Zara slapped a hand over the girl’s mouth. Jacque gave Zara a thumbs-up because the last thing needed was Jen attacking Drake’s mate.

  Jacque rolled forward onto her hands and knees and crawled over until she sat directly in front of Jen. “You’re emotional because of your hormones.”

  “Duh, revelation chick,” Jen said dryly. She used her sleeve to wipe her running nose. “Hormones or chemicals or whatever are what make crazy people crazy.”

  “Bloody hell, woman, stop being a ditzy blonde for one second and think.” Jacque reached out and took Jen’s hand. “You don’t have a tumor, and you’re not going crazy. You’re pregnant, Jen. You’re going to have another hellraiser.”

  The room was suddenly so silent that Jacque could hear every single breath, including the fast respirations of Decebel on the other side of the door. The news seemed to have shocked him enough that he’d stopped pounding on the door.

  Jen blinked several times, and her eyes grew wider and wider. “What did you just say to me?”

  “You know she needs slow words when you give her shocking news.” Sally smiled. She pressed her hand to Jen’s stomach and closed her eyes. Jacque knew she was doing that weird healer-thing where she could look inside of the person she touched.

  Open-mouthed, Jen turned her head to look at Sally and then down at her friend’s hand resting on her abdomen.

  Sally’s eyes opened back up. “Yep.” She nodded. “There’s another Jencebel growing in your crazy-as-hell body.”

  “Jencebel?” Jen’s forehead wrinkled. “Did you seriously just ‘ship’ my child?” Then Jen gasped, as if she’d just been struck on the head. “My child!” She threw her head back and laughed.

  “Are we completely sure she’s not going crazy?” Zara asked. “Because I’ve seen many of her differing personalities, and this appears to be the most unstable one.”

  “Zara, meet pregnant Jen,” Jacque said as they all stared at the laughing blonde.

  “B,” Jen called out, again unnecessarily loud for her mate’s supernatural hearing. “Did you hear that? I’m not going crazy.”

  Sally sighed. “That’s what you got from what we just told you?”

  Jen’s laughter died down as she shrugged. “Dude, crazy is much more difficult to fix than babied. Babied means in, like, six months, I’ll pop a kid out, hopefully not in a cave.”

  “Knew she’d throw that in there somewhere.” Jacque chuckled.

  “And then I’ll be right as rain,” she finished.

  Sally shook her head. “No, you forgot about the whole postpartum bit where you lost your ever-loving-mind and threatened to kill everyone.”

  “Will someone please open this motherfu—”

  “NO cussing in front of the baby, Decebel Anghelescu,” Jen snapped. “We’re going to try to keep this one from becoming a little devil. Only kind, uplifting words.”

  Zara laughed and then tried to cover it with a cough when Jen’s eyes shifted to her. “Got something in my throat,” Wadim’s mate said as she patted her throat.

  “Jennifer.” Decebel would not give up.

  Jacque started to stand, but Jen shoved her back down.

  “Nothing has changed, Dec,” she said to her mate. “It’s still girls’ night. Only better because now I know I’m sane.”

  “Not sane,” Sally said. “You’ve never been sane.”

  “Still vaginas only. Oh, and a uterus that can carry a baby. Like mine.” Jen pointed at her stomach and ignored their brunette friend. “Which means if you do not have a vagina, then you cannot participate.”

  “If you want to get technical…” Costin’s voice came next through the door. “Since Sally is mine, that makes all of her parts mine. So, I do, in fact, own a vagina and a uterus … that is currently carrying a baby, for that matter.”

  Jacque’s eyes snapped to her brown-eyed friend. Though her face was the shade of a ripe tomato, Sally glared at the door as if she could melt the barrier away simply with her eyes.

  “Do you want me to throw the shoe through the wall this time?” Jen asked.

  Sally shook her head. “I’ll get him back later.”

  “Just remember,” Costin called out, “you won’t be pregnant forever, mate. And payback is a bitch.”

  “Good grief,” Sally grumbled. “Is there any sort of relationship privacy in this pack?”

