How to Rattle an Undead Couple - Hailey Edwards Page 0,46
“What the actual hell, Grier?”
Her tentative excitement over LJ’s precociousness had chilled into fear over Linus’s reaction and then exploded into panic fueled by the collective reactions to this latest development.
“I can’t help my baby is an overachiever,” she yelled toward the kitchen. “Back off my kid, Lethe.”
“She doesn’t mean anything by it.” Hood stood and caught Grier by the wrist before she escaped. “She was surprised is all.”
“A fist punched through my stomach.” She broke away from him. “My child, who is inside me, stuck his hand out to wave hello.” Her voice kept rising. “Why is no one asking if I’m okay?”
Head pounding, Linus shoved into a sitting position and then stood. “Forgive me.”
“This isn’t about you,” she screamed, tears flooding her eyes. “This is about the baby.”
This was, he knew, more about her terror that LJ was manifesting unknown powers in the womb.
“Grier.” The heaving sobs erupted as he enfolded her in his arms. “I’m so sorry.”
“Call the doctor.” She cried until her voice broke. “Call him now.”
The raw panic in her voice cracked his heart, but his fear was equal to hers.
“Stupid hormones.” Her bottom lip quivered until she growled at its wobbliness. “I’m trying to be strong for LJ’s sake, but I can’t decide if I want to cry, eat, or kick someone.”
“I volunteer as kicking post while you cry and eat if it will make you feel better.”
Easing her upstairs to their bedroom, Linus helped her onto the mattress and propped her up while he placed a call to the obstetrician, who promised to arrive in fifteen minutes or less.
With that done, he climbed in bed with her and cradled her against him until Woolly announced the doctor had arrived and was on his way upstairs.
“Dame Woolworth,” he greeted Grier. “Scion Woolworth.”
Done with the pleasantries, Grier shrieked, “The baby stuck his arm through my stomach.”
Dr. Rogers blinked once, twice, and then he sought out Linus. “You witnessed it?”
“I did.” Linus kept hold of Grier’s hand. “The baby appears to have inherited some of my powers.”
The magically enforced NDAs Grier loathed were the sole reason Dr. Rogers was aware of the true mix of heritages the child carried. Linus’s status as an Eidolon might get him killed. It was best the rest of the world assumed he had bonded to multiple wraiths, not that he was a creature apart from necromancers.
“We all knew this might happen.” Dr. Rogers snapped on a pair of exam gloves. “It’s nothing to fear.”
All of a sudden, Linus experienced the very Grier-like urge to kick the doctor in the shin for his insufferable attitude and how he minimized the emotional toll on Grier.
“Baby. Fist. Stomach.” She bared her teeth at him. “Tell me not to be afraid one more time. I dare you.”
The vampire exhaled, ignoring her outburst, and began his examination. Twenty minutes later, he announced Grier was stable and in good health. Aside from the incident, the pregnancy was progressing normally.
“Are you certain you didn’t imagine the incident?” He smiled benevolently down at Grier. “Linus might have been reacting to your suggestion.” He checked with Linus. “Are you certain you saw what you think you saw?”
“LJ,” she crooned, hand on her side. “Can you show the idiotic doctor your mommy’s not crazy?”
As before, black mist wafted off the taut skin of her belly, and a small fist reached out to Grier.
The doctor’s jaw fell open, and his fangs popped out in utter shock. “I…”
“Can you see this?” She held up her finger, which LJ was holding. “Or are you hallucinating?”
“Maybe there’s a gas leak,” Lethe growled from the doorway. “Or maybe it’s moonlight glinting off swamp gas.”
“Impossible,” Dr. Rogers said and took a healthy step back. “This is…impossible.”
“And yet,” Grier muttered, “here we are.”
Aware of his role in her earlier panic, Linus caught her eye. “May I?”
“Daddy wants some love too,” she cooed. “Can you say hi?”
Gently, Linus touched the hand and found it warm and soft. “Hello.”
The chubby fingers closed over his and held tight, and where they touched, black mist curled off Linus as well.
“Remarkable,” he murmured then checked with Grier. “This doesn’t hurt you?”
“It makes a cold spot.” She shivered. “The sensation’s not unpleasant, just strange.”
Given his own body temperature, he hadn’t noticed the baby’s was lower than normal. Everyone read as warmer to his touch, and so did LJ. He might run lower than the average necromancer, but he wasn’t as cold as Linus.
“What does this mean?” He posed the question to Dr. Rogers.