"Are you asking me to decide whether or not to send Christoph to his possible death?"

I questioned Vincent, blinking into his face like a rabbit caught in a trap, while everyone in the room watched and waited.

"You're the one with the power, Reese. And you're the closest to him. I think you should have the final say."

I knew the words were difficult for him, and when his hand tightened around mine, it felt as if he was squeezing my heart.

"I need some air."

As soon as I made my request, it was granted. Griffin rushed to gather the dog leashes while the whippets followed excitedly on her heels. Amelia fetched my sandals from the foyer and put them on my bloated feet. Vincent grabbed a water bottle and filled it from the fridge. And Lucy and Wren spoke in their soft, motherly tones.

"Don't worry about your friend, Reese," Lucy said. "Like gollums, demons are very resilient."

"Thanks, Lucy. You always find ways to shed a positive light on dark situations."

I put on a brave face, but it probably didn't fool anyone. We all knew the risks Christoph faced if he tried to steal the Seal of Solomon. Just the fact that he was suggesting a covert move, meant he didn't think Hadria would be open to loaning it to me, even if it meant defeating a threat to demon kind. Did the wicked witch even care what happened to her subjects?

As we left the apartment, Griffin handed the dog leashes to Vincent, and I noticed her eyes had become shiny with tears. "I can walk the dogs while you two talk, but I understand if you want to be alone."

I glanced at Vincent through my own watery eyes, letting him know I wasn't opposed to Griffin's company. I felt sorry for her for feeling sorry for me.

"I think Bonnie and Clyde would be disappointed if you didn't join us," he told her. "Did you grab treats?"

"Of course." She smiled as she patted her pocket, and the three of us walked to the elevator. Okay, they walked, I waddled, and while Griffin talked about her last conversation with Travis, my chest slowly filled with virtual cement. It was a feeling I'd been overcoming as I embraced my gollum nature, and I'd be damned if I was going to let it drag me down now. I needed my wits to figure out what to do about Christoph.

When we reached the sidewalk and the summer sun greeted me, the stifling pressure loosened its hold, and I took in a deep, warming breath.

"Better?" Vincent asked as we made our way toward the park. The concern in his eyes were as clear as the sky, and I gave him a reassuring nod.

"Yes, thank you. How did the meeting with the investors go?"

"Is that what you really want to talk about?"

"No, but I'm trying to distract myself."

"Fair enough. It ended up being a bunch of whiny rich people who enjoy complaining as much as they enjoy a bottle of Chateau Lafite. But the meeting did accomplish one thing you'll be happy about."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I've decided to let Colin handle all of the Valentino's investment accounts. It will take twenty-seven things off my plate."

"I support that. Was Colin at the meeting?"

"Yes, and he was still there after I was interrupted with the call from..." He pursed his lips, and I squeezed his hand.

"It's okay, Vincent. I don't want you tiptoeing around the subject. I know you aren't happy with my decision to keep this gift, but it's our best hope to defeat Dmitry."

"And now you have the marks from Isis," Griffin added as she stopped to let Clyde sniff under a bush. "I'll bet your powers are even stronger than they were before."

Vincent locked us down with a stony stare. "What marks?"

"The hair isn't the only thing Isis gifted Reese with," Griffin said without missing a beat. "Show him, Reese."

Ugh.

I opened my palms, exposing the tattoos I had woken up with, and Vincent's eyebrows rose as he gave them his scrutiny. "How had I missed seeing those? Did you know about them, Reese?"

"Not until I woke up from my nap."

The whippets got excited as we reached the park, and Griffin let them drag her toward a woman holding the reins of a cocker spaniel. Vincent and I knew the dog as Colonel Mustard. My feet were already protesting, so I headed for an empty park bench, and just as we reached it, I felt a painful pinch between my legs, like the baby was grabbing me by the balls. If I had balls.

A second later, an explosion of warmth soaked my panties and flowed down my legs. I cursed as I grabbed my crotch, embarrassed that I couldn't control my bladder, but when the flood waters continued, panic surged through me. This was it.

"Vincent, I think my water just broke."

"What?" Vincent's grip on my arm tightened, and his eyes went wide as he took in my drenched maternity pants. "Fuck! We need to get you home. Griffin!"

His shout drew not only Griffin's attention, but the attention of everyone within earshot. In a matter of seconds, half the park's occupants were huddled around us as Vincent escorted me down the sun-drenched path.

"Are you in labor?" asked Patty, the owner of Colonel Mustard.

"I'm pretty sure I am."

"Oh, goodness. This is so exciting."

