The Brightest Night (Origin 3)

The first thing I noticed was all the stuff. It was like wandering through the baby section in Target. An assembled high chair waited in the corner of the room, next to one of those bouncy chairs I always thought made kids look like human spiders. Beside a folded Pack ’n Play pen was a changing table that featured three different diaper bags. On a small end table was a basket full of bottles and nipples, and there were two strollers and one still in its box.

Then there were the diapers. I didn’t even know there were that many different diaper brands.

A soft laugh came from the vicinity of the large bed. Kat was propped up by a mountain of pillows, deep brown hair swept back from her face in a messy topknot. Her pretty face was flushed as if she’d been out in the sun, but based on the size of her belly, which seemed to have increased from the last time I’d seen her, I doubted she’d been outside. Beside her was a hardcover minus the dust jacket, a bookmark jutting out of the middle of the book. Forgotten on the floor was a basket of bright blue yarn and what might have been a scarf? The beginning of a sweater? Something I really hoped no one would be wearing.

“Daemon has been a bit of an overachiever when it comes to baby prepping,” she said. “Thank God he’s not into doomsday prepping.”

“Actually, that would’ve been helpful if that were the case.” Dee plopped down on the bed beside Kat, crossing her long legs. “But then that would mean Daemon would actually do something really useful.”

Kat snorted. “At least we won’t have to worry about running out of diapers.” Looking down, she patted her rounded stomach. “That is, if the little glow bug decides to show up.”

“Well, he’s definitely taking after Daemon,” Dee commented, peering down at Kat’s belly. “Aren’t you, little guy?”

“How did you find out that it’s a boy?” I lingered just inside the bedroom, fingers clasped in front of me, unsure of what to do.

“We don’t know a hundred percent, but Ashley keeps referring to the baby as a ‘he’ and, well, you’ve met Ashley. Sometimes she knows more than we do,” Kat explained.

“Yeah, she does.” Glancing around the room again, my attention was snagged by a stack of gardening gloves on the oak-finished dresser. They were all new, with their tags still on them, but … My gaze swept back to Kat. “Did you do the garden next door?”

Her eyes lit up. “I can’t take credit for starting it. The previous owners did. I just take care of it. Well, as long as I’ve been able to. Hopefully, I’ll still have time to pop over and keep it maintained, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh my God, please feel free whenever you can. I have the opposite of a green thumb. I have a black thumb of death, actually. The garden will need your help.”

“Maybe I can teach you a few tricks to turn your black thumb of death to a muddy-green color.” Kat gave me a tired smile. “Come.” She gestured at the space in front of Dee. “Sit. We figured since Luc was with the guys, we could have some one-on-one time.”

Nervous and wanting to, well, wanting so badly to make a good impression, I got my butt where she wanted me. I sat at the foot of the bed, in front of Dee. “I didn’t know Archer was with them.”

“I don’t think they knew that until Archer invited himself along,” Dee replied dryly.

Kat laughed at that. “But to be honest, I totally had an ulterior motive for inviting you over. I have a ton of questions for you.”

Suspecting what her questions had to do with, I decided not to beat around the bush. “Daemon told you what I did to him in the woods.”

“He did.” Heather-gray eyes met mine. Eyes I knew had seen things weaker people wouldn’t have survived. “And I’m relieved that he’s okay. If not, I’d have to do my best to take you out, pregnant or not.”

Getting the warning loud and clear, I pushed past the embarrassment driven by the uncomfortable truth of what I’d done and nodded. “Understandable.” My cheeks warmed. “I really am sorry about what I did. I don’t expect either you or Daemon to accept that. I just hope you all know that I am genuinely sorry.”

“But I do accept your apology,” Kat said, surprising me. “From what I understand, you had no control over what happened, and Daemon knows that, too.”

Daemon may know that, but I doubted he was as forgiving as Kat. “Part of me wishes you didn’t accept my apology. I know that sounds weird, but…” I trailed off, uncertain of how to explain it.