Forged in Stone

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “I’m leaving.” I checked my pocket for my phone and keys and headed right for the elevator.

  I thought over Owen’s words the whole drive home. I could barely sit still. Was it possible? We weren’t trying yet, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen.

  I tried to calm my nerves while I sat at a stop light. I was being ridiculous. It was probably something else entirely. If pregnancy was the issue, she would have told me. We were married, and I was the one more ready to do the parent thing than she was. I knew she wanted to finish college first.

  Finally I pulled into the driveway and parked the car. I ran up the front steps and unlocked the front door. “Babe?” I called out.

  I hadn’t seen her car out front, but she usually left it in the garage anyway. “Babe?”

  When she didn’t reply I checked out all the rooms downstairs before heading upstairs to our bedroom. It was empty, and the bed was perfectly made.

  I sat down on the end of the bed. So much for getting resolution by coming home.

  I heard the front door open. “Levi?”

  “I’m up here,” I called down. I needed to plan my interrogation. Whoa. No. I stopped that line of thinking. This wasn’t an interrogation. It was a conversation with my wife.

  “What are you doing home?” She was wearing workout clothes, so my guess was she’d just come in from a run.

  “Were you with Hailey?” I couldn’t help but worry. I’d asked her to be extra careful going out alone for the time being.

  “Yes. She even went super slow for me today.” Allie grinned. “That’s the test of a true best friend.”

  “Are you pregnant?” The words flew out of my mouth.

  Her face froze. “You found it?”

  “Found what?”

  “The test.” She gestured to the bathroom. “I assume that’s how you know.”

  “You have a test in there?” I felt excitement creep into my voice. She wasn’t denying it. “You’re really pregnant?”

  “You sound excited.” She put her hands behind her back and shifted nervously.

  “I am excited—surprised, but I like the idea. Can I see the test?”

  “Wait. Tell me, how did you know? My moodiness finally gave me away?” She raked her teeth over her lip, and all I wanted to do was kiss her and hug her. And do everything possible to celebrate.

  “Owen figured it out.”

  “Owen?” She put a hand on her hip.

  “Yeah. He prefaced his guess by making me promise not to hit him.”

  She shook her head. “Leave it to Owen to figure it out before you did.”

  “Hey, it wasn’t on my radar as a possibility. I mean you know I was hoping we’d start talking about it next year, but…”

  “Yeah, I know. I obviously didn’t plan this. I guess the pill really isn’t 100% effective.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “So that leaves us here.” She looked me straight in the eye.

  “Here.” I put my hands on her hips. “I like here.”

  “But what happens? I mean with school and everything?”

  “You are already doing a flexible schedule. We’ll just make it more flexible. I promised you I wouldn’t get in the way of you graduating from college, and I mean it. We have plenty of child care options.”

  “I’m pregnant.” She said the words as though she thought that would make it more real.

  “You’re pregnant. Or we’re pregnant. Isn’t that what people say?”

  “I’m pregnant. It’s weird when guys say it like they are the ones doing any of the baby carrying duties.”

  “Ok, you’re pregnant.” I grinned. I couldn’t help it. I was going to be a dad. And it was with Allie, the girl of my dreams—both literally and figuratively.

  She leaned on me, and I pulled her into my arms. I asked one last question. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?”

  “I wasn’t sure how… I couldn’t really accept it myself.”

  “I guess you have to thank Owen for making it easier on you.”

  “I will, but not yet. It’s too early. I don’t want to tell anyone yet.”

  “You probably need to tell Hailey, or at least convince her you’re okay.”

  “Wait… did she tip off Owen?”

  “She told him she was worried.” She couldn’t be mad at her friend for caring.

  “I’ll tell her, and uh, I probably do need that appointment with Dr. Ellis after all.”

  “But not right now.”

  “Oh, right. The test.” She pulled away from me, but I captured her hand. She led the way into the bathroom.

  She went right to the cabinet under the sink and pulled out a little white stick. “Ignore the fact that I peed on it to get those lines to appear.”

  I laughed. “Wow, that’s two really clear lines.”

  “I tossed out the other ones I took. I only saved this one.”

  “The other ones?”

  “Yes… I wanted to be sure.”

  I placed the test on the counter and pulled her back into my arms. “Please never change, babe.”

  “‘I don’t plan on it.” She pulled out her hair tie letting her long brown hair spill down her back.

  “Did you have lunch yet?” I had even more of a reason to worry about her now.

  “No. Want to go out for something? I need to shower quickly, but then I’ll be ready.”

  “Nope. Lunch in bed. You shower while I cook.” I ran a hand through her hair. It was as soft as usual.

  “You already made me breakfast in bed.” She pointed to our bed. That bed held so many good memories.

  “True, but I now have yet another reason to spoil you.” I ran my hands up and down her arms.

  “Spoil me by helping me with my French essay. I still can’t believe you convinced me to take another one of those classes.” She groaned.

  “Come on, it’s worth it for the tutoring.” I waggled an eyebrow.

  “Levi, I’m married to you. I shouldn’t have to suffer through summer classes to get your undivided attention.” Allie was taking a full load of summer classes to offset her lighter schedule during the semester. It turned out that was going to be even more important now.

