by Lola Gabriel
“No need to get up. I can see myself out. Think about what I said, Raven,” Silver said.
With that, Silver was gone, the door slamming closed behind him. Raven sat in stunned silence for a moment, clutching Silver’s card in her fist as she wondered what the hell had just happened.
7
Raven was still thinking about Silver’s words of warning an hour or two later. She was still sitting in the same place on the couch, she was still clutching Silver’s card, and she still hadn’t had her cup of tea, gotten out of her suit, or taken her bath. It was like hearing what Silver had to say had taken away her motivation to do anything except sit and stare into space and stew.
It didn’t matter how much Raven tried to think about something else, Silver’s words kept echoing through her head and she kept wondering if he was right. Not about her ending her pregnancy. That would never happen. It wasn’t something she could even consider. Even as she heard Silver’s suggestion echoing through her mind again, her hand went protectively to her stomach.
“Don’t worry, baby, Mommy isn’t letting you go,” Raven whispered. “Not for Silver and not for anyone.”
She had to think seriously about the rest of what Silver had said, though. About the baby being an unknown entity, something that might cause fear and unrest in some of the shifters. If Silver, Jagger’s brother, was thinking that way, then surely other people would start thinking about it too once word got out that she was pregnant with Jagger’s baby and she was a vampire rather than a witch.
She knew she was going to have to be very careful once the baby was born. She was going to have to make damned sure that no strangers got near him or her. And she and Jagger would have to work together to make sure that whatever powers or abilities their baby had, he or she learned to use them for good as soon as they got old enough to start learning about self-control. They had to show everyone around them that there was nothing to fear from their child.
Finally, Raven forced herself to let go of her worries and she tried once more to push Silver’s visit out of her head. She had to move, had to do something other than sitting here thinking about this. She pushed his card into her purse and stood up, heading for the stairs. She went upstairs and took the bath she had promised herself and then she changed into a short white skirt and an orange halter-neck top. She went back downstairs and finally made herself her cup of tea.
She checked the time. Jagger would be here soon. She knew they needed to talk about their baby’s future safety, and she decided tonight would be as good a night as any to discuss it with him while it was so fresh in her mind. She debated telling Jagger everything, including about Silver’s visit, but in the end, she decided to keep that quiet for a little longer at least.
She hadn’t sensed any malice in Silver and she thought he was just looking out for his brother. He thought he was doing the right thing and it wasn’t like he had threatened her or anything. She didn’t want to tell Jagger about it and cause family drama for him if she could avoid it.
She was sure she had made the right decision and so when Jagger arrived at her place, she kept quiet about Silver’s visit, although she knew she couldn’t avoid the more pressing matter forever and she decided to just get it over with now.
“Can we talk?” she smiled.
Jagger nodded and turned so he was facing her on the couch.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, it is for now,” Raven replied. “But we need to think seriously about the baby’s safety once it’s born, especially as it gets older.”
“I agree,” Jagger said. “I actually talked to my mom about it. I hope you don’t mind. I was worried about the idea of a hybrid baby, but my mom seems to think everything will be okay. She said we’ll either have a warlock or witch baby, a vampire baby, or there’s a possibility that we’ll have a warlock or witch that has a bloodlust too. She doesn’t think the baby will cause any harm or be a specific threat to anyone. But, of course, everyone might not see it that way. People are often afraid of change, and any rebellious tribe members might be worried about someone who could potentially be more powerful than they’ve anticipated, getting above them on the pecking order.”
“Right. That,” Raven smiled. “It’s a much easier conversation when you’ve thought of the same issues. So basically, we’re in agreement that the baby needs to be closely guarded. Maybe we should think about hiring a bodyguard or two, you know, once the baby is old enough for school and stuff.”
“We will,” Jagger said. He smiled and kissed Raven’s forehead. “But I don’t think we need to worry about school just yet.”
Raven laughed softly.
“No, I’m getting way ahead of myself,” she said.
“Well, at least now we both know where we stand with everything and we know we’re on the same page. It’s better that we can be open with each other like this, especially when it comes to the baby,” Jagger said.
Raven nodded her head, but she felt a stab of guilt inside of herself. Jagger was so trusting and she was keeping something from him: Silver’s visit.
Again, she told herself she didn’t want to cause family drama for Silver and Jagger, and that Silver was hardly going to be a threat to the baby, so it was fine to keep that knowledge to herself. At least for now.
8
A Month Later
Raven was heading for Jagger’s place, having just finished work. She felt a stirring of excitement inside of herself as she walked. She was always excited at the thought of seeing Jagger, but this time, it felt different. It was more than just the excitement at the thought of seeing him again. He had told her he had something special planned for her for tonight, a surprise, and he had seemed a little bit nervous when he told her about it. Raven suspected and really hoped that Jagger was going to ask her to move in with him.
