by Rowlyn, Rhys
“Well, aren’t you just the romantic? The rest of you could take notes.” Chi prances in with his hand on his hip and twirling a pink scarf with his other one. “The witches are requiring your presence in the kitchen. They said it’s urgent.”
We follow Chi and find the witches sitting at the table. There are candles and runes drawn in some kind of powdery substance. Circe is rubbing her temples and grimacing as if she’s in pain.
“Did you figure out who attacked the house?” Bram sits at the table, holding Cara’s hand.
“We know it was a spell and Minerva could have brought something to the house, but she doesn’t have the power to do a spell such as the one that was cast against us. Whoever cast it is old. I’ve been doing research but can’t find any record of a witch old enough to perform this level of magic in the area.” Cara steeples her fingers in front of her lips.
“Do you think it was Renaud?” Fleur asks. She is standing next to André, and he has his arm around her, holding her to his side. We all know if Renaud is involved, then her mother may be also.
“Most likely. It had the same essence as Minerva’s protection spell. Now we need to figure out who he is. We did learn how to counteract his attacks, so if he does it again, the spell will backlash on whoever cast it. The results won’t be pleasant.” Ciara explains and then glances at her sisters nervously. “We have something else to tell you.”
“More good news?” Cassie’s voice is full of sarcasm, and she lets out a deep sigh.
Cara shakes her head, chuckling lightly. “Being here in the country around nature has helped renew us. We are not used to staying in the city. We need more vegetation and clean soil. The small yard at the house isn’t enough. We had thought of staying here for a while, until we were back to normal, but we don’t want to be too far away from you all. There is still too much danger.”
“So we have decided to take the house Minerva was staying in. The property has a huge yard with lots of trees and grass and a large garden. It is also large enough for us to house any strays we may need to shelter in the future,” Circe says.
Ciara nods. “And it is close enough we can be of assistance if we need to be. Here is too far away.”
“You’re not worried Minerva will come back?” Lucy takes my hand, linking our fingers, and I give her a reassuring squeeze.
“We have our ways of keeping her out, and with that much nature surrounding us, we’ll be much stronger. Besides, I don’t believe she’ll go back where she knows we’ll be watching.” Cara picks up the candles and puts them into a bag, and Ciara brushes the powder into a jar.
“I hate to see you move out, but if it’s what you need to do, then so be it.” Bram is closest to the sisters, so this must be hardest on him, but he seems to be handling it well. I don’t know where they’re going, but I hope it isn’t too far away.
“Oh my goodness, it’s not like we’re going to another country.” Chi throws his arms in the air, making a sound of total exasperation. “It’s literally two blocks away. I mean, literally two blocks.”
“But, Chi, how will you be able to keep up with all the latest gossip?” Cassie pinches his cheek, giving him a devious smile.
Chi glares back at her, and if looks could kill, I believe Cassie may not have made it. “Why, there’s where you come in, and Rebecca. I’ll not be kept out of the loop.”
Lucy loops her arm through Chi’s and laughs. “Don’t worry, Chi. I won’t let them mistreat you.”
“Thank you, Lucy Bell. Finally, someone with some sense around here.” He leans his head over until they are touching. Both are wearing grins, and I am so happy to see my mate smiling and so soon after her change. It’s as if she were born to be a vampire, and maybe she was.
She catches my eye and winks. Warmth spreads throughout my chest, and I think my heart may explode. This woman has captured a part of me. Mate or not, I intend to cherish her forever. First, I need to eliminate the immediate danger to her. Something must be done about Minerva.
Lucy
I enter the kitchen, pasting a smile on my face but feeling a bit out of sorts. It’s December, and I heard the Papa Noel parade go by earlier. I have never missed a parade before, but it was too sunny for me to go outside. This is just the first of many things Etienne warned me I would miss, and I don’t want everyone to know I’m upset by it.
Giselle sits at the table, glancing around at everyone but her attention is focused on Rebecca. “Have you noticed Cassie acting strange lately?”
