Page 130 of Valpar

She had a choice. This witch could have chosen a different path—but she didn’t. She chose the darkness and tried to take a life. The witch deserved to die, even if it wasn’t by my hand.

When do I get to kill again?

I placed a kiss on top of my little fairy’s head and squeezed her tightly. She would never leave my side again. She shifted in my arms and gripped the potion in her hands. Her thick lashes fluttered, and she gazed over at her parents. She looked her mother up and down until her eyes settled on her stomach.

“Um, Mom, can I ask you a question?”

Chapter Forty-Two

Calliope

I’d remained silent aseveryone talked around me. For once in my life I didn’t feel like talking, but listening and taking in the worried glances, and the anger my dad and uncle were radiating. They all really cared, and I really fudged up.

It was a split-second decision and, at the time, I knew I just had to save Simon. I didn’t think of anything else. I didn’t think it would all blow up in my face this badly. I just jumped at the opportunity of saving my bestie, without thinking of others.

Simon would have done the same, heckers, hedidthe same.

Simon beamed up at me, chewing on the rope he had somehow chewed off from the tree, to free himself. He was one smart kid.

Ha—kid, because he was a goat baby!

I leaned my head on Valpar’s chest while he explained what happened. I couldn’t bear to tell the story again, so I was glad he took over. The one thing I didn’t tell him was that Karma said my mother was pregnant. I glanced over at her and Dad has his hand on Mom’s hip. I noticed how his thumb grazed over to the soft part of her stomach.

For humans, it would be impossible to know this early if she was with child yet, but supernaturals knew. They probably knew right when sperm meets egg, but I didn’t know the details.

Ew, I didn’t need to know how they knew.

“Um, Mom, can I ask you a question?” I blurted before I realized what I had said.

Everyone paused and stared at me and Mom stepped forward out of Dad’s grasp. Her eyes were soft and red-rimmed from crying, and I knew she cared about me. The doubt that seeped into me earlier had already washed away.

Wow, I was stupid to even doubt her care for me.

Ugh, Karma was such a bug.

“Are you—are you going to have a baby?” I smiled brightly to lift the mood because I didn’t want to see her sad any-more. She should be happy, and should celebrate the moment, not worry about me anymore. She had worried about me for as long as I could remember.

“Calliope, sweetheart.” She came closer to cup my face and Valpar stiffened. His hold on me grew tight, like my mom was going to take me away.

He let her near, and she rubbed her nose against mine. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was so upset about finding an orc in your bed.” She laughed loudly. “Then, I had to come to termswith the fact you won’t be living with us anymore. I didn’t get to wake up to you and your bright smile, causing mischief with the skunks.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“You mean the fart squirrels,” I corrected.

She snickered and sighed. “Right, the fart squirrels. Then, with Simon gone missing, I forgot to tell you about the baby. I’m so sorry. Are you angry with me?”

I shook my head. “No. I could never be mad. Things have been really exciting the past few days. And you will always be my Mom. We will come to visit lots and you can come visit us, too!

Valpar grunted.

“Besides, you shouldn’t worry about me. I have Valpar, remember? It’s his job to worry about me now.” I tugged on his hair, and he let out a deep sigh.

“It is my honor to worry about my female. She’s my to protect and I will hold her to keep her in place,” he growled.

I giggled, slapping his chest. “You are so funny, can’t hold on to me forever. I need to walk sometimes. What if I have to go pee?”

Valpar huffed in annoyance. “No, even on a leash, you evade me. You will no longer be out of my grasp. You can relieve yourself in my arms.”

Aunt Melina dry heaved in the background. “That’s so sweet.”

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