Grayson

  I stood lifting Gaby into my arms, kissing her fiercely. I wanted to take her right there on my desk, but I thought her announcement deserved a little more decorum. In a blur, I had her in our room. We both stripped with a newfound urgency to come together. It had been too long. I wanted to savor the moment, but the need to connect with her was overwhelming. I held back, working her body making sure she was ready. When my fingers slid with ease over her sensitive flesh, I knew it was time. Lining my body up with hers, I glided myself gently into her with a pleasurable groan, instead of slamming like my body demanded. I wanted to be rough and dominant, but at the same time I wanted to cherish her. She was pregnant. I couldn’t believe it. It was one night of crazy passion. The first time our mating bond had called. I didn’t know a lot about the race I was now a part of, but I knew that conception was difficult among us and yet the love of my life was with child after our first mating call. I couldn’t help but feel smug. The caveman in me wanted to roar and beat his chest to announce he was a superior male.

  The time away from her had been hard on us both. I thought giving her distance was best for her as well as myself. She had witnessed me killing a man, someone we had both considered a friend. I didn’t want to see her look at me any differently, knowing that I had taken his life. There had been other choices, but he had threatened my mate and something in me snapped. I needed to protect her—to keep her safe—and as long as he lived, Clive was a threat to her. I remembered how she looked in Sebastian’s arms that night. She was safe there away from me. He held her like she belonged there and it killed me. But seeing her now, studying me with lust filled eyes, hooded with need; I let my mind think only of this moment. I pulled back slightly before slamming into her, feeling her muscles clench around me as she moaned. It had been too long and as much as I wished to draw out the moment, neither of us would be able to hold back our eagerness to fulfill the other with euphoria.

  I peppered her with kisses along her neck and moved to slip her nipple into my mouth. When she hissed, I froze. “I hurt you?”

  Gaby was panting with yearning, her hips writhing, begging me to move with her. “They—They’re just sensitive.”

  I shook my head feeling angry with myself for forgetting that her body was changing. I was gentler with my thrusts, but listening to her groans of frustration, she was having none of it.

  “Grayson?” she groaned.

  “Yeah, baby,” I nipped at her ear, a smile tugged at my lips. I knew what she wanted, but I wanted to hear her tell me. There was something about this woman—who had been so innocent when I met her—telling me her desires, that almost had me undone. I craved it in a way that I had never with any other woman.

  “More.”

  I tried to refrain from grinning even though I knew she wouldn’t see. Her eyes were closed so tight. I kissed down her beautiful neck. My fangs ached to sink into her, but it wasn’t the time for that. I wanted to bring her to the edge all on my own.

  “Like this?” I adjusted my hips pushing deeper into her, but maintaining a slow tempo.

  She moaned, “Harder. Please. I’m so close.”

  I groaned hearing her plead, knowing I couldn’t deny her. Propping up on my elbows, I let my eyes gaze over her face seeing the pleasure dance across her features as I pressed deep into her. I wanted to see the moment when she came apart, but I also needed to make sure I wasn’t causing her pain. Lifting her leg over my hip, I pistoned into her. I could feel myself ready to explode, but I held back thinking about a brief I needed to look over later, anything to prevent me from finishing before her. It didn’t take much before she was crying out my name arching off the bed. When her body spasmed around mine, I jerked, spilling into her holding nothing back. I didn’t realize how much I needed this with her to feel connected again.

  Gaby

  I was lying naked next to the man I loved for the first time in weeks. His head rested on my chest while his fingers strummed over my stomach.

  “So you’re happy about this?” I asked desperately needing reassurance. We were young even by human standards. We had forever to have kids and yet here I was at the early age of twenty-four, pregnant.

  “Of course I am. I told you the night we made this—boy or girl?”

  I grinned running my fingers through his hair, “I think it’s too early to know that yet.”

  “What do we call him or her?”

  I shrugged. “I think baby will suffice.”

  “Our baby,” he kissed my little bump again.

