How to Rattle an Undead Couple - Hailey Edwards Page 0,18
toward Linus, and he struggled not to go to her, scoop her up off her swollen feet, and carry her home. “But we can’t afford to be blind in this matter.” She exhaled through her teeth. “Let’s get comfortable, and then we’re all going to talk. At the end of our conversation, I’ll decide if we’re taking you in for further questioning.”
The vampire’s jaw dropped open in clear shock Grier would risk the controversy.
“I’m the Potentate of Savannah,” Grier reminded her. “Unlike my softhearted husband, who has passing familiarity with you, I won’t flirt with the idea of the Lyceum and exposure. I’ll take you to a secure location, where no one will hear or see what I do to you. We’re not just talking any citizen of Savannah here, or merely your employer.”
“She’s the Grande Dame,” Josephine murmured in understanding.
“She’s my mother-in-law,” Grier corrected her. “She’s family. No one messes with my family.”
Josephine flicked her gaze down to Grier’s rounded belly, a question in her eyes.
“I took an oath to protect this city and everyone in it.” Grier rubbed her stomach. “That doesn’t change because I’m pregnant. If anything, pregnancy has given me teeth.” She bared hers. “This is the city, and the world, I’m bringing my child into, you see. It’s more than a promise to the citizens of Savannah, it’s a promise to my son.”
“A son?” Her eyes watered. “Madam will be thrilled.” Josephine pulled the tattered edges of her pride together. “You can question us in the informal living room, if you like. There’s an armchair in there with an ottoman that will make you more comfortable.”
“Thank you.” Grier reached for Linus, and he was helpless to resist sliding his hand into hers. “That sounds lovely.”
Slowly, Linus guided Grier to the room where he had played as a child. He hadn’t been allowed to do more than sit on the sofa, and the area rug was an antique, so he had spent much of his time curled up reading rather than roughhousing.
A frown tugged at his lips, and he wondered how Grier saw the room through the lens of an adult about to have a son of her own. If she found it as cold and empty as his memories.
“Don’t picture yourself here,” she murmured for his ears alone. “Woolly is your home now.”
Woolworth House was the only home he had ever known. This was simply the house where he grew up, the place where he returned after school. It had never been the haven he found in Woolly.
“Also?” She leaned in as he helped her sit on the promised chair. “Our kid will grow up dirty, messy, and running wild through the woods with gwyllgi pups.” She kissed his cheek. “This isn’t a future you need to picture for LJ, either.”
“LJ?”
“Linus Junior.” She made it sound obvious. “Linus Andreas Woolworth?” A line bisected her brow. “Or would it be Linus Andreas Lawson Woolworth IV?” She waved a hand. “You’ll have to figure that one out.”
The swell of emotion behind his breastbone gave him chest pains as he sat on the arm of her chair to hide the weakness in his knees.
“We don’t have to follow tradition,” he managed. “You can choose a name of your own.”
“I like your name.” She patted his thigh. “Besides, LJ has potential as a nickname.”
The room contracted as it hit him, this conversation somehow more real than the ultrasound photos.
They were having a baby.
An actual child.
A son.
Linus Andreas Woolworth.
LJ.
“Josephine, sit on the ottoman, please.” Grier drew fresh blood and used it to paint a sigil on Josephine’s forehead. “Let’s start at the top, shall we?” She glanced at Marco. “You’re next. You might as well make yourself comfortable.” She returned her attention to a quivering Josephine. “This is going to take a while.”
Five
Forbidden romance aside, Josephine and Marco had nothing to hide. I was relieved to have two people on the inside who could field calls and visitors until we located the Grande Dame. The promise I gave them in return—not to out their secret love to their boss—was worth their cooperation.
As much as I hated to admit it, the only solid leads we had stumbled across involved Boaz and Corbin.
Corbin, due to the circumstances of his resuscitation, was watched by his superiors among the sentinels as well as the Grande Dame and the Lyceum as a whole. The rarity of a Deathless vampire had much to do with it, and the potential for exploitation of his talents covered the