Return to the Darkness - Ripley Proserpina Page 0,54
all been working really hard lately. The hours could get away from us, and it was possible, even with five people in a house to sometimes not see each other for a whole day. Like ships passing in the night.
I was, technically, Thorn’s wife. It had made sense as a means to get me the health insurance I needed since I was going to have Oliver’s baby in about seven months. Thorn’s company had the best package. It was funny how real life intruded on our happy fantasy on occasion. Things like health insurance. The good news was it had been easily solved with a piece of paper and a justice of the peace. Had it been odd to the other three there while I married Thorn legally? Yes, it had been. But they’d been good-natured, and as far as I could tell, no one had gotten their feelings hurt.
The baby had been more of a surprise. None of us had been planning that. But the wrong antibiotic and a little bit too much wine one night, and here we were with an unexpected person joining our unconventional life in a matter of months.
Sometimes I thought about that other life, the one I sometimes thought I dreamed or made up from the way that it faded from memory. But it was real, it had happened. And in that world, I’d held onto a baby like I’d known what I was doing. Perhaps it meant I wasn’t destined to fail at it.
Colton had built a crib and Aaron declared it was a boy coming. Everyone was playing a role in this, and I knew that no matter what happened—boy or girl—they’d never know the loneliness that I’d had in childhood. There were four big, tough men who would see to it that the world didn’t hurt this baby.
The thought brought a tear to my eye, and Oliver nudged me. “Okay?”
“Oh, you know, the pregnancy hormones.”
That made all of them turn toward me. Aaron furrowed his brow. “Need a break?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m good. Just emotional. Grateful. You name it. Sappy.”
“The sappy private detective. We could rename you, make you a new brand.” Thorn winked at me.
I needed that like a hole in the head. As it was, they were starting to make noise about me slowing down. It wasn’t safe while I was pregnant to go tearing off down the road after nefarious types who could hurt me. Of course they hadn’t loved it before I was pregnant either.
They’d had to learn to deal, and they would over this, too. I was never going to be the kind of mother who took it easy, that wasn’t in my nature. But that toughness had seen me through the darkness and led me to the other side. The woman I was now was a combination of every person I’d been throughout my life. Was I perfect? Not even close. But I was happy, and there was a long time where I’d never believed that was in the cards for me.
The guys slowed and surrounded me, and I swore I could feel their love, pulsing like a wall of energy between me and the rest of the world. Instinctively, my hand went to my stomach, as if I were passing that love onto our baby. I imagined the light of our love overwhelming any darkness that threatened us and snuffing it out like it never existed. I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the trees in this moment. I’d send it to Kelly later when we got to the hotel. She wanted to see our vacation. With three children—one of them Robby—keeping her on her toes, she couldn’t take these trips right now. I didn’t think she’d change a thing though. I’d never seen someone as happy as Kelly Chee was. Adored and working her dream job at their vineyard, she wasn’t at all the shell she’d been in the other reality.
None of us were. And maybe for the first time, I could feel solidly myself, too, as though I was finally who and where I was supposed to be.
The gray stone castle loomed in front of us, and Thorn and Colton suddenly took off, running like little boys to catch an ice cream truck. The joy of the moment hit me, and I smiled. Yeah, things were going to be good. This love was going to see us through. I had no doubt.
Afterword
Thank you so much for following Lacey's journey with us! We hope you loved her as much as we did!
Love,
Rebecca & Ripley
About the Author
As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. I live in Austin Texas where I am determined to eat all the barbecue in town.
I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I've been told I'm a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
I'd love to hear from you! Please visit my website at www.rebeccaroyce.com to sign up for my newsletter and learn about my books!
Here’s where you can find me online:
Rebecca’s Randomness Reading Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/RebeccasRandomness/
https://www.facebook.com/authorrebeccaroyce/
Instagram: rebeccaroyce79
Cheers!!
Rebecca
Other books by Rebecca Royce…
Wings of Artemis
Kidnapped By Her Husbands https://amzn.to/2BQdUxy
Rescued by Their Wife https://amzn.to/2Rr9as4
Crashing Into Destiny https://amzn.to/2VkyXRL
Meeting Them https://amzn.to/2BLPaXm
Reclaiming Their Love https://amzn.to/2GKAw8E
Loving Them https://amzn.to/2BKDmEK
Ship Called Malice https://amzn.to/2BNputj
Saving Them https://amzn.to/2SsrBtH
Dark Demise https://amzn.to/2VidXv3
Light Unfolding https://amzn.to/2GO6Yqr
Still Waters https://amzn.to/2CFePT8
Rising Tides https://amzn.to/2MCdTlM
Lost Star https://amzn.to/2X8hcZA
Pointed Arrow https://amzn.to/3gK9tYH
Last Hope (completed series)
Tradition Be Damned
Past Be Damned
Destiny Be Damned
Compassion Be Damned
Future Be Damned
Dragon Wars (completed series)
Forever
Eternal
Always
Evermore
Endless
Wards and Wands (completed series)
Hexed and Vexed
Curse Reversed
Meow, Baby (novella, co-written with Ripley Proserpina)
Tragic Magic
Safe Haven
Everywhere and Nowhere
Dimension X (coming soon)
More coming soon….
