Page 114 of Halfblood Deceived

Andreas flashed her his fangs in a wicked smile. “Can’t wait.”

Evan arched a brow at Andreas. “Why don’t you two just get a room as you clearly want to?”

Andreas and Mari turned their heads toward him as one and let out low growls.

Kerian grinned, clearly enjoying everyone’s antics.

Zeydan squeezed his still achy neck. “Goddess, give me patience.”

“Watch your tongue,” Andreas snarled at Evan, pointedly looking at Luce.

Luce sighed. “I know how sex works, Dad. I’m not a baby anymore.”

Andreas gave Evan a murderous look.

Evan went pale and lifted both hands. “Don’t look at me!”

“Luce was curious, so I answered her questions,” Gabby announced, rolling her eyes at Andreas’ scandalized glare. “Seriously, Andreas, I’m pregnant. Didn’t it occur to you Luce would wonder how that happened? Not to mention, she had already read several books about sex and pregnancy on her own.”

Andreas visibly cringed. “Still, Uncle Evan is very wrong about his assumptions, Luce.”

Mari wrinkled her nose. “Entirely fucking wrong.”

Luce shrugged, wholly unperturbed. “I don’t care. It’s your private business.” She gave her father an impressively dignified look. “As it will be my business when I am grown and choose a mate.”

Andreas let out an undignified, squeaky sound, jaw hanging.

Lex wisely hid his grin behind Gabby’s neck.

Zeydan started to get a headache, or maybe he already had one and the buggers’ bickering had made it worse. Still, he was holding back a smile. Andreas was going to end up defying his ageless biology and growing gray hairs before Luce turned eighteen.

Gabby and Mari gave Luce proud, adoring looks.

Evan was torn between horror and amusement for a moment, but then he huffed and shook his head, grinning. “If only all adults possessed Luce’s wisdom…”

“That’s what I usually say,” Mari agreed.

“Can we get back to the important subject, please?” Zeydan asked.

“Andreas and Mari’s potentially unresolved romantic tension?” Lex inquired with faux innocence.

“Would you please stop mentioning sex in front of my daughter, you arseholes?” Andreas desperately pleaded.

“You are the one who did it now, Dad,” Luce advised in her usual breezy tone. “Uncle Lex said ‘romantic.’”

They all snort-laughed.

Andreas’ cheeks flushed. “I hate you all.”

Kerian, still chuckling, gave Zeydan a crooked smile. “How do you guys ever make decisions?”

Zeydan rubbed his temples. “I’m starting to wonder the same.” He took a deep breath. “So, do we agree that this is a perfectly suitable potential home?”

“It doesn’t feel like a home,” Luce protested.

“I’ll burn a whole pot of sage to clean the bad energies, Luce,” Mari promised.

“Are you planning on doing a spiritism session, too?” Andreas needled Mari. The sour bastard clearly hadn’t learned his lesson yet. He widened his eyes dramatically and looked from side to side. “Did you see that? Was it a ghost? Can you handle it, or shall we bring Whoopi, Marigold?”

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