His eyes warmed and his arm curled me so I was forced to twist into him. When I did, he pulled me close.
“You carry my child?” he whispered like he wanted the answer to be yes.
I wanted the answer to be yes too.
Only when Chris had accepted me, Apollo and I had been married and no one was targeting anyone I cared about with extreme malice.
“I’m taking the powder,” I whispered back.
He dipped his face closer and his voice lower (all for nothing, I was sure; I felt everyone’s attention on us but at that moment I didn’t give a shit I was entering a discussion about my period in front of two queens, two princesses, a prince, a king and whatever Frey was).
“You have not had a cycle in some time, my dove.”
“Does the powder always work?” I repeated.
“It is rare when it does not, but it’s been known to happen.”
I stared at him as my lungs seized.
Then I let out a huge breath, doing it chanting, “Oh crap, oh shit, oh crap.”
He pulled me even closer. “My dove—”
Suddenly panicked, I fisted my fingers in his sweater and cried, “We have to go back to the other world!”
His head jerked and his eyes narrowed before he stated, “We will not.”
I shook my head and pressed even closer. “We have to, Lo. If I’m knocked up, I need vitamins, and ultrasounds, and prenatal tests, and—”
He gave me a slight shake. “Calm yourself, dove.”
“You calm yourself!” I nearly shouted. “I’m pregnant in a world with no epidurals!”
He probably had no stinking clue what I was talking about.
He also didn’t ask.
He lifted a hand to cup my jaw, dipped his face close again and repeated in a sweet whisper, “Calm yourself, my dove.”
I deep breathed.
He didn’t.
He stated, sounding happy and proud, “You carry my child.”
“We’re not married,” I replied.
“We’ll rectify that,” he returned immediately.
“Chris hasn’t accepted me,” I reminded him.
“He’s getting there,” he reminded me.
Then I gave it to him.
“I haven’t done real great with this before, Lo,” I stated quietly.
His thumb stroked my cheek as he replied, “Then if you feel more comfortable carrying our child with the medicine you can receive in the other world, after we see to these troubles, we will all go there so you can have that and we’ll return when she’s safely arrived.”
He’d do that.
He’d so do that.
For me.
God.
I loved this man.
I didn’t tell him that. I’d share it (again) later.
Instead, still whispering, I said, “She?”
He was still whispering too when he replied. “Your hair. Your freckles. Your spirit. Yes, my dove. She.”
He wanted her to have my freckles.
Tears welled in my eyes so Apollo’s smile was blurry.
Oh yes.
I loved this man.
Queen Aurora broke into our moment when she declared, “Now we must have champagne.” I turned my blurry eyes to her as she went on. “Or sparkling cider for you, child, if you are like my Finnie and don’t drink spirits while expecting.”
While expecting.
I was expecting.
Huzzah!
I cleared the frog in my throat before I confirmed, “I don’t.”
“I don’t either,” Cora put in.
“Me either,” Circe said.
“You know I don’t,” Finnie added.
“Odd,” Aurora murmured as she rose from her place on the couch and headed to a velvet cord hanging in the corner.
I looked to Frey when he remarked, his gaze on Apollo, “Well done, cousin. You beat pennyrium.”
Finnie rolled her eyes.
I snuggled into Apollo when I heard his chuckle.
“Um…as beautiful as it was witnessing that,” Circe began and I looked to her to see her gazing at me with soft eyes. “And it was beautiful, Maddie.” She then looked among the couches. “I’m thinking this is more than a happy coincidence.”
Lahn looked no less scary when he grunted, “I agree.”
“The women are protected. The plan goes forward. This ends soon,” Frey stated and I turned surprised eyes to him.
“What plan?” I asked and Apollo’s arm, already tight around me, tightened further so I tipped my head back to look at him.
“The dragons, elves, witches, wolves and conspirators all are in place,” he informed me. “Tomorrow night, you attend a gale. Outside the enchantments on this palace, Helda will be drawn out and captured by Lavinia. The Circe of this world, now of the other one, will be brought back to this world on the morrow. She will be in the palace with Tor’s witches, keeping watch over the four of you. With Helda’s magic eliminated, which we suspect will weaken their defenses, at the same time, Specter Isle will be attacked by dragons and invaded by elves and Valentine. Minerva, Baldur, Cora and Edith either perish by dragon fire or are dispatched another way. We will hold no trial. They will find justice where they stand. Except Helda, who harmed you. She will find justice at my hand.”
Justice at Apollo’s hand.
Helda was fucked.
“Um…” I mumbled.
“You and the other women are here because our enemies have been told you will be and we’re certain they hold watch so they must see you to be. They have also been told you will be delivered to Helda,” Apollo continued. “Obviously, you won’t. Valentine and Lavinia will create soulless doppelgangers who will draw Helda from Specter Isle.”
“Holy cow,” I breathed.
“The plan is in place. This ends tomorrow night,” he concluded.
As happy as I was at that thought, I had questions.
