Keeran didn’t object when Drake reached for me and wrapped a possessive arm around my waist.

Exhausted, I leaned into Drake. Although I had a lot on my mind, I was glad to see Keeran. He looked a little bedraggled. His dark brown hair was longer and messy, stubble covered his jaw, and dirty, ripped clothes hung from his frame. The only intact piece of clothing was the thick, black leather jacket that went down almost to his knees.

I tried smiling, but I was sure it looked more like a grimace. “It’s good to see you.”

“Yes, you saved us,” Drake said. “Thank you.”

Keeran opened his mouth to say something, but then his eyes wandered to where Luana had just shifted into her human self. She grabbed her clothes from before and put them back on.

All the while, Keeran stared.

I cleared my throat. “What happened? Where were you?”

Drake stepped up. “It would be great to catch up, but we need to move. You’re hurt and tired, and if we don’t move, we’ll be easy targets for more attacks.”

I turned to glare at Drake when I saw the bites on his arms and legs. “You’re the one hurt.”

Luana limped to us. “Me too.” Blood dripped down her shoulders. “I want my bed.”

I looked from Drake to Keeran. “Come with us.” Drake tensed beside me. “We can talk more after we’ve all showered and cleaned our wounds.”

I knew Drake didn’t trust Keeran, but I did. And if Drake would give him a chance, I knew he would too eventually.

Keeran exchanged a quick look with Drake, and then nodded. “It would be good to wash properly for once.”

Back at the mansion, we found Thomas waiting for us.

“I couldn’t summon my energy to reappear,” he had explained. “And when I did it, I couldn’t find you. So I came back and waited.”

It was okay. Besides missing what Bagatha had told us, it wasn’t as if he could help much in a fight. But he did look frustrated over not being there. We all assured him it was okay.

I turned my attention to the several wounds on Drake and Luana. I insisted on healing them before we set out for showers, but I didn’t have any strength left. In fact, I felt like I would pass out; I was trying to hide it from Drake, who hovered over me and wouldn’t allow me to lift a finger. Even if I had magic left, I doubted Drake would allow me to heal everyone since it would take a lot from me.

So, I taught Keeran to make some magical healing salve and to heal with his power. After we were all on the mend, Drake took Keeran to one of the many vacant guest bedrooms.

We all showered and put on clean clothes. I think I even napped for a couple of minutes while Drake took his turn in the bathroom. He was trying to sneak out of the bedroom unnoticed when I woke up.

“Go back to sleep,” he said.

But I wasn’t having it. There was a lot to talk about, and Keeran probably had a lot to tell us. Besides, my stomach hurt with hunger.

Drake carried me downstairs and deposited me on the big sectional in front of the fireplace. Like his chambers at DuMoir Castle, the exterior of this mansion was different from the inside. The exterior was a huge colonial ranch, but the interior was modern. Beige leather sectionals and armchairs, glass and metal side and coffee tables, light stone fireplace and a sleek TV over it. In the kitchen, where Luana prepared something for us, the cabinets were white and beige with sand-colored marble counters, a long island, and several beige leather stools. To one side was a breakfast table with eight tall chairs.

On the first floor, there was also the dining room for twelve, a library full of books, a half bathroom, and a second living room. On the second floor, there were Drake’s study, my workshop, Drake’s and my suite, Luana’s suite, and three other empty guest suites—and one had become Keeran’s.

Drake placed a throw blanket over my legs. “What do you want?”

The smell of waffles and pancakes and bacon and eggs reached my nostrils. And my stomach turned. “Nothing.”

He frowned. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“I thought so. But just thinking about food makes me nauseous.”

A faint smile spread over his lips. “But you need to eat. If it’s not for you, then for our daughter.”

A hand squeezed my heart. Our daughter. I hadn’t had time to process that yet. It sounded so crazy. How could I have a daughter? In this crazy, cruel world. We were at war, for all that was sacred! Besides, I wasn’t cut out to be a mother. I had never thought of myself being a mother. Even when Morda had ordered all our witches to get pregnant, I had never really considered it. I had wanted to get pregnant so I wouldn’t be killed, but now that I had a baby in my womb, I wasn’t sure what to feel.

Drake cupped my face, bringing me back from the dread waging inside me. “Hm, just bring me some yogurt,” I said. “And some of Bagatha’s tonic.”

He placed a soft kiss on my forehead, and then went to the kitchen to help Luana.

A few minutes later, Keeran came downstairs. He looked sharp and handsome with his hair combed back, his face shaved, and wearing clean clothes—a pair of casual pants and a henley tee. Barefoot, he made his way to the kitchen and helped Luana and Drake bring all the food to the coffee table in the living room. I turned my nose and focused on my plain yogurt and tonic. It was the only thing my stomach could handle right now.

Drake sat at the other corner of the couch, with my feet in his lap, and a glass of blood in his hand. Thomas leaned against the back wall, Luana took an armchair, and Keeran sat on another one, across from the low table.

