I turned the ring on my finger. “I’m the Queen Shifter. I can’t just disappear for months on end. I haven’t injured the baby yet with my fighting.” I held up a stopping hand when she started to argue. “If and when it would be required of me not to fight…so much…then I will do it.” I lowered my hand, turning the ring again. “But I will need that spell, Antonio.”
He nodded. “I can do that easily enough, but the baby will also need a protection spell when it’s born.” He rolled his shoulders, sitting back on the bed. “I’ll have to work on that.” In other words, just like the spell I now had from him to cover my Vampire side.
I blinked, my eyes meeting his. “You could also work on the reversal spell I want.”
No answer.
“Is it because I’m all grown up, Antonio?” I asked bitterly, emotion actually entering my tone and my veins for a moment, ice melting. “Do you only love defenseless baby hybrids, and not adult hybrids that fuck up their lives all on their own?” I didn’t give a fuck if Bindi knew right then. Hell, she probably already did and just couldn’t say it.
Pain etched his features. “I love you, Lil. No matter how old you get or how many scrapes you get yourself into. I’ll always love you.”
Twisted fucking truth.
I snorted even as a fresh batch of freezing tears welled in my eyes. “Get the hell out so Bindi can do the exam.” Coldness welled again as I stared at the ring, watching Antonio do as told from the corner of my eye, and I whispered on the barest breath, “Love is overrated. All it brings is emptiness.” I twirled the ring again. “Definitely not beauty.”