  “That’s a dumb question, Sally,” Jen said. “We’ve been friends a very long time. Has there ever been any sort of privacy between us? I mean, Jacque knew I was pregnant before me and my mate.” She frowned and then looked at the door as if she could see through it. “B, why didn’t you know I was pregnant? Shouldn’t you have been able to hear the heartbeat?”

  “I will not answer any questions until you open this door.”

  “Actually,” Sally offered, “you’re very early in your pregnancy. I literally just watched the heartbeat fire up when I was doing my healer mojo.”

  “Sally heard the heartbeat before me?” Decebel sounded desperate. As everyone knows, a desperate true mate is an unstable true mate.

  “No, there has been no sort of privacy between us.” Sally pointed at her, addressing Jen’s question. “And we’ve talked about it a million times. It’s your fault everyone is up in everyone else’s Kool Aid. Not to mention, Jacque can’t help that she has the whole can-see-into-the-pack-bonds superpower.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Jacque nodded. “What she said.”

  Jen rolled her eyes. “Y’all are so dramatic.”

  Jacque’s eyebrows rose, along with everyone else’s in the room.

  “Did she seriously just call us dramatic?” Bethany asked.

  Jacque waved her off. “Just go with it. It will make your life much easier.”

  Suddenly the door flew open, and a very pissed-off looking Decebel stepped into the room. His eyes immediately found his mate’s.

  “Did you seriously just break someone else’s door?’ Jen’s voice was completely calm, as if she hadn’t been having a breakdown minutes ago or that she hadn’t just found out she was pregnant. “We’ve been talking about this knocking and waiting thing for years, B. Years.” Jen drew out the word.

  Decebel walked over to her, and Jacque and Sally scrambled away. He crouched down in front of her. His movements seemed overly controlled, as if he was trying very hard not to lose his crap. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. Jen’s lips turned up in a small smile, and she leaned into his touch. “And I have been telling you for years that a damn door will not keep me from you.”

  Jen lifted her hand and pressed a finger to his lips. “No. Cussing.”

  Decebel brushed her hand aside and leaned forward. It was clear he didn’t care that they had an audience as he pressed his lips to hers. Jacque’s chest tightened at how gentle such a large man was with his mate.

  Jacque saw the other mates file through the doorway, hers included. He took a seat behind her and pulled her back between his spread legs, her back pressed to his chest. “I guess girls’ night just became couple’s night,” she muttered.

  “It is always couples’ night, Luna.” He pressed a kiss to her neck. “The males just happen to always be on the wrong side of the door.”

  She laughed as she smacked his hands that rested on her stomach. She continued to watch Jen and Decebel, unable to take her eyes away, regardless of the fact that she probably should give them some semblance of privacy. But when she glanced away briefly, she saw that everyone else stared at them as well. So she went back to watching their special moment unfold.

  “We’re having another baby,” Jen whispered when Decebel pulled back.

  “I know. I heard.” He smirked, all of his previous displeasure had vanished.

  Jen’s face suddenly fell, and she sucked in a deep breath. “Are you happy? I mean, we didn’t plan it. And obviously it really isn’t the greatest time to be pregnant. No offense, Sally.”

  “Why in the world would I find that offensive?”

  “Of course, I’m happy, silly female.”

  Zara coughed again, but not to cover laughter. This time, it was to cover words. “Maybe don’t call her silly.”

  “Good point.” Jacque nodded and pointed at Jen. “She’s like a ticking time bomb.”

  “We’re having a moment.” Jen growled, her eyes still on her mate’s. “Keep your sassy comments to yourself.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Decebel warned. “So don’t ask, and don’t you dare attempt to order me to.” He shifted so he could wrap an arm around her back and one under her knees, lifting her up, then sliding his large frame around to face the circle of people. Then he plopped her down in his lap so that she also faced the room. Jacque watched as Decebel placed both his large hands on her stomach and rubbed them in circles. Jen sighed happily and leaned back against him.

  “We better not freaking die tonight.” Jen huffed. “Or I will be thoroughly put out.”

