by Lia Davis
"Our homework. Right. Ugh. Okay, well, Fenton and I are going for a bite, then we can work on it?"
She nodded and snuggled back into Noah, who gave me a little head nod.
I followed Fenton out the door. "We should stay close. Cafeteria?"
"Sure. I'm not very picky."
It was nice to walk with Fenton in the twilight. Peaceful. We headed across campus to the building that housed the cafeteria and larger gymnasium for organized sports. We hadn't put together an official team yet, but knew it was an eventuality.
"Spaghetti night," he said. "Sounds good."
We found a table in the corner to take our plates piled high with pasta to.
I was so hungry I didn't even speak until my plate was half empty. By the time I came up for air, Fenton hadn't really made much of a dent in his plate. "Hungry?" he asked with a half-grin.
"Yeah, but it's so weird. I never eat like this."
"Hey, you don't have to do that with me," he said. "I like a woman that isn't afraid to eat. I mean, you certainly have nothing to feel insecure about."
I snorted. "I know that." Before continuing, I ate a few more bites. "When I say I don't usually eat like this, I mean even when I get hungry, I never get this hungry. Ever."
My body was behaving so strangely. Every time I turned around, something new was going wrong or out of character. "Fenton," I said urgently. "I'm worried that maybe I've got someone hiding out in my mind like Meda did. Do you have the whole telepathy thing like Sterling?"
"No, I don't. It's not inherent of every Hightower. I'm sorry."
"Okay, well, I think we should get back and let Meda dig around in my head. I'm freaked out."
"Sure, yeah, let's go." Fenton grabbed my plate and bowl and took them to the washer. I watched him go and realized several people also had their eyes on him.
Oh, man. I could've smacked myself. We'd gone out for a very public plate of spaghetti, and I hadn't even told my parents I was mated to a teacher yet.
Well, shit.
We walked swiftly back to the dorms and I reached out to Meda on the way. Meet me in our room?
Sure, she replied instantly. What's wrong?
Almost there, explain in a minute.
Fenton opened the door, but something in the corner of my vision stopped me. Peering into the near-darkness, I looked for whatever it was that had caught my eye. Whirling again, something moved in the peripheral of my eyes. I focused on all my powers this time, and turned my head in time to see a flash of blonde.
"Fucking hell," I exclaimed.
Fenton had a ball of energy in his hand, ready to throw. I raised my eyebrows at him. "Impressive."
"Thanks. What are you seeing?"
"She's gone. It was Calista."
"How do you know she's gone?"
I let my wall down, just a bit, and felt the immediate area for her. "She's gone."
Bracing the wall, I went inside, and Fenton let the energy ball dissipate and followed. By the time we got into the dorm room, Meda and Ami were both there.
"Calista was down there," I said. Drawing on my water, I formed a ball and drifted it over to the sink. "And it may be a coincidence, but now that I'm sure she's gone, my water is working fine."
Sterling sat beside Meda. "Would you care if I piggybacked on Meda into your mind?"
"He thinks he can tell if someone has been there."
"Sure, whatever works."
I sat on the coffee table in front of them and held out my hands. "Do your worst."
Meda hopped in my head easily. "I'm trying to get a sense of any wrongness or other."
I couldn't feel them. "This is freaky. I can't feel anything more than the normal ball of energy in the back of my mind that is you."
"Yeah, turns out it's ridiculously easy to get in someone's mind."
We sat together for several minutes while they rifled through my mind. "You've got a dark streak, sister," Meda said. She cocked her head. "And you're way braver than I thought."
"Uh. Thanks?"
"But, I couldn't sense anyone invading your mind."
Pretty much everyone I knew had gathered by then. "Tala," Fenton said, squeezing my hand. He'd been with me the whole time. Everyone else had drifted in as Meda and Sterling waltzed through my consciousness.
"My water won't do what I want it to. And I'm tired, less energetic than usual."
"And hungry," Fenton said.
"Oh, yeah, I ate like a ton at dinner, and honestly, I could eat again."
