“Please put it on speaker phone.”
“Bien sur, ma petite.” Bast calls the doctor and I grip my hands tightly in anticipation.
“Dr. Hidebrand, it’s Sebastian St. John. I hope I haven’t disturbed you again.”
“No, no. Is Mrs. St. John okay? Anything new happen?”
“No, she’s fine, well, she’s worried. We want to know what to expect when she goes through the full moon phase. It’s in three weeks and we are worried about what it will do to the baby.”
“I’ve been doing some research and thinking about this. I’ve access to all the medical records of the supernatural world down here. There have been two documented full blood werewolf pregnancies,” Dr. Hildebrand says. I let out a breath that I didn’t know I was holding. At least there is a precedent.
“In both cases, the babies were fine. Although they were born with the disease. I’m not sure if that is any help or not. I do think that she will be able to phase with no trouble. But I can’t give you a guarantee whether the baby will be one quarter werewolf or what that will mean.” He pauses for a moment. “It could be with both parents vampires that the gene will not be displayed. We’ll have to wait and find out. We can do some genetic testing in a couple of weeks when the baby is bigger.”
“I think Lily and I would appreciate that. How would the disease manifest in a baby?” Sebastian asks.
“The interesting part is that it seems to have waited until puberty to set in for the werewolves. But we know they are essentially human. We don’t even know if your child will hit puberty or just continue to mature at an accelerated rate. So much is unknown. But please know that I have Dr. Green working on it already. He is an excellent doctor. Hannah said you were considering him. I needed to pull in a pediatrician right away when we determined how fast this pregnancy would progress.”
“Thank you, Dr. Hildebrand. I think we will be happy with Dr. Green,” I say. “It sounds like there are a lot of unknowns. I’m not sure if it eases my anxiety.”
“Please, please understand that just because it is unknown doesn’t mean it is bad news. You are breaking all the rules and we’ve never seen anything like this. I think that so far things are going very well.”
“I took about a two hour nap today and ate. I feel much better. I have a bump already. It’s small but it’s definitely there.” Bast moves his hand over the baby as I talk.
“I’m not surprised about showing already. It will move quickly. Have you read any of that book yet?”
“No, I planned on reading this afternoon but I fell asleep. I’m going to take a bath and start reading.”
“Excellent. You’ll need to read fast in order to keep up with your changing body.” He chuckles. “I’m very happy to be working with you both. You ask intelligent questions and you are very aware of the situation. Don’t worry about calling me. I have a feeling that I will have a busy seven weeks and that’s fine. I expect it, so call me with anything.”
“Thank you, Dr. Hildebrand. We will. We’ll let you get back to your evening now,” I say.
“You’re welcome, anytime. I will see you both in another day. I’ll have Abigail call you with a schedule if that’s okay.”
“That would be fine, Doctor. Goodnight,” Sebastian says.
“Goodnight.”
Sebastian clicks end on his phone and takes my hand.
“I’m still afraid, Bast, but at least there is hope too. Dr. Hildebrand and Dr. Green are both excellent. I feel like we are doing everything we can.”
“Me too. Now my job is to keep your mind on other things and keep you safe. I’ll run that bath you talked about. I’ll be right back to help you in.”
Sebastian disappears into the bathroom and I hear water running and a lilac scent floods the air. He’s using one of my favorite bath oils. It’s very relaxing and I can feel the tension that inspired us to make the phone call slip away.
Sebastian returns with his sleeves rolled up. He kisses me gently and then scoops me up so I don’t have to jump down from the bed. Instead of putting me down he carries me to the bath tub and sets me on my feet in it.
I sink down and luxuriate in the warmth and aromatherapy.
TWENTY-FIVE / AIDAN
Going over the security with the dynamic duo reinforces my first impression that they all are business. It’s not fair to make fun of them. They’ve been very competent so far.
“Matteo, what do you do for the King?” I ask.
“I am head of security for any officials and guests visiting. Alessandro is head of security period.”
“How can the King be without his two best men?” Sebastian asks as he walks in the room. He goes to the wine cellar and comes out with a bottle of Italian wine.
“Good wine,” Matteo says with a smile.
“Our seconds are very good at what they do. The King felt any threats to him were minimal right now. He wants us to dispatch Giulia as fast as possible and return,” Alessandro says and takes a glass of wine from Sebastian.
“Yes, no disrespect, but I think your King is overly fond of my wife.”
“We thought the same. She must be something special and now that we know she is pregnant, it is our extreme pleasure to guard her. Such a miracle,” Matteo says shaking his head like he can’t believe it.
“It is a miracle. We’ve been blessed beyond any dreams,” Sebastian says and lifts his glass to me.
I smile at him. I am happy to know I could give them this. I just pray to the gods that Giulia the bitch doesn’t do something to hurt Lilith or the baby. I will do everything I can to keep that from happening.
“I need to help Lily out of the tub. I’ll be right back,” Sebastian excuses himself.
An image of a naked, wet, Lilith flashes through my mind. I remember Manda immediately but I will always cherish Lilith and my experiences. Speaking of Manda, I should check on her.