  The elated feeling left me as I remembered there was more to the baby news. I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but I knew it would be best to tell him all of it at once. The sooner he knew, the sooner we could figure out a solution.

  “There’s something else I think you should know. It’s probably part of the reason I’ve struggled so long with telling you.” He heard the ominous air in my voice.

  His happy expression transformed to one of concern. I hated being the cause of that since he wasn’t happy nearly often enough lately. “What is it?” he asked sitting up.

  “It’s about that night.” He knew which one I meant. It wasn’t something we had ever talked about, but there was only one night that would damper our current mood.

  His face became unreadable. “What about it?” he asked putting his mask back in place. I sat up beside him.

  “The reason he,” I didn’t want to say his name, “attacked me was because he believed I triggered some prophecy, or rather the baby does.”

  Grayson’s brow furrowed. “He told you this?”

  “More or less.” I wanted to avoid bringing up Sebastian in bed if I could help it, since it had in fact been him who explained.

  “How?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I just know that he thought the baby was going to change the world.”

  “He wanted the baby gone?” It sounded like he spoke to himself, trying to make sense of what I was explaining.

  I nodded, “Not only did you save my life that night, but the life of our child too.”

  Smiling softly, he laid me back returning his head to my chest. “That actually helps ease my conscious some.” If I had known that it would, I would have told him earlier. “How do we find out more about this prophecy?” he asked.

  “They don’t know?” Grayson asked for the second time as we drove over to The Angelo Tower. It was Saturday and my parents were home from their honeymoon. I had received a phone call earlier that morning, just before the sun rose, from my mother requesting we join her and my father for dinner. They had only taken a short honeymoon. Short, according to immortals, was a little over a month. They were both leaders of their nests and needed to be home to handle things. Otherwise I think they might have extended it longer.

  “I told you I hadn’t said anything. You were the first person I told.” This was technically true. I hadn’t given the news to anyone. He just wasn’t the first to know. “But I still think we shouldn’t say anything tonight.”

  After telling Grayson about Clive’s mention of The Prophecy concerning our child, we had decided to do a little research of our own. The best place to start had been the nests tomes that contained the old laws and history, but after weeks of searching, there still wasn’t any mention of The Prophecy. Grayson was reverting back to his original plan of asking Damien. Part of me feared what my father’s reaction might be to the news. After the way Clive and Sebastian had both reacted, I was scared of any more negativity concerning what should be an elated time for me.

  “Gaby,” Grayson groaned. I hadn’t budged on my position over this since I first shared the news with him. “I really think we should. You’re pregnant. You don’t need any extra stress. You’re only concern should be growing our baby.”

  Our baby. I loved it every time I heard him utter those words. It gave me chills in an amazing way.

  “And what if it’s nothing but bad news? Then I’ll only be more stressed.”

  He reached for my hand tightening his fingers around mine, before placing a gentle kiss over my knuckles. “It’ll be okay.”

  “You don’t know that,” I sighed wanting to believe him, but the universe had seemed against us from the start of our relationship.

  “You just have to have faith.”

  “I’m not good with having faith.”

  His lips turned up in the corner. “You did with me.” I stared over at him, my brow pinched. Seeing my confusion he continued. “When I went missing? You never truly gave up on me being gone, otherwise you would have tried harder to move on.”

  My heart sank and I felt guilt flush through my system. His words only reminded me of the kiss I shared with Sebastian after Grayson killed Clive. It was something I still hadn’t told him. “That’s nice of you to say, but I don’t think it was really about having faith. It was more about not accepting you were gone.” If it had been about faith, I don’t think I would have tried to find comfort in Sebastian. It was all in the past. Even if I wasn’t pregnant with Grayson’s child, it was still him I wanted. I would spend the rest of my life trying to make up for the mistakes I had made those months he was gone.

  Damien looked up from his desk when Grayson and I walked in. He seemed surprised to see us. Probably too immersed in his work to remember we had dinner plans tonight. We had agreed to drive over together.