Meda looked more alarmed about my appetite than anything. "You never eat," she exclaimed.
"I know." I considered what had happened over the last day. "I think that's all."
"No, I hurt you." Randell had come in the room at some point and sat down behind me. I hadn't even realized he was there.
"That was fluke, surely."
"I've sparred with you hundreds of times and never hurt you like that."
"It only lasted a second."
"Still. I hit her in the back and she went down, crying out. Hard."
Meda furrowed her brow and looked at Sterling. "Is it possible to dive inside her and sense if she's..."
"If I'm what?" I asked, dying to know what she was thinking.
"Ah, pregnant?"
Pregnant. No way. I was always careful to do the protection spell. Every time.
Except, had I? I thought back to the last few weeks. "I."
"You?"
"I'm so careful."
"Yeah, but every time?"
Randell and I had been going at it a lot. A whole lot.
I looked at Fenton, who had a horrified look on his face. "It's not me." He held his arms up. "I double checked your spell."
Kevin's voice piped up. "Not me either. Today was the first time." My face burned at the whole room knowing that.
Randell. "Fuck," he whispered. "How do we find out?"
"Well, you can delve into a woman and see if she has a life growing, but I'm not good at it. Fenton, are you?"
"No, my specialties don't lie in psychic powers at all."
"So, what?" I asked, panic growing. My emotions were already prone to volatility. Pregnancy wasn't something I was sure I'd ever want to go through. Adoption seemed like a more likely option. "How do we tell?"
"Wouldn't she smell different?" Randell asked, his voice high-pitched. He was as happy about this development as I was.
"I think so," Peter told him. "That's what I've always heard."
Harper shook her head. "Maybe it's too soon."
"How can we find out?" I jumped to my feet, about to really lose my shit.
"Stay calm," Kevin said. "I'll go to the human store and buy one of their tests. It works on lycans and vampires both."
"How do you know that?"
His face blanked out. "I have no idea. It's just something I know." He headed for the door. "Be right back," he called.
I sank back down on the coffee table, shocked to my core. What the fuck would I do with a baby?
Chapter Thirteen
"Now what?" Harper stood up and put her hands on her hips. "We've got to get ahead of this shit."
"Should we call in the niswi?" Ami asked.
"You're not calling anybody until we find out if I'm pregnant." I gave her a look to let her know I meant business.
"Okay, okay. But I think we should tell them we've seen Calista on campus twice."
"How does she keep getting in?" I looked at Sterling and Fenton, who had sat beside each other on the floor. Side by side, it was glaringly apparent that they were first cousins. They even dressed somewhat alike. Hot nerds.
"We put a layer on the ward to keep demons out. If she's getting in she's got to have the help of a high-level demon."
Dread filled my gut. What if she did? Someone high enough to keep Poppy from being able to see what was going on.
That would be someone pretty powerful. Only a handful of demons that powerful existed.
I rolled my eyes and the
n closed them. Poppy? Finding that place in my mind that would connect to Poppy was easy. I'd called him many, many times as a child, even though I’d been told not to. Many, many times. He’d never minded, but when my parents found out they always scolded me. It never stopped me.
I'm busy now, can't come. What is it?
He didn't have to actually be here, I could relay the info. We think there's a very high-level demon helping Calista get on campus. I wanted to give you a heads up.
He didn't reply, but that wasn’t too unusual.
"We need to increase the sentry patrols," Meda said. "The niswi sent extras. If we can't call them yet, we can double the shifts."
Randell shook his head. "I don't have my men do double shifts. They can do two three-quarter shifts a day, separately."
Meda nodded, thinking about it. "Yeah, okay. Have them all rotate."
Randell jumped up. "I'll go work on the schedule right now." He stopped and looked at me.
I read everything in his look. He didn't have to say a word. "I'll come take the test at your place."
A look of relief crossed his face. I couldn't blame him for his apprehension. I didn't want to be pregnant any more than he didn't want me to.
