Page 130 of Vicious Little Princess

No, it was more than that.

It was stark vulnerability.

“Definitely. No question about it.”

“Told you,” Julian said, grinning at her and stepping back so I could wrap her up in my arms. “You’re taking theteddy beareyes thing to a whole other level wrapping her up while you’re wearing that fluffy robe,” he teased.

“Teddy bear eyes,” I said, giving him a withering look.

“I love them, big boy.”

“I know you do.”

Caterina chuckled into my chest.

When I eased back, Nico was standing right there in front of the three of us, his gaze focused intensely on Caterina.

Emotion swam in his eyes.

“This is everything,” he spoke, his voice choked up as he uttered the words.

He stunned all of us then as he suddenly dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his ear to her belly. “Thank you.”

Wow.

Caterina smiled and slid her hands into his hair. “You’re happy?”

He lifted his head and beamed up at her. “Beyond merely happy. This is incredible. Are you happy? How do you feel? Now we know what was going on with the exhaustion and vomiting. And why you’ve been so hungry lately. Fuck, if I hadn’t had my mind focused on the upcoming strikes, I would’ve fucking noticed. I’m so sorry. What do you need? We should make an appointment for an ultrasound and—”

“Whoa,” Julian said, holding up his hand. “Excitement noted, N. But take it easy, yeah?”

Nico sucked in a breath and rose to his feet, telling a stunned Caterina, “I’m sorry.” He stroked her arms. “What can I do?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Now this weight is off, now you know and your reactions were better than I ever imagined, everything is good.” She smiled out at all of us. “It’s perfect.”

It would be if we weren’t in the middle of war.

“Nico, I’ll get one of our safehouses ready for her. We can—”

“No,” he ground out.

“No?”

“She’s not being pushed off onto the sidelines.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way. She’s pregnant. Carrying our baby. With everything coming, we can’t just—”

“She’s a part of this. An integral part. And that’s where she’ll stay.”

What was happening?

He shifted the subject in the next second, asking her, “So, are you happy about this,principessa?”

“I am, yeah. Nervous, though.”

“Of course, it’s gonna be a big change, a lot to prepare for.” He smiled wildly. “But it’s also going to be absolutely amazing.”

“Expanding our family,” Julian mused, looking all starry-eyed in that sweet way of his.

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