Page 117 of Viper

In response, Ella had thrown in a comment about how well the club had integrated itself into demonic society; claimed that they could only have made important allies like Knox and Maddox if said allies felt certain that the club meant no harm whatsoever to the demons existing in this realm. Melodie and Jocelyn had strongly disagreed, tossing out stories of the deaths of past incantors who were wronged by the Fallen.

The second time Ella had tried broaching the subject, Melodie had scowled and said, “Don’t make me think about them, I’m too annoyed that Knox refused to forbid them entrance to the Underground.” Ella hadn’t even known until right then that her mother had actually made such a direct appeal to him.

Ella rose from her stool. “I’ve given up on the idea ofgentlybreaking it to them. The fact is they’re not going to take it well no matter what approach I take.” She crossed to the sink and plonked her bowl and spoon into it.

Mia’s brow furrowed as she stared at the bowl. “What made you settle on having ice-cream for breakfast? You on the rag or something?”

“No, but it helped me ignore the weird taste on my tongue.” Ella grimaced. “It’s been there since I woke up. I was going to scoff on a banana instead, but the smell of it turned mystomach.” She wrinkled her nose at Mia’s mug. “Same goes for your coffee, actually.”

Mia poked her tongue into the inside of her cheek. “Hmm.”

“What does ‘hmm’ mean?”

Mia set her cup on the counter and then curled her fingers around Ella’s upper arm. “Sweetie, why don’t you come sit down?”

Allowing her sister to usher her back onto her stool, Ella frowned at the odd expression she wore. “What is it?”

Mia clasped her hands and hesitated, seeming intent on choosing her words carefully. “Having ice-cream for breakfast isn’t exactly normal for you, is it? You have headaches that come and go. Also not normal. Certain smells are bothering you. Again, unusual. Now you also have a funny taste on your tongue.Definitelyabnormal. And maybe it’s nothing, but … ” Mia trailed off and bit her bottom lip. “When was the last time you had your monthly code red situation?”

Ella went very still, startled by the question. “I’m not pregnant,” she breathed.

“When was it?” Mia gently persisted.

“Well, it was … ” Ella frowned, struggling to recall the last time she’d had her period. Her belly began to churn. “Shortly after I slept with Viper at the Red Rooms the first time.” She scrubbed a hand down her face, feeling the blood drain from it. Her demon wasn’t one to panic. Ever. But its unease was amping up with every second.

Mia gave her a gentle smile. “I think you should let me check you over, just in case.”

Ella’s pulse started to kick up. “I can’t be pregnant.”

“It’s possible that I’m wrong. Let’s be sure, though.”

Swallowing, Ella rubbed her palms over her thighs. “Okay.”

Her sister gave a satisfied nod. “Just relax. Stay nice and still for me.” She rested a splayed hand on Ella’s stomach and closed her eyes.

Her nerves winding tight with anxiety, Ella worried her lower lip. She fought the urge to tap her foot restlessly, impatience battering at her. Finally, her sister’s eyelids lifted. “Well?” Ella all but croaked.

Clasping her hands again, Mia smiled. “Congratulations, sis. You’re going to be a mom.”

Oh, fuck.

Ella’s ability to think coherently promptly went right out the window. She sat there in stunned silence, her mind whirling; her thoughts jumbled; her hearing tinny.

Mia kept talking, but Ella didn’t take in a single word. Couldn’t. She was stuck trying to absorb what she’d just heard.

Ella barely registered her sister disappearing from her side. What could have been minutes or hours later, a warm cup was pushed into Ella’s hand.

“Drink this,” her sister coaxed. “It’s just herbal tea. Safe for pregnant women, I promise.”

Pregnant.

Maybe it was the sensation of warmth from the mug that snapped Ella out of her panic. Maybe the word ‘pregnant’ hit hard enough to make the entire situation sink in. Whatever the case, she felt her brain begin to slow its roll.

Her demon’s shock swiftly became buried beneath the avalanche of parental protectiveness that had rained down on it. The wellbeing of the child now its sole concern, its sense of hypervigilance shot into the stratosphere.

“Do you know what you want to do?” The careful question from Mia was empty of judgement.

There was a lot that Ella didn’t know, but she felt certain of one thing. Setting down the cup, she said, “I want to keep the baby.”

---