She proceeded to pass the news to the crowd of nosy New Yorkers, while Vincent and Griffin did a valiant job of fielding questions. The parade followed us all the way to Twenty Exchange Place as they snapped photos with their phones. When we arrived home, Griffin alerted all the Valentinos, and Vincent got Dr. Hardwick on speaker phone. Unfortunately, the good doctor was in New Mexico at her great granddaughter's christening, so she wasn't available to assist in the delivery.

"Don't worry, Reese. Lucy and I have done this before," Wren told me as she folded towels on the kitchen counter. "We also have plenty of experience dressing battle wounds, as you well know." Her wink didn't exactly reassure me, but this was what we had planned for. So, I just occupied myself with spreading the good news.

"Hi, Mom. Guess what?"

"Don't tease your mother," she said. "Every time the phone rings, my heart skips a beat."

"Well, you can stop worrying. The baby is on its way."

"Oh, Reese! Your father will be so pleased when he hears the news. How far along is your labor?"

"I'm about an hour in, so we've got a while to go. I've been in touch with the doctor and she says I'm on the right track."

"What does that mean? Haven't you gone to the hospital yet?"

I took a deep breath as I prepared to share the news I hadn't offered my parents because I knew they would freak out. Better late than never. "I've decided to have the baby at home. It's going to be perfectly fine, so please try not to worry."

"What? Oh, baby girl. What if... What if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing's going to go wrong. I have two experienced midwives here with me. I'll make sure Vincent keeps you posted."

I listened to her labored breaths for a few seconds until she finally relented. "Okay. I trust you and Vincent to know what's best for your baby. You're a brave woman, Reese. I never could have given birth to your brother without pain killers."

"How do you know that? You never tried it without them."

"You're right, but I might have strangled the doctor if I hadn't. You've always had a stronger spirit than me. I don't doubt you could deliver that baby all on your own."

"Well, let's not go that..." I grunted as a contraction caught me in the middle of our conversation, and I breathed through the pain like I knew what the hell I was doing.

"Are you okay? Are you having a contraction?"

"Yep. It's all good, Mom. I should probably go. I need to stay hydrated. And I still have to call Sylvie."

"Sure. I understand. Have someone call me as soon as the baby is born. I want to see pictures too."

"Of course. I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Reese."

Vincent took the phone when he saw me breathing into my chest, and the next thing I knew a water bottle was being shoved into my hand. "Drink." Although his eyes conveyed the intensity of a gollum with too many things on his plate, a smile played on his lips that told me he was excited to see his baby.

"How are you holding up?" I asked as I swallowed the water in slow, measured gulps.

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Peachy."

The door flung open and Colin waltzed in with Claudette on his arm. "Are we too late for the gore?" He glanced around the room, and when his eyes fell on me and my huge belly, he clapped his hands together. "Good. We didn't miss the fun."

"Who says you're staying for the fun?" Vincent said. "We still have hours to go. What happened in the investors meeting after I left?"

Colin scoffed. "You want to talk about business when your mate is about to give birth to your child?"

I could have read Vincent's expression from a mile away. He didn't want to share the birth with anyone, least of all the brother he considered a threat. "I need something to do while I wait, don't I? Join me in my office."

Vincent's invitation had Colin grinning. No matter how much they fought, their family ties would always unite them. Colin turned his grin on me. "If you need anything to numb the pain, just let me know. A little brandy might take the edge off."

"You don't give alcohol to a woman in labor," Claudette said as she smacked Colin's arm.

"I'll be fine, Colin. Thanks."

After the brothers disappeared down the hall, Claudette dropped into the chair beside me. "How are you feeling, Reese? Has the pain been terrible?"

"Not yet, but I figure it's a matter of time. I remember Adele saying the pain really got going about an hour before she wanted to push."

"Yeah, I remember. She wishes she could be here, but Jillian is teething, and she didn't want a fussy baby distracting you or making you regret your choice." She chuckled as she stared at my protruding belly, looking very glad not to be in my position.

"How are you, Claudette? Are you and Colin feeling like an old married couple yet?"

I watched her carefully for signs of distress, but she offered me an easy smile. "It's been wonderful. I never realized how stifled I felt living under my family's scrutiny. It's like I can breathe for the first time in my life. And I can see a change in Colin too, now that he's no longer under the shadow of his brother."

"That's great. I wonder how many gollums feel that way without realizing it."

"Your friendship has helped me a lot. You've given me an outsider's perspective. Now I know why I was fighting the whole commitment thing. I didn't want to decide my future based on some domus requirement. When Colin and I were able to do things on our own terms, it just felt right."

Her revelation had me smiling, and I patted her arm just as a contraction hit, and I ended-up pinching her instead. "Sorry...I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay. Just let it out." Claudette stayed through the contraction, and when it subsided, she excused herself somewhat hastily. Although it may have been my imagination. A moment later, Wren showed up with a cup of ice chips.

