Page 63 of Reign

“Thanks.” And I meant it, touched he’d do that for me without even being asked.

“Thank you,” Blue managed to say, even though it sounded like the words choked her.

B’nar looked taken aback for a moment.

“Eat,” he growled out, then gave us some space, striding over to Connor, who’d watched the whole thing.

“Why have you got to eat properly? Does he bully everyone like that?” She shot him a glare, which he studiously ignored, though I was pretty certain he’d feel her wrath even from across the room. I was grinning when she looked back at me after shoving three grapes in her mouth at once. “War...oo..innin...ah?” I giggled at her garbled words. She swallowed quickly, greeting the others who all placed themselves in chairs near us. “Sorry.” She swallowed again. “Now tell me what you’re grinning at.”

I grinned at the others too and then bounced in my chair, unable to hold in my happiness. I’d gotten used to the idea of becoming a mum, and the thought of having Connor’s baby growing inside me made me so happy I could burst. “I’m pregnant,” I squealed.

“Whaaat!” Then we were hugging again.

Connor smiled indulgently at us from across the room. I blew him a cheeky kiss and spent another two hours catching up with Blue before we were both too tired to continue. Tyen and Shannon came and went several times. Sophie went over to speak to Connor, and once Ava had caught up on some surveillance, she plonked herself down with us and hugged Blue. Shannon and Tyen returned, and we all ended up sitting at the table, chatting amicably. It was the happiest I could remember being in weeks when it didn’t directly involve Connor. I yawned and leaned forward to hug my friend, then glanced at Connor, who seemed to understand that I was weary all of a sudden. Within moments he was right beside us.

“Blue?” He held out a hand, and she met his gaze head-on. He hadn’t met my friend yet, only heard about her. Fully human, she wouldn’t see meeting his gaze as a challenge, and I knew Connor wouldn’t, but B’nar didn’t look so sure. He frowned and edged closer to Blue. I hid my smirk in Connor’s arm as I grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to his hard forearm. B’nar might not admit it, but he had it bad for my friend.

“Yeah. You must be Connor.” She cocked her head and grinned up at him before giving him the once over. “I can see why my girl’s hot for you.”

I playfully kicked her, knowing she was just winding me up. “Hey, he’s spoken for. Get your own man.”

Blue rolled her eyes and pulled a face. “No, thanks. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.”

Connor chuckled but pulled me out of my chair and into his arms. “Is that what you think, Firecracker? Too much trouble for the reward?”

Grinning, I turn coy, shrugging a little. “Oh, not too much, not when the reward issogood andsofrequent.”

Blue and Shannon made a gagging sound.

“Mother Wolf, Prime, take your woman away and give her her rewards. Just the sight of you together is so sickeningly sweet it makes me want to vomit,” Shannon grumbled.

Blue and Ava giggled. Even Tyen smiled widely at the disgust on Shannon’s face.

For the next two hours, Connor kept me spooned against his body. His arms were tight, and he never let me go. I sensed his tension, and even Mea, who couldn’t push through because of the baby, was unsettled. She whined, only calming when Connor sent a wave of reassurance her way, and Prime wrapped himself around her. Deep down, I suspected that Connor’s mood was because he didn’t want to leave me. Despite the powerful supernaturals coming to the compound tonight for a meeting about our assault on the Rift, ultimately, Connor was going to lead the attack.

“Connor?”

“Mm?” He nuzzled my neck, inhaling as he pushed his face into my hair.

“Will Walker bring his Fae army to Earth to help us?”

He stiffened. “I don’t know. He has no reason not to help us, but he hasn’t said he will.”

I nodded. Walker was secretive. He had a larger plan, but none of us had any idea what that was. I doubted even his son did.

“Get some sleep, sweetness. It’s going to be a long few days.”

That was easier said than done, no matter how tired I was. My head and my heart were in a conflicted mess. I wanted to fight beside my mate and my pack. But I had a baby to protect, and if Satan was hunting me, the last place I needed to be was at a doorway to his fucked up world. Connor’s palm flattened over my lower belly, which had become more curved recently. At least now I knew why, rather than blaming it on my lack of activity. He kissed the top of my head. “Sleep. We’ll talk about it later.”

It was no surprise he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone. Holding his arms tightly to me, I pushed my body flush against his, entwining my legs and feet with his. My heart squeezed. He was my world, him and the tiny little bean growing in my belly. I refused to lose them, either of them.

Eventually, Connor’s warmth and the security of his embrace lulled me, and I dozed, finally falling asleep.

Chapter 23

Connor

The meeting tablehad been dragged back into place, and I stood at the head of it surveying the hard features of those present.

---