Chapter 2

"Pregnant?" My jaw unhinged.

Eden's gold-tipped eyelashes rested on her cheeks. Her creamy skin was bleached of color, her heart beating double-time.

My rattled gaze went to her abdomen, concealed beneath her thigh-length suede jacket. My sources hadn't said anything about her being pregnant.

I glanced back at Eden's self-appointed guardian. "With a baby?"

The pink-haired kid actually rolled his eyes. "Of course with a baby."

"Fuck." My stomach dropped. "We have to get her to a doctor."

"She should be okay," Rio muttered, his brow furrowed. "It's not the first time she's passed out."

My back teeth ground together. "She's passed out before?"

The teenager moved his head solemnly up and down. "She said it happens to some pregnant ladies. Something to do with hormones and blood pressure."

"Yeah?" I still didn't like it. What if she'd collapsed on the way up the stairs? Or worse, outside? "When is she due?"

"February."

"February. That's…soon."

Then it sank in. This was November third. Eden had been pregnant when she'd left Lilith Island.

"I need to feed her, ASAP." Rio tried to shake off Adrian and Nathan, but they hung on, waiting for my okay.

"Let him go," I said, and they released him so suddenly, he staggered. He caught himself and stalked into the kitchenette.

I gathered Eden closer. She was a little heavier, maybe five pounds or so, although you couldn't tell by looking at her face, which was too damn thin in my opinion.

Pregnant.

A shaft of awe worked its way through my shock.

My arms tightened around her limp body. The baby was mine. It had to be.

This past year, she'd been my exclusive thrall. She'd been on birth control like all the female thralls, but birth control could fail.

Eden was carrying my spawn—and she'd left without telling me. Maybe that was even why she'd left.

The awe darkened, took on a bitter taint.

Because I was pretty sure that if the Krals hadn't tipped us off that she was in New York City, I'd never have known.

Adrian moved up alongside us. "We should take her to a physician. We probably shouldn't put her on a jet until we know she's all right."

That right there was why I'd brought Adrian. He wasn't just tech-smart, he was practical, with street smarts from growing up off-island with a single mother.

"Do it," I told him as I laid Eden on the couch.

He nodded and took his phone out, moving to the other side of the room.

I crouched next to Eden. Her blond hair had been cut short and dyed black at the tips, a surprisingly effective disguise. Finding her had been harder than I'd expected. She was a twenty-three-year-old human who'd never lived anywhere but Lilith Island. We should've located her in a day or two, but until tonight, she'd managed to stay a step ahead of us.

I combed the short, silky strands back from her face, telling myself I was simply making her more comfortable, but my fingers knew different. The tips tingled with the need to touch her—her hair, her lips, her fine-grained skin. To relearn her body, discover how pregnancy had changed it.

I traced a thumb over her high cheekbone. I could've taken her on the street, but I'd deliberately forced my way into her apartment.

A message: Fuck with the syndicate and there's no place you can hide.

The woman meant nothing to me. I was a Maritime lieutenant here to drag a pretty, lying traitor back home. For a while there, I'd forgotten that humans were prey, good only for blood and sex. I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

The plan had been to take her directly back to Lilith Island. I'd intended to make her as uncomfortable as possible, to march her out of here with only the clothes on her back. Even food would be contingent on her good behavior.

That, of course, was no longer an option.

But what in Lilith's name was going on?

Eden had left Canada with close to a half-million dollars. Even in Canadian money, that was enough cash for her to live more comfortably.

So why was she sharing a cramped apartment with a scrawny, pink-haired kid in ripped jeans? And working long hours at some used-clothes store?

I came back to my feet. Rio hovered a few feet away, an oversized cup of soup in his hand.

I turned an accusing glare on him. "What the fuck was she doing carrying groceries up three flights of stairs?"

His brows lowered belligerently. "Hey, I'm not her boss. She does what she wants. If you know her at all, you know that."

"Yeah." I rubbed the side of my neck.

"Anyway, you heard her," he said, his tone aggressive. "She's hungry. She worked through dinner tonight to make some extra cash. Then you dudes bust in here and scare the shit out of her."

I just looked at him. He puffed up but had the sense to close his mouth.

Eden's lids fluttered. She was coming around.

I eased off her suede jacket and dropped it over the back of the couch. Beneath she wore black pants, low-heeled boots and a simple cream shirt with ruffled cuffs.

Even as a teenager, she'd had a gift for looking both classy and funky.

And yeah, I'd noticed her back then. I hadn't acted on it or acknowledged her in any way.

But I'd noticed.

I ran my hand over her abdomen, unable to resist. The loose, thigh-length shirt hid it, but she definitely had a baby bump.

Beneath my fingers, a tiny heart pulsed. Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump.

