympathetically. “Open it.” I was ready for him to know and Sebastian was right. I just needed to tell him, but it didn’t stop my heart from beating faster than the rapid flap of a hummingbird’s wings.

  Grayson sat up straight, his curiosity piqued. Extracting the tissue from the bag, his brow scrunched and his gray eyes narrowed into slits studying the contents before he removed it. Moving the bag aside, he placed a white mug in its place. I watched transfixed as his eyes read over it and how his brow furrowed before reading it again. His heart took off like a jackhammer as enlightenment flashed across his face. Slowly his gray eyes glanced back to me. I stood there smiling nervously, waiting for his reaction. His mouth opened as he held the mug up showing me the writing, needing confirmation that it wasn’t a mistake. There in bold print were the words #1 Dad. I bit my lip still waiting patiently.

  “You’re…?”

  I nodded rapidly. In a supernatural blur, Grayson set the mug down and sped to me. His arms wrapped around my waist and his lips claimed mine for the first time in days.

  “You’re sure?”

  I was grinning from ear to ear with happy tears streaking down my face and nodded again. “Really sure.”

  His smile matched mine. It was so huge. Dropping to his knees, his hands ran over my stomach until they felt the smallest bump. He gazed up at me from under his lashes before placing the gentlest kiss on my stomach. I closed my eyes breathing a sigh of relief. When they opened, something outside the window caught my attention. It was a flash but was gone just as quickly. I shrugged it off figuring it was probably my eyes playing tricks since tears of joy were now streaming down my face.