  “Grayson, Gabriella, how good to see you both.” He stood and made his way to us. “Look at you, Gabriella. You’re practically glowing.” That might have had more to do with the morning sickness then the glow they tell you you’ll get when expecting. Grayson regarded me from the corner of his eye. He thought Damien was hinting at the fact. “Please sit down.” He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk while he retook his seat behind it. “Persephone will be along soon.”

  “How was your honeymoon?” I asked trying to fill the time and prevent Grayson from announcing our pregnancy.

  “I’m sure you don’t want to hear the details, but your mother seemed to have a fabulous time.”

  My mother had wanted to go north to enjoy their honeymoon, but after explaining to her that this time of year there would be only daylight, they went the traditional route and headed to a tropical paradise. Damien was right; I didn’t want to know the details.

  “It’s probably best that Persephone is delayed. We wanted a moment to talk to you. In private.” Grayson’s eyes cut to me. My mouth dropped open knowing what he was doing but hoping I was wrong.

  “Grayson,” I warned.

  “What is it?” Damien asked curiously.

  Grayson held my gaze. He wanted us to be on the same page with this, but I wasn’t sure it was wise. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity until I relinquished with a nod and a groan. Grayson exhaled a deep breath, obviously relieved, before turning to Damien who had been watching us with genuine curiosity. “We need you to tell us about The Prophecy.”

  Damien’s expression melted. “Why would you ask me this?” he demanded tensing.

  “We need to know what you know,” I declared.

  “Why would you think I would know about any prophecy?” He waved his hand through the air, clearly uncomfortable. He was talking around an answer.

  “You’ve been around a long time, Damien,” Grayson replied, but Damien kept his gaze on me for my response.

  “Sebastian,” I announced. I didn’t look at Grayson, but I felt his gaze on me the instant the name slipped past my lips. I didn’t want to see the accusation in his eyes over what he might think as a betrayal. “He mentioned you know.”

  Damien looked to be cursing Sebastian. He stood from his chair making large gestures through the air with his hands. “There is no need to worry, Gabriella. This is perhaps just a ploy for him to win you over.” His voice lacked conviction. I knew he didn’t believe that. He was just doing his best to avoid the subject.

  I shook my head. “That’s not it.”

  “This topic is not relevant!” He was getting upset which began to worry me even more.

  “Yes, it is or I wouldn’t be asking,” I raised my voice to match the urgency of his.

  “It’s only relevant if—” his eyes gawked at my stomach. I nervously covered it with my hands like I was trying to shield my unborn child from his piercing gaze. “No,” he groaned falling back into his chair. His hands covered his face, and for the first time, I saw Damien afraid. When he spoke again it was with more desperation. “We need to make plans to get you out of the city.”

  “What? No!” I spat.

  “Gabriella, you do not understand—” He glared at me trying to make me comprehend the seriousness of the situation.

  “Then help me!”

  “I did not wish to burden you with this. It was why I never informed you. I also did not wish to sway your decision.” The way his eyes glanced briefly to Grayson, I realized he hadn’t wanted me to choose Sebastian or Grayson based on information that may never come to pass, but because they were who I wanted. “The Prophecy— I thought it was forgotten by most. Since Jade was the only other day walker, The Prophecy faded into history. There was no chance of us conceiving a child, and then you came along. I had hoped that you would never have to know of this.”

  “What is it?” I questioned. I hadn’t wanted to involve Damien, but now that the cat was out of the bag, I wanted answers.

  “It speaks of two day walkers and their union, which will bring forth the conception of a superior being, who will change the face of this earth.”

  “That’s it?” Grayson asked. “Gaby was almost killed because of a riddle!”

  Damien sat up straighter at Grayson’s words. “What do you mean she was almost killed?” His eyes darted back and forth between the two of us.

  “A hunter tried to kill her because of this,” Grayson explained.

  I could see the fury building in Damien’s sapphire eyes—not only that of a vampire, but of a father. I wasn’t sure which was worse. “When was this and why wasn’t I informed?”

