“I could break it down,” Angel said. “If she’s hurt.”
“She’s not,” Keelie said. “We are having girl time, and unless you want Brea pissed at you, you’ll go away.”
Keelie heard Angel mumbling something about ungrateful guests, and then his footsteps, or stomps, really, receding. “Worry much?” Brandon said, rolling his brown eyes.
“Tell me about it,” Keelie agreed. “Come out, Brea.”
Brea opened the bathroom door and stomped out. She dropped the offensive box on the bed with the others. “It’s the same.”
Keelie’s eyes lit up again for the hundredth time. “I told you so,” she smiled.
“How? I didn’t even think it was possible!”
“I am fairly certain you know how, and it is possible. True, it’s a rare thing, but it does happen. Now you have to decide how to tell him.”
“I don’t think I can,” Brea said.
“You think it will upset him?” Brandon asked. “I think it will be ok.”
“I just don’t know. I can’t. You tell him,” Brea said to Keelie.
“Ok,” she said, going for the door.
“You’re going to do it now?” Brea gasped.
“No time like the present. But I’m not, you are,” she said, opening the bedroom door.
Brea wanted to protest, but before she could get the words out, Keelie had called for Angel. Within seconds, he was there, standing in the doorway.
“What is it?” he huffed. He had been kept out of the room for days while the three of them did whatever it was they were doing. He had barely seen Brea and when he did, she was worried about something she refused to talk about. Angel had tried looking into her mind, but she had shut him out of there as well.
“Come in,” Keelie told him. “Brea has something she wants to tell you.”
Angel crossed the room in three strides of his long legs, settling himself on the bed next to Brea. He brushed a lock of red hair from her distraught face and tucked it behind her ear. “What is it, Mon Amour?”
Brea opened her mouth, but no words came out. She heard Keelie clearing her throat, and Brandon doing his best to hide a snicker with a cough. Brea waved her arm over the bed, drawing Angel’s attention to the variety of boxes spread over it.
Angel picked one up and studied it. He dumped the contents into his hand and looked at the little stick. At first, he couldn’t make his brain understand what he was seeing. He dropped the box and picked up another. Then another, and another.
“They are all the same,” Brea whispered.
A million thoughts raced through Angel’s mind. When he finally said something, it came out a mere whisper. “You’re pregnant?” Brea nodded. Angel sat back on the bed, stunned. “Is this what you have been worrying over?” Brea nodded again. “How long?” he asked.
“I haven’t had a period for two months,” she answered.
Angel looked into her eyes as he worked through this information. His mate was pregnant. He knew that it was a rare occurrence, but not something that was unheard of. A stab of fear clutched his heart. Rhiannon was still out there. She was now not only a danger to Brea, but to his child as well. He had lost his unborn child so many years ago, and he would not lose this one. But just the thought of his child, his, was enough to overpower his fear. He was going to be a father!
Angel’s chest hurt with the happiness he felt. It swelled in him so quickly and so powerfully that he feared it may burst through his chest. How could any man be so blessed? His Clan was at peace, he had a strong ally in Detective Corbin and the police force, he was famous and he was mated with the woman of his dreams! And now, that wonderful woman would give him a child! All the worry he had felt and the pain of his past losses melted away and was replaced with a deep joy like he had never known.
Brea watched as Angel absorbed the news. Her heart pounded in her chest while she waited for his reaction. Nothing in Heaven or Earth could have prepared her. She expected him to be worried, possibly upset, but she did not expect him to be angry. But his reaction was far beyond anything that she had imagined. Angel sat there in shock for a moment, then a single tear streaked down his cheek. Without warning, he grabbed Brea by the shoulders and kissed her hard on the mouth. Then, he leaped off the bed and ran into the hall.
“Guys! Get up here!” he shouted into the hall. Then he came back to Brea and pulled her into his arms. “I’m going to be a father,” he whispered into her ear.
“Is that ok?” she asked in a small voice.
