Page 84 of The Secret of Pain

"I am, what's not to be happy about?"

"Indeed," Nate says looking between Creek and I. "Bauer and Colt have taken your dad out for a bit, so you're on set up duty with us. Creek and I were just about to head out to my flatbed and pull in the extra tables and chairs, so you're helping Maddie in here."

"Fine by me," I say, then he and Creek head outside.

"I'm so happy that you're happy, sweetheart. It warms my heart to know you guys found your way back to each other. Your mom would be happy for you guys, too." She wipes at her eyes and I refrain from rolling mine.

"Maddie, did I ever have kids?" I ask, and she looks at me wide-eyed.

"I don't think… Oh, screw it. No, you didn't, sweetheart. You always put the faction first, and with it being so hard to conceive for our kind, you always said someone who desperately wanted children should be the one to have a baby. It’s why we were so shocked when Nirvana popped along. We've always been happy with just our boy, but I’d always dreamt of having a little girl. She was a surprise; I'll tell you that! I can't believe she's growing up so quickly."

"This is her first life?"

"It is. And it makes me worry, it’s so much harder, the first time. You've got no memories to fall back on, and she'll be so reliant on the rest of us, and at much more risk because she's so untrained."

"Then it’s a good thing she'll have all of us. It will be nice to have another woman out there on patrol with me." I wink at her and she laughs.

"I imagine it will. Your mom and I used to love it. I'm a bit too slow these days, I'm afraid, but I keep the archives up to date and keep the other families up to date and in loop with the Elders."

"I wondered why you hadn't been out. What are the archives?"

"They're our most treasured possession, though few outside of the Elders get to see them. They are a full and detailed history of our kind, all the way back to the beginning with Leviathan."

"Oh wow, I bet that's an interesting read," I say, trying not to show my excitement. This could be exactly what I need. The proof to show the other Hunters the truth.

"I imagine it is, but the only people who read the histories are the Elders. The scant few of us others that have access only get to update it."

"That's a bit strange isn't it?" I ask, my disappointment leaking through.

"Maybe a little, but the Elders govern us, their word is law, so it makes sense that they are the ones with the histories," she says with a smile. "Now then, why don't you get started with the decorations while I get the oven heating?"

"Of course," I agree, trying to tuck the archive information away for a later date. "Where are they?"

"There's a bag or six out on the porch, sweetheart, thank you."

I spend the next hour blowing up balloons, putting out tablecloths and decorations, and hanging bunting. Maddie sure went all out, and just the thought of my dad’s face when he sees all this makes me struggle not to crack up.

Voices grow louder in the house before people start spilling out into the yard. Abel, Nate, Creek, and Gabriel each carry speakers, which they put around the yard, while Fallon, Rebel, and Marie bring out a ton of fairy lights and start stringing them around the trees that line the space.

Maddie comes out and starts instructing people where to set things down, like a true dictator at work, and I lean back against the table I just finished setting, enjoying the sun on my face and the flurry of people.

Creek and Gabriel head toward me, laughing. Creek pulls me into him, as if he can't stand the distance between us, and Gabriel grins.

"Oooooooh, I knew it wouldn't take long!" he exclaims, clapping his hands. "Girl, you and this fine piece of man meat would make the most beautiful babies!"

I laugh at him, but Creek looks down at me lovingly. "Maybe one day."

I shake my head at him but don't say a word, because it’s not something I've really thought about, despite what Maddie said. I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a mom, not with the life I lead. And with the men in my life, who would be the one I choose? Would the others be happy with those decisions? I haven't even managed to get them in a room together yet, let alone think about those sorts of things.

My phone pings, and I look down to see the message from Colt.

"They're two minutes out," I tell Creek, who kisses the top of my head and goes to tell Maddie.

"Remember me yet?" Gabriel says, watching Creek’s ass as he walks away.

"Kind of, I remember drinking, lots of drinking," I say, and he belts out a laugh.

"There always was a lot of drinking after a hard night. We had so much fun stationed in Romania, the stories of the vampires everywhere. Those people know how to drink."

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