  “It was the night of your wedding.” I replied nonchalantly in attempt to bring us back to the subject at hand. “I knew you and mom would cancel so I asked everyone to keep it quiet.”

  “That was our decision to make.” Damien looked to be processing it. “Everyone?” I nodded. “Sebastian knew about this?” Both Damien and Grayson’s eyes turned to me. I glanced away from the pressure of the gazes and nodded again. “I will have words with him about this. The hunter?”

  “Dead,” I stated.

  “Good, but as far as The Prophecy, it is no riddle. Your child will bring forth a superior race of beings. They will be stronger than vampires, but with the same thirst for blood. Their weaknesses will be practically nonexistent. Among their strengths will be an ability you two share—to walk in the sun.”

  “A race of day walkers?” I was dumfounded. That wasn’t possible.

  He nodded. “You can understand the fear surrounding this child’s birth?”

  “So we keep it quiet. No one knows,” Grayson offered.

  Grayson

  The night with Gaby’s parents at dinner was stressful, to say the least. I knew she would be furious with me for broaching the topic, especially after she asked me not to, but I had to know. It wasn’t just genuine curiosity, but concern over how to keep them safe. Someone close to us had already attacked Gaby in our own home; I couldn’t risk being unprepared again. I wanted to know what kind of enemies we’d be up against. It didn’t look good.

  Everyone, on both sides, would not want our child brought into the world. Our baby was a wild card. No one knew if the child would be good or evil. Vampires in general were considered evil, yet as I sat at a table surrounded by them, loving one, having been turned into one myself, I knew there were shades of gray.

  Persephone had sensed the tension when she entered Damien’s office, but with all the news Gaby and I had just received, none of us made a move to tell her she was going to be a grandmother. We would have had a hard time explaining why we weren’t currently elated. Instead we sat awkwardly at dinner.

  “Persephone,” I spoke breaking the silence. Damien was still brooding about Gaby’s refusal to leave town as he pushed his food around his plate. “Damien was telling us back at the compound about your honeymoon. Gaby and I still haven’t figured out where to take ours. How was it?”

  I felt Gaby tense next to me. Since I came back from the dead, we hadn’t discussed our wedding, but now more than ever I wanted her to be mine in every way possible. Vampire custom considered us already married, but I had been a human longer than a vampire and I still wished for the human wedding.

  “It was outstanding,” Persephone grinned brightly. She seemed genuinely happy. Taking the bait, she began filling us in on everything. When she spoke of sex on the beach, Gaby shifted uncomfortably. Persephone seemed to notice. “Come now, Gabriella. Surely you know by now that your parents are still very much in love and have a very passionate sex life.

  “Mother!” Gaby groaned clearly disgusted.

  I couldn’t help but hide my laugh with a cough when Gaby glared at me. “Payback is a bitch, Grayson.” My brow furrowed while I tried to keep the smile from forming on my face. “I’ll remember this the next time we’re with your parents.”

  I couldn’t hide my grin from her any longer. “See, that’s where you’re wrong Gaby. Unlike you, my parents having sex doesn’t bother me. I hope to be there age and still be at it like rabbits.”

  She frowned and glanced away in shame. I didn’t understand what upset her. Surely it couldn’t have been the fact that she didn’t have leverage over me.

  “I’m sorry you’ll never have that,” she mumbled.

  I peered over at Damien and Persephone. They both stared at their daughter sympathetically. It wasn’t until that moment, seeing her parents’ gazes on her, that I realized what I said wrong. We were never going to be my parent’s age. I was eternally twenty-nine. The years may pass but we would never age. “Hey,” I whispered pulling her into my embrace. I pressed my mouth against her ear and whispered, “I didn’t mean it like that.” I knew, even now she still carried guilt about turning me even though I was content with my new life. I didn’t know how to get her to forgive herself for something I didn’t resent her for. “I meant that I don’t want to get into a rut the way humans do. They become comfortable and the passion fades.”