  “Of course you don’t, but it gives me another excuse to teach you something. You teach me a lot, this is something I get to teach you.”

  “You teach me plenty.” She smiled. There were many different ways to interpret her comment.

  “Do I?” I brushed my lips against her ear. “Well, it looks like we’ll be learning something new together soon.”

  “In about eight months.”

  “That soon?”

  “Do Pteron pregnancies last longer than nine months?” A look of horror crossed her face.

  “No, but eight months sounds really short.”

  “I was thinking it sounded really long. At least the first month has passed already.”

  “There’s some positive thinking.” I kissed her hand and brought it to my lips. “How long have you known?”

  “Just a few days. I didn’t even think about it as a possibility until a random girl heard me get sick in the restroom at the courthouse.”

  “Wait...does that have anything to do with you developing a sudden interest in questioning a witness that day in court?”

  “Maybe.” She smiled lightly.

  I laughed. “I should have known, but no more keeping this kind of thing from me.”

  “Should I call you in when I’m taking the test next time?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “Next time? You’re already talking about the next baby?”

  She laughed that light beautiful laugh I’d never get enough of. “Not by a long shot. Let’s focus on this one first.”

  “So about lunch? What sounds good to you?”

  “Is it really my choice?” She shifted her weight.

  “Yes.”

  “Camellia Grill. I need a burger and a shake.” Her stomach growled.

  “Y
ou really are pregnant.”

  “Hey, I love that place.”

  “I know, but this gives me another reason to give you a hard time.” I brushed my lips against hers, ready to start the next phase of my journey with my dream girl.

  Want to see where Allie and Levi’s story first began? Check out Flight (The Crescent Chronicles #1)!

  Seduction’s Kiss: An Allure Chronicles Prequel

  Alyssa Rose Ivy

  Never agree to a road trip to New Orleans with your roommate. At least not when your roommate is dragging you along while she reconnects with an ex-boyfriend. Possible consequences of failing to take my advice:

  1) Unknowingly going out with a vampire stripper.

  2) Getting kidnapped by said vampire's nest mates.

  3) Falling head over heels for your winged hero.

  Believe it or not number 3 is the worst one, especially when no one believes you that he exists.

  Prologue

  You’re probably not going to believe a word I say. If you’re like everyone else I’ve told, you’re going to read this and tell me to get help. That’s fine, because the only thing I care about is finding my winged hero. So whether you believe me or not, if you see him, tell him I’m searching for him, and I have no plans to give up. Because when a man can kiss like that—can make you feel alive in every grain of your being—there’s no comparison. The only clue I have to find him is his first name. Owen.

  Chapter 1

  “Please, Daisy. It’s going to be fun.” That one line out of Reyna’s mouth was the beginning of the end for me.

  “I don’t know. I was hoping to just have a quiet Halloween this year. Driving all the way to New Orleans seems a bit extreme.” I set aside my sociology textbook. There was no way I was getting reading done until Reyna said her piece.

  “There’s nothing like New Orleans on Halloween. This is going to be epic.” She took a seat next to me on my bed and grasped both of my hands in hers. She was getting ready to plead.

  “But why the sudden decision to go? Is it about a guy?” Reyna was usually motivated by a member of the opposite sex.

  “No, not exactly. I just want to do something fun for a change.”

  Not exactly? That meant yes. “Ok, who is he?”

  “Just this guy I knew back in high school. We’ve started talking again, and he invited me and any friends to come crash at his place for Halloween.” She suddenly turned serious. “I’m so sick of the scene here. I need a break, but I don’t want to go alone. Please, pretty please.”

  I sighed, realizing that saying no would just lead to a pouty roommate for the next few days. “You promise you’re not just going to ditch me?”

  “Of course not! It will be awesome. He’s got so many hot friends. It’s crazy.”

  I tuned Reyna out as she went on and on about Tulane boys. Admittedly, my dating life at East Madison wasn’t great, but I knew a random hook up with a guy I didn’t know wasn’t going to help matters either. “There’s just one problem. Isn’t New Orleans a full day’s drive from here?” I wasn’t an expert on driving distances, but Atlanta and New Orleans aren’t exactly next door.

  “It’s doable. About seven hours. I’ll do all the driving. All you need to do is keep me company.”

  “You really want to do this?” Despite her obsession with guys, Reyna was actually a really good roommate. We’d both joined the same sorority, Delta Mu, the year before and hit it off immediately.

  “Yes.” She turned her doe eyes on me.

  I wasn’t exactly jumping at the idea of the trip, but Reyna’s one of those people who always manages to find a good time, and sometimes I just liked to go along for the ride. “Okay.”

  “Yes!!!” She jumped up and ran around the room. “I can’t wait to tell Chad!”

  “Great.” I leaned back against my pillows. “I guess I really need to find a costume then.”

  “Just sex up that black cat costume you wore last night.” Reyna rifled through her closet.

  “Sex it up?” I’d donned cat ears for our Halloween kid’s philanthropy event, but I had no plans to wear them again, and sex them up? Did she forget who she was talking to?