"Here, Reese. You can suck on these for hydration. Are you hungry? There's no reason you can't eat a little something during labor."

Was I hungry? It was hard to tell with so many strange feelings taking over my body. "I guess I could use the energy."

Looking pleased, Wren headed for the kitchen where Griffin was already pulling items out of the fridge. Vincent and Colin appeared a moment later, both holding a glass of brandy. They were still talking shop, and as Colin rattled off stock market numbers, Vincent leaned over the couch to press a kiss to my forehead.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"So far, so good."

"Do you want to be alone? I can tell everyone to get lost."

I smiled and pulled him down for another kiss, tasting the tang of brandy on his lips. "Let them have their fun. How are you doing?"

"Couldn't be better." He smiled without reservation, and, for a moment, I almost forgot about Dmitry, and the magic, and Christoph. Almost.

I spent the next three hours waiting for Sylvie to get off work, and when she arrived, I had just started to doze on the couch. In my half-dazed state, I heard her talking to Amelia. "How is she doing?"

"She's a rock. I haven't heard a single complaint."

"That's my Reese. She's the strongest person I know. She'll make a kick-ass gollum once she gets used to the change thing."

"Well, she won't be allowed to fight in any street battles until her child is sixteen."

"Really? Is that a gollum law? It sounds a little sexist to me."

"It's not a law, but it's part of our culture. Females are discouraged from taking risks on the battlefield when they have youngsters at home."

"So, you haven't fought since Griffin was born?"

"Only in the rec room. I snuck in a few fights in the arena before I was banned."

"That stinks. Will you go back to doing battle when Griffin turns sixteen?"

"Hell yeah, but I don't think Reese will have the same ambition. She wasn't raised to do battle. I just hope she doesn't get bored staying home all the time. Unlike human mothers, gollum females don't return to work after they give birth. They're expected to stay with her child through adolescence."

"Oh. Does Reese know this?"

"I've talked to her about it, but I don't think it's going to sink in until it's happening to her. I've been meaning to talk to Vincent about being sympathetic to her needs, but he's even more difficult to nail down now that he's taken on the role of high magister."

"Yikes. It sounds like Reese is in for a rude awakening. Well, I won't let her go stir crazy. I'll make sure I visit more often."

Although I was desperate to hear more of their not-so-covert conversation, a contraction forced me to grunt, and Sylvie hurried over as I powered through it.

"Hey, chica. How's it hangin'?"

"Pretty low. In fact, I need to pee. Will you help me up?"

As Sylvie escorted me to the nearest bathroom, I couldn't help noticing the look of sympathy she wore as I waddled like an elephant with a bum leg. Was it because I was in the throes of labor, or was she thinking about my future as a prisoner? Sure, I was living in a luxury penthouse with a guy who worshiped me, but it sounded like I had swapped my freedom for it.

"I brought your favorite coffee from The Roasted Bean," Sylvie said as she watched me do my business. "I was hoping you'd be allowed to drink coffee. You're in the home stretch now. There may also be a bear claw in the bag, too."

She smiled but there was a touch of sadness behind it. Chances were, she was watching her best party friend drift away like a lost balloon. "Coffee sounds really good, actually. I can't remember the last time I drank a cuppa joe."

"Hey, what's with those marks on your palms?" Sylvie took hold of one of my hands as I washed them. "Is that an evil eye?"

"Um...yeah. I was going to tell you..."

"You were waiting until after you got your first tattoo to tell your best friend? I mean, I get the reverse highlights. I've heard pregnancy hormones make women do weird shit to their hair. But a tattoo? I'm totally insulted, right now."

"Actually, Sylvie, I didn't get a... Ooh." A serious contraction had me doubling over the sink, accompanied by a sharp sting between my legs, like I'd been punched by a tiny fist. It wasn't a completely new sensation. I'd been feeling it every time the baby got comfortable on my bladder.

"That was a doozy, eh? Maybe we should get you back to the couch before another one hits. How close are they? Have you been timing them?"

"Not really, but I'd say it was about four minutes since the last one." As I let Sylvie walk me around the bed like an invalid, heat flooded my body. The source of the warmth came from my crotch and radiated to my limbs, causing me to stumble.

"Shit, girl. Was that another one already?"

"I need to lie down." I crawled across the bed, and Sylvie followed me, her face awash with concern.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes. Bring me the thermometer."

Sylvie stared at me without blinking. "Oh, no. Don't tell me..."

"Hurry. There's one in the medicine cabinet."

She finally got her ass in gear, leaving me on the bed while I tried to get comfortable. If this was Dmitry's doing, I was going to kill him. Since that was the plan anyway, I would have even more anger to fuel my fire. I was just about to press my palm to my forehead when Vincent walked into the room.

