Page 148 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

She never felt any pain.

She just…

She couldn’t let her hurt Emma.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything as his eyes flashed brighter and a small muscle in his jaw clenched before he finally managed to get out on a soft murmur, “Yes, you should have.”

“Why didn’t I die?” Jill asked, trying to make sense of everything.

“It’s the same reason why your blood doesn’t turn to ash,” he said as he reached up and ran his fingertips along her jaw. “Your transition protected you.”

“And if you hadn’t claimed me…” Jill said, letting the words trail off as she watched him noticeably swallow.

“You would have turned to ash the second that knife penetrated your heart,” Logan said as she sat there, absently nodding as she-

“You’re pregnant, Angel.”

“What?” Jill asked, sure that she’d misheard him as she watched Logan’s lips pulled up into that smile that she loved so much.

“You’re pregnant,” Logan said, looking happier than she’d ever seen him as pure joy spread over her. “We’re having a little boy.”

“How?” Jill asked as her hand went to her stomach and found herself wondering if this was all just a dream.

“There was more to your transition than we thought, Angel,” Logan said, leaning down to brush his lips against hers. “He’s a Pyte.”

“Be sure,” Jill said, struggling not to get her hopes up as she felt Logan’s hand cover hers.

“I’m sure,” Logan said, making her swallow hard.

“We’re having another boy,” Jill said as she released a shaky breath as her lips pulled up into a smile.

Chuckling, Logan leaned down and brushed his lips against hers and-

“Mommy!” Caleb yelled as he ran into the bathroom and threw his arms around her with Emma close behind.

Smiling, Jill knelt down and wrapped her arms around the twins and-

“Kissy!”

-happily kissed Caleb’s forehead before she turned her head and quickly kissed Emma as she held them tightly.

“Are you okay?” Jill asked, giving them each another kiss as she opened her eyes to find Shane standing in the doorway, swallowing hard as he watched her.

“We’re okay, Mommy,” Emma promised as Jill kissed her cheek before she stood up and-

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” Shane said as he reached over and pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

“Promise,” Jill said, kissing Shane’s cheek before she reluctantly stepped back only to find herself pulled into another hug by the teenage boy that she’d missed more than anything.

“I missed you,” Marc said as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I missed you, too,” Jill said, slowly exhaling as she held her little brother in her arms before she reluctantly let him go.

“We’re having a baby, Mommy,” Caleb said, making her smile.

“That’s what I heard,” Jill said as she reached over and ran her fingers through his messy hair.

“I gotta go, Mommy,” Caleb said, making her frown, that is until his next words had her swallowing hard as she struggled to remember how to breathe. “Uncle Chris is going to teach us the right way to play hide-and-go-seek!”

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