  “Yeah. Tight shirt and short black skirt. It’s easy enough.” She tossed one of her skirts at me. “Try this.”

  “You’re way shorter than me. This skirt is going to be up to my ass.”

  Reyna grinned. “That’s called sexing it up. Wait until you see my firefighter costume. It’s hot.”

  “Hotter than me wearing this?” I held up the black fabric.

  “It’s a short skirt, but also just a jacket over a red bra. It’s a little over the top, but Chad said that’s what Halloween is like there. I’m embracing my inner skank.”

  “Ugh.” I put a pillow over my head. “Please don’t make me go.”

  “You don’t have to wear that skirt. Wear one of your own, but please try to look decently sexy. We don’t want to stand out like sore thumbs.”

  “Then ask someone else to go.”

  “Nope. It’s only going to be fun if you go.”

  “In other words, I’m the only one you can dupe into going.”

  “Come on. Who else would be willing to miss the Iota party? I know you don’t care about that.”

  I didn’t care because none of those guys gave me the time of day. The fact that every woman in my family had been Delta Mu was probably the only reason I’d gotten a bid from my sorority in the first place. I didn’t regret my decision to join, but living with a bunch of tens when you’re a seven, on a good day with the right makeup and hair products, can get old. “Fine, I’ll come up with a sexy enough costume.”

  “Perfect. We’ll need to get on the road early Friday.”

  “But I have three classes.”

  “And perfect attendance. I’m sure you can miss one of each. This is going to be epic!” She hugged me around the neck.

  I decided not to point out that she’d called the trip epic twice. “I’m sure it will be.”

  “I’m going to text Chad and let him know.”

  “Great.” I picked up my textbook and tried to get back into my reading. Not that social phenomena particularly interested me.

  “He says awesome. We’re going out on Bourbon Street for Halloween and everything.”

  “Cool.” I plugged a set of headphones into my phone and turned on some music. Reyna would never stop talking if I didn’t, and this method usually worked better than telling her to shut up.

  I made it through all of three paragraphs before she pulled one of my ear buds out. “You’re the best. Just wanted to tell you that.”

  “Yeah, Yeah.” I smiled.

  “I need caffeine. Want to go over to the Java Circle to read? I heard they’ve got that white hot chocolate stuff you love.”

  “Sure.” Reyna knew the way to my heart. Hot chocolate. I had a mild addiction.

  “Great. We can strategize costumes on the way over.”

  I laughed. “I’ll go with the cat idea if I don’t find anything else.”

  “There’s no reason not to. It’s classic.”

  “All right, I’ll stick with it. It’s not like I have a lot of time.”

  “Nope. We leave in two days.”

  “Exciting.”

  She pushed my arm playfully. “Please try to get hyped up, for my sake.”

  “Of course. If nothing else I’ll get hyped about the food. I’ve heard it’s amazing.”

  “See.” She linked her arm in mine as we headed toward the stairs. “There’s always a bright side.”

  Chapter 2

  Seven hours is a long drive. Add on an extra two hours thanks to traffic, and it’s pretty much endless. I wasn’t the one driving, but sitting in the passenger seat with Reyna driving wasn’t much better. She didn’t ‘believe’ in GPS. Instead she tossed a tattered old map on my lap. “I know where we’re going, but we have that just in case.”

  Although at first I missed the familiar computer gener
ated voice reading directions, it didn’t take long to get used to using a paper map again. It brought me back to my childhood. My dad’s one of the types that is all about life skills. Evidently reading maps was still a life skill in his book, because he made my brother and I master the art before the end of elementary school. I planned to call him later and thank him.

  A few hours into the drive I decided to ask some more questions about Chad. Reyna had been surprisingly reticent on the subject. For a girl who usually gave details, way too many details, her silence made me a little suspicious. “Are you ready to tell me about him?”

  “He’s just a guy I knew.”

  “Knew how?” I turned down the radio.

  “He’s the one who got away,” she said in barely a whisper.

  “What?” I said in anything but a whisper. Hooking up with an ex-boyfriend was always a bad idea. I knew from experience. “We’re going to New Orleans so you can hook up with an ex?”

  “Calm down.” She looked right at the road. It wasn’t for safety reasons. She was avoiding my gaze.

  “So how do I fit in? What am I going to do while you guys reconnect?” I resisted the urge to use air quotes.

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just couldn’t do it alone. I needed my best friend with me.”

  Best friend? Did she really see me that way? “Since we’re hours from Atlanta I’m coming, but I wish you’d been honest with me from the beginning.”

  I was such a pushover. I could practically hear my brother lecturing me. He said I couldn’t spend my whole life as a doormat. He was right, but that didn’t mean I knew how to change it.

  “His roommate’s single and excited to meet you.”

  I groaned. “I am not hooking up with the roommate.”

  “I never said you had to. I was just letting you know. He’s really cute.”

  “Wonderful.” Reyna might as well have been getting a degree in matchmaker for all the effort she made trying to set other people up on dates. It wasn’t something she was particularly good at. To be honest, I couldn’t think of a single success story.