Fashionably Dead in Diapers (27 page)

No. There was a reason The Reggie was gray, but I didn't care. Wasn't I allowed to have a bad fucking day? Was it wrong to ignore my principles and kill for the sheer satisfaction of killing? No matter what he had done right, he had still been the catalyst that had started what could have been the utter destruction of my life.

Circling him, I considered my options. Ethan watched me carefully and the Mini Elves hovered around my head. I had always been clear in the past. I had known what I was doing was right. As painful as it was, I had always killed with a clear conscience and sometimes great sadness. Now I simply felt anger. I wanted to kill a frozen and defenseless man in anger. I grabbed my head and pressed my skull. He had betrayed me—hadn't he?

"What will it be, Astrid?" The Kev's voice rang out and bounced off the walls of the ballroom. I stiffened. No one was going to stop me, not even The Kev.

"He dies," I yelled.

The Reggie’s eyes grew wide and I shrugged indifferently.

"He dies for betraying you. He dies for pushing me into a cell. He dies for not stopping The Corrine from harming my child. He dies for the sins of all of them. He dies because even though he portrays himself as innocent, nothing is ever how it seems," I said coldly.

"Very astute, Krumecaca," The Kev said.

"Which part?" I asked wearily.

"Only the very last few words," he replied.

Nothing is ever how it seems
. "You suck," I muttered as I let my hands fall to my sides. The Reggie's sigh of relief made me want to kick him, but I was no longer gunning for his life. I was still unsure as to why, but I knew it was the way it had to be. "Explain."

"The Reggie's far from pure, but I will let him tell his story."

"Talk, Fairy," I ground out.

"I was following orders."

"From who? The Corrine?" I yelled. This was a fucking waste of my time.

"No. From The Kev."

I froze. That was impossible, but I wanted to hear the rest of his tale. "Go on," I told him.

"We wanted to test the loyalty of The Bob and The Gus. We waited for two hours to see if they would go to The Corrine with the information."

"I resent that," The Bob screeched from somewhere amidst the dangling Fairies.

"So do I," The Gus griped indignantly.

"I never thought you were turncoats," The Henry told them. "I knew you were true."

Oh my God, what a kiss ass.

The Reggie cleared his throat and continued. "When we realized they had not told her, The Kev instructed me to do it."

"Why?" I demanded to The Kev. "Why would you do that?"

"Because we needed her to make a move. She needed to be fully aware that Samuel was not the child of Gemma. We gave her a chance to return the child. We planned to take her down for all the death and destruction she has caused over the years, but we wanted Samuel to be no part of this. We also had to ensure that Ethan was abducted so he could be closer to Samuel."

"She could have killed my baby," I snapped.

"The child can't die," The Reggie whispered reverently.

"There are many forms of death," I shot back.

"You are right," The Reggie said sadly. He took a deep breath and went on. "I was to go back to the safe house and watch over you but you were gone. When I found you I did the only thing I could think of to keep you safe…it was a mistake."

"Ya think?"

"I still think you should kill his ass," Susu whispered in my ear. She was such a bloodthirsty little shit.

Smiling, I patted her head. I wanted to kill him. I really truly did, but I wouldn't. I never wanted to see him again, but he did not deserve to die. With a flick of my fingers all the Fairies fell to the floor. The appalling extras I'd saddled everyone with disappeared too. They were back to their former blinding beauty.

"What will you do with them?" I asked as they all crawled to their knees and prostrated themselves before me.

"A tribunal will be formed and each one will stand trial," The Kev said. "Gemma will preside."

She was going to be thrilled.
Not
. All I wanted to do was go home with Ethan and my baby. I never wanted to lay eyes or feet in Xanthia again—too many horrific memories. I was happy I'd listened to my conscience and didn't kill The Reggie. He might be put to death after his trial, but that would not be on my head.

"I want to go home," I said.

"In the morning," The Kev said. "You, Ethan, Samuel, Martha and Jane will go back to the safe house. I will stay here with the Mini Elves and imprison these Fairies until they face their judgment day."

Martha and Jane came out from the backstage area and handed me a sleeping Samuel. Ethan's body surrounded me with his warmth and made my world come back into focus. My baby's weight in my arms grounded me and I closed my eyes and let my head fall back onto my mate's chest. There would always be more to learn and unfortunately I had an eternity of lessons in front of me. Samuel would need to go to therapy for many of my sins, but tonight by the grace of God and whomever else I did not sin.

"Hooters McHoulihan, let's get the fuck out of here. This G-string is so far up my ass, it's making my brain hurt," Jane grumbled.

I winked at the nutty old loon and laughed. "Your wish is my command."

Chapter 22

Once upon a time there was a child. He had a mommy and a daddy that loved him and would protect him till the end of time. The mommy and the daddy loved each other too. This was a very lucky child. He was full of mischief and untold power. His life would be filled with many adventures—some tragic and some glorious. However, he would always know that blood was thicker than water…the most important thing is life would always be his beloved family.

"Oh my Hell, they're finally asleep." I flopped down on the couch and let my body relax.

"Please tell me you mean all of them," Ethan begged.

We were back at the charming safe house—operative word being safe. Thankfully, it was far bigger than I had realized. The upstairs was spacious and had several bedrooms. I had no plans of sleeping up there. Martha and Jane's wheezing and snuffling would keep me up all night in which turn might make me inclined to behead them. That would be a bad move.

"Yep, they're all asleep. Snoring like babies."

