Page 123 of Viper

Viper swiped his thumb over the back of her hand. “Does everything look good?” he asked Greene.

“It’s hard to say for absolutely certain—the image is just so murky because of the added layer no one wants to explain to me,” Greene replied, moving the probe this way and that.

Ella gasped as the baby kicked at it.

Greene blinked. “Oh, the fetus doesn’t like that, does it?”

Ella felt its consciousness flutter against hers, and she had the impression of cold and discomfort.

The image on the screen froze as the machine faltered, stuttering and rattling. And Ella justknewthe little menace in her womb was responsible.

As Greene removed the probe and began pressing buttons on the machine, Ella exchanged a look with her sister, who looked close to laughing. Yeah, her demon thought it was hilarious too.

Ella lightly touched the baby’s mind.You’re fine, the machine can’t hurt you, I promise.

Eventually, the ominous noises stopped.

She peered up at Viper to find his eyes smiling, a hint of pride there.

Greene let out a long breath. “I think we’d better print out the image on the screen in case the machine stops working altogether.” She jabbed a button. There was a short whir as it printed out a small black and white picture. The doctor handed it to Ella with a smile. “Unfortunately, it’s not the clearest image.”

It wasperfect. Would have been perfect no matter what, because it was her baby. She looked up at Viper again, finding him staring down at the picture, his lips curled; his eyes twin gems of wonder and contentment.

His gaze breezed over to hers, and his mouth canted up a little more.They look kind of like a peanut, but I’m all there for it.

She snorted, gratefully accepting the paper towel Greene handed to her, listening as the doctor reeled off all the various symptoms she could expect to experience. One made her blink. “Wait, power-hiccups?” she repeated, wiping the gel from her abdomen.

“You may not have the same level of control over your demonic abilities, or it may be that you instead struggle to access them,” Greene explained. “You may not experience the issue, but I thought it best to warn you.” Having switched off the ultrasound machine, she stood. “Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and raw fish. We’ll have regular scans so we can keep an eye on things. Mia gave you my number; call me any time if necessary.”

Ella righted her tee and slipped off the bed. “Thank you.” She shook the doctor’s hand once more and then walked out of the room with the others. Smiling down at the picture she held, she swallowed. “Psychically, the baby doesn’t feel so small. It has a strong presence, if you know what I mean. But it’sso tiny.” She showed the picture to Dice, who smiled down at it.

Viper curled an arm around her shoulders. “I can see you’re panicking at just how physically vulnerable the baby is right now, but no one will harm them, Ella.”

Maybe notphysically, she thought, but the reactions of her family might emotionally hurt the baby.

Ella wanted her loved ones to be as excited by the pregnancy as she was. She wanted them to welcome the baby. More, she wanted themnotto plot Viper’s death.

If the baby was really as advanced as Viper claimed, it wouldn’t be at all oblivious to their reactions. It would know if they were unhappy. It’d be hurt. Sheloathedthe thought of that.

God knew how her demon would react to her family’s disapproval about the pregnancy. It didn’t love them—had nocapacity to feel the emotion. But it valued them; it had formed a strong attachment to each of them. Still, it would want to butcher them alive if it perceived them as any kind of threat to the baby.

Ella didn’t for one second believe they’d harm the baby or in any way press her to abort it. No, they’d be disapproving. Worried. Wary of what it might be able to do. But they’d love it. Her demon would know thatdeep down. The problem? She couldn’t rely on the entity to be entirely rational when it was so on edge with hyped-up overprotectiveness.

It wouldn’t kill Luka, of course—to kill its anchor would be to harm itself. But it would certainly put him through a shitload of pain.

Outside the clinic, they walked to a nearby alley and—once sure no one was watching them—teleported back to the compound. Viper led the way into the main area … just in time for them to watch Razor hurl a coaster at Ghost like it was a damn boomerang.

“Stop being an ass,” Razor growled at him.

Ghost shrugged. “I don’t know how.” Noticing that Ella and the others had returned, he grinned. “Quick question: what about the name Clark for the baby if it’s a boy?”

Jester sighed. “Stop suggesting names of superheroes. Why are you so obsessed with them?”

“Not obsessed,” Ghost objected. “I just identify with them, you know?”

Jester stared at him steadily. “No, I don’t know. There’s no reason why you should.”

Ella only rolled her eyes at the spectacle. Her sister and Dice headed over to the little bar while she allowed Viper to lead her out of the room and into the hallway that led to the kitchen. It didn’t do much to muffle the noise coming from the main area. The place could never be described as quiet, but she didn’t mindthat. And she liked that her child would be surrounded by people—all of whom she just knew would be glad to shower it with whatever attention they could.

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