“What do you mean?” Rebecca shifts in her chair, biting her lower lip.
Cassie walks into the room, glaring at Giselle and causing the other women to jump. “Yeah, Giselle, what do you mean?”
She clutches her chest, laughing nervously. “Oh, Cassie, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Obviously, so what are you talking about?” Cassie sits beside her, crosses one leg over the other, and swings her leg back and forth. She tilts her head, raising her brows.
“Well…” She looks at us, and we all shake our heads. “The last week you’ve been drinking more blood, and you’ve been… umm…” Giselle’s gaze darts around the room nervously, and she flutters her hand by her neck.
Cassie narrows her eye, leaning closer to Giselle. “Spit it out. I’m what?”
“Fine, you’re moody.” She throws her hands in the air. “There, I said it. You go from happy to angry to all weepy, and it’s just weird.”
Bram walks in during Giselle’s speech and stands behind Cassie to massage her shoulders. “I am worried about you drinking more. Are you feeling all right? You know Etienne was a doctor. Granted, we are different from humans, but maybe he should check you out.”
“And I’m a nurse. I graduated a month before Minerva snatched me and had just started working at Tulane.” I offer. “I’m not that experienced but I do have some knowledge.
“I’m sure medicine is different now.” He takes my hand, kisses my knuckles, and smiles at me. I feel my cheeks heating up at his look. “I have read up on some of the advances, and it’s amazing how far things have come, but the human body is still the human body.” Etienne stands, holding his hand out toward Cassie. “Cassie, why don’t we go into the room with the cot, and you can tell me everything going on.”
She takes his hand and stands, then leads the way into the other room. Everyone stands to follow, and Etienne touches Cassie’s shoulder.
“Do you want some privacy?” He nods over his shoulder at us, all waiting to enter the room.
“It’s fine. They’ll only listen in. I’m not going to need to get naked, am I?” She grins at Etienne, ignoring Bram’s growl.
Etienne laughs, shaking his head. “No, I don’t believe that will be necessary.”
Cassie lies back on the cot, and Etienne begins examining her. “I’m obviously having mood swings and eating more. I also have bouts of feeling as if I could vomit, like I accidentally ate food. And my breasts are sore.”
I step closer, narrowing my eyes on her. “Wow, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were pregnant.”
Everyone in the room stills, staring at me, and I wonder what I’ve said that was wrong. Surely they don’t think this is a possibility.
Etienne leans over Cassie’s lower stomach and listens intently. “Merde! I hear a heartbeat.”
“Wait, what?” Cassie sits up, her eyes wide, and she’s gone pale.
“Oui,” Etienne’s a bit pale himself. He motions toward Bram. “Bram, come listen.”
Bram lays his head on her stomach for a few seconds and then looks up at her in awe. “There’s definitely a heartbeat. We’re having a baby.”
“How is that possible?” Cassie whispers, in shock along with everyone else.
“I don’t know, but there are many things we don’t know about having mates and how this all works.” Etienne moves closer to me, puts his arm over my shoulder, and pulls me closer to him.
“So does this mean any of us could get pregn
ant?” Giselle asks, wonder in her voice.
“Again, I don’t know.” Poor Etienne. Everyone is looking to him for answers, but he clearly knows no more than anyone else. “Was there anything different about you, or is there some way we could know in advance?”
“About a month ago, I got really hot, like my flesh was on fire, and then I had to have Bram. That went on for about three days.” She gives Bram a heated gaze and we all look away. Everyone is probably feeling as uncomfortable as I am.
“Oh yes, best three days of my life.” Bram grins, his chest inflating. He all but beats on it.
“You must have been in heat.” Etienne wrinkles his brow, frowning.
“Merde, Etienne, you make it sound as if she’s an animal.” Giselle punches his shoulder, glaring at him.
