We appeared outside the library since the wards wouldn’t have allowed Sam to deposit us inside. We hurried into the building, dragging Ania along with us. Tears streamed down the woman’s face, her hands protectively cupping her belly. We didn’t even pause in our race for shelter, moving past the front desk. The librarian and her assistant were in the lobby, speaking in hushed tones. When they caught sight of us, the librarian stepped in our path, pointing a finger at Ania.

“She can’t be here. Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?” Mrs. Caldwell snapped.

“Back off, lady.” I growled through morphed teeth. I pushed my wolf back, trying to return to my human shape while I yelled at this woman. “The girl’s been through Hell, and I mean that literally. She needs to be somewhere safe.”

Mrs. Caldwell stared me down, spine straight and shoulders back. “You can’t have her here. Not in the same place as the other one. It’s too risky!”

“Other one?” Ania looked at us with confused, teary eyes. “What other one?”

“We’ll explain downstairs.” I pushed past the librarian, ignoring her furious squawk. I led Ania toward the basement, the librarian following us and muttering under her breath the whole time.

When we got into the room, we found Uncle Luc pacing in front of the bookshelves while Nancy reclined on the couch, reading a magazine and munching on mini-cupcakes from the vending machine. Jezze had her nose in a book, but she dropped it to her lap when we entered.

“This her?” Jezze pushed to her feet.

“Okay, wait a minute.” Ania backed away from us, hands raised and palms out. As if that’d stop me if I really wanted to get to her. “I’m grateful you saved my life, but I need an explanation. Who are you people?”

Before I could answer—though On High knew what I was gonna say—Nancy got up and waddled over to Ania. “Wow! You’re pregnant too! When are you due?”

I shot Nancy an annoyed glare. Trust the other human in the room to ignore the tension surrounding us. “Nancy,” I spoke slowly, trying to hold onto my frustration. “This is Ania. She’s the other mother.”

“Other?” Ania frowned. “What do you mean by ‘other’?”

I rubbed a hand over my face, swallowing back my scream of frustration. I’d just saved these two women. I couldn’t kill them. Though that’d solve a bunch of problems, wouldn’t it? “Okay. Both of you, shut up.” I pointed at one of the couches. “Everyone who’s pregnant, sit over there.” Nancy pouted. Ania put her hands on her hips and opened her mouth as if to say something. If she spoke, I couldn’t promise not to strangle her. “Sit. Now!”

Nancy yelped and hurried to the couch while Ania huffed and glared at me before obeying.

“Sam,” I gestured at the girls, “get them up to speed, please.”

He quirked his lips in a grin, the half-smile sending a heat of a different kind through my body. It looked like he had his feather back, but in his heart, he was still my sexy mate.

Sexy mate whose back had been burned to a crisp. I watched him move toward the girls, taking a seat in front of them and giving me his back. His healed, completely covered in a leather jacket, back.

I mentally shook my head. I really did love On High—occasionally but not frequently and only when he helped, not hindered.

Sam related the story, explaining everything. Nancy had already heard a lot, but she actually paid attention now. Ania leaned forward, face pale, while she listened to my mate’s explanation—fated children, planetary alignments, and Lucia’s plans to sacrifice the kids.

When Sam finished, Ania leaned back and dropped her hands to her lap. “Wow,” she whispered. “My protectors…” Ania shook her head. “They’d told me about Lucia and her plans, but they never mentioned another mother. Or planetary alignments.”

“They may not have known the full truth,” Sam added.

I snorted. “More likely, they were keeping you in the dark on purpose.”

“Why would they do that?” Ania tilted her head in question.

“Probably because they don’t like the idea of your child having any connection to Lucifer’s. No doubt, they want to keep these kids as far apart as possible. Cosmic balance and all that.” I waved my hand, pretending I didn’t give a fuck when the fucks I gave were slowly rising.

“Which is why she shouldn’t be here,” the librarian snarked. I’d forgotten she’d tagged along. “Lucia no doubt knows exactly where you are. She could have easily sensed where you traveled when you used the gel’s magic. She’ll be coming here for you—for you both.”

“Not until tomorrow,” I assured Mrs. Caldwell and focused on my mate. “Right, Sam?”

“Right,” he assured me. “Her power will be at its peak tomorrow. She won’t make a move until then.”

“Wait.” Ania shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“I know, right? The planetary alignment crap confuses the fuck outta me, too.” I ignored Nancy’s glare at my curse.

“No, not that. I mean, if she isn’t going to do this sacrifice until tomorrow, why did she come for me today?” I hated it when humans made sense. And this one did.

I froze. “Wait, what?”

Ania opened her mouth, but Sam held up a hand to silence her. “How long were you hiding in the bathroom before we got there?”

“I don’t know,” Ania shrugged. “Ten minutes? Maybe fifteen?”

Sam and I exchanged a look.

“Lucia showed up right after we got there.”

“You’ve been duped.” Uncle Luc glared at us and I ignored him.

Nancy raised her hand like she was in school. “I’m confused.”

Nothing new there.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “She wanted us to come get Ania. She let Gabriel escape, knowing he’d come here for help. There was no place else he could go for tween help. She lay in wait at the hotel. Why else would she kill the guards and then wait more than ten minutes to go into your room.” I looked at Ania. “She left you there. As bait.”

I hated—and kind of respected—smart evil beings.

“So you’d bring me here?” Ania whispered.

The librarian stepped forward, crossed her arms and glared at both pregnant women. “So the babies would be in the same place.”

I’d forgotten she was there, but she did have a point.

“Fuck,” I cursed and gestured at Ania. “We’ve got to get her out of here.”

“To where?” Jezze spread her hands. “There’s no place safe. Nowhere Lucia won’t be able to find her. At least we have the wards here. It’ll be easier to defend one location than split up and protect two.”

“I have an idea.” Uncle Luc strode forward and took Ania by the arm, yanking her to her feet. “We send this one back to the gels and their little elven friends. Let them deal with her.”

“Uncle Luc.” I gave him an impatient look, just about done with… everything.

“Caith,” he snapped. “My priority is my child. Not this one.” He looked Ania up and down. “No offense, my dear.”

Ania snatched her arm from his grip. “You know what? You people are nuts. I’ll find someone else to help me.” She headed for the door, stomping the whole way.

Of course—of fucking course—that was when the entire building above us shook and the rumble of a massive explosion filled the air.

On High truly hated me. That was the only explanation.