Chapter 23 - Cora
Cora paced the length of the living room for what felt like the hundredth time, with her heart hammering against her ribs.
The apartment felt stifling like the walls were pressing in as she rehearsed the words she’d been avoiding for days.
Each attempt to steady herself only left her more rattled.
She wasn’t ready for this conversation—she might never be—but avoiding it wasn’t an option anymore.
Grayson sat on the couch, oblivious to her turmoil. He was sharpening a blade with methodical precision, and the faint scrape of metal against stone filled the quiet. He glanced up at her every so often, pinching his brows together before returning to his task.
“Are you going to wear a hole in the floor, or are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” he finally asked.
Cora froze mid-step, caught off guard even though she’d known the question was coming. She swallowed hard and forced her feet to carry her closer to him. “We need to talk.”
Grayson set the blade and sharpened stone aside, moving his full attention to her as he motioned for her to sit next to him. “All right. Talk.”
Her legs felt like they might buckle beneath her, so she lowered herself onto the couch, keeping a careful distance between them. She clasped her hands in her lap, staring down at her fingers as they twisted together.
Grayson tilted his head. “Cora, you’re starting to freak me out. What’s going on?”
She exhaled a shaky breath and finally met his gaze. The tenderness in his expression only made the lump in her throat harder to swallow. “I’ve been keeping something from you.”
He sat up straighter, but he didn’t interrupt. Grayson just nodded to prompt her to continue.
“I… I found out something recently. And I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, but there’s no easy way to say it.” She sucked in a breath. “Grayson, I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off. Cora braced herself for his reaction, expecting anger, fear, maybe even disbelief. What she didn’t expect was the stunned silence that followed.
Grayson stared at her, his mouth slightly open. It was as if he was trying to speak but couldn’t find the words. His usually composed features were unguarded with emotion that she couldn’t quite decipher.
“You’re…pregnant?” he finally managed.
She nodded, and her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “Yes. I only found out a few days ago. Elena confirmed it.”
His gaze dropped to her stomach, and he reached out instinctively, hovering his hand uncertainly before he pulled it back. “And it’s mine?”
The question caught her off guard, but the vulnerability in his voice softened the sting. “Of course, it’s yours. There hasn’t been anyone else.”
Grayson exhaled a breath he seemed to have been holding before running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean—I just… Damn, Cora, I don’t know what to say.”
Her heart sank, but she forced herself to nod. “I know it’s a lot. If you need time to process, I understand. I didn’t expect you to—”
“I love you,” he blurted, cutting her off.
Her breath hitched as the words registered. She blinked, certain she’d misheard him. “What?”
“I love you,” he repeated. “I don’t need time to process that. I’ve been falling for you since the day you walked into my life and turned it upside down.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Grayson…”
“And this—” he gestured toward her stomach. “It scares the hell out of me, but it’s also…amazing. I’m not going anywhere, Cora. You and this baby—our baby—you’re everything to me now.”
The dam inside her broke, and she threw herself into his arms, burying her face against his shoulder. “I love you too,” she whispered. “I’ve been so scared to say it, but I do. I love you.”
Grayson’s arms tightened around her, and his hand cradled the back of her head as if he were afraid she might disappear. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
She pulled back just enough to look at him with her hands framing his face. The depth of emotion in his eyes made her chest ache, and before she could think better of it, she leaned in and kissed him.
Grayson cupped her face, and his lips moved against hers with a fervor that left her breathless. His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.
Cora’s fingers tangled in his hair, and she tilted her head, granting his tongue access. The world outside faded into irrelevance, leaving only the heat of his touch and the steady thrum of her heartbeat echoing in her ears.
Grayson inched close before guiding her onto his lap as his lips trailed down her jawline to her neck. Her breath hitched, and she clutched his shoulders as he nipped at the sensitive skin just below her ear.
The sound of someone clearing their throat shattered the moment, and Cora jerked back, her face flaming as she turned toward the doorway. Zane stood there, leaning against the frame, with a smirk that made her want to sink into the floor.
“Am I interrupting something?” he asked, though the amusement in his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Grayson let out a low growl with his hands still resting on Cora’s waist. “What do you want, Zane?”
Zane’s smirk faded, replaced by a seriousness that set Cora’s nerves on edge. “I have news. You’re going to want to hear this.”
