Lethal Rider

She pushed up on one elbow, which wasn’t easy, given that she must have fifty pounds of blankets on top of her. “I’m hot, actually.”

Thanatos peeled away several layers of blankets and propped some pillows against her to help brace her as she sat up. Surprised by his attentiveness, it took her a moment to find her voice again. When she did, she had to struggle to find the words to ask what she needed to know.

“What happened? With Pestilence. The demons.” Lame. She’d struggled for those six words?

“The demons will never bother you again.” His answer was little more than a growl. “Don’t worry about Pestilence. I’ll keep you safe.” The way he said it, as if he were pledging his very soul to the cause, eased her fears, at least for now. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?” He gestured to a covered platter and a carafe. “I had my staff prepare hot broth and sandwiches for when you woke up. Artur remembered how much you loved his ham and cheese subs.”

“I’m starving.” Regan might not trust vampires, but Artur had been nice to her, and he made the best freaking subs. Her mouth watered at the sight of the food. “I love the way Artur toasts the bread.”

“I do too.” The barest hint of a smile touched his lips. “With just a smear of butter.”

She nodded. “He said the secret is real Irish butter with a touch of—” A sharp, shooting stab of pain nailed her in the belly, and she hissed.

“What is it?”

“Baby,” she gasped. “I think I just had a contraction.”

His hand came up to her cheek in a tender gesture that nearly made her gasp again. “Is it time?”

“I think … I think it’s a Braxton Hicks.”

“A what?”

“Sort of pre-labor pains. I’ve been having them for the last week or so.”

The Horseman didn’t look satisfied with that answer. “You shouldn’t have tried to run.” He dropped his hand, and she hated the way the lack of his touch left her feeling cold again.

“I’m in danger here,” she insisted, but Than shook his head.

“The vampire who tried to kill you at headquarters wasn’t one of mine. And I promise you, the vampire who tried to stop you from leaving won’t touch you again. None of them will.”

Regan wasn’t so sure about that, but she had nothing to go on but a gut feeling. And while she trusted her instincts, Thanatos was another story.

At a tap on the door, Than unfurled to his full, impressive height. “Enter.”

The door opened, and one of the vampires entered with a huge, dark-haired male wearing a black paramedic uniform. He carried a red duffel, and his right arm was encased in tattoos. This was Shade, one of the demon brothers who ran Underworld General. And the one who had used his incubus gift to ensure she was pregnant, even though she’d changed her mind.

He strode across the room, passing through a splash of shadow where the firelight didn’t reach, and maybe Regan’s eyes were tricking her, but he seemed to disappear until he stepped back into the light.

“Showoff,” Than growled. “And it’s about time.”

The demon shot the Horseman an annoyed glare. “You might not be aware that we’re teetering on the end of the world, but we’re overflowing with casualties. We don’t have time for house calls.”

“You need to make time for this,” Than said. “The baby Regan carries could trigger the Apocalypse if he dies.”

“I know that. But I haven’t even been to my own home in two weeks.” Shade dropped the medic bag. “So f**k off. I got here as soon as I could.” He strode over to Regan. “The message I got was that we’re dealing with hypothermia?”

“Obviously,” Than said, “she’s better. No thanks to you. But she’s having … what are they called? Breaking Dicks?”

“Braxton Hicks,” Shade muttered. He went down on his heels next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Regan hesitated. Kynan might trust his demon in-laws, but she was not only less trusting, but she’d literally been born to fight them. A hatred of demons was in her DNA.

“Human.” Shade’s tone was no-nonsense, but not unkind. “You trust me as much as I trust you, but we have a common goal here. I like the planet the way it is. If that means making sure you and the little foal are medically sound, I’ll do everything I can. Now, tell me how you’re feeling.”

She bristled, but ultimately, Kynan was a good judge of character, so she supposed she could suck it up, just this once. Besides, the baby was half… whatever Than was, so a demon medical specialist could only be an asset.

“I feel a little weak, but okay.”

“How did you treat her?” Shade asked Than.

“Warm blankets. Body heat.”

She sucked in a breath, her gaze flicking up to the Horseman, who looked at her as though daring her to bring up the body heat thing. Yeah, he didn’t have to worry about that. The idea that he’d put that hard, lean frame against hers… she shivered at the forbidden image.

“How long was she unconscious?”

