“Sorry,” I say breezily and show him my top teeth. “Fang-less.”
“No worries,” he says quickly. “I am sure we can find something equally as fun to do.”
“Not likely. I need a favor,” I say, getting to the point.
“Oh?” he asks, surprised. “And there I thought my brother was supposed to give you everything you require.”
“Oh, he gives me what I need,” I say and enjoy his face falling. “Except this. I need your help with something.”
“You have piqued my interest, Princess,” he says.
I launch into my tale and he frowns at me.
“You require my help to stand with your father against the Dragons who will come looking for your daughter, whom you are going to hide away in the Dark Fae Kingdom?” he asks incredulously. “Why on these lands do you think I would agree to such a request? You will be bringing war to my doorstep, and for what?”
And this is it.
“I will offer you anything you wish in return,” I say stiffly.
That changes his mind as I knew it would. “Anything?” he asks and his gaze rakes over me.
“Yes,” I say, not wanting to elaborate.
“Hm, now you have given me something to ponder,” he says and taps his chin. “I suggest we take this discussion into the bedroom.” He comes closer to me and peers down at me. “Shift first. Let me take a look at the real you.”
I do as he requests, and the desire lights up in his eyes.
“Much better,” he murmurs and drops his mouth to mine for a kiss.
I resist the urge to punch him and let him kiss me, but I don’t give him anything back. His hands move to my laces and he quickly loosens them. I steel myself and hope that this is over with quickly, but all of a sudden, a blinding flash of light shoots out of my body, sending Thrace ricocheting around the room and landing in a pile of silk suit on the other side of the room.
I just stand there, unable to move, as I have no idea what just happened.
“It wasn’t me,” I say recovering quickly and hold my hands up. “I swear it.” The last thing I need is him thinking I tried to kill him or something, not exactly the best way to get someone on your side.
He gets to his feet and brushes down his suit and shakes out his hair with as much dignity as he can. “No, it wasn’t you,” he says, his eyes fixed on my stomach. “Curious.”
I put my hand over my stomach as I really do not like the way he is looking at me.
“Whose is it?” he drawls as he saunters back over to me.
“What?” I ask, confused
“Christ, Vampires are such sluts. Do you not even know who the father of your child is?” he asks with disdain.
“What?” I ask again but then I am all caught up. It wasn’t my Power that threw him across the room, it was my child’s. I tighten my arm around my belly protectively, wondering who the father is. The obvious choice is, of course, CK, but I have also had sex with Sebastian and Xane, and–gulp–Vito. This teeny fetus packs one Hell of a punch, which screams Faerie power to me but really it could be anyone’s at this point. Slut indeed, I think with only a hint of amusement.
“Ergh,” he says dismissively. “My brother deserves you. But I really want to take what is his so I will be getting my pound of flesh, so to speak, in exchange for my assistance.?
??
He advances on me again and I want to tell him that the baby really doesn’t want him to touch me, but how crazy does that sound? And I also still need his help to protect my first-born.
He turns me around and bends me over the back of the sofa. “I think this way will suffice,” he says and lifts my skirts.
A little while later, I leave his office with a straight back and brush past Vito and Jerrick.
“I will contact your father immediately to plan our tactics,” Thrace says with a broad smile on his face. “I thank you again for your offer.”