Soul Bound
Prisoner of the Dragons
More coming soon….
Shadow Promised
Strange Days
Weird Nights
Bizarre Years
More coming soon…
The Warrior (completed series)
Initiation
Driven
Subversive
Redemption
Justice
Warrior World (spin off of The Warrior, completed series)
Deacon
Micah
Jason
The Westervelt Wolves (completed series)
Her Wolf
Summer’s Wolf
Wolf Reborn
Wolf’s Valentine
Wolf’s Magic
Alpha Wolf
Angel’s Wolf
Darkest Wolf
Lone Wolf
Fallen Alpha
Alpha Rising
Alpha’s Strength
Alpha’s Sacrifice
Alpha’s Truth
Alpha Enticing
Hidden Alpha (coming soon)
Illicit Minds
Illicit Senses
Illicit Connections
Illicit Alliance (coming soon)
The Outsiders
Love Beyond Time
Love Beyond Sanity
Love Beyond Loyalty
Love Beyond Sight
Love Beyond Expectations
Love Beyond Oceans
Love Beyond Flames
Love Beyond Lies
Love Beyond Death (coming soon)
Cascade (completed series)
Haunted Redemption
Phoenix Everlasting
Fragility Unearthed
Persuasion Enraptured
Reverse Harem Story (completed series)
Unconventional
Unexpected
Undeniable
Kiss Her Goodbye (completed series)
Hard Truths
Dark Truths
Deadly Truths
Shifter World
Planet Bear
Planet Wolf (coming soon)
The Swamp
Hidden
Pursued
Caught
Stand Alone Titles
Under The Lights
No Quitting Allowed
Mr. Wrong
Bite Marks
Bitten Surrender
The Vampire and The Virgin
Demon Within
Crimson Lust
Call Me Crazy
The Men of Elite Metal
The Storm (writing with Ripley Proserpina) completed series.
Lightning Strikes
Thunder Rolling
The Deluge
Heart of the Nebula (writing with Heather Long) completed series
Queenmaker
Deal Breaker
Throne Taker
Stupid Boys (writing with C.R. Jane)
Stupid Boys
Dumb Girl
Crazy Love
Through the Gates (writing with Skye MacKinnon)
Purgatory City
Infernal Land
The Coveted (writing with Ripley Proserpina)
Eyes in the Darkness
Voices in the Darkness
Return to the Darkness
Prison Princess (part of the Prison Princess world, writing with CoraLee June)
About the Author
Ripley Proserpina spends her days huddled near a fire in the frozen northern wilds of Vermont. She lives with her family, three magnificent cats, and a dog she doesn’t deserve.
Follow Her…
On the web: www.ripleyproserpina.com
Twitter: @RipleyProserpin
Facebook: Ripley Proserpina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ireadripley/
Sign up for her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/2yfGRnV
Books by Ripley:
Midnight’s Crown:
Briar
Shadow of Thorns
Diadem of Blood and Bones
Daylight’s Crown:
Rose
Echoes of Blood and Glory
The Searchers Series:
Finding Honor
Finding Nora
Finding Valor
Finding Truth
Finding Courage
Finding Strength
Finding Unity: coming soon!
The Replacement Duet:
Forge and Fire
Iron and Ashes Coming soon!
Wishes and Curses Series:
Wrath and Ruin:
Revolution and Rising
Valos of Sonhadra:
Whirlwind
Standalones:
Just Jayne
Boys and Burlesque
The Darkest Fall
The Ice Bride
Missing Linc
While Beauty Sleeps
Co-written with Autumn Reed:
Paranormal Prison series:
Stolen Song
Co-Written with Rebecca Royce:
The Storm Series:
Lightning Strikes: https://amzn.to/2zHjl55
Thunder Rolls:https://amzn.to/3e9S6PC
The Deluge: https://amzn.to/37Cynpf
The Coveted:
Eyes in the Darkness: https://amzn.to/3deCTeC
Voices in the Darkness
Return to the Darkness
Wards and Wands:
Meow, Baby