Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“David said he didn’t want to harm the baby.”

“Only you?” Lann asked, his eyes turning a pale shade of gold. “And if our child ever landed in any gift collector’s claws, death would seem like a merciful fate.”

Her heart contracted. Her breath caught. If anything happened to her baby…

Cursing under his breath, he moved to her side and cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry, Katherine. I didn’t mean to upset you, but I promised to keep you and our baby safe, and I’ll give my life to do it.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” she whispered. “One of us has to take care of him.”

He dropped his hand and curled his fingers into fist. “Please stop reminding me of the fact that you’re going to die.”

It wasn’t her intention. She only needed his promise that he’d keep himself safe. She needed to know their baby would be cared for.

“Lann, I—”

She was going to explain, but he turned so abruptly, she swallowed her words.

“My lust is the reason you’re going to die,” he said with his back to her. “It’s the reason I can’t live with myself.”

With that, he walked from the room, slamming the door so hard it shook in the frame.

If it hadn’t been for the circumstances, dinner would almost have been a party. Everyone residing in the castle was present, and their guest of honor was Erwan. Kat took an immediate liking to the Breton fisherman. He reminded her of her grandfather.

Dinner was served in the big dining room, and afterward the men cleared the table while Kat and Eve loaded the dishwasher. Clelia saw to the animals, and Cain prepared espresso.

Lann politely refused an espresso. When the others went to the lounge with their coffee, Lann excused himself. Kat followed his example. She went back to the room to check her emails on the laptop Lann had given her. Up to now, she’d avoided the task that awaited because she didn’t know how to explain where she was, or why, but after speaking to her mom, she had a clearer idea of what to say.

Kat sent an email to Diana, telling her that she was going home to see her parents for Easter to break the news of her pregnancy to them. She again asked Diana not to say anything until she’d had a chance to tell them in person.

For a while, she contemplated what to tell Charles. She couldn’t break the news of dropping out without alarming her parents. The only solution that came to mind was to stall until she’d dealt with her parents. Her mind made up, she sent an email to Charles, telling him that she’d been unwell and was about two weeks behind schedule. She told him she’d catch up, but didn’t say anything about not being in Santiago any longer.

Then she ordered a few pregnancy books online and downloaded them to her laptop. She was three pages into the first book when she fell asleep.

When Lann entered the room, Kat was propped up on the pillows, her eyes closed and her breathing even. The air moved gently around her, and, for a while, he stood quietly to enjoy the tingle of the molecules on his skin. He smiled as he studied her. She was tired. More tired than usual. It would get better in a couple of weeks. He picked up the laptop and pushed the refresh button to see what she was working on. He looked at the text, describing the growth phases of their unborn baby, week by week. Right now, his son was the size of a kidney bean, with fingers and toes. He’d almost given up that son, and now that his child was safe, the price he had to pay was the life of the woman he loved. There was no one to see him, so he let the stoic mask drop. When morning came, he’d be strong again.

The following day, Joss fetched Maya from the airport. He introduced Kat briefly before disappearing with Maya and the others into the study. She bet they were talking about tracking David. Cain desperately wanted information on Godfrey.

When the small group exited the study more than an hour later, Clelia announced that the men were responsible for fixing their own lunch. The girls were going shopping. Eve declined, seeing that she was working against a deadline. Joss didn’t seem happy about letting them go, and Lann grudgingly agreed, but only because Joss told Maya to go with them.

Walking down a street with baby boutiques in Vannes, Maya said, “I can’t believe I’m fucking shopping.” She rolled her eyes. “Baby shopping.”

She shook her head, making her beaded dreadlocks rattle. She wore tight, black pants and a low-cut top. Her jacket was loose, concealing her weapons, but it didn’t hide her generous cleavage. Men’s heads turned after her swaying hips.