Chapter 37: Rose

Although Caleb’s words worried me, I was too exhausted to think about them much.

I was just relieved to be back here on the island with him and my family.

A crowd gathered around Caleb and me, my parents at the forefront.

I looked my father straight in the eye as Caleb lowered me to the ground.

“I think my boyfriend has earned his place on this island now, wouldn’t you agree?” I ignored the way my father’s eyes widened as I referred to him as my boyfriend.

I was too proud of Caleb to feel shy.

My father still looked uncertain as he eyed Caleb, but I was relieved when he said, “I’ve been wrong about people in the past.

I look forward to a full explanation.” I squeezed Caleb’s hand and was about to suggest that we return to the apartment and give him just that when a voice called out from behind us.

“Hey! We could use some help!” The crowd parted as everyone turned around to see who it was.

Standing by the Port was Mona, an arm wrapped around Kiev’s waist, with Erik on the other side supporting him.

Two figures lay on the ground—Corrine and Ibrahim—while Abby was standing nearby, calling and waving us over.

We all hurried toward them and as we drew nearer, I was shocked to see that Kiev was missing an arm.

Helina reached them first and threw her arms around Kiev’s neck.

“What happened to you?” He looked so sick and pale, as though he might collapse at any moment.

“Corrine and Ibrahim…” my mother said, as she bent down to their unconscious forms.

“How?” Mona shook her head wearily.

“Later.

My man needs to lie down.” “Your house is a wreck,” Helina said, still looking distraught at the state of her brother.

“We should take him to one of the spare mountain cabins.” Without another word, Mona vanished from the spot with Kiev, Helina and Erik.

My mother picked up Corrine, while my father lifted Ibrahim, and they hurried toward the direction of the Sanctuary.

Caleb and I followed them, along with Abby and most of the crowd.

“Where’s Patricia?” my father asked Abby as we ran.

“She didn’t make it,” Abby croaked.

A mournful silence fell among us—a silence that lasted until we reached the witches’ temple.

My parents laid Corrine and Ibrahim down in their bed.

I still had no idea where Mona, Kiev and the others had even gone, so to hear that Patricia had passed away left me shocked and doubly bewildered.

A handful of witches gathered around the bed and began treating the couple.

After five minutes, they turned to everyone present in the room and requested us to leave and give them some space.

I looped my arm through Caleb’s as we walked out the room, following closely behind my parents.

I supposed it was just as well Mona had arrived when she had.

They’d obviously been through the mill.

I doubted they would have appreciated Charis as a welcome-home surprise.

My parents pulled us aside as we entered the courtyard.

My father’s intense blue eyes travelled from my face to Caleb’s.

“Let’s go home,” he said softly.

“I’d like to learn more about your boyfriend.”

Chapter 38: Vivienne

I stared down at the two vertical lines, barely daring to believe my eyes.

I ran out of the bathroom and into the bedroom next door.

Xavier was relaxing in bed, leaning against the headboard and reading a book.

He looked up at me.

“C-can you… take a look at this?” He leapt from the bed and closed the distance between us.

“That’s… two lines, right?” I stammered, handing him the test stick.

A broad smile split his face and his eyes lit up.

“Yes, baby.

Two lines.” “I should do another test to be sure,” I said quickly, afraid to raise my hopes after just one test.

He lowered to his knees before me.

Raising my blouse, he pressed his lips against my navel.

“You’ve had bad cramps the last few days,” he murmured.

“Yes, but—” “Your period is late.” “Well, it could just be—” “It could just be that you’re pregnant.” He stood up, a huge grin still on his face as he looked down at me.

I was still afraid to accept the idea.

Afraid of the disappointment that would follow if the signs turned out to be misleading.

Xavier was always the optimist of the two of us though.

I couldn’t have expected him to respond any differently.

He caught my hands and pulled me back on the mattress on top of him.

He cupped my face in his hands and whispered, “God knows, we’ve been trying enough.” I giggled as he raised a brow.

I rolled off him onto my side and leaned on my elbow.

He ran his fingers through my hair, brushing strands of it away from my face.

“I’ve got my hands full if we have a girl,” he muttered.

“Why?” I asked, smiling.

He reached for my hand and kissed the back of it.

“If she’s half as beautiful as you, I’ll be scared to let her out of my sight.” My cheeks flushed as though Xavier was my teenage crush.

“And if it’s a boy?” I began to muse, narrowing my eyes on my husband.

“He’ll replace Ben Novak as The Shade’s teenage heartthrob,” Xavier finished for me, throwing me a wink.