“Can you kill a she-god?”
“I cannot,” he answered. “Lavinia and Valentine also may not have that power. And the elves do not take lives. But they can leach her power, return it to the earth, and once stripped, anyone can.”
“You’re sure?” I pressed.
It was Frey who answered that. “The elves are sure.”
That sounded firm.
I looked to him and nodded.
Lahn stood, his eyes locked on Queen Aurora. “I wish to see the witches and assess the defenses that guard kah dahksahna.”
“We’re having champagne,” she replied.
His look changed.
Aurora saw it and processed it.
Thus she wisely murmured, “We’ll have champagne after you assess the defenses of the palace.”
Lahn stalked to the door.
Aurora followed him.
Apollo gave me a squeeze that gained my attention.
When he caught my eyes, he said, “I’ll be attending them. I wish to make sure all is in order.”
I nodded.
He watched me do it then his eyes dropped to my mouth. A second later, his mouth was there but not for a kiss.
For him to say, “We celebrate later.”
He was pretty happy, as was I, so I had a feeling our celebration was going to be a good one.
I shivered.
When I did, I saw his eyes smile.
Then he brushed his lips against mine, gave me another squeeze and managed to get in another brush of his lips against my temple as he straightened from the couch.
I looked around the room noting Frey and Tor had the same idea as Apollo for they were all on the move toward the door.
Within seconds, the women were alone in the room.
We all looked at each other.
Cora broke our silence.
“That’s super sweet, Apollo being willing to take you back home so you can have your baby there.”
It was super sweet.
Then again, Apollo was super sweet.
I grinned at her and r
eplied, “Yes. That’s his way.”
Cora grinned back.
Finnie had leaned forward and was pouring tea as she called, “All right, ladies, it isn’t the good stuff, but since we’re all up the duff and we should mark that occasion, it’ll have to do.”
She put down the elegant silver teapot and lifted a china cup.
Cora, Circe and I leaned forward, claimed our own cups and lifted them after we did.
Finnie’s eyes came to me. “To the dream team.”
Circe and I raised our cups an inch and repeated, “To the dream team.”
“What’s this?” Cora murmured, but still raised her glass and took a sip as the rest of us giggled.
After she stopped giggling, Finnie explained.
As she did, my eyes wandered beyond her to the fire blazing in its enormous grate at her back. I held my cup in one hand but pressed the other to my belly.
I then brought the cup back to my lips and whispered to myself, “To the dream team.”
I smiled.
I hoped.
I sent a prayer to the heavens.
Then I took a sip.
* * * * *
Apollo
Apollo stood at the window in the formal sitting room at the front of the Winter Palace, impatient to get to his Maddie.
It was late. Dinner had been consumed. The children were in bed. Tomorrow was the hunt. Tomorrow evening the gale. Tomorrow night, it would be done.
They had planned for everything.
Absolutely everything.
Except one thing.
He heard the door open behind him and drew in an annoyed breath when the green witch glided in.
It was annoyed for he’d called for her over half an hour before and now she was gliding in as if wending her aimless way through a party.
She sent him a cat’s smile.
He turned away from the window and crossed his arms on his chest.
“You called?” she asked, coming into the room and stopping by a chair.
“And you know why I did,” he replied. “Have you seen him?”
She held his gaze but shook her head. “I have not.”
Apollo tipped his head to the side. “Your demeanor suggests you have no concerns about this,” he noted.
He didn’t like that her eyes slid away. She raised a hand and studied her nails as she again spoke, but he couldn’t help but think her nonchalance was a ruse.
“All is well-planned,” she told her nails.
“That does not answer my question,” he returned and she lifted her gaze to his, her brows arching.
“You asked a question?”
“Perhaps not. So I shall ask it now. Do you have no concerns about not being able to see the other me?”
Her gaze was again steady on his when she answered, “No. If you share with our colombe that he may be close.”
He shook his head. “I do not wish to frighten Maddie with that information.”
“I can understand that, mon loup. It is up to you whether you choose to frighten her or prepare her.”
Apollo felt his jaw get hard.
“It’s my opinion she must know,” Valentine continued.
It would be Maddie’s opinion as well.
Bloody hell.
“You’ve made your decision?” she asked, studying him closely.
“I’ll tell her.”
She seemed to relax which was something else he did not like.
“Alas, this puts a pall on a happy day,” she murmured.
It bloody well did.
He didn’t reply.
She tipped her head to the side, a small smile playing about her mouth. “Do you wish to know what she carries?”
Apollo felt his chest get tight.
“You know?”
“Of course, chéri.”
“Do you know if our child will come to us healthy and strong?”
She shook her head. “I can sense what the sex is of the child she carries, but I do not have the sight, Apollo.” Another small smile. “You could ask Meeta.”
He would do this.
Later.
After they had prevailed against their foes.
He held her eyes and declared, “I wish a daughter.”
Her eyes went half-mast before she whispered, “Then luck shines on you, mon loup.”