My throat worked. Mine.

Eden's striking blue eyes flew open. "Don't," she said, pushing my hand away. As if she had to protect her child from me.

My fingers dug into my palm. I scrutinized her face, looking for something—anything. A hint that I was wrong and she wasn't trying to defend her child against me. An apology, even.

But she closed her eyes, shutting me out.

So that's how you want to play this.

I deliberately opened my clenched hand, retreating to the icy, emotionless state I'd been in ever since I'd realized that Eden hadn't just broken her contract, she'd spied for Brien's enemies.

Eden pushed up on her forearms and, before I could stop her, swung her feet to the floor. "My boots. The couch—it's new."

"Who the hell cares? You're never coming back here."

Her chin jerked back like I'd slapped her. Then her mouth set in a stubborn line and she bent forward, her hands going for the first boot. She could still reach it, but I could tell it was awkward for her.

I brushed her hands away. "I'll do it."

I helped her out of both boots, then grabbed a cushion and put it against the couch arm. "Lean against that."

I waited until she obeyed, then glanced over my shoulder at Rio. "Where's that soup?"

"Right here."

He tried to hand the cup to Eden, but I took it from him and sat on the edge of the couch, facing her. My hip touched her leg, and she stiffened like I was some kind of monster.

My jaw hardened. The woman was carrying a child. My child.

I'd cut off my own hand before hurting her or my spawn, which if she knew me at all, she'd understand.

And even if she hadn't been pregnant, I wouldn't have hurt her. Not really. Just…scared her a little.

I pressed the oversized cup into Eden's palms. "Eat." The word came out harsh from the anger pressing on my lungs.

Her gaze flew to mine, her emotions a snarled tangle. Fear, distrust, worry.

"Thank you," she said, the phrase clearly pulled unwillingly from her mouth.

Adrian was texting, his thumbs flying over the screen, and Nathan stood to one side of the apartment door.

"Nathan," I said, "stick with the kid. Adrian, you guard the door."

Nathan immediately took a stance near Rio, who was back in the kitchenette. At the same time Aidan moved to the door, blocking anyone from entering or leaving, his attention on his phone.

Eden's stomach rumbled. Clearly, the woman wasn't taking good enough care of herself. That changed as of now.

"Eat," I repeated, more calmly this time.

She blew on the hot liquid, then a small sip. "Thanks, Rio." She slanted the kid a smile. "This is really good. Better than last time, even."

He moved a shoulder, pleased. "Extra ginger."

"Keep eating," I told her. "I want you to finish that."

She looked past me at Rio. "Can I have a spoon?"

When he brought it to over, I took it, telling Eden, "I'll feed you."

"I can do it." She reached for the spoon.

I leveled her a look. "I said, I'll feed you."

Eden was carrying my spawn. Some primitive instinct had kicked in. I needed to take care of her. It was either that or punch a hole in the fucking living room wall.

"Fine," she said in a toneless voice that was somehow worse than if she'd kept fighting me.

But she allowed me to feed her. At least the soup seemed nutritious—leafy greens and chunks of tofu floating in what my nose told me was a coconut-milk-and-ginger base.

She swallowed every drop, and Rio refilled the cup. When she'd finished that, too, she swung her feet to the floor. "I'm better now."

"Easy, there." I put a hand on her thigh, preventing her from standing. "She should eat more," I told Rio. "What else do you have?"

He looked at Eden. "Apples and peanut butter?"

"That would be great, thanks. And something to drink."

The grateful smile she gave the kid stirred an unreasoning jealousy in me. Rio was just a teenager, and I knew he wasn't anything more than a friend. But I wanted one of those smiles she kept directing at him.

"And milk," I growled, because pregnant humans needed milk, didn't they? For the calcium and stuff.

I jerked my head at Nathan, and while Rio got out the peanut butter and apples, Nathan brought Eden a glass of milk. She took a sip, then rested the glass on her thigh. She had the prettiest eyes, not just the color, but the shape: long-lidded and sultry. Now, though, they had dark smudges under them like she hadn't been getting enough sleep.

She rubbed the edge of her thumb up and down the glass. "How did you find me?"

"You were seen by a Kral soldier."

"What did you do, have an APB out on me?"

"Something like that." In fact, I'd hired a top private investigation firm to hunt for her. The Kral soldier had been pure luck, though. He'd mentioned something to Rafe Kral, who'd passed the intel on to me.

"Food's ready," Rio said.

Eden nodded and stood up. I rose, too, standing close enough that she had to slide past me, her body an inch from mine so I felt her warmth. Yeah, I was being an ass, but she didn't give me the satisfaction of reacting. Her eyes remained stubbornly downcast; her expression unreadable.

