Page 48 of Omega's Fire

“I’ll talk to him.” The plan forms as I speak. “I’ll find out what he knows about these new policies and if he’s really on boardwith them.”

Meg gives me a skeptical look. Her eyebrows are raised higher than I would have thought physically possible. “And you’re sure that’s wise? Confronting him?”

“I won’t be ‘confronting’ him. I’ll be having a conversation.” I stand, decision made. “Besides, we’re on campus, surrounded by witnesses. What’s he going to do, drag me away in broad daylight?”

Meg doesn’t look convinced. “He might.” Her expression softens. “Leo, we can fight this together. All of us, not just you and me. We’ve faced university pushback before.”

“Not like this.” I gesture to the papers. “They’re cutting off our ability to organize at all.”

“Which is exactly why we can’t back down!” Meg stands, frustration radiating from her. “If we give in now, what message does that send? That they just need to threaten us harder next time?”

“I’m not saying we give in.” I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I’m saying we need to be strategic. And right now, talking to Nash might give us information we can use. You’re right about one thing. He’s probably using this to get to me. Maybe we use him right back.”

Meg studies me for a long moment. “I’m worried about you,” she finally says, her voice quieter. “I’m worried you’ll try to...sell yourself to keep everyone safe.”

“Jesus, Meg!” I stare at her, shocked. “What kind of person do you think I am?”

“The kind who would sacrifice yourself for others,” she says bluntly.

I shake my head. “I’m not doing that. I’m just going to talk to him.”

Meg doesn’t look convinced, but she nods. “Be careful. And Leo?” She hesitates. “The pregnancy...we’ll figure that out too.You’re not alone in this.”

Relief washes through me. “Thanks.”

After she leaves, I change into a clean shirt and run a hand through my hair.

The walk across campus to the faculty offices takes longer than I expect. I hesitate at the entrance of his building, suddenly unsure. What if Nash has orchestrated this whole thing? He could use this opportunity to assert his rights over our child.

“Stop it,” I mutter to myself. “You’ve faced worse than Nash stupid Thorndike.”

With a deep breath, I push open the door and enter the building.

Nash’ name is already on the directory in the lobby: Dr. Nash Thorndike, Visiting Professor, Evolutionary Psychology. Fourth floor, office 412.

The elevator ride gives me time to collect my thoughts, to plan what I’ll say. But all planning flies out of the window when I reach his door, left slightly ajar.

I knock once and push the door open without waiting for a response.

Nash sits behind a sleek desk, head bent over papers spread before him. He looks up at the sound of my entrance, and the blood drains from his face. In his hands I see my injunction, the papers I filed just days ago at the courthouse.

Our eyes meet, and the world seems to stand still.

“You’re pregnant,” he says.

Nash

“You’re pregnant,” I say. Of all people, I should have seen it coming. I know exactly what happens when prime match couples go through a heat. But somehow, it didn’t occur to me. I’ve been so obsessed with the loss of Leo, that it never occurred to me that I might be losing even more.

My office suddenly feels too small and airless. One minute I’m staring at a set of legal papers telling me that Leo is filing against custody, the next he appears right in front of me as if he has sprung to life straight out of my thoughts.

He is so beautiful. He looks like an angel with that blond hair and the flush on his cheeks, and that scent... I don’t even pretend to hide the way I breathe in deep, taking it all in. It makes me want to roll my eyes back in my head with pleasure.

Leo’s face hardens, his lip curling in that defiant expression I’ve seen so many times before. “Yes, that’s what happens when you have unprotected sex. You’re the so-called man of science. You know how it works.” He shifts his weight, one hand unconsciously moving to his midsection before dropping away. “I’m not here to talk about that.”

I can’t tear my eyes from the slight curve beneath his loose shirt. Our child. Growing inside him.

“We need to talk about it,” I reply, rising from my chair, his custody filing clutched too tightly in my hand. “Leo, this changeseverything.”

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