“I don’t mean to do that, but the symptoms do sound a little different from the human female’s ovulation. The pregnancy symptoms are the same though.” Etienne looks Giselle up and down. “Giselle, have you ever felt any of these symptoms she is describing? You are older and should have maybe experienced this before her.”
“Has she ever felt what?” Phillipe enters the room, stands behind Giselle, and kisses her neck. “What’s happening?”
“Yes, what’s going on?” Nyla asks as she, Jean Pierre, and Giles enter the room.
“Cassie’s having a baby!” Bram announces, and the four of them gasp in shock.
Phillipe looks to Etienne for confirmation, and he gives him a quick nod. “How is this possible?”
“We don’t really know. Now, Giselle, have you?” Etienne raises his brows in question.
“No, but we hadn’t completely bonded prior to the curse. When we bond, our heart starts back up.” She taps her chin with her finger. “I wonder if that has something to do with it, but then, why haven’t I felt the symptoms?”
I’m new to this whole vampire thing, but I do know none of them expected to get pregnant. This is a game-changer, and although they’re trying to act calm, I know they have to be freaking out. I may not have bonded with Etienne, and we’ve only had sex in a dream, but I can feel the anxiety rolling off him.
“I don’t know. This is all new.” He crosses his arms over his chest and rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Bram, you’re the eldest of us. Have you ever heard of anything like this happening?”
Everyone is acting as if something awful is happening, and Cassie is looking around the room with wide eyes. No one seems to realize how nervous she is getting. I sidle up beside her, looping my arm through hers. She lays her head on my shoulder, and I squeeze her arm reassuringly. I know if we can have mates and everything be fine, then surely we can have babies too.
“No, but maybe the sisters know something, and if they don’t, they can contact their coven back in Ireland to get some information.” Bram takes Cassie’s hand in his and kisses it. “They’re in the other room.”
Phillipe steps out to get the women, and we all stand around in silence, hoping they know something about what we’re facing.
The sisters enter the room, along with Chi. We are still at the plantation, but the sisters have been busy creating counter-spells to help protect us from whoever attacked. They say we should be able to go back to the city tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting back to where the action is.
“Cara, Cassie is pregnant.” Bram cuts straight to it and makes the announcement.
“It’s about time you figured it out.” Cara hugs Bram and then Cassie. “We’ve known for about two weeks.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Cassie leans away from her, narrowing her eyes.
Cara tweaks Cassie’s nose, laughing. “We didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
Cassie grunts but lets it slide with a roll of her eyes.
“What do you know about us being able to have children, and what will our children be like?” Etienne is all business, so I can see the doctor in him now. He’s trying to learn as much as possible so he’ll know what to expect.
Ciara crosses her arms over her chest, addressing us all. “All we know is there hasn’t been a natural born vampire in our lifetimes. The one with the answers would be Alastair.”
“If I don’t know, how is he going to be able to answer our questions?” Bram rubs the back of his neck, clearly frustrated with her answer.
“Because he is the last known natural-born vampire.” Cara’s tone suggests Bram should know this information.
“Alastair was natural-born? How is that possible?” Bram sits heavily in a chair, looking stunned.
“His parents had sex, and it produced him.” Ciara claims with a grin. I can’t help but giggle, earning me a stern look from Etienne.
“I know how babies are made; I’m shocked he wasn’t created. He never talked about where he came from or his maker. Well damn, now we need to find him for sure.” Bram slaps his hands on his thighs, meeting Cara’s gaze.
“I’ve been looking, but I don’t even know where to start,” Jean Pierre states. “He must be deep in hiding.”
“Why don’t we do a locater spell?” Cara asks, and all the vampires turn narrowed gazes on her.
Jean Pierre takes a step toward her, only to have Nyla grab his arm and shake her head. “Why haven’t you brought this up before?”
“You didn’t ask for our help, and we assumed you were going to try to find him on your own, but things are getting more complicated, and he needs to be here.” Cara waves a hand, unconcerned by Jean Pierre’s bout of aggression. “Minerva needs to be dealt with, and now you need answers for the safety of the baby.”