  Jacque’s heart swelled in her chest as she soaked up the amazing news that had chased away the heaviness that had previously filled the room. The world was such a dark place, and yet there were moments like this that lit it up like a full moon in a black night sky.

  “Congratulations,” Thad said, his voice formal. He bowed his head at the couple. Then the djinn’s face grew serious. “But I’m afraid we will have to postpone the celebration. We need to discuss the strategy for tonight. We cannot just go in on a wing and a prayer.”

  Jen waved him off. “Slow your roll, jacked-in-the-head djinn. This is how we get ready to discuss important things. Didn’t you learn that at the last meeting? We have to get all the ridiculous, innocuous, weird, and inappropriate things out of the way, or we won’t be able to concentrate. And sometimes we have mental breakdowns that turn into babies.”

  “Pretty sure that’s not how babies are made.” Wadim waggled his eyebrows at his mate. Zara shoved his shoulder, but her lips turned up in a grin.

  Crina sighed. “They’re like toddlers that have to run off all of their energy before they can go to sleep.”

  “They?” Zara asked. “Because I see you sitting here, too.”

  The she-wolf grinned. “I come for the entertainment. It’s better than anything on television. I mean this”—she motioned to Jen—“was awesome.”

  “You’re right, Thadrick,” Jacque said. “We need to get down to business. But Jen is also correct in her own way, though that is a troublesome thing for me to admit. I nearly just choked on my words.”

  Jen raised a brow at her. “Say it again, and maybe this time we’ll get lucky.”

  Jacque shot her a look. “You get a pass because you’re pregnant. But I will keep a tally of each pass I give you. Then when that kid pops out of your overused vagina, I will kick your big, just-had-a-baby ass. The more tallies you’ve accumulated, the worse it will be.”

  “Holy crap, I want to be her when I grow up.” Awe filled Bethany’s voice.

  “She learned everything she knows from me.” Jen’s eyes held Jacque’s. “And since that was a verbal smackdown of epic proportion, I will give you a pass in return. But I accept your challenge to chick fight at later date. Would you like a lingerie match or mud wrestling?”

  Growls erupted from two of the males, sniggers from the others.

  “Thank you for the compliment.” Jacque inclined her head. “We will schedule the details of our brawl once it gets closer to the time.”

  Wadim raised his hand and tentatively asked, “Is this just reserved for you two? Because Zara can kick some serious—”

  “Do you want to die?” Decebel rumbled.

  “Painfully?” Fane added.

  Wadim’s eyes danced with mirth, not intimidated in the least by the alpha and beta. He’d obviously been threatened one too many times with no follow through. “Don’t worry, Z will make me pay for that comment later.”

  Jen clapped her hands. “My brother from another mother. Making the comments that you know will get you spanked. I like it.”

  “Fracking frack.” Adam spoke for the first time since walking into the room, “Not an image I needed in my head of either of you.”

  Thad cleared his throat, and Jacque could see the irritation in the djinn’s eyes. Right, time to get serious.

  “Such a shame we can’t continue this very illuminating conversation,” Fane said through their bond, his voice filled with humor.

  “Funny guy,” Jacque muttered. She gave her attention back to Thad. “I apologize, again, for our lack of tact and decorum at the least appropriate times. Our human lives were never this tumultuous. At times, we’re still adjusting.” Jacque shrugged. “Sad but true.”

  Thad glanced around the room at the nodding heads of the girls and then looked back at Jacque. “You’re right. I’ve not considered the fact that all of this is not normal to you. And I honestly hope that one day it will not be.”

  “I won’t hold my breath,” Jen muttered before settling closer to Decebel.

  “Please do,” Sally said. “Hold it for a really long time. But wait until after you’ve had the next little demon.”

  Jen flipped their friend off, and Jacque figured they’d better get things rolling or Jen might decide she didn’t care that she and Sally were both pregnant and tackle the healer.

  “So you think Cain is actually serious?” Jacque asked the djinn.

  “I doubt it,” Peri answered before Thad could reply, as she suddenly appeared in their midst.

  A shoe flew across the room at her as Bethany jumped.

  “Dude.” Jen growled. “Why do you get to throw things?”

