by Emily Bex
“Please drink down the tea, take a few sips, it will put something in your stomach.”
Kate felt so thirsty, so dehydrated. She tipped the cup to her lips and downed the entire cup, and then picked up the toast and took a few bites. Gi had brought a glass of water on the tray. She picked that up and swallowed it down as well. She dropped back down on the pillow and curled up next to him.
“Better…” Before she even finished the sentence, she felt herself drift away.
Shade watched with concern. Something wasn’t right. His blood made her strong and immune to mortal disease.
They were definitely calling Rissa when she awoke. Looking down, he saw she was already asleep. He wanted to feed, but she was too weak. He’d make a quick trip to the Dead House tonight, make sure the warriors had their assignments and were on the streets.
“Ti amo, mi amore.”
He dressed in leathers and left the room, stopping in to let Luca know he was out, and to call him home if anything changed with Kate.
53
Kate woke before Shade, but she knew he’d be waking soon. She had slept for hours. She quietly slipped out of bed, so as not to disturb him, and took a quick shower, thinking it would revive her. She still felt tired but thought maybe she could eat something now. She got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, and down the stairs heading for the kitchen where she would see what Reynaldo could fix for her.
As she reached the foot of the stairs and entered the living room, both Reynaldo and Theresa were frantically running about, gathering up all the red roses Shade left for her all over the house. Only the roses were no longer red, they had all turned black. Both Reynaldo and Theresa looked up at her with startled expressions, clearly not expecting to see her.
“What’s wrong? What happened to all the roses?”
Reynaldo seemed caught off-guard and reluctant to answer, as he and Theresa exchanged glances.
"I'm not sure, my lady, perhaps you should ask master."
Kate was perplexed by his response. “What? If you know the answer, please tell me? Does Shade know?”
As she was addressing them, she heard footsteps behind her and turned to find Luca. He’d over-heard the conversation and was looking at the black roses Theresa and Reynaldo had gathered and had a concerned look on his face.
“Luca, do you know what this means? Why the roses turned black?”
Luca also looked reluctant to answer, but she gave him a pleading look. “Please don't leave me in the dark. There are already enough things going on in this house I don’t understand. If you know something, please tell me!”
Luca sighed. "My lady, when red roses turn black it is a sign of foreboding."
“Foreboding? A foreboding of what, Luca?”
"That I can't tell you, my lady."
“You can't tell me, or won't tell me?”
"My lady, I’m not withholding anything from you. The roses turn black as a warning, but they don’t reveal what the warning is about, or who the warning is for."
Kate felt a flash of panic. “Is it Shade? Is he in danger? Will he know the answer? Should I wake him up now? Is the warning imminent? I mean is it something that’s supposed to happen now, or in the future?”
Luca ran his hand through his hair. “My lady, whatever it is could not be imminent for I don’t feel any danger, and master continues to sleep, so please, relax, and master and I will deal with it as soon as he rises. I assure you, you’re in no danger."
Kate wasn’t appeased. “But he could be in danger. What if the warning is for him? Or you? What then?”
"My lady, you understand, in our culture, we’re always prepared to face adversaries. It’s why we train for a lifetime as warriors. We will deal with whatever confronts us."
She sighed and looked at him with exasperation. “Well, now you sound like Shade.”
He smiled slightly and bowed his head. "Well, then, I’ll take that as a compliment, my lady. Now head off to the kitchen with Reynaldo, and he’ll fix you something to eat. This will all be dealt with in due time."
***
Shade woke from his death slumber, realizing he’d slept deeper than normal. Rolling over gently, arm outstretched to gather bel in his arms, he found the bed was empty. “Bel?”
Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he honed in and felt her in the house but fear and concern were taking over her mind. Fuck! What in the hell happened now? Pulling on a pair of jeans, he rushed downstairs and followed her scent to the kitchen to find her sitting at the bar talking to Reynaldo. A buffet fit for a queen had been spread before her and she was eating like a starved woman.. Standing with arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the arched doorway and observed her, tapping into her thoughts, and she was upset about…flowers?
