Page 49 of The Syndicater (Dark Verse 6)

At the mention of the boy and the questions around him, Amara felt her smile dim slightly. She wished there was a way for them to just get him to talk, but he was locked down tight about anything to do with his past. "How is he?" she asked instead, focusing on her friend and sister-in-law.

"I love him," Zephyr was enthused. "We had such a good day. We cooked, colored my hair, played god-knows-how many rounds of uno, and I lost most of them. Then we watched a sci-fi movie that went completely over my head, but at least the main guy was hot."

Amara chuckled. "That's what matters, eye candy."

"I know, right?" Zephyr laughed too, and Amara was so happy to see it. It had been too long since she had seen her friend so bright, her eyes shining and lips so wide. The death of her sisterhad hit herhard.Amara couldn't even imagine the kind of pain she must have been dealing with, but the light had gone out of her eyes for so many weeks, Amara had begun to worry. And she knew she hadn't been the only one. Grief was inevitable, but they couldn't lose sight of life and the relationships they did have.

Zephyr hopped down from the stool and picked up her phone. "I have to wash this out so come with me."

"Where's Xander?" Amara asked. It was too early for his sleep time.

"He had some homework to do, so he's in his room," Zephyr told her, setting the phone down on the sink. Amara watched the ceiling as she heard the sound of the door locking and the shower turning on.

"You could have just flipped your hair down and washed it, you know," Amara told her, talking to the guest bathroom ceiling. It looked to be the same guest bathroom she'd used when visiting.

There was just the sound of running water for a few minutes before Zephyr spoke. "I would have usually. But I get dizzy if I bend too much or too quickly these days."

Amara felt a furrow come between her brows. There wasn't any connection between grief and dizziness that she knew of. Unless she wasn't eating or keeping herself hydrated enough. But she'd just mentioned cooking and eating so that was out.

"Have you seen a doctor?" Amara asked, concerned about this. Dizziness, especially persistent, wasn't a good sign.

"Yup." The sound of water shut off, and Amara could hear the shampooing instead. "I'm pregnant."

A gasp left Amara. "No way!"

Zephyr chuckled. "Yes, way!"

Amara shrieked with happiness, a sound Zephyr matched on the other end before her face suddenly appeared on the screen, shampoo and all. "Don't tell anyone!"

She ran back to the shower, and Amara laughed. "Your secret is safe with me. Why haven't you told your husband yet?"

"I want to surprise him."

Ah. So that was what the whole makeover was for. They talked as Zephyr rinsed her hair out, telling Amara about the safety of dyeing hair during pregnancy, what to use and do, and how she'd done many dye jobs for pregnant ladies when she'd been a hairstylist. After a few minutes, she came back on the screen in a cute loungewear set and a towel wrapped around her head.

"Do you know if Alpha be staying over at the compound?" Zephyr asked her, moisturizing her face. "I haven't talked to him yet. I'm scared I'll spill the beans on the phone, and I don't want to. I need to see his face when I tell him. Possibly doing something naughty."

Amara shook her head. "I have no clue," she answered the first question. "But if he does, you need to pack up Xander and get here. Both of you!"

Zephyr nodded, her hair hidden under the towel. Amara was curious about the color, but she wanted to let it be a surprise. It was good to see the other woman so excited about things. Amara knew firsthand how becoming a mother changed her perspective on things. Suddenly, her worldview became more focused, life shifted and realigned to make the best of things. Or at least it did for the good mothers. She had no idea how some, like her friend's mothers, let their children alone to be devoured by the demons.

"Are you doing okay?" Amara asked, genuinely hoping for a good answer.

Zephyr sighed. "I guess. It varies from day to day, you know." Amara knew exactly what she meant. "Some days, I miss Zen so much I feel like I won't be able to breathe. But some days, like today, the world feels a little brighter again. I feel like the baby," she held her stomach for a second, "is her way of looking out forme, you know? Like she saw me struggling and wanted to send me something to live for again."

"That's a beautiful way to look at this, Zee," Amara told her, touched by her perspective. It was no news how deeply the death had shaken her, and seeing her be optimistic felt like a balm to her soul.

"It's so weird." Zephyr massaged her face, her skin plump and glowing. "I've only known about the baby for less than a day, but I already love her so much!"

Amara could relate. Learning she had been pregnant had shifted everything for her. It was why she'd run away. "Her?"

Zephyr just smiled. "It's a feeling."

"Then trust it," she advised. "Take it from one mom to another. When it comes to the babies, trust your gut."

"I just hope nothing bad happens now."

Amara bit her tongue on that. She hoped too, but something inside her, something deep-rooted that was worried for her family and friends, told her it was far from over.

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