Page 119 of Heart of Iron
“Not you.”Her gaze speared Will.“You.”
He glanced at Blade, then away.“I thought I could handle it.”
Honoria’s eyes narrowed.She looked between the two men.“What’s going on?”
“Nothin’,” Will muttered.
Blade stared at her, his arms crossed defensively over his chest.“Will didn’t want me comin’ up against the Echelon.”
“But you’ve—”
“I’ve been drinkin’ ’uman blood again,” he said suddenly.“It’s why me CV results ain’t been comin’ down more.”
Honoria’s jaw dropped in surprise.“But…but why?My vaccinated blood was curing you.If we kept going your CV results might almost negate themselves.You might be completely cured.You might be—”
“’Uman,” Blade said softly.He looked like a man facing the tumbrel.“It takes away the threat o’ the virus, luv, but it takes me strength, me speed.”His face screwed up.“It’s enough to know I ain’t facin’ the Fade anymore.I can’t afford to be weaker.The Echelon’d be upon us like a pack o’ rabid dogs.Will were tryin’ to prevent that from ’appenin’.”
Honoria stared at him helplessly, her eyes gleaming with tears.“Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things?”Her hot gaze flashed to Lena.“Am I truly so rabid, so fearful, that you’re all too scared to tell me?I only want what’s best for you.For all of you.”
Blade let out a sharp breath, as if he’d feared worse.“It ain’t that, luv.I didn’t want to disappoint you.You were so set on a cure.”
“I’m not irrational,” she said.
“You’re too rational,” Blade said with a tentative smile.He stroked her fingers and she slowly turned her palm toward him, accepting the touch.Relief flooded his expression.
“Well.”Honoria let out a sharp breath.“Since we’re so set on spilling our secrets today.”She pressed her hand to her midriff and blurted, “I think I’m with child.”
The color drained out of Blade’s face.For a moment he looked as he had three years ago, when he stared the Fade in the face.“Honor?”The whisper was a mix of terror and awe.
Delight swam up inside Lena’s chest.“Are you certain?”she asked, taking her sister by the hands.
“I saw the midwife yesterday,” Honoria replied, her eyes flooding with tears again.
Lena hugged her close, happiness surging through her.“You deserve it,” she whispered.“You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”She couldn’t help a rueful grin.“You’ve had plenty of practice at mothering all of us.”
Esme embraced them both.Over Honoria’s shoulder Lena saw Blade stagger against the armchair.Charlie caught him with a grin.Even Will’s lips curled in a smile.
“Bloody ’ell,” Blade muttered.“That’s…that’s amazin’.”
Then he reached out and dragged Honoria into his arms.
***
The next day Lena took a deep breath and smoothed the aubergine taffeta over her hips.The girl in the mirror looked like a stranger; corseted and bustled, with elegant feathers in her hair and one of the pretty clockwork brooches she’d designed at her breast.The tiny dragonfly’s brass wings fluttered rhythmically and she knew it would draw the focus off her eyes.
Will said they’d change, the coppery ring around her pupils gradually taking over.Lena quite liked them.It was a sign that this pretty girl who stared back at her was no longer powerless.No longer prey.
She smiled and the reflection smiled back at her, teeth slightly bared.Yes.That was better.That was more herself now.She was tired of being afraid, and telling everyone her secrets had taken the last weight off her shoulders.Blade had tightened security on the warren and Charlie was safe and sound now.Nobody would get near him.
All that remained was to bring this treaty to a close.
Her eyes narrowed.She was very much going to enjoy ruining the mysterious assailant’s plans.
“Are you ready?”Leo called, rapping at her opened door.He’d insisted that she accompany him.Not only would it help disguise the rumors about her precise relationship with Will, but the weight of his title would offer further protection.If the mysterious assailant made a move toward her, he’d be waiting.Between he and Blade, they’d both resolved to dig out the traitor.
“You’ve seen Mrs.Wade to the door?”
The first thing she’d insisted upon when she returned to Waverly Place the night before.She’d had enough of being manipulated and betrayed.Mandeville had finished the outer casing of the transformational and picked up the interior this morning, professing his sincere apologies, but she felt it would be a long time before she could trust him again.