“I see you are hungry again? I like to see you eating, although I prefer you drink from the source of your strength.”
Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, snuggling into her neck and kissed it softly. “What are you doing up so early without me?”
She giggled as he nuzzled into her neck, sending shivers down her spine. “I woke up starving. But, it was the weirdest thing, when I came downstairs, Reynaldo and Theresa were gathering all the roses to throw them away, they’d all turned black. Luca said it was a foreboding? He said not to worry, that you and he would deal with it. Has this happened before? Do you know what it means?”
Shade creased his brow. That explained the strange feeling he got from her about the flowers. The roses turning black was a foreboding of things to come, but he wasn’t sure of what. Perhaps it was related to the damn rogues he killed in town and his own turmoil about the Aries tattoo. Sitting down on the stool beside her, he smiled at her and picked up a linen napkin, dabbing at the small crumbs on the side of her lips.
“Mi amore, you need not worry, si? The roses are a foreboding of something stirring. I would predict it is the rogues I found the other night and that has all been settled, nothing else has happened. So, let me handle this, I have it well in hand. Now, seems as though I need to call the florist and restock. The house will not smell as sweet without your red roses. You seem to be feeling much better, and your appetite has definitely returned.”
Kate leaned her head on his shoulder. “See that’s what Luca said. So, I'm not going to worry.”
As she spoke, she could see Shade and Reynaldo exchange glances over her head. She knew it would do no good to question him further. He’d share what he wanted her to know, and protect her from the rest, and no amount of protest from her would change that. She decided to let this whole flower thing go.
“Do you think we still need to call Rissa? I mean, I do feel better. I’m still a little tired, but that's normal, isn't it? After the flu?”
“Well, I am glad you feel better.” He took her hand. “I think we should call Rissa anyway. She may have a doctor who deals with mortal/immortal illness.”
Smiling he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her palm. “So, let us plan to call her, si? I think we should put her on the speaker phone, so we can both talk to her.”
Helping her off the barstool, they headed to Shade’s office to give them privacy, as they made the call. He pulled up a second chair to his desk for her to sit next to him.
Kate pulled out her cell and dialed her up before placing the phone on his desk. After a few rings, Rissa picked up the call. “Kate, I haven’t heard from you in a while.”
Kate began, not sure where to start. “Rissa, hi. I have you on speaker, I'm here with Shade, he thought it might be a good idea if we all talked about, uh, some things that have been going on.”
Shade spoke up, “Basically, we need some direction, so I asked Kate that we both be on the call.”
Rissa responded, only half listening to the conversation, “I’m not sure how I can help, but I’ll do whatever I can, of course.”
Kate continued, “It's nothing serious, but I’ve been sick, maybe just the flu or something? Shade th
ought I should call and get the name of a doctor. He said I couldn't go to my regular doctor anymore, that I’d need someone who specializes in transitional mortals.”
Rissa perked up at the news Kate had been ill. Mortals who regularly feed from vampires don’t get ill. Alec would want to know about this! “Well, first of all, I can tell by the tone of your voice, you’re concerned. I have several doctors I can recommend, all specialists, so it depends on your symptoms. Tell me what’s going on.”
Kate downplayed her symptoms. “Really, it's nothing. Some days, I have no appetite, and can't keep food down, and the next day, I’m starving. I’ve felt really tired. I sleep for hours on end, like twelve hours at a time and then still feel I need sleep. That's about it, really.”
Rissa listened in silence on the other end of the call before responding, “Hmm, does sound a bit off. Are you feeding from Shade?”
“I’ve not fed from him since I started feeling ill. And, of course, he hasn’t fed from me, and that upsets me too.”
“Don’t let that upset you, Kate. Shade can go a while before he will be forced to feed. He knows how far he can push himself. And if necessary, he can always use a feeder. Shade, I know you well, so forgive my bluntness, but have you fed or been with anyone else lately?”
