“If you don’t, she will become weaker, and she will die,” Thaddeus says.
“And if we do?”
“I don’t know. Hopefully, she turns into a vampire; if not, she might become a Lycan, or both.”
“Or both? Is that even possible?” I ask.
“I guess we will find out. I thought the baby was absorbing it, but you have been drinking a glass of it every day; it kind of makes sense that it would start to change you,” Thaddeus says, handing me one of his shirts.
“If she turns Lycan, Thaddeus-“
“I know, Ryland,” Thaddeus snaps at him.
“What? What is it?” I ask, concerned by how he says it.
“If you turn Lycan, Evie, every bone in your body will break simultaneously,” Thaddeus answers, and my heart leaps at the thought.
“Not only that, but every nerve ending will also be on fire. There is a reason nobody turns Lycan voluntarily,” Ryland says.
“Did that happen to both of you?” I ask, horrified. I know bone breaking is a thing, but Ryland looks at ease when he does it.
“It only hurts the first time you shift, and no, only to Ryland. I am a hybrid. I don’t shift completely into a wolf; I shift, but it doesn’t cause my bones to break. It still hurts and feels uncomfortable, but not like a Lycan shifting. Your spine needs to snap and readjust to turn into a werewolf; I remain in this form, just grow fur and claws, my face distorts like when I attacked you,” Thaddeus answers.
“Call Amara and Bianca, see what they turn up,” Orion says, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looks stressed, really stressed. I reach out to touch his arm, and he looks up, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me.
“I will be fine,” I tell him, and he nods, kissing the top of my head.
Evelyn
The next week goes by quickly; I start to feel more like myself. Amara’s herbs help, but so does drinking both Orion’s and Ryland’s blood. Though Ryland’s, I crave, and I sometimes need help to stop.
Ryland doesn’t seem to mind, but I can tell everyone is worried about what will happen when the baby arrives. Honestly, I am terrified of dying, too, yet more petrified of coming back as a Lycan. They have explained numerous times what will happen if I do, and each time, it scares me more, to the point I have now stopped asking.
Amara seems to think I don’t have long left, so today, Thaddeus and Orion are heading into the city to get some things. Ryland made the baby a crib by hand and it took him three days until he would even allow me into the shed to see it. Imogen brought over some of Amara’s and Thaddeus’s old baby stuff that she hung onto, and we have made a nursery next to our room, though we all agree the baby will remain in her bassinet in our room until she sleeps through the night.
We still haven’t come up with any baby girl names yet, even though they scour over baby name books every night, trying to find one they like. I don’t care what they name her. I am dreading the time I actually go into labor. I am quite content with her remaining in my belly, too scared for her to come out even though I am so big now I am also uncomfortable.
Walking downstairs, I go into the kitchen where Thaddeus is making lunch. He puts a plate on the counter for me with a salad sandwich. “Mayo?” I ask, and he nods.
“Yes, and barbecue sauce,” he adds, knowing my strange salad craving. I take a bite, and he hands Ryland one without the barbecue sauce as he takes a seat beside me.
“Orion and I will head into the city soon; will you stay here with Ryland?” he asks.
I nod, chewing my sandwich. Thaddeus kisses my head, and Orion walks into the kitchen, leaning on the door. “Call us if you need us,” he says to Ryland, and Ryland salutes him. I laugh, but Orion rolls his eyes and walks over to kiss mine and Ryland’s heads.
“We better leave. I don’t like her being here with only one of us for a night,” Thaddeus says, grabbing a bag and tossing it over his shoulder.
“She will be fine; just go,” Ryland says, waving them off. They both leave but not before sending me nervous glances. I feel good, yet I have this nagging feeling in the back of my head, like they shouldn’t go, that something bad will happen. Ignoring it, I finish my sandwich.
“What’s wrong?” Ryland asks after they leave.
“Nothing, I think I am just getting nervous,” I tell him.
“That’s understandable,” he says, grabbing my empty plate. “Come on; we will watch a movie,” he says, holding my hand. I let him lead me to the living room room, and we watch a movie. After the second movie, I hear the pitter-patter of rain on the roof and jump up, running for the laundry.
Ryland jumps up, alarmed. “What is it?” he asks, following me.
“The washing is on the clothes line.”
“Leave it; we will get it later,” he argues, but I ignore him, grabbing the basket and rushing out the door to the clothesline. I start pulling the clothes off the line, looking nervously at the darkening sky as night begins to fall. Storm clouds move across the sky when I see lightning. “Just leave it, Evelyn; you and your nesting is driving me nuts,” he says but helps drag the clothes off.
We end up leaving half of them as they become too wet, and Ryland runs the baskets back inside while I waddle toward the house, my clothes damp and sticking to me as I shiver from the rain.
Ryland walks out when I hear a loud alarm go off, causing me to look toward the house when Ryland runs at me.
I stand there, shocked, wondering what he is doing when his body suddenly lands on me, knocking me to the ground on the wet grass. He makes a gurgling noise before I feel something hit him, knocking the air out of his lungs. Ryland rolls off me, and a sharp pain radiates through my stomach, making me scream. Ryland tries to get up when I realize he is covered in little red dots. My eyes snap to our surroundings but I can’t see anything when Ryland’s voice chokes out.
“Run,” he chokes, coughing up blood.
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