"I, for one, wouldn't mind a baby," Fenton said with a shrug. "I mean, if we're mates, we're going to all shack up eventually, right?"
"Oh, shut up."
Dorian grinned from the couch behind Meda. "I'd help with a baby, Tala."
I narrowed my eyes on him. "Easy for you to say, playboy."
He affected a wounded look. "Ouch. I'm a changed man. I've only got eyes for your sister."
"Guys, if I'm pregnant, every single one of you is helping." I didn't know what they thought, but no way I'd be taking it all on alone.
"Hey," Harper said. "Don't sound like that. I think almost all of us would help voluntarily."
There were a lot of head nods in the room. Everyone but Peter. My heart softening toward the rest of them, I arched an eyebrow at him. He'd pretty much ignored me since his mating bond with Meda activated, but I didn't blame him. My mating bond with Randell had made me ignore him just as hard. But he was still supposed to be my best friend, even if we weren't spending a lot of time together right now.
Just because Ami and Harper were apparently mates didn't mean Meda and Harper would stop running together.
"Hey, I don't know what to do with a baby," he said in alarm. "I'm not saying I wouldn't help, but don't make me like... hold it or something."
Everyone in the room burst out laughing. I was grateful for a break in the tension, which was exactly what he was going for. I knew that for a fact. He had more cousins than anyone I knew, and I'd seen him hold plenty of babies. He'd probably be the first one, after my mates, vying for the baby's attention.
Fucking Satan-sandwich. Already I was thinking of the baby as if it was there for sure.
I pictured the ginormous house Kevin had bought. I wanted to tell the group, but it seemed like an announcement that would be better when Kevin was actually in the room. Let him get some credit.
"Since he's not here, and I can speak freely," Sterling cleared his throat and looked around the room. "And please don't hate me for saying this." He looked directly at me. He didn't want me to get mad. That meant I probably would. He was either about to say something about Kevin or Randell.
I had one guess which. I let my facial expression mirror the irritation that flashed through me.
"We've all heard the rumors. I'm pointing out the elephant in the room."
Ami looked around, bewildered. "What?"
"Kevin is first cousins with Trinity," I said flatly. "And he's never even met her."
"You have to admit he's got that bad-boy vibe going," Sterling rationalized.
"And you and Fenton both have hot-nerd going. What's your point?" I heard a noise in the hall, but I couldn't tell if it was Randell or Kevin.
"Well, how do you know he's not go the same corruption in him that Trinity did?"
"Enough." Kevin's voice thundered through the door. That solved the riddle of who was in the hall.
He walked in the door, all leather jacket and slicked-back hair, looking like sex in jeans. Damn.
"My cousin Trinity was bat-shit crazy. She was raised to be queen and that was taken from her. Her mate ended up being a corrupt lunatic. Her parents died when she was very young. Her heart belonged to Kane but he wasn't her mate."
Meda started to look offended. "Now, wait a minute."
He held up his hands, a drug-store bag hanging from one. "I'm not saying any of that was anyone's fault. Except maybe the ancestors. But it happened. And it fucked her up. She also made some horrible choices along the way. What I'm saying is that her lunacy wasn't some hereditary thing that I caught."
He narrowed his eyes on Sterling. "My bad-boy vibe is me, pal. It's who I am."
Sterling’s face shifted from defensive to sorrowful. "Sorry. I'm sorry you had to explain that. But given your family history, I think my query was valid. After hearing your explanation, I'm reassured."
"I get it," Kevin said as he walked toward me, holding the bag out. I stood and snatched it, smiling my thanks. "I've had to explain that bullshit all my life. Maybe that's why I don't have many friends."
Fenton stood and held out his hand. "Looks like you've got a bunch now."
Kevin looked at Fenton's hand like it was a snake, but eventually reached out and shook it. "Thanks."
"Okay, if we can't reinforce the wards any more, are there any magical traps or weapons we can create?" Meda's question caused Sterling and Fenton's faces to light up.
"Oh, yes. There are potions galore," Fenton said.