Shade bristled at her question and Kate’s back stiffened at the very mention of a feeder.
“Rissa! For hell’s sake, I cannot believe you asked me that. Of course not. I know your line of thinking, and there is no tainted blood in these veins. So, no. Now what other personal business do you need to know?”
Risa answered, sounding contrite, “Okay, I’m sorry, and I can tell this is a touchy subject and you’re both worried. But one thing confuses me, as I’m sure it does you. If we have ruled out tainted blood, and you’ve been feeding on a regular basis from Shade, you shouldn’t be getting the flu. You should be well past the stage of getting many mortal diseases.” There was a pause before she blurted out, “Oh my god, Kate, are you pregnant?”
Kate answered with a single word, “Pregnant?”
Shade heard the word pregnant and his gut wrenched, but he rejected the idea and lashed out. “Rissa, you have lost your damn mind. No, she isn’t pregnant! Now can you email me the doctor’s number? I will have Kate let you know how things go with the doctor.”
Rissa wrapped up the call. “Done, Shade, I’ll get his contact info and send it as soon as I hang up. Remember to mention Alec's or my name when you call the doctor, and you will move to the top of his call list. And please, keep us informed.”
Kate looked up at Shade at the end of the call. “Pregnant? I mean, until I met Cory, I assumed it wasn’t possible, that you were immortal, and you even said when we had children we’d have to wait until I was immortal.”
Shaking his head, he couldn’t fathom that bel could be pregnant. “Well, I think she was teasing, it is difficult for a vampire to impregnate a mortal, and when you use birth control it becomes a non-issue.”
“Lover...I’m not, I mean, I didn't think I needed to be, we never talked about it, I made an assumption, and I never asked you. I’m not on the pill. I’m not on anything.”
She started calculating in her head. When was her last period? Six weeks? Eight weeks? “I think I missed my last period. I wasn't paying attention. We’ve had so much going on. Do you think? No, it has to be something else, don’t you think?”
He felt his blood run cold. If she was pregnant, this child might not survive, she might not survive. And if the baby survived, he’d be a half-breed. His eyebrows shot up. “You are not on any birth control? Oh fuck, bel!” Throwing his hands over his face, he took a deep breath. “When was your last flux? Think hard Kate, think hard.”
Her voice shook as she answered, “It’s been at least eight weeks, maybe a little longer.”
His face turned red. “Two months ago? Two?” Standing up, he started to pace, and his temper was rising. “I need a smoke, I can’t think, I need air. Damn it, Kate, how can a woman your age, single and sexually active, not be on birth control?”
Stomping out the patio door into the fresh air, he couldn’t think, and he needed to get a grip on this situation. He could see he had hurt her feelings, and he needed to go to her, but he was overcome with the realization he could lose both of them.
Kate felt hurt and confused by his response. He’d raised his voice and turned his back on her, and walked away. She didn't even get time to respond to his question, but how would she have responded? Why didn't she ask him in the beginning when they first started having sex? Why did she just assume it was safe just because he was vampire? The tears started to flow, and she couldn’t bear his anger. She dared not chase after him, he needed time to think and cool down. She’d learned there was no use talking to him when he was angry. But she didn’t understand. He wanted children. He’d said he wanted lots of children, and she knew he wasn't planning on that now, but why was he so angry?
She left the office and headed for the stairs, encountering Luca in the hallway, and he saw the tears. "My lady, is there anything I can do?"
She couldn’t answer him. She shook her head no and ran up the stairs into their bedroom, closing the door behind her. She lay across the bed and cried as the word stupid, stupid, stupid echoed in her head.
***
With his back against the house, Shade slid down into a seated position, pulling his knees up and putting his head down, when Luca appeared.
“Master, my lady is very upset. I can see you’re upset as well, but she needs you to be strong, be her warrior. If nothing else, you have taught me your mate is above everything, even yourself. Show her that.” Luca didn’t wait for an answer but turned and left quietly.
