Page 22 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“I don’t know.”

“Get rid of it.”

“I’m not sure how, but I can try to transfer it to someone else.” His head snapped to an opening, a circular doorway into another world. “Roman is in danger.”

“We’ll transfer it to Willem. Then I’ll kill him.”

“If you transfer it and he dies it might bounce back to you.”

“Is there another way that will let me kill him?” The struggle to stand had her panting for breath. She put a hand on her back to balance herself. The baby chose that moment to kick her ribs. She doubled over in pain. Dom might’ve sealed the most criticalwounds, but everything still hurt.Be still, little one. I can’t…

The baby kicked again, knocking the wind from her. She stumbled backward into Dom.Hurts so much.

Dom caught her against him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “I’ve got you. Breathe with me.”

Her rough inhale wasn’t quite in sync with his. She took his hand to put it over where the baby kicked so he could feel it.

The baby whacked his hand with his next kick. She gasped in pain.

“Oh.” His eyes widened. “I’ve never felt a baby do that.” Then he whispered, “Slowly breathe out.” His warm breath tickled her ear. “Take another big breath for me.”

One long breath in and out.

“Relax,” he ordered.

Her body went languid, seeped in warmth. She rolled her head to rest her ear against his chest. The steady beat of his heart pounded reassurance in her ear. Strong. Soothing. She slurred out, “You have a heartbeat.”

“Did you think I was a zombie?”

“You smell too good to be a zombie. Like oranges and lemons.” She compressed her lips. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” She buried her nose in his chest. He smelled of warmth and safe harbor. “Are you using magic to mesmerize me? It’s good. Don’t stop.”So sleepy. Her brain reminded her not to forget Roman. It also reminded her this creature was using magic on her. She didn’t care.

He stared down at her, frozen in place. His heart rate picked up.

Absently, she rotated his wrist and traced the tattoo of a blue Auseklis cross. “The eight-pointed star. A protective symbol meant to banish evil.” She touched the tattooed runes on each finger. “More protections.”

“I’m not trying to mesmerize you,” he rasped out. “You must be susceptible to me, sort of like humans are to your aura.” His eyes widened like she was an unpredictable animal, one that might bite.

Her breaths suddenly changed to puffs of steam in bitterly cold air. She wiggled her toes, which chilled in the slippers she wore. The smell of human blood permeated the air again. Back to the real world.

“Time to go inside.” He released her. His eyes motioned her to move up the front steps.

A step away from him caused her head to swim with vertigo. “I’m going to need some help to make it to the door. Will you?”

The glow of light from an upstairs window illuminated his eyes as they lightened in color. “Yes.”

“Where’s the infant?”

Dom pointed to a wrapped bundle on the steps.

She turned abruptly to thank him and ran into him. On instinct, she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, her nose buried in his chest. The protrusion of her belly pushed into him.

“What are you doing?” His entire body stiffened in her embrace.

“It’s called a hug.” She squeezed him tighter even though he didn’t hug her back. When she let go, she rested a hand on his chest over his heart. “Thankyou.”

He swallowed. Emotion filtered through his eyes. The stare he focused on her lips made them tingle as if he’d touched her. “They won’t know how to handle you once themhisis lifted.”

She could’ve sworn she also heard him mutter, “Neither will I.”