His family had been told officially about the baby and about them being together, despite the fact that she couldn’t be his one true mate. His parents had taken the news well, and Silver seemed happy enough to learn that he would end up leading the tribe one day instead of Jagger. Raven had told her own family and her friends and they were all happy for her, although she had sensed that there was a bit of worry in some of her friends when they found out she had gotten pregnant by a warlock.
She had pressured them to tell her why they were concerned and eventually, Lucile admitted it was because she was sleeping with a bear shifter and now she was worried she might end up pregnant unless she sorted out some birth control. Raven had been relieved to learn that her friends weren’t worried because they were afraid of what her baby was going to be. It was just concern that they needed to be more careful with birth control even when they were dating across species.
Raven smiled as she thought of the support they had from both her friends and family and Jagger’s friends and family too. Thinking about how everyone had rallied around them had really passed the time and Raven had barely noticed the walk to Jagger’s building. She crossed the street now, almost there, and turned the corner, moving onto Jagger’s block.
“Raven!” she heard a voice shouting from behind her. “Raven. Wait.”
She turned back and saw a man jogging toward her. She didn’t recognize him, but he clearly knew her. He reached her, panting slightly.
“I’m so glad I caught you. I couldn’t get parked in the parking lot so I had to park around the back and then I had to run around the block. Jagger asked me to pick you up,” the man said.
“Huh?” Raven said. “I’m sorry if I sound rude, but who are you?”
“Oh, of course. You don’t know me. My name is Lee. I’m a friend of Jagger’s. He is visiting my parents, Gerri and Baker. He thought he would get away in time to meet you, but my mom had already cooked dinner and she wanted you both to eat with us,” the man explained.
Raven thought for a moment. She had heard of Gerri and Baker. They really were friends with Jagger and his family. They were high-ranking tribe members and
it made sense that they would want to meet Raven.
“I realize this seems weird,” Lee said. “I only came instead of Jagger because my car was blocking his in. Call him and check if you’re worried.”
“No. No, don’t be silly,” Raven smiled. “I was just confused for a second. Of course I’m not worried.”
Lee smiled and nodded his head.
“I’m parked round here,” he said, nodding toward the back part of Jagger’s building.
Raven followed him toward the end of the block. She was a bit upset about the change of plans for tonight. She wasn’t likely to get her surprise this way, and that meant she wasn’t going to be able to move in with Jagger officially tonight. He wasn’t going to ask her to move in with him in front of other people, she didn’t think, although if he did, she would still be more than happy to say yes.
She understood why Jagger had agreed to change their plans at such short notice, though. Even if Jagger never got to take over the tribe because he had chosen to stay with her over searching for his one true mate, he was still a part of the royal family of warlocks and witches and that meant he still had a certain duty to behave correctly, so when high-up members of the tribe asked him to dine with them, he couldn’t really refuse without a good reason.
“Raven?” Lee said, pulling her out of her head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?” Raven said with a frown.
“That’s my car,” he said, nodding toward a red, sporty-looking car. “I told you twice and you just kept on walking.”
“I’m sorry,” Raven said, smiling and shaking her head. “I was a million miles away.”
She walked back toward the car as Lee unlocked it. They both got in and Lee pulled away.
“You’re not nervous about this, are you?” he asked.
Raven didn’t want to tell him the truth—that she had thought Jagger was going to ask her to move in with him tonight and she was upset about that lost opportunity rather than being nervous about the dinner. She wasn’t overly nervous about meeting Gerri and Baker—most of the high-ranking tribe members she had met had been nice enough and she saw no reason these two would be different. However, one thing was bothering her, and she decided to use that as an excuse for her strange behavior.
“I guess I am a little bit nervous,” Raven smiled. “I’m worried I’m not exactly dressed for a formal dinner.”
Lee smiled and shook his head.
“You’re fine,” he said. “It’s nothing formal. It will just be me, my parents, and you and Jagger.”
“Okay, well, if you’re sure,” Raven said.
“I am,” Lee smiled.
He kept driving until they left the center of the city behind and began heading through the green belt area.
“Do your parents live out of state?” Raven asked.
“No, not quite,” Lee smiled. “They live on an estate just along here.”
“One of the mansions?” Raven asked.
Lee nodded and smiled a tight little smile.
“I try to avoid saying that. It always makes me feel uncomfortable, like I’m showing off or something,” he admitted.
“It’s hardly showing off here,” Raven laughed. “I was the one who said it, not you.”
“Fair enough,” Lee agreed.
He turned and began to drive down a long, winding road within a private walled estate. Raven peered out of the windshield, waiting for the mansion to appear in sight. When it did, she wasn’t disappointed.
“Wow,” she breathed.
“It’s quite something, isn’t it?” Lee smiled. “Although it’s totally unnecessary, of course. I mean, who really needs that much space unless it’s like a boarding school or something? There’s only the two of them living here alone since the last of my sisters moved out two years ago. And even when all four of us were still at home, we hardly needed a house that size.”
