Page 22 of Truth

Liberty leaned closer, “What did you say?”

“Offspring.” She mumbled again.

“Michelle, seriously. . . speak louder.” Liberty was getting agitated now.

“Children, okay? Offspring! Pups!” Michelle shouted.

Then the room went utterly still, completely silent, and I swear I felt blackness pull outward before Liberty gasped. A choke startled sound as she began to sob. Body wracking, soul searing, pained sobs.

She found out vampires existed and were meant to be with her – nothing.

An evil witch was after her – nothing.

She’s a hybrid paranormal – nothing.

She’s the mate to a king and an ogre – nothing.

But this, this tiny itsy-bitsy fact that everyone in this room knew and refused to verbally acknowledge, well – it broke her.

I was pulled forward, the need to take away her pain so great I couldn’t resist the pull. I bend down and picked her up before sitting in the place I had just removed her from and settling her in my lap. Her small frame curled into me like it was her second nature, her fingernails dug into my shirt as she buried her face in the cotton.

Around us, every male became visibly agitated, unsure of what to do or how to help. I buried my nose in her hair and offered, “We don’t even know if that’s true, Liberty. You’re not exactly human or paranormal anymore.” That fact only made her cry harder. My fingers gripped her hair, “Shit, I’m sorry. You’re perfect.”

Liberty’s whole body heaved, and Michelle punched my arm. “Saying she’s perfect now is like saying she wasn’t perfect before as a human.”

“That’s now what I- “

“It was sort of implied.” Ellis cut in.

“I will behead you myself.” I growled.

He only shrugged, “Probably worth it.” He stepped forward, brushing her hair away from her face, trying to pry the wet tear-soaked strands off her cheek, “Oak is right, sort of. We don’t even know if that’s in store for you. Traditionally speaking, that is how it works but – “

“Traditionally speaking?” Michelle groaned, “That’s another way of saying, she isn’t normal.”

“What? That’s not –“ Ellis began, but was cut off.

“It’s pretty much what you said.”

Ellis slunk back away from Liberty, not willing to dig himself a deeper hole than he already had. Sterling stepped forward, a cocky grin on his face as if he knew how to fix the water works. “Babe. Think of it this way, if that is what fate has in store for you, then I will reward you will all the coffee and cookies while you’re under the weather.” Another loud sob broke and my shoulder was nearly soaked with her tears. Sterling looked confused, “What did I say?”

Michelle groaned, “You can’t have coffee when pregnant.”

“You can’t?” Sterling blinked a few times like he couldn’t fathom such a world.

“No.”

“But. . .” He paused. . . “Do people function this way?”

“Often.”

“I’m sorry for them.” Another gasp for air and Sterling stepped away, giving me eyes of apology as he bailed.

Justice stepped forward and, let’s face it, everyone knew he was going to be no help. None whatsoever, yet we still dumbly let him proceed. He sat to the other side of her, his hand hovering over her shoulder without touching, “We cannot stop the fates, Libby. This was not what I picked either.”

A pained cry came from the living bundle in my arms and Justice pulled back, confused. Michelle scowled, “Thanks a lot, asshole.”

“What?”