Page 86 of Blood Lust

“It’s impossible. We’re dead. Dead things don’t birth life.” Glaring at the potion she placed in the center. She wants my attention on the vial. “What’s in the bottle?”

Smiling now, she takes a deep breath. “Life.”

A shaking hand reaches out and grasps the potion, it feels cool in the palm of my hand. I turn it over, staring as it curls around itself and continuously shifts in the bottle. Life?

“If you drink that Wren, your heart will beat again. Your blood will flow, and you’ll remain everything you are now, but more. If you and your mate drink it, you could have children together. The child will be like you, though I admit, I don’t know how the aging or immortality part would play into it....”

Children?

In the mountains, I accepted that it would never be possible. I accepted that I had my life and a man who loves me. I decided that it would have to be enough. What if I could have more? The cost is simply standing against a foe all supernaturals share. Joining with witches and wolves against a common threat to the entire world.

The temptation to uncork the bottle and down its contents is overwhelming. I force myself to place it back in the center of the table.

“How do I know it would work?”

Becky returns to check on us and asks if we’re ready to order. “No, thank you,” I mutter, but she turns to Sophie instead.

The witch extends Becky’s hand toward me, puncturing her palm with a sharp nail. “Becky here was my first test subject. Taste her blood, and you will see she remains a vampire.” I am studying the hostess now, my skepticism waning.

Pressing the pad of my index finger to the drop of blood spilling into Becky’s palm I raise it to my tongue.

It’s fucking vampire blood.

I can hear her heartbeat and see the flush of her cheeks.

“Listen deeper,” Sophie urges.

Deeper?

Closing my eyes I tune out the restaurant, focusing solely on the hostess, this vampire with a beating heart. A flutter comes from her midsection.

No.

Fucking.

Way.

“I’m due in five months,” Becky’s voice is filled with pride. “It’s growing at the same rate as a normal human baby. I still drink blood, and the pregnancy is healthy so far.”

I know my mouth is wide open in shock. Sophie grins and thanks Becky for her time. I laugh, feeling light-headed. History books will remember that a hostess named Becky was the first vampire to ever get pregnant.

Sophie pulls an identical bottle from her bag and sets it with the first. “My gift to you, regardless of your decision to help. One for you, one for your mate. All research indicates this is permanent.” I stare once more at the shimmering purple liquid in disbelief, despite all of the evidence to the contrary.

“How is this possible? What sort of magic…” I can’t even find the words.

Eyebrows raised, Sophie sits back and lists off the process. “Necromancy magic was the jumping-off point. We had to blend it with earth and blood magic. Then we needed a binder. That’s how I found Becky. She volunteered, so we used her and her mate’s blood to quicken the potion. I have another young vampire lady who is also with child. She drank the potion that used Becky’s blood, as will you. If we have a vampire to make the initial donation, it should work on any other vampire who drinks it.”

I want to cry with joy.

Of course, Oz and I have never discussed kids, simply because it wasn’t an option. Though I can’t imagine him denying me anything. “Thank you,” I whisper, tucking the bottles into my bag, ensuring they aren’t in danger of being crushed.

Sophie didn’t have to give me this outright. It symbolizes the witches being willing to work with us, that they trust us more than demons and will help us obtain dreams that many of us have.

A symbol of good faith.

A symbol of our future.

Doing my best to keep my voice even and my poker face on I say, “I don’t speak for the council or even speak directly for my coven. But Sophie, I will relay your message, and if I have any say on the outcome at all, my preference is to help you.”

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