“About six hours. She roused enough to drink some hot tea and went back out.”

She had? She didn’t remember that at all.

“Did you get her temperature?” When Thanatos shook his head, Shade sighed and started to peel back the covers.

A rumbling noise came at the same time that Thanatos’s hand came down on the comforter. “She stays covered.”

With horror, she realized she was na**d except for underwear. Nudity had never bothered her, but again, the idea that Thanatos must have undressed her, and that this strange demon might be touching her like that … well, it made her want to hyperventilate.

“I can’t examine her if she’s covered up, a**hole,” Shade said.

“I’ll get her some clothes.” Than went to the huge wardrobe at the end of the bed.

Shade, his nearly black eyes glittering, turned back to Regan. “While he’s being a dick, I’ll take your vitals. Give me your wrist.”

She held out her arm, and Shade took it. The baby did some sort of somersault in her belly, and Shade flew backward as if he’d been shot out of a cannon.

“What the—” Shade slammed into the wall and sat there, dazed.

Regan sat up, clutching the blankets to her chest. “Are you okay?”

“Hell’s rings.” Shade shook his head as if to clear it, and shoved to his feet. “That was like a billion-jolt shock, but without the electricity. Like I got a full body punch from a Gargantua demon.”

Thanatos moved over to the bed and took her hand. “Nothing happens to me.”

Regan eyed the shirt in his other hand. “Can I have that?”

He gave it to her. The black T-shirt was three sizes too large, but it would work as temporary maternity wear.

She gestured to Shade, Than, and the vampire standing near the door. “Turn around.”

They did, and she slipped on the T-shirt. She still had no pants, but this would have to do. She tugged the blankets across her lap. “You can turn around now.”

Shade walked over. “Take her hand again, Horseman.”

Although he looked oddly uncomfortable, Than put his hand over hers. “Nothing.”

Nothing? Maybe not for him, but she got a hot rush from his touch. Obviously, her body remembered the pleasure he’d given her with those hands. Annoying.

“I’m going to try again.” Shade, his dermoire glowing, lightly pressed his fingertips to her forehead. Same result. Well, similar. This time he cartwheeled backward and landed in a heap next to the fireplace. Thanatos smirked.

“What’s going on?” she asked, as Shade groaned and got to his feet, a little slower this time.

“I think your kid hates me.” He rolled his shoulders, wincing a little. “Before I got suckerpunched that time, I got a thread of my power into you, and I felt him.” He eyed her. “Hope you knew it’s a boy.”

“Yeah, we did,” Than said. “So did you get anything else?”

“Not a lot. But I can tell you that the kid is big. You’ve easily got a nine-pounder in there. He’s ripping some sort of powerful ability, and he’s obviously picky about who he lets touch his mom.” Shade looked over at Thanatos. “Or not picky.”

Thanatos arched a blond eyebrow. “That’s not very professional.”

Shade gave Than a droll stare. “I’m a demon. You want professional, haul her over to the Mayo Clinic.”

Thanatos snorted and gestured for the daywalker vamp to come over. “See if you can touch her.”

Doing her best to not recoil, Regan held out her hand. The vampire’s fingers skimmed harmlessly over her knuckles.

“Weird.” She frowned. “I had a doctor appointment just last week and there were no issues. Maybe the baby only reacts to demons?”

“Maybe.” Shade held out his arm. “Can you touch someone? Try me.”

Couldn’t hurt. At least, couldn’t hurt her. The demon might not be so lucky. Tentatively, she placed her fingers on his forearm. Nothing happened.

“Interesting.” Shade handed Than a thermometer. “Can you get her temp?”

Thanatos stuck the thing in her ear, and a moment later, it beeped. “Ninety-eight point eight. Is that bad?”

“Perfectly normal. Looks like the baby protected you from the frost demons. Regan, what’s your due date?”

“August twenty-ninth.”

Shade glanced at his watch. “Ten days. You’re close.” He went down on his haunches beside the bed and lowered his voice. “Are you okay? Any concerns you want to share? Do you want to talk in private?”

Her opinion of the demon shot up about a million points. Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to be sensitive to her needs or considerate of her privacy.

“I’m fine,” she said. But ten days? How did the time sneak up on her like that? “But if you could get a message to Kynan to let him know what’s happened, I’d appreciate it.”