“How’s Lara?” asked Jack.
“She’s good. Very good. I’m glad you brought her to me. She’ll be an excellent replacement when I retire from my duties.” She sipped her tea. “You’re worried about Roxie.”
“Did you consult your otherworldly friends?” asked Grant. Not being able to help his mate had driven him to utter frustration. His worry came out as impatience and anger—neither emotion was helpful.
“Matilda told me that Roxie is pregnant,” said Elsa.
Jack and Grant shared a shocked look. Grant couldn’t believe their mate was pregnant! Joy infiltrated his angst. Maybe this explained why Roxie was so listless, so depressed.
“Is that why she’s so tired?” asked Jack.
“Partly.” Elsa folded her hands. “Lara and I have worked together in the psychic realm to pinpoint Roxie’s illness. We’ve both come to the conclusion that she’s been attacked by a darker.”
“What the hell is a darker?” asked Grant.
“A spirit driven by rage and vengeance. It’s a shadow being that can affect her dreams and her reality. We must do everything we can to rid Roxie of this toxic and dangerous spirit.”
* * *
ROXIE’S EYES DRIFTED open. The afternoon had given way to deep evening. She sat up, and the bedspread slid off her shoulders, falling into her lap. Cool wind fluttered the curtains as it breezed inside, and it seemed to swirl around her.
She stretched her arms over her head, feeling a little better. She glanced around. “Oh!”
Candles had been distributed throughout the room. They were all lit and cast a lovely, romantic glow. She slid out of bed walked to a table that had been set-up for her. Her husbands. Both men took incredibly good care of her.
A round loaf of bread sat on an oversized white ceramic plate, and next to it, on a yellow napkin, was a spoon. She lifted off the top piece of sourdough and grinned. A thick, hearty beef stew waited inside. Its fragrant smell promised beef, carrots, onions, potatoes, and spices. For dessert, she’d been given strawberries and cream. As she gazed at the simple feast, her stomach rumbled, and she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“This is heaven,” she murmured, sitting down. She savored the flavorful stew and nibbled around the edges of the “bowl.”
After she finished the delicious meal, she felt much better. She thought of her husbands, of their inexplicable love for her. They’d been her rock. Her anchor. Her one true thing.
The door to the master suite opened, and Jack and Grant entered the room.
“How are you feeling?” asked Jack.
“Do you need anything else?” Grant looked even more worried than usual. “Maybe you should sit down.”
Roxie’s lifted an eyebrow. “I’ve slept the day away. Again.” She sighed. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Sit down,” said Jack gently. They led her to the bed and sat with her.
“You’re pregnant,” blurted Grant.
“What?” Shocked, she stared at him, open-mouthed.
Her big, strong husband blushed to the roots of his blond hair. “Sorry. There was probably a better way to tell you.”
“You think?” asked Jack. He took Roxie’s hands. “Lara and Elsa received the messages from the otherworld. You’re with child.”
“Wouldn’t I know?” she asked. “I mean, I’m a werewolf. We know these things, right?”
“You’re probably not too far along. Weeks at most. We’ll confirm through the doctor,” said Grant.
As the idea of impending motherhood filtered through her shock, relief soon followed. “That’s it, isn’t it? I’m preggers. That’s why I’m tired. Why I’m sick.”
She saw the concerned look her husbands shared. “There’s something else,” she guessed.
“Elsa and Lara think you’re being stalked by something called a darker.” Grant squeezed her shoulder.
“What the fuck is that?”
“A vengeful spirit,” said Jack.
Roxie sucked in a breath. “Crawl.” She shook her head. “That bastard is still after me?”
“That was our guess, too,” said Jack. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“The baby … how do I protect how child from a-a spirit?” Fear covered her like a cold rain. “What do we do?”
“Sshh, sweetheart.”
“Elsa and Lara are working on a way to get rid of him once and for all.” Grant kissed her cheek. “In the mean time, let us help you relax.”
Jack rubbed her thigh. “Please, Roxie. Let us love you.”
* * *
JACK HELPED ROXIE take off her dress and panties. She scooted onto the bed, in the middle, and watched her husbands undress. Both her mates were broad-shouldered with muscular arms and legs, and washboard stomachs.
Jack joined her first, cupping her neck. The tip of Jack’s tongue traced the shell of her ear. “What do you want to do?”