Shade knew he was right, and they needed to be together. He carried as much blame as she did. He couldn’t lay this at her feet. Sitting there for who knew how long, calming himself, he finally stood and teleported straight into the bedroom and his heart broke. Her face was streaked with tears and she couldn’t even look at him. He sat on the bed next to her, pulling her to his chest, cradling her in his arms, rocking her.
“We both made assumptions. This is no one’s fault. We will have this bambino together, if that is truly what is happening. Let us get the doctor here first, get his opinion and deal with whatever it is. I want a child with you, many children. If the fates have determined now is the time, then it will be the time. I love you, bel rosso, and nothing will come between us. We go through it all together.”
He tried to convince himself it could be done, and it would be all right. Whatever happened, he’d handle it, but somewhere deep inside his beast growled, knowing this wasn’t a good thing, and the warning of the black roses confirmed that.
She wiped the tears from her face. “Yes, let's get the doctor. We may be worried about nothing. We can call for an appointment. Let's get an answer, one way or another, so at least we know what we are dealing with.”
"Then let's go back down to the office, and see if Rissa sent the email, and if yes, we can call right away."
He took her hand and they walked back down the stairs to the office. Shade went to the computer and pulled up the email from Rissa with a name and number. He was explaining to her that there were doctors who were themselves vampires, who specialized in dealing with issues related to vampires, as he dialed the number and handed her the phone. She heard a voice answer, "Dr. Cavelli's office.”
Kate stumbled over her words. “Oh, uh, I need an appointment, please.”
"Are you currently a patient of Dr. Cavelli's?"
“No, I'm new. I was referred by Alec Canton.”
"Oh, Mr. Canton, of course. Well, by all means, we’ll work you into the doctor's schedule. He can see you next week."
Kate looked up, anxious she’d have to wait that long for answers. “Next week? Do you have anything sooner?”
"Hold on please while I check with the doctor." After a few minutes, she returned to the phone. “Ma’am? Given your
referral from Mr. Canton, Dr. Cavelli says he’ll work you in tomorrow evening. He said he’d see you around 6:00 p.m. He only sees patient’s in their homes. Now if I could just get some information."
They exchanged all the personal information before hanging up. Kate looked at Shade and sighed. “I feel better already, just knowing we’ve put things in motion.”
He gave her a weak smile and hugged her to his chest.
54
Walking back upstairs from the weapons bunker, he joined Kate in the living room and got a nice fire going. He’d tried to keep himself busy while they waited for the doctor’s visit. Before he even sat on the couch with her, Gi buzzed through his head. “Master, will you please come upstairs? The doctor is here to see to my lady. He said he would need to examine her, so I have taken him to wait in your bedroom.” Shade let Gi know he’d heard and they’d be on their way.
“Mi amore, the doctor is in the bedroom waiting for us, let us go up and see what is wrong with you and get some answers, si?”
Kate seemed surprised. “Our...our bedroom?”
“Si, our bedroom, so he can examine you.”
He took her hand as they headed up the stairs and saw the bedroom door was closed. Gi stood patiently outside the closed door. Shade took a deep breath, Gi nodded his head and left them. Shade gave bel a hug.
“Whatever happens, whatever he tells us, we will get through this.” Shade opened the door and they walked in together.
Kate had a grip on his hand like he was her lifeline. She knew this pregnancy, if she was pregnant, was a lot earlier than what they’d planned, but why did he seem so worried? The doctor had taken a seat in their bedroom and was waiting for them.
The doctor stood as they entered. Shade walked to him and shook his hand, introducing Kate. The doctor explained his credentials as a physician to vampires and asked a lot of questions, getting a feel for Kate’s symptoms and how long she’d been experiencing them. Then he explained he’d need to examine her and asked if she’d please undress and lay on the bed, pointing to the sheet that he’d placed there for her. The doctor then looked at Shade and said he could wait outside.