She padded to the kitchen island in her stocking feet and sat on a stool. Rio placed the plate of sliced apples in front of her along with a small dish of peanut butter. She dipped an apple slice into the peanut butter and ate it, washing it down with the milk.

Meanwhile, Rio got himself a baguette and a large bowl of soup and took them both to the stool beside her. Before dipping his spoon in, he glanced at me, Adrian and Nathan. "You guys eat human food?"

"Talon's a vampire," Eden said, "but the other two are dhampirs."

"Help yourself." Rio pointed his spoon at the pot on the stove.

Adrian was on a call with someone now. He shook his head at Rio.

"We already ate," Nathan said with a grin that showed his fangs.

Rio's cheeks reddened. He hunched over his soup. "Suit yourself," he muttered and started eating.

I roamed restlessly around the tiny apartment. The single bedroom was barely large enough for a bed and a night table. A dresser took up most of the small closet, and a lightweight escape ladder was rolled up beneath a bedroom window.

I eyed it. Did Eden really think she could outrun me, a vampire? Even so, I shoved the ladder into the closet in the narrow space between the wall and the dresser, then grabbed the small, packed duffel bag tucked into a shelf above the dresser.

I unzipped the duffel bag, upending it onto her bed. A cotton sweater, a couple of T-shirts, and a pair of leggings spilled onto the worn flowered quilt along with underwear and socks. The bag also held a hairbrush, a toothbrush and an envelope of cash.

No jewelry. When she'd run away, she'd left behind every piece I'd given her. Like I gave two fucks about trinkets.

Still, I'd wondered why she'd take a traitor's money and not my gifts. If she was so easily bought, why leave behind diamonds and sapphires?

The cash went into my pocket, then I repacked the bag and took it with me into the kitchen.

Eden was finishing the last apple slice. I handed Nathan the duffel bag. Her gaze tracked the bag but she didn't say anything.

Adrian ended his call. "Any luck?" I asked him.

"The Krals have an OB-GYN in Manhattan who can take a look at her. They suggested you bring Eden to the Hotel Garnet."

Eden's color had improved but she was still drooping. There was no rush to return her to Canada, and for my own peace of mind, I wanted her to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

"All right," I told Adrian. The Garnet was a vampire hotel owned by the Kral Syndicate. I'd already received permission to enter their territory to extract Eden. "Book us a couple of suites, too. We'll leave tomorrow night instead. And get the kid a room."

Rio put down the dish he was rinsing. "I guess I should pack my bag."

I jerked my head in assent.

Eden's head snapped up. "Talon, no. I'll come with you. I swear I will. But please don't make him come."

Rio turned off the water and circled the kitchen island. "Hey." He wrapped a skinny arm around her shoulders. "I'm not letting you go with them alone."

"Oh, God. I never thought you'd get dragged into this. I'm so sorry." She pushed her empty plate away and scrubbed her hands over her face.

The kid shot me a dirty look. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he told Eden.

"Pack a bag," I ordered. "Now."

Her shoulders sagged. "You'd better do what he says."

Rio gave her another hug and whispered something in her ear, then disappeared behind the curtain dividing the living room. Meanwhile, I texted the pilot of the syndicate jet waiting at a private airport in New Jersey, letting him know we'd be flying out tomorrow night instead.

"I have to use the bathroom," Eden said and pushed past me. It was off the living room. I followed her and, after making sure the window was too small for her to climb out of, waited outside the door.

Rio reappeared in a baggy purple hoodie, a backpack slung over his shoulder. "I have to get something from Eden's room," he said, darting around Adrian and Nathan.

Nathan made to go after him, but I gave a slight shake of my head. Rio reappeared with a sleeveless beaded shirt, a purple velvet skirt and a plastic box about the size of a book.

"What's in the box?" Nathan demanded.

"My sewing kit," Eden said, coming out of the bathroom.

My brow creased. I didn't even know she sewed.

"Let me see," I said gruffly, and Rio opened the box to show me the neatly arranged needles, scissors, thread and other sewing gear. All the metal items were stainless steel, so I shrugged a shoulder. "Fine. Bring it."

Rio rolled up the shirt and skirt, taking care not to wrinkle the fabric, and stowed them in his backpack along with the sewing kit. Meanwhile, I helped Eden into her boots and jacket, then pointed her toward the hall. She yawned and shuffled along beside me like a zombie—and stumbled right as we reached the stairs.

She would've tumbled down the steps if I hadn't been holding her arm.

Swallowing a curse, I swung her into my arms and started down the stairs. This time, she didn't clutch at me, just slid an arm around my neck, the other hand resting lightly on my chest, as if she was only touching me because she had to.