“So … you’re a warlock,” I said, remembering the day his powers first manifested. He had been chained to be killed. I was about to act when his power burst, and with my help, he was able to flee my coven.

“That was a surprise to me, too.” He wrapped his hands around a steaming cup of coffee. “I’m guessing my mother was able to hide me from Morda? I don’t know …”

“You’re saying you never knew you had magic?” Drake asked.

“Nope.” Keeran snorted. “If I had known, I would have escaped a long time ago.”

“And these past few weeks?” I asked. “Where have you been?”

Keeran shrugged. “Nowhere. Everywhere. I’ve mainly hid in the woods, though I have to be careful with all the werewolves running around.” He stared at me. “I heard rumors that you had been captured by Morda, so I was practicing my magic. I wanted to get a handle on it, so I could save you.”

A small smile adorned my lips. “If that was the case, I’m sure Drake would have appreciated the help.”

Drake stared at his cup.

Keeran extended his hand, and a small red light shone over his palm. It flickered a couple of times before disappearing. “But as you can see, I don’t have great control over it. I also realized that when in danger, my magic is stronger. That doesn’t mean it’s stable, though.”

“I can help you with that,” I said, feeling proud of him. All my life I had been told there couldn’t be any males with magic. No warlocks. They were evil. They would turn against the witches and that would be our end. Yet, here was an example that not everything was black and white. Keeran was a warlock, and I knew he was a good one. His heart was in the right place. And now, with a little training, he could be a powerful ally.

“The hell you will,” Drake snapped. “You should spend the next six months in bed, resting.”

I gaped at him. “You don’t expect me to stay in bed for that long.”

“You’re weak, you’re tired, and it’ll only get worse.”

“But I’m not an invalid! This doesn’t make me an invalid. I can help, I can move, I can contribute!”

I heard a whispered, “What are they talking about?”

“She’s pregnant,” Luana announced to Keeran and Thomas.

“What?” Thomas and Keeran said in unison.

Warmth overtook my cheeks. I didn’t know what to think. Should I be embarrassed? Sad? Frustrated? Happy? This was the most horrible time to have a child.

“That’s great,” Thomas said. “A mini Drake or, a mini Thea. I would love to see that.”

That image turned my stomach, and I set the half-eaten yogurt down. “Let’s change subject here.” I turned to Keeran. “Since you have been in the woods, what do you know about the werewolves? Which packs are they? What are they looking for?”

“You apparently,” Drake said with a low growl. “Since they tried to run away with you.”

“Well, I did catch on to some things,” Keeran said. “The Silverblood witches teamed up with the Dark Vale werewolves, and they’ve taken over the remains of Castle DuMoir in a temporary truce. Princess Morda rules as the leader now, and the witches live in the only standing castle quarter. The pack is allowed to roam the grounds and work together with the witches as long as they keep the vampires at bay. The vampires are scattered in the area and are keeping to themselves, feeding on humans as they please. As far as I know, as long as the wolves don’t touch a witch, they can do whatever.”

“Why would they stay in that destroyed castle?” Drake asked.

“Status,” Luana said. “Everyone knows, every species knows that the vampires of Castle DuMoir were the most powerful on this continent. The castle is a symbol. Now, anyone who lives there becomes powerful.”

“I get that,” I said. “But I expected more from Morda. I can’t imagine her living in a caved-in castle.”

“There’s more,” Keeran continued. “Morda calls herself Queen of All Witches now, whatever that means.”

I gasped. Drake went rigid. “She can’t do that,” Drake said. “She doesn’t have the power for that.”

Keeran raised a hand, palm out. “I’m only telling you what I know.”

A chill ran down my spine. I had been sure Morda would want to kill me because I thought I was the witch queen. If she found out I was carrying a child who would become the real Queen of All Witches, then there would be no rest. She would come after me, and she would not only kill me, but also my daughter.

I placed a hand on my stomach. Drake reached over and rested his hand on mine.

Thomas stepped forward. “It looks like Princess Morda is grabbing at straws in an unstable situation. If we act now, we can take the witches and the wolves down. We just need to come up with a plan.”

Keeran frowned. “Are you really suggesting the five of us go head-to-head with hundreds of witches and werewolves?”

“If we plan it right, we can pick them apart and deal with small groups at a time.”

Keeran shook his head. “I’m not sure you understand me. I just got my freedom. I don’t want to march against witches and werewolves and be killed or imprisoned again.”

“What other option do you have? To hide?”

“Hey,” Luana snapped. “How about we talk about this later.” She pointed toward the window. The first orange rays were coming up on the horizon. “We’ve been up, running and fighting, all night. We need to rest now.”

“Good idea,” Drake said, scooping me up in his arms. “And you, my love, need double rest now.”

I wanted to object, but he was right. I was so exhausted I thought I could sleep for three days straight.

“Good night!” I shouted to the others as Drake carried me up the stairs.