"Hey, Reese. You decide you've had enough of family?" He sat on the edge of the bed, still cradling a brandy in his hand. I wasn't sure how many he'd had, but based on his breath, he probably needed to stay away from open flame. Before I could answer, his gaze flicked to the bathroom as Sylvie walked out with the thermometer in her hand. "What the fuck are you doing, Sylvie? I hope that's for you."

"Um..."

"Shit!" Vincent set his glass on the nightstand, and he practically throttled my head as he pressed both hands to my temples. "Shit, shit, shit! Not this again. Not now. Sylvie, draw Reese a bath. Room temperature. And give me that thermometer."

Looking like a deer in the headlights, Sylvie handed over the thermometer and turned around to head back into the bathroom. Vincent shoved the thermometer into my mouth, and I watched him panic as Amelia walked into the room.

"What's up, Reese? Are you feverish?"

Nobody said a word as we waited for the digital reading to give us a verdict, and when it beeped, Vincent pulled the thermometer out of my mouth and stared at it. "One oh one point three."

I barely heard Vincent's muffled voice as I pressed my face into the pillow and groaned through a painful contraction. This one was definitely stronger than the last, and based on my internal clock, it had come quicker than the one before. It also attracted more bodies as Wren peeked her head around the corner.

"It sounds like you're making progress." She beamed at me before glancing at Vincent's pasty face and the thermometer in his hand. "Do you have a fever, sweetheart?"

"Yes," Vincent told her. "I have Sylvie drawing her a bath."

"Oh, dear. When did the symptoms come on?"

Everyone looked at me as I struggled to even out my breathing. "About three minutes ago. It felt like it was coming from...down there." I pointed at my crotch, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"That's new, isn't it?" Vincent asked. "You've never felt heat down there since the fevers started."

"It's new. I also felt a sting, but I figured it was just the baby getting into position."

"Well, I think Vincent is right about the bath," Wren said. "You can labor in the water to keep your body temperature from spiking."

Although I just wanted to be left alone in my misery, I figured it would take more effort to argue with them than give in. Over the next few minutes, I allowed myself to be undressed and ushered to the bath while my temperature was constantly monitored by my dear, doting husband.

"How's the water temperature?" Sylvie asked. "Too cold? Too warm?" Her voice trembled as she stood at the back of the room, staying clear of Wren who was arranging supplies on the counter.

"It feels just fine, Sylvie. Thank..." A contraction cut me off, and the sensation of being under water offered a slightly different response from my pain receptors. It wasn't that I didn't feel pain, it was just muffled a bit, and an indeterminate amount of time passed as the contractions continued to wreak havoc on my body.

Vincent must have shoved that damned thermometer into my mouth a hundred times, but my fever stayed below one-hundred and two through the entire labor, and when it came time to start pushing, that's when I noticed a strange buzzing inside my bones. It was the same buzz I'd felt inside Isis's chamber, so I didn't bother telling anyone about it. I just let it fill me, which seemed like the right thing to do.

"I see the head." Wren's voice broke through my pain-induced haze, and I glanced around to find Lucy beside her. They were staring at my crotch as I sat, spread eagle with my feet pressed against the porcelain. I was still in the tub, and Vincent was there too, holding my hand.

"Push, Reese. You're nearly there."

A female voice commanded me from somewhere nearby, and I obeyed her instructions. But the movements of my body seemed almost automatic, like I'd given birth before, and I let the experience unfold without even thinking about it. Then, I felt the most amazing release of energy, and the room took in a simultaneous breath, which was followed by the grunting cries of a baby.

"Oh, my. Look at this perfect little boy." Lucy's voice was the first to break through my muddled brain, and I blinked up as she set the baby on my chest.

"Boy? Did you say boy?" My throat was dry, causing my words to choke out as I wrapped my arms around the naked, pink body curled between my breasts. The eyes that blinked under the bathroom lights were large and curious, and seemed to seek out my voice. "Look at what you've done, Vincent. He's beautiful."

"Don't give me all the credit." Vincent sounded so close I thought he had crawled into the bath with me, and when I finally dragged my gaze away from the babe, I found him leaning over the tub, his face painted with so many emotions I couldn't decipher them all. But it wasn't difficult to see the moisture filling his eyes. "Without you, this never would have been possible."

He brought his lips down to mine, kissing me with such tenderness it immediately drew a sob from my throat. "I love you, Vincent."

I sounded like a sappy country singer, which I blamed on the hormones flooding my body. I probably would have told my worst enemy I loved them. And while I knew my enemies were out there, I wasn't going to waste a moment of time on those haters. All that mattered now was the innocent life I had brought into this world. A life I would defend to my dying breath.