It pissed me off enough that I gathered her closer, tucking her head into the space between my chin and shoulder. Unfortunately, that gave me a nose full of her sweet, sugar cookie scent. My favorite cookie before I was turned.

My mouth tightened. I turned my head, but it didn't help much. I could still smell her, warm and sweet, with an overlay of salty perspiration from her long day.

Outside, I bundled her into the waiting SUV. Adrian pushed Rio in next to us and took shotgun in the front seat, with Nathan driving. On the way from Brooklyn to Manhattan, Eden dozed off, her head on my shoulder.

On my other side, Rio's thin body practically vibrated with tension. He stared out the window as we crossed the Williamsburg Bridge, then turned to glare at me.

"Which syndicate are you guys from, anyway?"

I eyed him and, after a couple of beats, decided to indulge him. "The Maritime Syndicate."

"Not the Kral Syndicate?"

"No."

"And where are you from? I mean, your base or whatever you call it."

"Nova Scotia."

His brow scrunched. "Where the fuck is that?"

"Canada."

"Oh. Well, I want to come too. I don't want to get left at the airport."

"That so?"

"Yeah. And if you try to leave me, I'll raise all kinds of hell."

"We'll see." But I'd already decided the kid was coming with us. Eden clearly cared about him; I could use that.

And the kid had a pair of balls on him. I liked that in a man.

Adrian leaned over the front seat, and in a swift move that had Rio blinking, gripped the teenager around the throat. "That's a lieutenant you're speaking to," he growled. "Show some fucking respect."

Rio's face darkened. Anger radiated off him. The idiot was actually considering fighting back. "Sorry," he muttered.

Adrian gave him a rough shake. "I can't hear you."

A beat passed. "I'm sorry," he said, louder this time.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," prompted Adrian.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant." The last was a gasp. He'd run out of breath.

"Good boy." Adrian released him and faced front again.

Rio's breath rushed in. He sat beside me, fingers digging into his thighs, dragging in oxygen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him mouth "prick" at the front seat.

I turned my head so he wouldn't see my smile. Yeah, the kid definitely had balls.

Greenwich Village was coated in a pale, moody mist. The tree-lined streets were scattered with glistening autumn leaves, and the sidewalks crawled with humans out clubbing. Nathan halted the SUV in front of the Hotel Garnet's entrance, an anonymous metal arch flanked by potted flowers.

A Kral soldier stepped up to the vehicle, trying to make us out through the tinted windows. While I nudged Eden awake, Adrian exited and explained who we were and what our business was.

I helped Eden from the backseat after Rio. "Can you walk?" I asked.

She blinked sleepily up at me, clearly exhausted. "Of course," she said, a stubborn set to her chin.

"I can see that," I said dryly and swept her into my arms.

She heaved a breath, then relaxed against me. "This isn't necessary," she muttered against my chest as I carried her through a brick courtyard lined with more potted plants. I pretended I hadn't heard.

Nathan followed with our bags—we'd come prepared to stay a few nights in New York if necessary—and Adrian took charge of Rio. The Kral soldier strode ahead to open the brushed bronze door.

Inside, the pretty, middle-aged human behind the front desk turned a professional smile on us. "Lieutenant Talon and party?"

Adrian stepped forward. "Yes."

"Your suites are ready." She handed Adrian two sets of key cards along with the room numbers.

"We're expecting a physician," he told her. "Dr. Perez."

"Very good. I'll let you know as soon as she arrives. Charles will show you your room." She nodded at the bellhop standing at attention against the wall, and he hurried forward with a cart for our luggage.

"Right this way, sirs. Miss."

Our suites were two floors below ground level at one end of a short hall. At my direction, the bellhop left all the luggage in one suite. Adrian tipped him and he left.

"Eden stays with me," I told Adrian and Nathan. "The kid goes with you." To Rio, I said, "Behave and you'll be all right."

He clenched his fists, his mouth hard. But beneath the posturing, he was afraid. The fear rolled off him. I didn't just sense it, I smelled it.

But he still jutted his chin. "I want to stay with Eden. Lieutenant, sir," he tacked on.

I eyed him, equal parts exasperated and impressed. It's not easy for a human to stand up to a vampire. That didn't mean I was going to indulge him any further.

"No," I told him, and nodded at Nathan. "Bring Eden's and my bags to the other suite."

I waited only long enough for him to deposit the baggage inside the suite door, then closed the door behind Nathan, leaving me alone with Eden. In the hall Rio sputtered angrily until he was cut off mid-sentence. Adrian had probably applied some kind of hold to his throat. Adrian wouldn't hurt Rio, just rough him up enough to teach him that when we gave him a direct order, he obeyed—or else.

I put him from my mind and turned to my sleepy-eyed prisoner.