Chapter 123 Maddy
MADDY
Iwas pregnant. No amount of denial could change it. Nico’s cousin, Eliza, gave me a pregnancy test she had stuffed in the back of her medicine cabinet. Despite my deepest hope, two lines appeared on the stick. I couldn’t turn my back on the facts—I had to live with it.
My heart was a little broken. I wanted kids—always had.
The idea of having a new person growing and sheltering inside me had been one of my deepest dreams. The problem was, I hadn’t expected it to happen while I was hiding out behind a magic forcefield with the whole world searching for me and a psychotic mastermind pulling strings to bring me to her.
So much danger and so little time to relax and enjoy anything.
My fear of the unknown increased a hundred percent now that there was more at stake than my own life.
Regardless of what everyone told me, if it came down to the people I loved versus myself, I wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice my life for them.
Now? Now someone else was relying on me to stay alive.
They were growing inside me, sleeping peacefully within my womb.
All the excitement I should have experienced was marred with fear.
It saddened me and overwhelmed me with anguish.
Nico found me in the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bathtub and crying.
Not pretty girl crying with delicate drops shimmering on eyelashes.
No, it was that nasty, snotty, ugly crying.
My makeup was running down my face, my eyes bloodshot, my nose red, and tissues piled on the floor.
Definitely the sexiest I’d ever looked. Had to be. No question.
“Hey,” I said, the end of the word tilting up into a high-pitched whine. I sounded ridiculous.
“Maddy, baby, are you okay?” He sat with me and put an arm around my shoulders.
I unloaded all my fears and anxieties on him and told him the thousand different terrible scenarios I’d played through my head since finding out.
He listened without interrupting, not even when I shared the nightmarish visions I had about how Viola could use this against us.
By the time I was done, I was pretty much cried out.
Nico ran a hand through my hair. “You’ve got valid concerns.”
“Really?” I squeaked, my throat raw from sobbing. “Some of it sounds crazy to me.”
He nodded in agreement. “Maybe a few. But you still have good reasons to be worried. This is huge. A massive change. I know you’re scared. So am I. The thing is, there’s still joy to be had. The little surprise is one of the best things to happen in my life. In either of our lives.”
I blew my nose, then laughed. “I didn’t think one time without a condom would be enough.”
“Well, all it takes is one time. But you were also in heat, which increases your chances of conceiving. That’s my fault. I should have thought about it and grabbed one.”
I’d been insatiable that night. Waking up with my clit swollen and throbbing, my fingers thrust inside me, desperate for it to be him.
The entire three days were hazy at best, but some things were still clear in my mind.
I’d never experienced anything like it in my life.
From the moment I woke up, I’d basically accosted him.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Well, it’s nice that you think that, but I didn’t really give you a chance. Don’t blame yourself. I don’t.”
The memories of what we’d done to each other clicked through my mind like a slideshow, sending a warm tingle through my stomach: my mouth on his cock, his tongue buried inside me, Nico’s cock thrusting into my ass and pussy. My cheeks went red as I recalled the visions.
Nico put a finger on my chin and turned my face to his. A rumbling growl rose from his chest. “What are you thinking about?”
My face grew unbelievably hot. “Probably something I shouldn’t. Not at a time like this.”
Nico leaned forward, kissing me before I could say another word.
He pulled me close, and I sank into his body, letting my thoughts and worries vanish.
He urged me upward, and I stood. He walked me over to the bed—our lips melded together, tongues dancing.
Our breathing became one as he led me to the bed.
Lowering me gently to the mattress, Nico broke the kiss and gazed into my eyes. “Nothing will ever hurt you. You are mine, and I protect what’s mine.”
The warmth that had been building inside me surged into an inferno. I grabbed his shirt and tugged him onto me, kissing him with urgency. My tears had dried, and all I wanted was him and a few moments of peace and happiness.
Nico undressed me, piling my clothing next to the bed.
His hands slipped across my skin, slow and gentle.
Across my belly, down my thighs, the slope of my collarbone, and the curve of my breasts.
The entire time, he gazed into my eyes, connecting to me wordlessly.
I ached for him but wanted this to go on forever.
The feel of his body against mine filled me with hope and confidence, and his fingers gliding over my skin made me wet.
When his thumb flicked across my nipple, I gasped and arched my back as electric energy seemed to shoot from the tip of my breast down to my clit.
My free hand fumbled with his zipper and quickly tugged him free.
Already hard, I stroked him and watched as the blanket of pleasure fell over him.
His eyes glazed over, and a grunt of satisfaction burst from his chest.
Nico slid a hand between my legs, his fingers finding me hot, wet, and ready.
One finger slid inside me, then another.
I sucked in my lip, clamping my teeth down as he curled his fingers to stroke me.
A breathy moan escaped me. Our eyes remained locked.
The rigid flesh in my hand pulsed with heat, and I wanted it inside me. I’d never wanted anything more.
