Page 40 of Vipers and Vendettas
He stands up. ‘Okay. You’re good to go. The little one is healthy. I’ll be taking over your prenatal care, and I will give Maddox a couple of recipes for safe teas that will settle your stomach.’
I give him an amused look. ‘I can’t see Maddox brewing teas for me,’ I say.
‘I think you’d be surprised,’ he replies.
He ignores my questioning look and squeezes my hand. ‘I’ll see you in a few weeks, Julia.’
I squeeze it back. ‘Thank you, doctor,’ I say. ‘The words don’t seem like enough. I’m so relieved.’
He nods. ‘Call me Theo.’
He leaves the room, and I hear some murmured conversation in the hall.
She’s okay. I touch my stomach. And she’sa she.
Without warning, I burst into tears.
A second later, I’m vaguely aware of being pulled into a large chest and hugged. I struggle a little at first because I know it’s Maddox, and why is he cuddling me like he cares? But it’s been months since anyone’s held me, and it turns out I’ve really missed it.
I wrap my arms around him tightly as I cry, vaguely aware of him rubbing my back in light circles and shushing me.
‘Why are you being nice to me?’ I hiccup into his chest.
He doesn’t answer my question. ‘Why are you crying? Theo said everything was fine.’
‘It’s just. Everything’s okay, but I’ve been so afraid it wasn’t. For weeks, Maddox. I couldn’t see anyone human, and I couldn’t afford to see a supe doctor, so I’ve had no idea if …’
‘But the baby is fine,’ Maddox says again, easing me away from him, and I notice he’s taken pains not to touch my bare skin to his.
His face is an impenetrable mask.
I realize that I’m still clinging to him and let go of him as if he burns me.
‘I–I’m sorry,’ I say, taking a step back. ‘It’s just …’
He lets out a breath. ‘Come on.’
He brings me back through the hallway and to the library. When I look at him in askance, he shrugs.
‘Even the worst prisoners get R&R,’ he says, then quirks a brow. ‘Well, except in the Mountain.’
We go into the library, and he strides over to his desk and takes a seat, leaving me in the middle of the room.
‘I have work to do for a while,’ he says, opening his laptop. ‘Do as you like, but stay in here, please.’
‘You don’t have to … why are you …’
He gives me a sardonic look. ‘Spit it out, darling. I don’t have all day.’
‘Why are you being so nice to me after what I did?’ I ask.
But Maddox is saved from having to reply as Daemon enters the room.
He stops short as he sees me, his expression shuttering. I quickly move out of his way, going to the shelves and picking out a book.
‘Ah, good,’ Maddox says. ‘I need to pop out for a moment. Make sure our wayward human doesn’t go walkabout.’
Daemon looks at me and lets out an annoyed grunt. ‘Fine.’