  “Because unlike you, my target can actually feel itself being hit,” Bethany pointed out. “I’m not throwing at a freaking wall that won’t appreciate the abuse being inflicted upon it. Hopefully my target will learn not to just pop into a room and scare the crap out of the jumpy new mom. I’m dealing with the fact that the chicks I care about are going to be meeting with a bloodsucking vampire.”

  Jen’s eyes widened. “Are you sure you’re not pregnant again, too? I mean, two pregnant chicks in this pack are going to be interesting, but three? That would be a shit show.”

  Peri’s head slowly turned to look at Jen. “What do you mean, three?” Her words were slow and measured.

  Jen grinned and clapped her hands, the dork completely unaware that Peri did not share in her excitement. “Turns out I’m not going crazy. I’m pregnant!”

  “Aren’t they the same thing?” Peri asked, deadpan.

  “Yes,” Drake said from beside Bethany.

  Bethany threw an elbow at him. “Keep it up, and you know what will happen. I’ll be marching around this sprite compound naked as the day I was born.”

  “Still got the sheet and the safety pins, beautiful,” he quipped. “By all means, try that little stunt again.”

  Peri pinched the bridge of her nose and took several deep breaths. “Apparently Decebel and Jen need us to discuss with them all the reasons they should not continue to reproduce. But we don’t have time for that conversation right now. We’ve got to get back to dealing with the Cain situation.”

  “I agree.” Zara shuddered, and Wadim wrapped an arm around her. “Vampires are nothing to fool around with.”

  “I apologize that I didn’t consider your history when I asked you to join us, Zara,” Jacque said. “You do not have to come, and no one will think lesser of you. I don’t want to bring up memories that will cause damage to any healing that has happened since you’ve been out of their clutches.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Peri spoke up, glaring down at the shoe that had hit her arm. “Zara’s wolf has proven to be quite protective of her.” She looked at Zara. “And you have been able to control your wolf, correct?”

  “Yes.” Zara nodded. “And Wadim and I have been sparing.”

  “Bedroom acrobatics don’t count,” Jen muttered.

  Peri didn’t acknowledge the jab but continued to address Wadim’s mate. “You will stand before the king of the vampires and show him that what they did to you hasn’t broken you. You may be bruised and a little battered, but you are not conquered.”

  “Peri fairy, you are on a freaking roll with the pep talks.” Jen grinned. “Keep going.” She motioned with her hand. “My inner kick-ass bitch is totally preening right now. That and, ya know, I’m glowing because of the whole pregnancy thing.”

  “Just what we need.” Zara laughed. “Considering you seem to stay in a constant state of preening without the pregnancy. Now you will be constantly reminding us of your glowworm state.”

  Peri laughed. “I love that you’ve found your voice, Zara. This pack has been good for you, as have these crazy, estrogen-filled, though battle-ready, chicks.”

  Zara shrugged. “Finding your tribe, your people, your pack, or whatever you want to call it is important. Being around those who build you up when you’re feeling crushed goes a long way toward healing brokenness.”

  “And it helps that we’re freaking awesome.” Crina raised her eyebrows at Zara.

  Zara grinned. “That, too.”

  Peri stepped back so she could see everyone in the room. “As for this vampire king.… Regardless of what you might feel regarding his offer, Thad,”—she narrowed her eyes on the djinn—“there is no way he wants anything other than to pull the wool over our eyes. It is not in the nature of a vampire to be friendly, trustworthy, peace-loving, or in any way altruistic.”

  “I agree,” Thad said. “But the meeting will still put us in a position to gain information and to potentially take him out.”

  “What will that mean for the rest of the vampires?” Bethany looked at Peri. “I mean, if they don’t have a leader.”

  “Another will take his place,” Peri answered. “Just like Cain took Sincaro’s place. Like wolves, the bloodsuckers need an alpha to keep them in line. Otherwise—”

  “They are nothing like us,” Jen spat out.

  “—there will be infighting amongst the covens,” Peri continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. She held up a finger. “But the new leader may not be as dangerous. A younger, less powerful vampire might take Cain’s place.”