Chapter 23 #2
I smiled and rubbed my stomach, pushing aside the trauma that was going to come from Anthony having killed someone. “I don’t suppose you have a clan psychiatrist?” I asked. “You may need to talk to someone.”
“No, but I can find one in another clan and do a virtual visit.” He shrugged. “Not a bad idea, really.”
“This is why secrets are important. I can’t allow anyone in the clan who could hurt us, which now includes you and our baby. Babies.” He wrinkled his brow and laughed. “Babies.”
I shook my head at him. “I don’t trust Tessa. I’m not sure what to do with her.” I didn’t have the first clue how to handle this. It wasn’t like we could go to the police and demand she be arrested for trying to perform a spell on me. They’d lock us up in the loony bin.
“Mom and Dad will keep her under lock and key. We’ll worry about it another day. For now, I want to focus on you.”
We spent the rest of the day discussing the future. All the what-ifs. And by the end of the day, we knew that me taking the bite right now wasn’t a possibility.
“I think my dragon will stop riding me so hard to bite you. It’s like that part of me realizes how dangerous it could potentially be for the babies.
I don’t feel a strong urge like I did before.
I can’t say for sure what I’ll feel when we have sex again, but I don’t think I’ll be pressed so hard to bite you. ”
I beamed at him. “I want to take your bite,” I said. “I want to be your mate. But you’re right. Not until after.” It might’ve been impulsive and a little too soon, but I knew it was right. Nothing about it felt bad or wrong. My very soul wanted to be Anthony’s mate.
We discussed everything from where we wanted to live, to baby names, to how involved our parents would be. And oh, shit, I still had to tell my dad.
I stayed with Anthony all week. Then he convinced me to call out of work because like someone had flipped a switch, exhaustion set in.
We both knew from our OB/GYN rotations during residency that one of the most potent first trimester hormones could cause extreme exhaustion.
After what I went through with the witch, we both felt better safe than sorry.
He went back to work and covered all my shifts while I stayed home.
I was never alone, though. His mother came, as did Sammy. I got to know both of them so much better and found myself more and more excited about the coming babies. Karah, in particular, was ecstatic. “You have to understand how much I’m going to spoil those children,” she said.
We made plans, then changed them, then thought up some new ideas. We decided to move into my place, then back to Anthony’s, then to build an entirely new place. Then back to Anthony’s, then mine. It was so much fun, as the possibilities were truly endless.
Saturday, my girls showed up out of the blue.
“I’ve got a meeting,” he said with a wink.
“And all of my family will be there, so I called in reinforcements.” He grinned and left as Bri and Kaylee walked in and ran over to hug me.
Then Bri’s daughter slipped out from behind her and grinned at me.
As Bri settled her at the coffee table with a coloring book and a fresh pack of crayons, I thought about what it was going to be like to be a mother, finally, and started bawling.
Of course, they wanted a lot of answers. They wanted to know if we were back together first, and what about it made me cry?
“I’m pregnant,” I exclaimed.
Kaylee burst into tears and hugged me. “I know how much you’ve wanted this,” she whispered. “I’m so happy for you.”
Bri smiled at us. I looked at her over Kaylee’s shoulder. “You’re going to be a great mom,” Bri said.
“How does Anthony feel?” Kaylee asked.
I chortled through my tears. I didn’t know how to answer honestly without telling too much. “He’s feeling very overprotective.”
They knew he’d taken off again. I didn’t really have an explanation for them, so said the first thing that came to mind.
“He had a friend in trouble. It’s not my story to tell, but he explained it all to me and I’ve forgiven him.
We also discovered that Tessa bitch had altered our phone numbers.
She admitted to sneaking around and doing it the night we were all at Jace’s bar.
I don’t know how she managed it, but it kept us from communicating, which made both of us think the other was angry.
Apparently, she had some major boner for Anthony.
He’s told her off now, so hopefully, she won’t be a problem in the future. ” What an understatement.
When Anthony came back and they left, he told me where he’d been.
“I wanted to surprise you with your friends,” he explained.
“Or I would’ve told you about the meeting.
I just spent the entire day talking to my clan about you and our babes.
I expressed in no uncertain terms what would happen if anyone spoke on you and our babies.
I love you, Skye, and I love those babies inside of you.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you all safe. ”
“What about Tessa?” I asked.
“She’s got a lot of guilt,” he said. “She’s going to go spend some time with the Tennessee clan, and hopefully come back with a better mindset.
For the time being, Sammy was able to perform a spell that prevents her from shifting.
We hope that will be punishment enough, but we’ll see how she acts when she returns.
I didn’t want to deprive her of being around her family forever, so this was the best solution I could come up with.
It’s not like I can remove her ability to shift completely. ”
I nodded. “I think that’s fair. You said that once she found out I was pregnant, she tried to stop it.
She was willing to mess with my memories, which to me is inconceivable, but among your kind, it’s just something that is done.
I don’t know how I feel about that in general, but I can’t hold her to a stricter standard than the rest of you. ”
“Maybe it’s time to reflect on our stance on that as well,” he said. “That is certainly something we can address in the future.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Things are due for a bit of a shakeup anyway.”
“For my part, I decided before that you’re my person,” I said. “You always will be.”
He pulled me into his arms and hugged me close. “And you’re mine,” he whispered. “Always.”