He felt his chest tighten.
Maddie carried his daughter.
Their daughter.
Gods, he hoped she had red hair and freckles.
But he’d take her as she came, just as long as she came, leaving her mother well and happy, arriving on this earth the same way.
Valentine took him out of his thoughts when she asked, “Is that all you needed?”
“Yes,” he replied.
She dipped her chin, her eyes never leaving him, and said, “Then I will leave you. Sleep well, chéri.”
He inclined his head and watched as she glided to the door and out of it.
He stared at the door for some time.
Then he left the room and moved through the Palace, three destinations to achieve before he joined Maddie in her chambers.
The first took him to the door of servants’ quarters.
The first maid he saw, he asked her to bring him Meeta.
“Of course, Lord Apollo,” she muttered and moved quickly away.
Apollo stood at the door, still impatient.
But unlike Valentine, Meeta didn’t make him wait.
“My lord,” she greeted, still fully dressed and this was likely due to the fact she intended to traverse the halls to find Ruben’s room. Indeed, he was lucky she wasn’t already there.
“Meeta,” he replied. “I call on you only briefly then I’ll leave you to the rest of your evening.”
She didn’t wait for him to ask.
She answered. “I do not see her.”
Apollo felt his brows draw together. “At all?”
“No,” she answered.
“You explained you could lock on her,” he reminded her.
“I explained I can pinpoint it if I sense something.” She shook her head. “However, I sense nothing.”
“So all is well,” he remarked.
“All is never well, wolf,” she said softly. “And I must admit, I am not privy to your plans but it is not lost on me we all journey here together under heavy guard with the protection of powerful witches so I knew before you mentioned it that something was stirring. In knowing this, I was concerned that I could see nothing at all. But Miss Maddie seems most content. Perhaps it’s is simply that there is nothing to see.”
By the gods, he hoped she was right.
“You’ll notify me if that changes,” he ordered.
“Most definitely,” she returned.
“Then I’ll bid goodnight to you then, Meeta.”
“And to you,” she replied on an inclination of her head.
He turned away, moved back into the house and up the steps.
His second destination was his daughter’s room. He made certain there was fresh fuel on the fire, the covers were high and she was tucked in before he brushed a kiss on her temple and left her.
His third destination was his son’s room. He went through the same motions as with Élan and exited his room.
This took him to his final destination.
He entered Maddie’s room and found her curled in a chair by the fire, a soft cream throw on her lap, her shawl on her shoulders, her body tipped to the side toward a lit lamp. She had a large sheaf of papers in her hands and her head was bent to them, her attention so acute on what she was reading, she didn’t look his way. Not even after the sound of the door catching could be heard.
“Dove?” he called, moving her way, and her body gave a soft jerk before her head came up.
When she saw him and her expression changed, he stopped dead.
“I came into my room,” she whispered then lifted the papers in her hands. “And this was on my pillow.”
&n
bsp; Apollo didn’t look at the papers when the tears wet her eyes as the pink of emotion tinged her cheeks.
He was about to go to her when she declared, “Chris left me the story he’s writing.”
And again, his chest tightened.
By the gods.
“It’s not done,” she went on then visibly swallowed. “As it wouldn’t be since it’s about Loretta and Hans.”
“He left it for you?” Apollo asked.
“On my pillow,” she answered. “You have your own room, honey,” she reminded him. “I don’t think he’s aware you sleep with me.”
He did have his own room.
This meant his son left Madeleine a story.
Christophe would not let just anyone read his stories.
And he would never go out of his way to share one with someone unless that someone meant something to him.
No.
Unless that someone meant a great deal to him.
Maddie knew this and this was why her voice was croaky when she noted, “I think this is some serious progress.”
Her understatement made him grin and finally move to her.
When he arrived, he plucked her out of her chair and sat in it, arranging her and her throw on his lap and curling his arms around her.
“Is it good?” he asked, but he knew the answer.
His son was a very talented writer.
He watched her draw in a deep breath, getting control of her emotions, before she nodded.
“Yes. Actually, it’s great. He drew me in right away.” She looked down to the papers she held in her hand. “Though, it’s clear he wants Loretta to fall for Hans so I’m hoping he doesn’t get disappointed.”
“I hope so too,” he murmured.
Her eyes came to him and they were filled with wonder.
“He left it for me, baby.”
Apollo pulled her closer. “He did, poppy.”
Her smile was shaky but she pushed through it and it finally lit in her eyes.
“Today is the best…day…ever,” she whispered.
He’d had many better days than she, marrying a woman he loved, that woman bringing their two children into the world, Maddie sharing he had her love.
But he decided this day was definitely in the top five.
“I’m glad you think so, poppy,” he replied gently.
This made what he had to tell her all the more frustrating.
But he had to tell her.
She would not only wish to know, she needed to know.
Preparing her and himself, Apollo gathered her ever closer and shared, “Alas, I have something to share that will bring darkness to this day.”