“Better than ok,” he said, hugging her close. “It’s wonderful.” Brea sighed in relief. She wanted to ask him about Rhiannon and how they would protect the baby, but the men had arrived.
“What the hell is going on up here?” Sebastian demanded, but his smile belied his tone.
Angel turned to his men. “I’m going to be a father,” he announced, beaming. Ricco looked at Angel, then at Brea, then back to Angel again. Without a word, he stepped forward and clapped Angel on the back. Then he passed by him to Brea. He took her into his arms in a tight bear hug. Congratulations and hugs filled the room. Brea was passed from one member of the family to another like a dish of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. She was beside herself from all the attention. It seemed no one was concerned about the pressing safety issues that she was. When she found herself back in Angel’s arms, he kissed her.
He kissed her so hard that her lips bruised, but she didn’t mind. Her passion for him soon took over her senses. She wondered if it would always be that way, and hoped it would. She didn’t notice when everyone else left the room. She only knew that by the time she and Angel were twisted together on her bed that they were alone.
******
“It’s alright,” Keelie soothed Brea. They had been waiting in the doctor’s office for a little more than an hour, and still hadn’t been seen yet. Brea was fidgeting in her seat again, needlessly worrying over the outcome of her first visit. “You could always do what Angel said. We could get a doctor to come to you.”
“No,” Brea said. “I want to do this as normal as possible. It’s just that I’m worried. What if there is something wrong with the baby?”
“You have nothing to worry about. You are healthy and strong and your baby will be too.”
“You’re right. I do worry too much, don’t I?”
“Yes, you do. But I can understand. At the rate you are going, I doubt you’ll go the regular nine months.” Keelie was just as concerned as Brea was, she just hid it better. By all pregnancy books she had read, Brea shouldn’t even be showing yet. But there was an undeniable curve to her belly. She looked to be more like five months rather than the two she actually was.
The office assistant finally called Brea’s name and took her to a small room where Brea was weighed and all her vital signs were recorded. Then she was given a little paper cup and told to pee in it. Brea frowned at the cup. “Ewe,” was her only comment.
When they were finally settled in the room to wait for the doctor, Brea relaxed a little. She was cold and uncomfortable, but the worst of it was over, she thought. The door opened and a man walked through. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head. This better not be the doctor, Brea thought. But there was something familiar in the way he moved. Brea felt it as much as she knew who it was. He pulled the hood back and revealed his handsome face.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Brea said. “It’s daylight.”
“I wouldn’t let something as insignificant as the sun keep me away,” Angel smiled. “What are you wearing?” he asked as he examined the thin paper covering his mate wore.
“It’s the latest fashion,” Brea said, “Paper dresses are all the rage. And it’s backless.” Keelie laughed right out loud at the snide comment. She remained in the corner of the room as Brea explained to Angel all that she had been subjected to so far.
The doctor finally came in, preventing any further conversation. He was young, Brea thought.
He greeted them warmly and bowed to Angel. He was no vampire, but he knew who Angel was, just the same. Everyone knew. It had proved difficult to find a respectable doctor who had any experience with vampires and who would see Brea knowing who she was.
He executed his external examination with perfect bedside manner, then donned a pair of latex gloves to do his internal exam.
When he raised the sheet and asked Brea to open her legs, Angel growled. Brea was quick to grab his hands and calm him. “He’s just doing his job,” she said.
“Does he have to touch you there?” he snarled.
“Actually, I do,” the doctor explained. “There is no other way to check the state of her cervix. A healthy cervix can mean the difference between a normal birth and surgery. I know you feel very possessive and protective of your wife, but I will have to do this more than once. Please understand that I get no pleasure from this.”
Angel nodded and let the man work. He couldn’t completely keep himself from growling or fisting his hands, but Angel made no attempt to stop the man. When that horrible exam was finished, the doctor raised the paper sheet and exposed Brea’s belly. He squirted some kind of gel on her and ran a wand looking thing over her skin. An ultrasound, he said. That was why Angel had been willing to risk the sun to be there. For a chance to see his unborn child.
