“Jade,” Mirella exclaimed when Jade appeared at the door of Gabriel’s gazebo where the Lobos had taken residence after fires ravaged the mansion. “I was just about to visit you.”

“I came to say goodbye,” Jade said, feeling like a fish out of water.

She definitely wasn’t cut out for small talk or social pleasantries. Uncertain if it was a good idea, she had paced the bridge connecting the gazebo to the mansion before gathering enough courage to knock on the door.

“We’re leaving, too. Tomorrow.” Mirella walked to Jade and took her hands. “I’ll miss you.”

“I wanted to thank you.” Jade gently freed her hands and moved to the side.

“For what?” Mirella frowned.

“For treating me with respect.”

Mirella chuckled. “That’s not something I should be thanked for.”

“You could’ve thought the worst of me because of my profession—”

“Sometimes, we don’t have a choice in what we are.” She waved her hand to dismiss the topic. “Come, have a seat.”

Jade followed the woman inside where an unfamiliar scene welcomed her. Valemir was in the arms of his father, playing with the stubble on his jaw as the intimidating werewolf babbled to him in childlike tones.

Lobo raised his head to greet Jade with a smile before standing and heading toward the door. “I’ll leave so you can talk freely,” he said, kissing his bride in passing. “Girls always have secrets. Remember this, son.”

Valemir laughed his little chuckle that was so similar to his mother’s.

“It’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Mirella asked, her gaze on the retreating form of her husband. Her faraway look and adoring eyes spoke louder than words about her affection for the man. “He almost looks tamed,” she joked.

“It would seem that becoming a parent changes people,” Jade cautiously said.

Mirella shook her head. “No, it just brings to the surface what’s already inside.”

The woman’s statement troubled Jade. What if she didn’t have the moral fiber needed to be a mother? As far as she knew herself, she was still an assassin. That wasn’t something that could be changed. And if a woman could so easily embrace a life of murder, what did that say about her? Was there hope for someone like her to be a decent parent?

“You’ll be fine,” Mirella said, startling her. “It’s normal to have doubts when expecting.”

“You were born to be a mother.” Jade regretted her words as soon as they escaped her mouth. As an engineered bride, Mirella was one of those people who had never had any choice in what she would become. “I’m sorry—”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Mirella sat on the chaise lounge her husband had vacated. “I was created for a specific purpose, but after Valemir was born, I was worried I wouldn’t be good enough for him. I think that there isn’t a single parent in the entire universe who hasn’t been terrified at one time or another. When it comes to our children, we never think we can possibly be good enough for them because they are perfection, and we could never come close to that.”

“You are not making me feel any better,” Jade said with a choked laugh.

“You’ll get accustomed to the feeling.” Mirella laughed as well.

With a soft knock, Crea entered the gazebo. “Lady Jade,” she said, bowing slightly for Jade.

The lady’s maid had even curtseyed to her once. The gesture shocked Jade, and she hadn’t said anything when it happened, but it was time to correct the girl.

“I’m Jade, not a lady,” she said, smiling at Crea. When the girl gave Mirella a confused look, Jade explained, “I don’t feel comfortable when people treat me with deference.”

“It took me forever to convince Crea to call me by my name.” Mirella smiled at her lady’s maid.

The girl’s cheeks colored as she shook her head. “I came to take Valemir for a walk.”

“No need. Valentine fled with him as soon as Jade arrived. He’s allergic to girl talk.” Mirella patted the cushion beside her. “Sit and enjoy a few minutes with us.”

“But I could help with packing—”

“I want you to take a break. We have plenty of people helping with packing.” Mirella pointed at the chaise lounge, and finally Crea sat by her side. “How do you feel today?” she asked Jade.

“You were right. The nausea has finally stopped, though I still tire a lot.” Since she had become an assassin, Jade exercised daily to keep her body in top form, but lately the usual routines proved taxing.

“You’re changing to accommodate the growth of your baby. And shifters are tough on their mothers, even on super-women like you,” Mirella said.

“You look barely pregnant,” Crea commented with a shy smile.

“Is there something wrong with me? Is my baby not growing as it should?” Jade immediately asked, pressing her hand against her stomach. She had been wondering if it was normal that her pregnancy wasn’t showing much, and she was about five months along.

“I meant that you are in perfect shape,” Crea answered, aghast.

“You have nothing to worry about, Jade.” Mirella chuckled.

“I don’t know anything about any of this.” Jade sighed, gesturing toward Mirella’s bump and then to her barely visible one. “It’s all new to me.”

“Believe it or not, even though I’ve been engineered to be a mother of werewolves, it was new to me as well.” Mirella said. “But I have Valentine by my side, and that’s made all the difference in the world.”

Jade remained silent. There wasn’t much she could contribute to the conversation without sharing more than she was comfortable with.

“May I give you some unsolicited advice?” Mirella asked.

Jade nodded.

“Accept help when it’s freely given. We weren’t meant to walk life alone,” Mirella said, her words soft as she looked at Jade with the sweetest of expressions.

“I’m not used to counting on anyone but myself.” Butterfly wings created a small tornado in Jade’s stomach.

“I can imagine it’s difficult for you to believe Dragon would do anything in the universe for you, but you must trust me on this: that man went crazy with longing and worry before he found you again.”

“He says he would die for me.” Jade hadn’t meant to say it but felt safe in Mirella’s presence.

“And you better believe it because you have great power over him.” Mirella’s face became serious. “Never forget it.”

“I’ve had life-and-death power over people—” Jade struggled to find the right words. “I am an assassin—” She looked at Mirella, hoping she would understand what she was trying to say, because it was important to her that Mirella didn’t judge her badly. “But I’ve never been close to another person before, and it scares me.”

“Because for the first time in your life, someone else has power over you as well,” Mirella finished Jade’s thought as if she had plucked it straight from her mind. “I don’t know what happened when you and Dragon first met, but it must have been something out of the ordinary if a Master Assassin decided to spare her target’s life.”

“I wish I’d never had the erasion.” Jade couldn’t help but wonder why she had taken such a drastic decision. “It’s out of character for me.”

“Love can be all-consuming—”

“Make that terrifying,” Jade whispered.

“But it’s worth it. I promise you.”

The sudden noise of wings startled the three of them. Jade jumped to her feet, her hand automatically reaching for the dagger concealed in the waistband of her pants.