Page 36 of Angel Unchained

I pinched the bridge of my nose. A headache and heartache growing. “Look. That’s great that you’re safe and back with your people, but that still doesn’t tell me why you are here.”

His chest puffed up. “I helped take care of your enemies. They will never bother you again.”

“Oh my God, did you kill them?” I mean I hated them and wished they’d died, but didn’t actually want them harmed.

“No, but if they come near you again or threaten you in any way, they will be. And they have no doubts about that.”

“Thanks. Okay.” I let out a breath.

“You can go back home to Earth now, if you wish.”

I glanced around Ambrosia with its orange sun, flat grasslands, and mix of so many species I couldn’t name them all. “No. I think I’ll stay here. They need teachers and I have a little experience.”

“You’re sure? It’s kind of plain.”

“It’s perfect for me.” I took a step back. “Thanks for everything, Knox. Good luck.”

“Samantha, wait.”

My name on his lips made my eyes shut briefly and my knees threaten to buckle. I wasn’t this strong. Why was the universe trying to punish me so much?

“There’s something else. Well, a lot. I’m making a mess of this.”

He looked uncomfortable. Like he was going to confess some big, dark secret that was going to piss me off or make me cry or both.

“You’re pregnant.”

Of all the words, I’d thought would come out of his mouth, those didn’t even make the list.

I barked a laugh. “Yeah, right.”

“No, no, it’s true.” He reached out for me, then dropped his hands at his sides. “You’ve been having nausea ever since we escaped from the prison, right?”

“I-I can’t be. We didn’t have sex—” I covered my mouth with my hand. “The shot? Shit! Did they inject me with Roulex sperm?”

A wave of dizziness rolled through me. Why would they shoot it in my hip and not my vagina? Then again, why did the Roulex do anything that made sense.

“No. It was an enhancer. It helped escalate the pregnancy. By our estimation, you’re about eight weeks now.” He watched me like I was a bomb fixing to explode. “I wanted so badly to tell you, but I was forbidden.”

I took in gulps of air, trying not to pass out. “I-I need to sit down.”

Since we were outside, I just plopped down on the ground. No way was I going to make it inside the tavern. Pregnant?

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