I excuse myself as well and head to the atrium where I feel her energy. She is swimming laps in the pool. She is music in the water, letting it sluice off her in a rhythm only she can feel. I mindlessly gawk at her until she stops and comes up for air. She smiles at me and climbs out.
“That felt so good. I was feeling kinda stir crazy. Had to work off some energy,” she says.
“I thought that’s what we did earlier. I need to replenish, that’s for sure.”
“Oh, my poor little Djinn. Did the big bad vampire tire you out?”
“Yes, but I could muster some energy from somewhere if you care to repeat the experience?”
“I’d love to, but Lily should be out of the bath soon and we were going to go over wedding plans again.”
“Do you want a shower or do you want me to do the honors?” I ask.
“You dress me, surprise me.” She has a big smile on. She’s baiting me.
“Okay,” I say, taking up the challenge. I dry her hair and body with a soft desert wind. Then I wind it up into an up do. I gift her with a strand of large pearls, long enough that they double around her neck and still hang down. Then I put her in a beige cashmere sweater dress. I top it with pearl earrings and some PRADA heels. I’ve gotten a taste for PRADA since we were in Italy.
“Aidan, you’ve outdone yourself. You also know me so well. This is something I would have picked for myself. It’s beautiful, thank you.”
“Come here and show me how much you like it.”
“With pleasure,” she says and smiles that her sexy smile.
She wraps her hands around my neck and through my hair before she pulls my head down so our lips meet. She tastes me and moans. I open my mouth to her and our tongues dance. She tastes so good. I could get lost in her kisses. My hands roam all over her and she moans again before pulling away.
She laughs at the look on my face. I’m sure I look as crestfallen as I feel.
“I really need to meet up with Lily. If we keep this up then I will never get there.”
“Okay, lover. The only reason I am letting you go is because I w
ant to marry you as soon as possible so we can start our own family,” I say smiling down at her. She groans and pulls me back into a kiss.
Eventually I pull away so she can do what she wants, instead of pulling her into bed with me.
“So not fair to talk about those things. I’m dying to marry you. And a baby. Oh my gosh, what a blessing. Our child.”
“Go, love. Plan a magnificent wedding. If you want me to summon anything just let me know.”
“Okay, I will. I wonder how I will get the wedding dress in time. I don’t want you to see it.”
“Money can be a huge motivator. So can a little Djinn persuasion.” I wink at her and she grins.
“I love you.” She sighs and looks totally content.
“As I love you.”
Our fingers trail apart as she leaves the room. I watch her until she is gone and I then head back to the kitchen which has become command central.
“Matteo, Alessandro, do you need me to get those tablets? I can summon three as well as anything you need,” I ask.
“That would be most helpful, Signor Aidan, that way we won’t have to leave the compound,” Matteo says.
Scary how they are calling it a compound. I like it though. Sebastian grunts his approval. They are looking over some information on Giulia. There are also blueprints for Lilith and Sebastian’s home as well as the manse. A map of San Francisco is also unfolded.
“Where are the girls?” Sebastian asks.
“Manda said they were going to work on wedding plans. I walked by your room and heard them giggling.”
“Good. Anything that takes her mind off this is good. Dr. Hildebrand said no stress and here we are in a load of it,” Sebastian growls. I think I need to calm him down before he has the first vampire stroke from all the pressure he is feeling.
“Sebastian, we have a strong team here. We will keep her safe and everyone else.”
“Signor St. John,” Matteo says.
“Call me Sebastian, please,” Sebastian gives him a tense smile.
“Sebastian, I think that I will go and watch over the women while Alessandro continues with the security changes.”
“I would appreciate that, Matteo, thank you,” Sebastian says.
“Grazie, Matteo,” I say because they will be taking care of Manda too.
“Nessun problema.”
“Alessandro, here are the new tablets. Do you need anything else?” I say while summoning the tablets. Alessandro’s eyes are wide. I laugh at his wonder and he terribly embarrassed.
“Please do not be offended. My laughter is from your delight. I feed on it. So think of it as I owe you one for dinner.”
“Signor Aidan, I saw you do this at the palace but it was from far away. It is truly amazing to behold. I can tell people for generations that I knew a Djinn. A formidable man at that.” Alessandro gives me a slight bow.
“Please call me Aidan. Let us toast to a long friendship then.”
Sebastian and Alessandro each take a long sip of their wine. Alessandro is grinning when he sets his glass down.
I like these two vamps, even if they are some of Basilio’s men. Basilio has been very generous. He is quite taken with our Lilith. Not that I can blame him. But I still don’t like it.
I hear a high pitched squeal and the outside floods with lights. Alessandro pulls up his sleeve while he is moving through the images on the tablet. There is a sound of glass shattering.
“There,” he hisses. “Report,” he says into his communicator.
“Signora St. John saw a woman at the window and it was a positive ID for Giulia. Then Giulia threw herself at the window but someone pulled her back before I could capture her. Are you tracking? I’m not leaving them alone.”
“Caught a glimpse of her on the monitors. I’m heading out. Over.”
Sebastian blurred in his haste to get to the bedroom when he heard Lilith scream. I transmanifest there after waving Alessandro out and locking back up. I should just transmanifest them in and out like I have my apartment set up. Not sure if Lilith will go for no doors or windows.