"I'll leave you guys to figure it out." I walked out of the room. They didn't need me for making potions. I couldn't even cook, much less make a magical draft. Ami was much better at that stuff. And Meda had magic.
I had a baby to find. Or not, hopefully.
Tapping on the door, I didn't wait for Randell to reply before walking in. "Hey."
He jumped up from his kitchen table, papers spread out everywhere. "You got it?"
"Yeah, but I'm almost a little scared to take it." Looking down at the papers spread out, I chuckled. "Isn't there an app for this?"
He blinked several times. "I never thought about looking for one. Why would you be scared?"
"What if it's positive?" I asked in a small voice. Everything was already changing so much, but bringing a baby into the mix would really throw everything into chaos.
"What if it's negative?" he countered. I considered that, how everyone had gotten excited about having a baby. Everyone offered to pitch in and help. My disappointment at the thought of there being no baby surprised me.
"Then I know that I wouldn't mind having kids one day," I said with a shrug. I hadn’t known that before. I'd thought I didn't want one.
"Me, too," he said with a smile, holding out his arms. "Come here."
I stepped into his arms gladly, surprised by my own emotions again. I was already comforted by my mate's touch. I'd known Randell so long our relationship was progressing into something more already. Fenton and Kevin would take much longer to get there, but that was okay. The difference in the relationships was kind of exciting.
"Let's do this," he said, then kissed the top of my head.
"Okay." I walked to his bedroom, through it, and straight to his bathroom. He sat on the bed. I didn't even bother closing the door. From the angle of his bed, he couldn't see me, and I wanted to feel close to him. If he was close enough to me for a pregnancy scare, he was close enough to hear me pee.
Embrace the weird.
I went back out and sat beside him to read the instructions. "Okay, I said. It's pretty straightforward. Pee on the stick for three seconds, sit it on a flat surface." I looked at him, then stood and walked with a stiff back into the bathroom. Layering several pieces of toilet paper on his counter, I made a spot to lay the test once it was all pee-covered, then sat down a
nd did the deed.
Putting the cap on it with a click, I placed the white stick on the toilet paper on the counter, I yelled at Randell as I washed my hands. "Start a timer. Three minutes."
As I walked out to sit beside him on the bed and wait, a tap at the door had us both walking to open it. Fenton and Kevin stood on the other side. "We thought you might like some support," Fenton said. Kevin nodded.
I smiled at them, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. It hadn't happened since I discovered I had three mates and Poppy had helped me shore up my defenses.
The threat of a baby would do it to anyone, though.
"One more minute," Randell said, checking his phone. We all walked to the bathroom and looked down at the stick. It was still blank.
Stupid digital tests. "I guess it doesn't work until it's been exactly three minutes."
Kevin slipped his hand into mine. "Whatever happens, at least we have somewhere to live, right?"
I burst out in nervous laughter. "Yes, let's take a newborn into a house full of construction."
"What are you talking about?" Randell asked, but as he did, the screen of the test flashed.
Not Pregnant.
We let out a collective sigh. Relief and disappointment washed over me. None of us spoke for several minutes. "Well, let's go tell the crowd," Fenton said. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yes and no." I cocked my head, my gaze still on the test. "I'm relieved. And a little sad. But also, if I'm not pregnant, and nobody is camping out in my brain, then what the fuck is wrong with me?"
Chapter Fourteen
"I'm too tired for any bullshit tonight," I said as we walked back into the room. Everyone looked at me in surprise.
"Well," Meda said, eyes wide. "Are we parents?"
My eyes filled with tears at her words. I knew, in that moment, that she and Ami would've taken on a baby of mine as hardcore as they would their own.
"I'm so thankful to you all for the enormous support," I said, choked up. "And for showing that I wouldn't be alone, no matter what." I gave them a huge smile, holding back the flow of tears. "But no baby."
"Then what the fuck is wrong with you, T?" Peter gave me a scrutinizing look. "You know, those things can be taken too early. Maybe you take it again in a few days."