Page 27 of Midnight Sanctuary

In six months, I’m going to havetwochildren.

It’s a mindfuck, but in the best possible way. I just wish I could enjoy it properly. Without all the stress and worry and fear. If only Polly was here and safe, then I could celebrate this news the way it deserves to be celebrated: with fireworks and champagne and the heads of anyone who’s ever dared to threaten my family posted up on spikes in the front yard.

The moment Dr. Grigory has driven away, I head into my office and start pacing. It takes a few circuits around my office before I start to process everything that’s just been confirmed.

I’m going to be a father. I genuinely thought this moment would happen years down the line—but now that it’s upon me, I feel ready. This is a chance for me to redeem myself. This is a second chance for all of us.

And by all of us, I mean my family.

Alyssa is not part of that.

She can’t be. She doesn’t qualify. Not after her part in Polly’s abduction. She may be the mother of my children, but that’s where it ends. There’s no way I can trust her again after this, and that quashes any kind of future we might have had together.

Butfuck me…there’s still that aching voice in my head that wants it.

That’s why I’m pacing. The war between what I have and what I don’t. What I want and what I can never allow myself to acknowledge.

My head is not on completely straight before I pick up my cell and call Nikolai.

“Istillhaven’t found anything, brother. I told you I’d call if—”

“I’m not calling about that.”

Nikolai falls silent for a moment. “You sound weird. Is everything alright?”

“I just had Dr. Grigory come in to examine Alyssa.”

“Grigory hasn’t retired yet? What happened to Emily?”

“She was getting a little too close to Alyssa,” I explain impatiently. “That and the fact that she didn’t tell me about Alyssa’s condition.”

“What condition?”

“Alyssa’s pregnant.” I’m met with stunned silence on the other line. It makes me wish I’d waited to tell him the news in person. “Nikolai? Did you hear me?”

“I heard you,” he says softly. “Is this… is this for real?”

“Grigory just confirmed it. I saw the ultrasound and everything.”

“You saw the baby?”

“Babies,” I correct. “I’m gonna be a father to twins.”

“My fucking God!” Nikolai exclaims. “Are you serious? You are. You’re serious. I’ll be damned… Is this good news or bad news?”

“In a vacuum, it’s good news.”

I hear Nikolai take a low breath. “Well then, shit—congratulations, man.”

“I need you to keep an eye on her. Make sure she sleeps properly, eats well. It shouldn’t be a problem… since you’ve already been doing that.” The bitterness edges into my voice more than I would’ve liked. “My only concern is that those babies are born healthy. Then I can deal with Alyssa.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That’s my concern, not yours.”

“Uri, c’mon, brother. She’s not just your neighbor now; she’s the mother of your children. Don’t you think you’re being a little too harsh on her?”

“No,” I growl. “I haven’t even begun to be too harsh on her.”

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