Cora slid back onto the cushion as Grayson rose from the couch. “What kind of news?”
“From Ryder. He’s been tracking Theodore’s movements, and things just got a whole lot worse. Theodore and his men are closing in on Bellefleur.”
The words hit like a hammer, and Grayson’s body immediately went rigid. “How close?”
Zane stepped further into the room, and his eyes moved between the two of them. “Close enough. We’ve seen scouts in the area, and Ryder’s intel says Theodore’s preparing for a full-scale assault. He wants Bellefleur, and he’s not coming quietly.”
Cora had to grip the arm of the couch to keep upright as the room spun around her.
Bellefleur wasn’t just a target—it was her home, their home.
The idea of Theodore tearing it apart, of more innocent lives being lost, made her blood run cold.
She glanced at Grayson, and something inside her snapped into focus.
“We can’t let that happen.”
“No one’s letting it happen, Cora,” Grayson assured her. “We’ll handle it.”
“How?” she challenged. “You just said it yourself—he’s coming with everything he’s got. If we wait for him to make the first move, we’re giving him the upper hand.”
Zane raised a hand. “She’s got a point. We’ve seen what Theodore can do when he’s prepared. He doesn’t just strike—he destroys.”
Grayson shot him a glare but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back to Cora. “What are you suggesting?”
Cora took a breath, steadying herself. “My magic. I can create wards around the town, strong ones. It won’t stop him completely, but it’ll slow him down, maybe even force him to rethink his strategy. At the very least, it’ll give us time to prepare.”
Grayson’s expression darkened further. “No.”
The single word hung in the air like a lead weight, and the room felt smaller for a moment. Cora crossed her arms, meeting his gaze with a determination she hadn’t realized she possessed. “You don’t get to make that decision for me.”
“I’m not letting you put yourself in danger like that,” Grayson argued. “You know what using that much magic could do to you. You’re still healing.”
“I know exactly what it could do to me,” she shot back. “But I also know what will happen if we don’t do something. This isn’t just about us, Grayson. It’s about everyone in Bellefleur. If there’s a chance I can protect them, I have to try.”
“She’s right,” Zane interjected, though his tone was careful. “Wards could make a big difference. Especially if we’re dealing with an attack on this scale.”
Grayson’s frustration was palpable as he ran a hand through his hair. “You’re not the one who has to watch her struggle with this,” he snapped at Zane before turning back to Cora. “You don’t know what you’re asking me to agree to.”
“I do. And I’m asking anyway. Because I can’t sit here and do nothing while people I care about are in danger. You, of all people, should understand that.”
The words struck a nerve, and Grayson flinched almost imperceptibly. His gaze dropped to the floor, and for a moment, he looked torn between his instinct to protect her and the reality of what they were facing.
“Grayson,” Cora said, standing and stepping closer.
Her voice softened, though the resolve in it remained.
“I’m not doing this to prove anything or to be reckless.
I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do.
And because I know you’ll be there to pull me back if I go too far and lose control the way I did when I almost hurt you. ”
He looked up at her, and his eyes searched hers for something—reassurance, maybe, or conviction. Whatever he saw seemed to ease the tension in his shoulders, if only slightly. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes. I can do this.”
Grayson exhaled slowly. “All right. But we’re doing this together. If I see anything—anything—that makes me think you’re pushing yourself too hard, we stop. No arguments.”
“No arguments,” she agreed.
Zane cleared his throat, breaking the moment between them. “I’ll let Ryder know the plan. He’ll want to coordinate patrols around the perimeter while the wards are being set up. The last thing we need is Theodore catching us off guard.”
Grayson nodded, though his attention remained fixed on Cora. “Do it. And tell him to keep a close watch on the scouts. We don’t want any surprises.”
Zane gave a mock salute before slipping out the door, leaving them alone once again. Cora reached for Grayson’s hand, threading her fingers through his. “You’ll be there?” she asked softly.
“Always,” he promised. “Just don’t make me regret saying yes.”
“I won’t.”
Grayson pulled her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before resting his chin on the top of her head.
“We’ll get through this,” he said. “Together.”
Cora nodded and wrapped her arms around him as she allowed herself to believe him, if only for a moment. Together. It was the only way they stood a chance.