Angel and Keelie both held Brea’s hands as the doctor worked. He turned what looked like a computer screen so that they could all see it. There it was. The image, however fuzzy, of Angel’s baby.
“When did you say was your last period?” the doctor asked.
“Three months ago,” Brea answered.
“Well, I know that vampire births are rare, but I have delivered one myself and assisted with two others. You know that the child can be human, vampire, or a mixture of both, right?” Brea nodded. “Given the rate of development, I would say this child will either be mixed or vampire. And, I would estimate that it will be ready to be born in about ten to twelve weeks. Would you like to know the baby’s sex?”
Brea looked at Angel, who stared back at her. Even though Angel said nothing, Brea knew the answer. She nodded at the doctor.
“It is a girl.”
THIRY SIX
Keelie left the happy couple to join Ricco at a local restaurant. Brea and Angel decided to do some shopping since the sun was setting and there was so little time to prepare. Three months, more or less. Most women got nine months to prepare, but Brea would not be so lucky. Angel rode in the back of the SUV with Brea, clutching the small picture of his unborn daughter the doctor had given him. Sebastian drove, as usual, saying little. Angel had barely said a word as well, and Brea understood. It was a lot to take in at once. They had discussed the possibility of home visits with the doctor, who agreed. It’s amazing what having enough money will get someone.
They picked out a crib, blankets, and a few one piece outfits. Angel had been worse than a woman in the stores. He had an armload of frilly dresses and shoes, far more than the child would wear before she outgrew them. Brea laughed and soon she forgot her worries as did Angel. They spent the entire evening shopping, even stopping in at Rhino’s for dinner.
“Angel,” Brea said, looking at the table.
“Hmm?”he said, cutting his steak.
“The doctor called me your wife,” she said.
“And?”
“We are not married.”
“So?” he asked with a mouthful.
“Will you marry me?” she asked.
Angel was surprised by the question. “We are mated, Brea. It is the same thing.”
“Is that a no?”
“It is not a no, I just already assumed we were.”
“Not legally. Call me old fashioned, but I was raised not to have children out of wedlock. It’s ok if you don’t want to, though.”
Angel smiled. Brea was worrying needlessly again. “I would be most pleased to make it legal, Brea. In my mind, we are already joined forever. That is the only reason I had not already asked you. I did not realize that you wanted something more official. If it is a ceremony and a piece of paper to make it official you want, then you shall have it. Of course I will marry you.”
“Bet you never thought a woman would propose to you,” Brea said, a little embarrassed.
“On the contrary, I have been proposed to by many women. Comes with the music,” he told her, grinning. “The only difference here is, I said yes to you.”
It was late by the time they finally headed home, happy and exhausted. Brea and Angel were walking hand in hand through the restaurant parking lot when Angel caught the scent. It was a distinctly feminine, distinctly vampire scent. A scent he knew. Angel’s blood ran cold. “She’s here,” he whispered.
Brea did not need to hear Angel’s thoughts to know who he was talking about. She looked for the SUV, finding it only yards away. Sebastian was already inside, getting the engine warmed up. What do we do? Brea asked in her mind.
Get to the truck, Angel replied, squeezing her hand tighter. The two walked faster toward their goal. Angel felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He searched the lot with his eyes, looking for any sign of Rhiannon. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. When they reached the truck, Angel immediately knew that something was very wrong. Sebastian was sitting in the driver’s seat, but he was perfectly still. His eyes were closed, and for a moment, Angel feared his friend was dead.
“He won’t be waking up any time soon,” Rhiannon’s voice called from behind him. Angel and Brea both spun around to see her. She was as beautiful as Brea had remembered. Her hair was light and silky, her stance was casual. The only thing that gave proof to her purpose was her eyes. They were crimson red and alive with fury and hate.
“What did you do to him?” Angel demanded.
“I only convinced his mind that he was too exhausted to stay awake,” Rhiannon said in her lilting voice. She smiled, but her fangs showed, turning it into more of a snarl.
“I should have been there to kill you,” Angel said.
