“I can’t guarantee I can answer it.”
“I kind of figured that.” She studied her coffee again. “What happens if I get pregnant now instead of waiting?”
“That would be a better question for Lina. She sees the future. Or perhaps even Mai. Her powers are developing rapidly.”
“Lina can’t see this. I have asked her. Neither can Lacey.”
Baba Yaga smiled. “There are no guarantees in life.”
“No hints? No, yay, great idea, or boo, bad idea?”
“I am not allowed to—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Free will, yadda yadda, and that’s total bullshit and you know it.”
Baba Yaga held her hands out, palms up. “What more do you want me to say?”
“I want an answer.”
“I can’t give you that answer.”
“You can’t, or won’t.”
She didn’t answer.
“Look,” Elain finally said, her frustration growing, “just give me a hint. One freaking hint! I’m terrified to bring a baby into this world with what we’re dealing with! Those damn cock-and-bulls—”
“Cockatrice.”
“Whatever! Those friggin’ things are vicious.” She let out another aggravated snort. “And I’m absolutely not convinced Abernathy is dead. I don’t give a damn what everyone else thinks.”
Baba Yaga cocked her head. “Why is that?”
“We never found his body, for starters. There should have been a body with that many shifters looking for him. And the fact that Marston is still running around out there somewhere, according to what the stuff Daniel received in the mail confirmed for us, and then there’s Lenny and Edgar’s sister. All that alone is enough to give me indigestion, and I haven’t even seen one of the damn things in real life!”
Eventually, Baba Yaga slowly nodded.
“Are you nodding because I’m right, or just on general principles?”
“What would you have me say?”
“Something that’s not a damn riddle would be nice.”
Baba Yaga held out her hand. After hesitating, Elain took it.
Elain closed her eyes and tried to feel for that “reaching” sensation, like her brain was searching for answers.
Then she found it.
Abernathy, alive, naked, chained in what looked like a basement. Around his neck was an engraved silver collar. Matching engraved silver wrist and ankle cuffs as well.
And the get-up didn’t look like the fun-time stuff Callie willingly wore for Daniel, either.
She opened her eyes and let out a sigh. “Shit,” she whispered. “I’d really hoped I was wrong on that count.”
“Trust your instincts, Elain. They will never fail you, no matter what you think.” She gently squeezed Elain’s hand before letting go. “And they won’t fail those you love, either.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tymber Dalton lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with her husband (aka “The World’s Best Husband™”) and too many pets. Not only is she active in the BDSM lifestyle, the two-time EPIC winner is also the bestselling author of over forty books such as The Reluctant Dom, The Denim Dom, Cardinal’s Rule, the Love Slave for Two series, the Triple Trouble series, and many more.
She loves to hear from readers! Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for her newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news, views, snarkage, and releases. (Don’t forget to look up her writing alter egos Lesli Richardson, Tessa Monroe, and Macy Largo.)
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Out of Smoke and Ashes [Triple Trouble 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 26