“Alessandro is very good at tracking. We should know more soon,” Matteo says to calm everyone down.
“She scared the crap out of me,” Lilith says. “One minute I was admiring the rose bushes and the next this contorted face is looking at me with so much hate. She almost got in, Bast. She almost got me.” She shivers and Sebastian whisks her up into his lap. “I swear that I will kill her if she harms our child,” Lilith says while making fists with her hands.
“Everyone is on this, Lily. We might even be able to stop her today even,” Sebastian says.
“That would be wonderful. I think that Manda and I are going to move to an interior room for the time being. Matteo, would you stay in the room with us instead of in the hall. I thought that would be safe enough but I realize that anything can happen so quickly with vampires. I was being naïve.”
Matteo grunts his approval and says he is going to scout a good room to move the women to. He is pissed that he missed out on some action and that Lilith relegated him to the hall. I don’t blame him. I am a little pissed at her naïveté. She should know better by now.
“Ma chou chou, what were you thinking? Basilio said to have someone with you always. I hate to admit he is right but he is.”
“Bast, we are both vampires. I thought we would be able to handle it until Matteo got in here.”
“You are two vampires but Manda is very young and you are with child. No more of this. You must realize how serious this is now that you saw her and she made a direct move to get you even though the alarms were going?”
“Manda knows how to fight for her life and I know how to fight for our child. We have too much to lose and we aren’t about to let her win. I know I panicked but that was because I was startled.”
Lilith sniffles. It must be the hormones because she never backs down from a fight.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” He holds her and looks at me over her shoulder and I just shrug. “Do you want to lie down for a while?”
“No, I want to do some serious planning with Manda. Aidan, when Matteo picks a room will you fix my window and get us a white board?”
“I can do one better than that. How about a smart board?”
Lilith claps and smiles.
“I knew I would get a new toy out of this,” she laughs and so does everyone. Her laughter really broke the bad energy in the room. I wave my hand at the window and it is whole again.
Matteo comes back in to us laughing and he scowls.
“Matteo, I assure we take this very seriously. Aidan just promised Lily a new technology gadget and she is excited. He’s getting her a smart board,” Sebastian says, trying to alleviate Matteo’s mood.
“Ah yes, those are very useful. We have one in our headquarters.” He nods approvingly.
“Would you need one here?” I ask and his eyes glaze a little at the prospect of more toys.
“I just put one in the dining room. I think that’s a good place to set everything up. No windows,” I say and Sebastian nods his assent.
“Good, let’s get the women relocated and then find out what Alessandro found out,” Sebastian says.
“The women can relocate themselves, but we wouldn’t mind some muscle to move our things,” Lilith says over her shoulder as she leaves the room.
Sebastian chuckles and grabs a box before following her.
TWENTY-SIX / LILITH
“Put those boxes over there on the side board. Aidan, you can whip up your smart board over there. Bast, would you call Andrew and see if he can come over and make tea? Aidan can you pop him over? I don’t want Giulia getting her hands on him,” I say while I am fixing some comfy pillows in a chair to sit down.
“Of course, cherie.”
“Your wish is my command. But we were actually thinking of putting an underground tunnel in until Giulia is gone,” Aidan says. I scowl at him. He knows how opposed I am about binding a Djinn
and his back hand comment about being my wish. He just does it to piss me off. He sees this and laughs.
“Manda, did anyone tell you what a handful he can actually be? You’ll be the first vampire that gets grey hair from all his shenanigans,” I tell her behind my hand.
“You know we all have excellent hearing, love,” Aidan says and raises an eyebrow.
“I know, that was the point,” I say.
“Pregnancy has made you grouchy,” Aidan quips. I hiss at him and he jumps as I gnash my fangs.
“I can show you grouchy. Come a little closer, my dear.”
“Sebastian, I would watch the man parts around her,” Aidan says with a grimace. Sebastian laughs and pats him on the shoulder.
“My man parts are what got her pregnant. I’ll guard them with my life.”
“Watch it, Bast. I could put you on the couch,” I growl.
“Easy, cherie. You feel any way you want to. Your body is going through major hormonal changes hourly. It’s to be expected.”
I start crying.
“Why are you so nice to me?” I sob. Aidan is looking at me like I am an alien. Sebastian wraps me in his arms.
“Shh, shh, ma petite mamman. I love you, that’s all there is to it. I will always love you, no matter what.”
“The mammas go through many changes. It’s normal. Read the book about pregnant women, Signor Aidan. It tells you everything,” Matteo says while nodding and smiling at me.
“I have a copy for fathers I will let you borrow after I’m done, Aidan,” Sebastian says.
“Already read it. Let’s get these two beauties settled so we can make the tunnel and get back to Alessandro. I want to know what he has found,” Aidan says.
At this point I am the only one who hasn’t read it. I can’t even find my copy. I expect that Helena or Hannah has “borrowed” it.
Matteo gives me a brief tutorial on the smart board and I think I have the hang of it. I’ve stopped crying and am tired, but I want to get some planning with Manda done.
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