“Why not now?” she offered. “I, Rhiannon, challenge you, Angel. A challenge for your position, a fight to the death.”
Get in the truck, Angel commanded Brea.
I won’t leave you, Brea responded.
I can’t fight her and protect you too, Angel argued. Get in and try to wake Sebastian. Do it now.
Brea reluctantly did as he asked. She watched as Angel and Rhiannon moved to a more open section of the parking lot. She was surprised that Rhiannon was alone. She must really be mad, Brea thought. But it didn’t mean that she meant to fight fair. Although Brea had confidence in Angel’s ability to fight, she worried. Brea shook Sebastian desperately. He had to wake up. Rhiannon was a sick, twisted, and very powerful vampire. She knew in her heart that Angel was stronger, but she didn’t trust Rhiannon to fight fair to save her own hide.
Angel lunged at Rhiannon. Rhiannon darted away. The pair moved in a dangerous dance of lunge and miss, growls and snarls escaping into the night. A few spectators had begun to form a circle around them, and Brea worried for their safety. She knew Angel would never deliberately hurt innocent people, but Rhiannon would. She held no regard for human life.
Brea left the safety of the truck to join the spectators. The few were quickly growing into a large crowd. “Who is that?” someone asked. “Isn’t that Angel Knight, the Clan Leader?” someone else said. “Angel Knight? The rock star?” Cheers erupted when Angel hit Rhiannon so hard that her head snapped back and her body spun around. She did not fall, though. Instead, she fired back a punch of her own, and Brea heard the sickening crunch of Angel’s nose breaking. While he was stunned by the blow, Rhiannon swiped her claw-like fingernails across his chest. The slashes immediately started to bleed out.
Brea growled, but knew not to interfere. She was too aware of the growing crowd around her. She watched helplessly as Angel staggered. The crowd moved to allow him room to get his balance. He leapt for Rhiannon and knocked her back. His tee
th connected with her shoulder and he ripped as much flesh as he could from her. The crowd cheered.
Rhiannon shoved her hand forward and Angel went deathly still, then his body jerked and his muscles began to spasm out of control. He fought it, but his knees buckled underneath him.
“That’s dirty!” someone from the crowd shouted. “She used a stun gun!” someone else yelled. “You can’t do that!” , “Dirty bitch!” The crowd was quickly turning into an angry mob. “That’s Angel, the Angel Knight. We can’t let that thing do this to him!”
Rhiannon threw herself on top and Angel and bared her fangs for the killing blow. “No!” Brea shouted. The angry mob would not stand for it. Dozens of people fell on top of the dueling pair. All Brea could see was a tangle of arms and legs, all she could hear was screaming and shouted curses. A horrendous wail pierced the night air, and everything went quiet.
People began to move away as Brea pushed her way into the crowd. One by one they moved, finally leaving on Angel and what was left of Rhiannon on the ground. Brea gasped. Rhiannon was without arms, legs, or a head. The mob had quite literally torn her apart. Brea raced to Angel’s side and threw her arms around him.
She inspected him for any sign of injury. All she found was his broken nose and healing scratches on his chest. The crowd had moved back to allow them room. Brea could hear the whispers and hushed voices of concern. She looked at them. They were all watching with apprehension and trepidation. They had helped Angel. These humans had stood by a vampire’s side and protected him. One man stepped toward Angel and Brea, away from the rest of the crowd.
“Is he alright?” the man asked.
“Yes,” Brea answered. The man held out his hand, and Brea took it. Once she was standing again, the man held his hand out to Angel. Stunned, but no worse for the wear, Angel accepted the man’s assistance getting to his feet.
“Why?” Angel asked. “She could have killed all of you.”
“We could not stand by and watch her fight dirty. You are something of a hero to many people in LA. You are a good man, and we know it,” the man said. The people gathered nodded in agreement. “You are one of us,” he said. “And when someone messes with one of us, they mess with all of us.” A roar of cheerful approval erupted and Angel felt the moisture in his eyes. He had never been so accepted before.
Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love) Page 21