Page 123 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Another few seconds of silence ticked by before Theon only said, “Sort of.”

Axel skated the tips of his fingers along her arm, realizing now she was wearing his shirt. He eyed her stomach. Even with her curves, his shirt was too big on her, obscuring her belly. He traced the new Mark on the back of her hand before sliding hispalm up, laying it flat over her torso and splaying his fingers wide. There was no possible way.

“We should get out of the Underground,” Theon was saying. “Take her back to the Acropolis manor. Cienna can meet us there.”

“Cienna?” Axel asked. “She can’t leave the Underground.”

“A lot has happened, Axel,” Theon said, rubbing at his brow with his thumb and forefinger.

“Is that why Blackheart is here instead of Luka? And where is Tessa?”

He could swear Theon winced. “Yeah, that’s why.”

“Great explanation. Cleared up a lot of things,” he replied dryly.

“I think we should wait until Gia checks her over. If Gia says we can move her, then we will,” Tristyn cut in. “But there are only so many places I can Travel in the Underground. There are too many wards and enchantments down here that can cause unexpected complications.”

“You can Travel?” Axel asked.

“Again, a lot has happened,” Theon said. “So let’s focus on Katya. Then get you cleaned up and your mind cleared. Once we’re out of here, I’ll explain everything.”

“My mind clear. Right,” Axel muttered, his hand still on Kat’s stomach.

She couldn’t be pregnant. The others would have sensed it. Some of the tension eased from his muscles at that thought. More than that, Kat shifted on the bed, her features twisting in pain, and that snapped him out of any remaining stupor. Despite being filthy, he climbed onto the bed, being careful not to jostle her too much as he pulled her against his chest. If physical contact would help, then that was what he’d do. Anything to fix this colossal mess.

He didn’t know how long it was until Gia finally arrived, her chin-length dark auburn hair swaying around her sharp features. Her violet-blue eyes went straight to Katya, her lips pursing. Setting her leather bag down, she stepped forward, faint light flaring from her hands as she held them over Kat.

“You need to speak to Cienna,” she said, her eyes closed in concentration while she worked.

“We will when we get back,” Theon said from where he stood at the foot of the bed.

“Not you,” Gia replied. She opened her eyes briefly, connecting with Axel’s stare. “You.”

He watched as her hands hovered over Kat’s stomach, and in that moment, he knew.

He knew it hadn’t been a hallucination. Katya had somehow spoken to him the way a Source and Master communicated. He could only assume it had something to do with the new Mark on the back of her hand.

But that also meant she was carrying a child.

Hischild.

He couldn’t even protect her from himself, and now he was supposed to protect a child? A child that would be killed on sight if discovered because Fae and Legacy were not to procreate.

His stomach lurched at the thought of what his father would do when he learned of this. It was a death sentence for Kat and the child, and for him?

He’d likely find himself back in the dark for the rest of his days.

“You’re breathing too fast, and I need to focus on her right now,” Gia snapped. “Do not pass out or vomit.”

“Okay,” he rasped, as if he had any control over that.

“Axel, she’s going to be fine,” Theon said. “I’ll make sure everything is fine.”

Except not even his older brother could fix this or protect him from the fallout.

23

TESSA

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