“I’d feel like I was going to get lost every time I went to the bathroom if I lived in a place that big,” Raven admitted with a soft laugh. “But I guess it’s just what people get used to, right?”
“Right,” Lee said. They got out of the car and he glanced at Raven over the top of it. “People don’t really like change, do they?”
“Oh, not at all,” Raven agreed. “They like what they’re used to. Nothing new or different.”
“Exactly. Because that way, when everything is familiar and normal, they feel safe,” Lee said.
He turned from Raven and beckoned to her, leading her toward the mansion doors. He unlocked them and pushed them open, standing back and gesturing for Raven to enter first. Raven smiled and stepped inside. She looked around at the huge and airy entrance way and then Lee was closing the door and ushering her down the hallway that spread out in front of her.
They passed several doors and finally, when they were almost at the end of the hallway, Lee spoke up.
“You want the next door on your right,” he said.
“Thanks,” Raven said.
She pushed the next door on her right open and stepped inside the room behind it. The room was empty and she turned back to Lee with a frown, not sure what was happening. Lee stepped in behind her and she figured she must have to go through the door on the wall opposite her. She opened her mouth to ask Lee if that was right, but she closed it again when he waved his hands in front of himself and Raven felt herself being pushed backwards although Lee hadn’t touched her. It was such a strange feeling, like the very air itself was pushing Raven along.
She tried to step forward, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t even stop herself from moving. The pressure that was pushing on her wasn’t painful, but it was too strong to resist. She found herself pressed against the wall at the back of the room and cuffs sprang from the wall as Lee kept waving his hands. The cuffs snapped closed around Raven’s ankles and wrists.
“What the fuck?” Raven demanded, turning her head to the left and the right, looking at the cuffs in complete and utter confusion.
“I’m sorry, Raven,” Lee said, walking toward her. “But this had to be done. I hope you understand.”
“I don’t,” Raven said. “Not even a little bit.”
Lee reached her and began to run his hands over her body. She started to shrink back from his touch, although there really wasn’t anywhere for her to go with her back already pressed against the wall. Lee shook his head and he tutted at Raven.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m looking for your cell phone, that’s all,” he said.
“It’s in my handbag,” Raven said.
If he was telling the truth about wanting her cell phone, he was obviously going to keep looking until he found it, and she would rather he didn’t have his hands all over her. He stepped back and checked in her handbag, nodding when he saw the cell phone.
“Good. You were honest with me. I guess I will do the same for you,” he said. “Firstly, in case it isn’t obvious, my parents are out of state and Jagger isn’t here for dinner. Don’t worry, though, you’ll still get dinner. I intend to look after you properly. You’ll be well fed and comfortable.”
“Comfortable? Are you kidding me?” Raven said, pulling her arms forward so the cuffs rattled, reminding him that she was cuffed to a wall.
“You won’t have to wear those all of the time. Once I leave the room, they’ll release you and if you go through that door to your left, you’ll find a lounge, a bathroom, and a small bedroom,” Lee said.
“Okay,” Raven said. “That sounds better than being stuck against this wall, I guess. But I don’t understand what’s going on here. Help me out. Who are you really?”
“I really am Lee, son of Gerri and Baker,” Lee said. “And what’s going on is simple enough. It’s what we talked about earlier. People don’t like change, Raven. They fear it. Myself included. But I am different from most people, because instead of hanging back and letting my fear control me, I choose to face it and solve the problem before it really becomes one.”
“It’s not so much about you as it is about the baby you are carrying,” Lee said. “The idea of a hybrid baby with unknown powers, perhaps even untold powers. I’m sorry but it’s too much of a risk to let you have that baby and then maybe disappear somewhere where we can’t keep an eye on its progress. You will remain here until you have the baby and then you’ll be let go once I have disposed of the baby.”
“Disposed of the baby?” Raven said, her eyes widening. “You mean…?”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the last few words of the sentence, but Lee knew exactly what she meant and he nodded.
“Yes. I mean killed. If it’s any consolation, I will make it as quick and painless for the baby as I possibly can,” he said.
“You won’t get away with this,” Raven snarled, ignoring Lee’s assurances. “Jagger will find me.”
“Of course he won’t,” Lee smiled. He held Raven’s handbag up for her to see, reminding her he had her cell phone. “Not once he gets the text telling him how you’ve changed your mind about all of this and you’re leaving him. And the city.”
“He won’t believe that,” Raven said.
“Sure he will. And if he doesn’t, it’s not like he’s going to suspect that you’re here, is it?” Lee said. “I mean, why would he even think you might be here?”
Raven knew he was right about that one. She had one hope left. The hope that Silver was behind all of this and that he relented and ended up letting her go free before she had the baby.
9