"Samuel snores now?" he asked, surprised.

"No, but Martha and Jane sure as Hell do." I winced as I thought of them sleeping under our son's crib, but they'd insisted. After a massive pillow fight and a re-enactment of their performance for Sammy, they passed out. Shockingly the snoring didn't bother my baby. He fell promptly to sleep with a smile on his face as the foghorns blew out their calls from below. Amazing.

"Come sit with me," Ethan said. "I've missed you." His silky voice made me tingle all over.

"I've missed you too," I told him as I curled up on his lap and laid my head on his strong shoulder.

"I'm proud of you. You humble me," he whispered as he played with my hair.

I hid my face in his neck and closed my eyes. "I almost killed an innocent man tonight."

"But you didn't."

"But I could have," I insisted. I wasn't as good as he thought I was.

"But," he repeated, "you didn't. You wouldn't have killed him even if The Kev hadn't shown up—even if you didn't know the full story. You wouldn't have killed him."

I so wanted to believe him. "How do you know?"

"Because I'm your mate. You're mine and I'm yours. I can feel you in ways that are impossible to explain. You're inside me."

"Well, I sure hope you're right because I was fairly certain I was going to rip the fucker’s head off with my bare hands earlier."

Ethan's chuckle made me feel better. Was he correct? Would I have spared The Reggie's life, even if The Kev hadn't shown up? I'd be ecstatic to believe that was true, but…

"I have a question for you, my love," Ethan said as he pulled me closer.

"Does it have to do with Fairies or Mini Elves?" I asked as I ran my hands lightly over his chest. Hell, I hadn't even told him about being miniature…that would have to wait until another day.

"No. No Fairies. No Mini Elves."

"Then ask away." I grinned as I traced his lips with my finger. God, his mouth was beautiful.

"Do you miss being human?" He put his hand under my chin and raised my face so our eyes met.

Of all the questions that existed in the world, I never expected that one. I was certain he was going to ask me if I wanted to be on top or on the bottom or if I was wearing panties…

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I haven't really thought about it much." He stayed quiet and waited. "I suppose there are
things
I miss about being human like pizza and black raspberry chip ice cream and French fries and Coke in a styrofoam cup with extra ice with a straw and…um, well, you know…food."

The corners of Ethan's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes and demeanor were serious. Was he worried that I was unhappy? Had I somehow led him to believe that he wasn't enough?

"Why do you ask?" I took his face in my hands and pressed my forehead to his.

"When you lost your memory, you made repeated reference to human traditions."

What the Hell was he talking about? Human traditions? My strong, invincible Vampyre seemed insecure for the first time since I'd met him. This simply wouldn't do.

"No, Ethan. I don't miss being human. How could I? I have you and you gave me Samuel. While the food choice of our people is somewhat off-putting, and having Satan for an uncle and the Seven Deadly Sins for cousins is a pain in the ass, never in a million years could being human replace what I've gained. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. Forever will never be long enough for us to be together," I whispered.

Ethan's body relaxed and his lips brushed my cheek. His smile now reached his eyes. "I have another question for you."

"Is it as deep as the one you just asked?" I inquired warily. It had been a really long day.

"Deeper," he said as my stomach dropped. "But you will have to stand for this particular question."

"Stand?"

"Yes, stand."

Little butterflies tangoed in my tummy as I crawled off of his lap and stood hesitantly next to the couch. What was he thinking? What had I done? If I had breath to hold I'd be blue. My curiosity level was in a state of panic and I shook for reasons I couldn't figure out. Had I not actually regained all of my memory? Was there something monumental I'd missed? Something that would ruin what I was so happy to have back?

I bit down on my bottom lip and pierced it with my fang without even realizing it. A thin tendril of blood ran down the corner of my mouth. Ethan's eyes turned a brilliant green and I reached up and frantically grabbed him by the shoulders. "You need to feed. You haven't eaten." I quickly offered my neck, but he shook his head no.

The wave of anxiety that roared through me was horrible and my eyes filled with tears. There was more that I didn't remember. There had to be. He didn't want my blood. I felt unsteady and broken.

"Astrid, stop. I will feed from you while we make love, but I have to ask a very important question first."

I nodded and clutched the back of the couch for purchase. He didn't seem angry or repulsed by me—just the opposite.

"Ethan, I'm having a mini breakdown here. As you are well aware I have an overactive imagination. Prime example, in case you've forgotten—Grandma's house, high school, virgin stripper. I'm going to freak any moment now, so if you'd like your mate to be in one semi-sane piece you should really fucking get to the question."

"Are you through?" he asked. His sexy half smirk jumbled my brain, but I took his inquiry seriously. Was I done?

"Um, I think so," I mumbled.

"Good." He smiled as he dropped to one knee and took my hands in his. I was speechless and in shock. No words would come from my lips, but it wasn't my turn to talk. It was his.

"Astrid Porter, I have loved you from the moment I saw you. You are the most beautiful and courageous woman I have ever known. I have waited for you longer than you can comprehend. You have brought meaning to my endless life and given me the gift of our son. In my world to be mated is the highest honor. It's a sign of complete trust and fidelity. It's an unbreakable bond and to call you my mate brings me joy that I don't I deserve, but I want more. I want your Vampyre, your Demon and your human self—I want both your body and your soul. I want to make you mine in every legal and illegal way possible."

My legs shook like a leaf and I was certain I was going to land in a mushy puddle at his feet. "Is that the question?" I whispered.

"No, it's not."

"Um…okay."