“I want you,” I murmured.
With a nod, Nico shimmied out of his pants and nestled himself between my legs, his cock resting on my belly, his balls pressed against my pussy as he leaned down to kiss me.
I ran my hands along his back, pressing my tongue into his mouth.
He cupped my breasts, gently pinching my nipples in a way that was sure to drive me mad.
With a slight flick of his hips, his cock slid down my slit.
With aching slowness, he entered me. My mouth dropped open in a silent scream as he filled me.
I looked down and watched as inch after inch of him vanished within me.
When he was fully sheathed inside me, he pulled me to him, hugging my body to his, holding me like that without moving like we were one being.
One living thing. Nothing had ever felt so good. So right.
Nico raised his face and looked into my eyes again, then pulled his hips back and thrust into me.
All conscious thought vanished from my mind.
Instead, I was swept away in an avalanche of pleasure.
Nico stroked a hair from my face as he moved within me.
He placed his palm on my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine.
My nails dug into his back, pulling at him, urging him on.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Whimpering with my own feeling of adoration for the man I loved, I leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you too.”
I slipped a hand down between us and began to stroke my clit as he made love to me.
The combination was a dizzying, heady sensation.
Nico’s body flexed, his breathing quickening into near-panting.
He was getting close. My own orgasm was building.
A delicious pressure started erupting inside me, swelling with each thrust of his hips and each twitch of my fingers.
Nico buried his face in my chest, sucking a nipple into his mouth.
The suction of his lips was like a hammer, shattering glass.
In an instant, I catapulted over the edge, my body jerking, his name falling from my lips as wave upon wave of ecstasy crashed over me.
A moment later, his hips picked up speed, short-circuiting my brain as another fresh wave of climax washed over me.
His shoulders went rigid, and a satisfied groan of release oozed from his chest. Collapsing on me, we lay still, caressing each other as we caught our breath.
After we’d cleaned up, Nico slid under the covers with me and pulled me against his chest. I breathed a deep, contented sigh.
Without thinking, I said, “I hope I’ll be a good mom.”
Nico raised up on his elbow and looked at me. “Of course, you will. You’ll be the best mom.” He stroked my cheek again. “Things are gonna work out. I know it. We’ll end this shit with Viola, and then we can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.”
“I hope so,” I said. “There’s still a fight coming. That’s obvious. It terrifies me.”
“Well, as far as that goes, I hope you realize there is zero chance of you being on the frontline. I know that’s always been part of the plan, but it’s non-negotiable now.”
Something that had been bouncing around in my head since I found out I was pregnant floated to the surface again.
In my despair and worry, I hadn’t really given it much thought.
I was more calm and content at the moment than I had been for the last two days since I’d found out.
I let it out, saying it out loud for the first time.
“I wonder if there will be any side effects for the baby when I drink the vial.”
Nico stiffened. “When?”
“No, sorry, not when but if. What might happen, you know?”
“Absolutely not. No way. It’s not worth it.”
I sighed. “I know that, Nico, but there are a million doomsday scenarios that theoretically could make it a necessity.”
“Name one.”
“Okay, Sinthy’s wards fail, and the royals descend on us. We have no recourse without all of us dying. Or someone betrays us. The government decides they actually do want to side with her, or— ”
“All right, all right. I get it, but that doesn’t change anything.” He looked me in the eye as intensely as I’d ever seen. “Even if I’m on the brink of death, I don’t want you taking that vial.”
Unbidden, my mind formed an image of Nico bleeding out on the floor, blood bubbling from his lips, his chest torn apart from multiple bullets. The very thought sent me into a panicked rage, and a growl vibrated in my chest.
“Promise me, Maddy,” Nico said. “Promise you won’t take it.”
I wasn’t sure it was right to make such a promise.
Deep in my mind, the decision had already been made.
If it came down to all of them dying and me taking that vial to give us one last chance, I wouldn’t hesitate.
My baby was already precious to me, and I didn’t want to do anything to harm it, but if the only other option was both our deaths, was there really any choice? Still, I wanted Nico’s mind at ease.
I nodded. “I promise. I swear. I won’t do it. Okay?”
Nico’s body visibly relaxed, and his face softened. “Good. That’s good.” He leaned forward and kissed me again. “This is all gonna be fine. We probably won’t even have to think about that damned vial.”
Snuggling in close to him, I rested my head on the pillow.
As I closed my eyes, more images flashed into my mind.
The pack lands on fire, dozens of wolves dead at my feet, my parents lying lifeless in the grass, and again, Nico gasping out his last breaths as blood seeped from his body.
In the background, I could hear Viola’s high, cackling laughter.
I’d lied to Nico. Not purposely, but I had anyway. When it came down to it, I would do whatever it took to save the ones I loved. To save Nico, I wouldn’t hesitate to drink the contents of that vial.