Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.” He pulled a T-shirt over his head. “I’m not necessarily all there during those sessions. And no, it’s not painful, but being in Hell and in the presence of Lucifer…changes me. It takes Trent longer and longer to bring me back. This is why Fenrir and I are distant. He was around once when I returned from Hell and I didn’t mean to, but I threw a boulder his way. If he hadn’t been quick…”
“He knows you didn’t mean to hurt him,” Trent argued.
“He didn’t seem to know that yesterday,” Gray pronounced with gravity. “He looked perfectly prepared to defend his mother, and I happen to know you have told him time and time again how well Kelsey can defend herself.”
“I think that was more about his brother,” Trent said and then stopped. “Fuck. She hadn’t told you yet.”
Gray had gone…well, gray. I hadn’t thought about it. I’d taken all the pleasure Gray and Trent could give me and then let myself rest. How could I have gone so long without telling him I was pregnant? “I’m sorry. It slipped my mind. I was wrapped up in seeing you again.”
“You’re pregnant.” The words didn’t come out joyous. Gray stared at me like something terrible could happen any minute.
My heart threatened to squeeze in my chest. “That’s pretty much what happens when you perform a fertility ritual, babe.” I was going to give him time to adjust, but we did need to talk about this. “Quinn says the baby’s fine. What happened with the whole trick and a trap thing didn’t affect him at all.”
“You’re pregnant.” Gray’s hands clenched.
“She’s pregnant and she’s fine.” Trent slid out of bed and dragged his pants on. “There’s no reason to worry. You were careful with the contract. Hugo read it over himself, and Eddie approved it. Your contract can’t hurt me or Kelsey or any of our children. Fenrir was running on instinct last night. It wasn’t about you. It was about any threat to his mother and brother. You knew she would likely be pregnant when she got back. There’s nothing to worry about, and absolutely nothing to get upset over.”
Gray was on the edge, and I’d put him there. We should have had this talk the minute I’d realized he was in the room. I’d let our past get in the way of our future. “You know I’ve seen this baby, Gray. He’s happy and healthy and he loves both of his dads. Trent loves this kid already. The same way you’re going to love Trent’s daughter.”
Gray took a long breath. “Okay. But if I ever…”
I shook my head. “You won’t. Once you stop descending, you’ll be normal again. But, babe, you have to make things right with Fenrir, and that means talking to him. He told me that over the years you’ve become a helpful authority figure to him. You have to be more.”
“Fenrir might run on instinct,” Trent said. “But he also fully understands pack dynamics. Start acting like a father and he’ll treat you like one. You were afraid of hurting him so he was also afraid. You can start by being affectionate around him. Not with him. Not at first, but with Kelsey. You’re cold when you’re around the kids.”
“I’m trying to maintain control,” Gray admitted quietly. “I don’t mean to be cold. I don’t feel cold toward him. I feel regret that I wasn’t what he needed me to be.”
“You know you couldn’t have come with us,” Trent pointed out. “You have to be on the Earth plane. I think some of the unbalance you feel is from Lucifer fucking around and keeping you in Hell longer than you should be.”
Gray had become a prophet here on the Earth plane. Despite what his father had warned, Gray needed to be on the Earth plane for his powers to work properly and for his own health. He wouldn’t have been able to go running across the planes with Trent and Sasha when they’d fled with the kids. Gray had to stay behind and protect the people I loved here.
I needed to stop yelling at him and start understanding what was going on now. I definitely needed to repair the relationship between him and Fenrir since I had zero intention of having my family split. I slipped out of bed and put on a robe as there was a knock on the door.
Trent opened it. “Morning, Evan. Is everything okay?”
Evangeline Donovan-Quinn glanced around, her eyes lit with mirth. “I’m supposed to tell you breakfast is ready in the dining room, though Eddie said he’ll bring it in here if you want.”
“That would be…” Gray began and then stopped. “No. We should all sit down and eat together. Tell Eddie we’ll be there in a few moments. Is Fenrir all right? Do you think he’ll be okay sitting down to breakfast with me?”