“What do you want?” Ella asks, voice catching. She’s trying to reach into her purse again for the pepper spray. She keeps eyeing Binx, and if she even thinks about spraying my familiar in the face, she’s got another thing coming.
“Nothing,” I answer. “I literally want nothing to do with you ever again. We are going for a walk, so move out of the way.” I hold up my hand, ready to telekinetically shove Scott aside.
“Callie,” Julian says under his breath, eyeing me.
“Fine,” I huff and let my hand drop. “You’re no fun.”
“You can turn him into a cat again another time.”
I smile. “That’s more like it.” Binx growls, and I pick him up, running my hand over his sleek fur. “Now go on,” I tell Scott and Ella. “Don’t hog the sidewalk.”
Scott locks the car and reaches for Ella’s hand, dragging her away. He turns around every other step, looking at me.
“He’s scared of you,” Julian says.
“Good.” I let out a breath, and Binx rubs his head against me. “I was scared of him and the man I thought was my father for so long. It’s time they know how it feels.”
Not wanting to cause unnecessary drama for Abby, we cross the street and walk in the opposite direction.
“Are you feeling better?” Julian asks.
“I’m still pissed but—oh, you mean the morning sickness. Yeah, not smelling that nail polish helps. We can keep walking, though. It’s nice out, and I think Eliza appreciates some alone time with Lucas. She’s his daughter, for lack of a better word.”
“You’re worried she’s going to be jealous?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. It took her a while to warm up to me. I thought it was because she had romantic feelings for Lucas, but it was because she didn’t like witches and she was more worried I wasn’t good enough for him. They have a weird relationship.”
“Many vampires have sex with those they make.”
“Yeah, they do, but not Lucas and Eliza. He turned her into a vampire for revenge and didn’t want anything to do with her. He told me he tried leaving her behind but couldn’t sever the bond.” I shrug. “It worked out, and I like her. She’s dramatic and kinda bratty, but she’s part of the package.”
I let Binx jump out of my arms so he can go run after birds. Julian and walk around the block and then head back to the house. The caterers will be arriving soon, and I’m not sure if there are enough dishes in the house anymore. Lucas bought the house fully staged and left everything in the kitchen, but it’s just the basics, and we have a full house coming over. Granted, three members of the party won’t eat.
Which reminds me to make sure Lucas gets a bag of blood. The blood grossed me out before, and just thinking about it makes my stomach churn. There’s no way I can slip a bag under my shirt and warm it up without barfing now.
“Hey,” I ask as we wait for cars to drive by before crossing the street again. “Obviously, Lucas drinks my blood, and he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to continue that now that I’m…”
“Pregnant,” Julian finishes.
“Yes. He read that pregnant women shouldn’t donate blood, but when people donate blood, they give a lot. I don’t think Lucas drinks that much at once, though honestly I have no idea. But, um, I’m not human.”
“So you’re wondering if it’s okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, feeling a little awkward. Lucas is a vampire. Everyone knows vampires need blood to survive. But feeding and sex go hand-in-hand.
“I don’t know,” Julian answers, not feeling the same bit of embarrassment I do. “You are not human, and neither is your child.”
“Right,” I say with a nod. “Since I’m half witch and half angel, the baby would be like a fourth witch and a fourth angel, and then half human.”
“I believe so.”
“I hope it has powers.” The thought suddenly horrifies me. “If this kid has me for a mother and a vampire for a father and then is normal…that would really fucking suck.” I slowly shake my head. “I can’t imagine not having powers. Magic makes everything so much easier. And it’s just a part of me.”
“I believe he or she will have powers. It takes a while to dilute a witch’s bloodline. I’ve watched over the years.”
“Oh, that’s good.” I look at my stomach. “You won’t be a non,” I tell the baby. Binx trots along between us, and a group of elementary-aged girls gush over him, leaving their fenced-in front yard to pet him.
He eats it all up, rolling around and purring until the girls are called back by a parent. I pick him up and carry him across the street to keep up the appearance that he’s a normal cat.