“We don’t have anything of his.” Chi moves closer to Cassie and wraps his arms around her, then kisses her cheek. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a mommy.”
Cassie’s cheeks turn pink, but she can’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
Cara nods in Bram’s direction, putting her hands on her hips. “But we do. Bram is a direct descendant, so we can use his blood.”
“Seriously? It’s that easy?” Bram raises his brows and straightens his spine.
“I will tell you,” Circe says. “I was hesitant to find him, and I still am. His return sets into motion a chain of events I don’t know if I want started.” Circe’s brow is furrowed, and I know she has visions, so her being concerned is something to worry about.
“Circe, what are you talking about?” Giselle grips the other woman’s shoulders and gives her a slight shake.
“I can’t say yet, but know that although our lives have already changed a great deal, they are about to get even more upended.” She grips her hands together, her knuckles turning white, and we fall silent for a few seconds.
“You have to tell us what you know,” Giselle pleads, but Circe shakes her head.
“No, I don’t, and I won’t until the time is right. Besides, sometimes my visions change when things happen. I know we need to find him, and I will help. I also know it’s time things were set into motion.” She turns and leaves the room.
We all stand there looking at each other and then we turn toward Cara and Ciara.
“She won’t tell you until she knows she’s supposed to, so don’t pressure her. It’ll do ya no good.” Cara wags a finger at us. Her brogue is coming through strong, which tells me she’s upset. “Now let’s go and get this spell done. It’s time Alastair rejoined the land of the living.” Cara turns, and she and Ciara follow Circe from the room.
“What did she mean by join the land of the living?” I look at Etienne, but he shrugs his shoulders.
“I have no idea, but who’s going to go on the mission to retrieve him?” Etienne looks around the room, and Phillipe lifts a hand.
“Giselle and I can go.” Phillipe pulls Giselle to his side and hugs her close. “Cassie shouldn’t travel in her condition in case there is danger. Jean Pierre is searching for Minerva, and André is looking for Fleur’s mother. I would like Etienne to stay here and care for Cassie. We don’t know how long it’ll take.”
“Oui, I think that’s a sound plan.” Etienne nods and meets everyone else’s gazes until they all nod in agreement.
“Good, that’s settled then. We’ll plan on leaving as soon as we have his location.” Phillipe takes Giselle’s hand, and they follow the witches from the room.
Etienne places my hand in the crook of his arm and kisses the top of my head. I’m unsure what we’re about to do, but I know finding Alastair is something that must be done.
Lucy
We returned home from the plantation last night after the witches reinforced the wards protecting our houses. They believe that if there is another attack, it will backlash onto the caster and attack them. I hope they are right. Having Minerva after us is one thing, but some unknown, powerful witch is another worry I don’t want.
The night before, the witches did the location spell using Bram’s blood, and it was interesting watching them wield magic and use it to find where the old vampire is. Phillipe and Giselle are planning to leave next week and hopefully bring him back with them. The witches pinpointed him in the Carpathian Mountain range near the Romanian border. I hope they can find him and bring him back quickly.
Tonight, Etienne has decided I need to learn to defend myself. I know a few basics. My brother thought it was important I could protect myself, or at least have a chance of getting away. Nyla promised to give me some lessons, and if I’m not mistaken, she has taken Etienne down a time or two. I’m looking forward to learning from her. She’s badass.
“Don’t let me get behind you.” Etienne bobs to my right, then darts to the left. “Keep your eyes on me at all times.”
“What if I want to attack?” I keep him at my front and waggle my eyebrows at him, earning myself a grin.
He throws his arms out wide at his sides, smiling. “By all means, attack me and let’s see how you do.”
I run toward him and grab his waist, throw my body upward, and lock my thighs around his neck. Using my momentum, I swing around and grab his head as if to pull it off, putting my thumbs over his eye sockets. Etienne tries to grab my waist, but I hold on tightly and he falls back. I land on my back under him, with the breath knocked out of me.