Page 47 of Midnight Sanctuary
“Svetlana mentioned that you threw up this morning.”
That little bitch.“Svetlana needs to mind her own damn business,” I snap. Then I take a deep breath. “I threw uponcethis morning and that was it. Morning sickness is normal, you know.”
“It’s normal in the first trimester.”
“Actually, for some women, it can last through all three. It’s no reason to be concerned. It’s just normal pregnancy stuff. I wish you would relax.”
I’m not sure he’s listening to a word I’m saying, if the stubborn clench of his jaw is anything to go by. “Your blood pressure was high this morning.”
I groan. “It wasslightlyhigher than yesterday. It’s not a big deal.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Not sureyouare the most impartial judge.” I make myself take a deep, steadying breath. “Uri, I’m fine. I feel better than I have in ages and I’m pretty sure that’ll translate to the babies, too.”
“Have you taken your prenatal vitamins for the day?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m sure Svetlana would have reported back to you if I hadn’t.”
He smirks and bows out. “I’ll leave you to pee in peace then.”
“Thank God.”
The moment I shut the door on him, I drop the scowling act and start smiling. Sure, he can be overbearing. He’s definitely overprotective right now. But I get the sense that this is his way of trying to make amends.
And honestly? I don’t mind it that much. I’ll takebreathing down my neckUri overI hate your fucking gutsUri any day.
Now, if only we can get Polly back… life might just approach something resembling normal. Happy. Healthy, even.
Wouldn’t that be something?
22
ALYSSA
“We’ve got a lead,” Uri announces as he bursts into my room. He stops abruptly when he sees Nikolai sitting opposite me on bed, cards splayed over the sheets.
I put down my hand of cards. “A lead? About Polly?”
Nikolai gets to his feet. “What have you heard? Who from?”
Uri doesn’t answer right away. His eyes veer from me to Nikolai, crinkled with suspicion. “Kruger just called. A girl matching Polly’s description was seen in an underground sex club in Beverly Hills.”
“Are you heading over there?” Nikolai asks. “Or should I?”
Uri glances towards me. “Someone needs to stay with Alyssa.”
“No, Uri—I’ll be fine on my own. There’s a house full of staff and I still haven’t visited Lev today. Both of you can go.”
“No.”
“You stay then,” Nikolai decides, dropping his cards onto the bed. “I’ll—”
Uri cuts him off. “No. The two of you look pretty cozy here anyway. I’ll let you know if it leads to something.”
He whips away before either Nikolai or I can say another word. “Weirdo,” I mutter under my breath.
Nikolai, however, seems less amused and more… anxious? He doesn’t sit back down on the bed. Instead, he drops into an armchair and sets his chin in his palm, murmuring something I can’t make out under his breath.