Part 21 (1/2)

Conlan held the light out to Caleb. ”Would you like hope, as well?”

Grinning, Caleb shook his head. ”Nope. I think I'll just let nature play its course, but thanks. I had a sneak peek once before and to be honest, look where it got me.”

I snorted.

”The offer always stands,” Conlan said before closing his hand.

James tipped his head. ”Do I not warrant a glimpse myself?”

Conlan gave him a look I couldn't read fully but it certainly was mischievous. ”No. It is best you not see.”

”Says the bloke who can summon hope from the ether,” James mumbled with a huff.

Caleb and Conlan went another few rounds with Conlan attempting to get him to look at what he held. In the meantime, James inched his way closer to Conlan. I knew James well enough to know what he was up to. He was going to touch hope if he had to tackle someone to do it.

Giovanni pressed his lips to my ear. ”He is a moron. You are aware of this, right?”

”Totally, but he's an adorable moron. Don't you think?”

”No. Adorable never once came to mind.”

Conlan glanced back at James and James thrust his hands into his pockets and whistled a merry tune, looking up at the ceiling.

Groaning, I covered my eyes, not wanting to look at how obvious James was being, but I found myself peeking all the same.

The second Conlan turned his back to James, James reacted, jumping up and tapping the silver light in Conlan's hand. ”Ah-ha!” he yelled only to hiss and jerk away fast. James' gaze locked firmly on my stomach and his eyes widened. ”b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! You're taking the p.i.s.s! No way is ... Giovanni will rip my b.a.l.l.s off and shove them up my a.r.s.e before he ever lets me near his daughter.”

Gasping, I covered my mouth. ”I knew it! I told you once before that I was positive we were meant to be family that's why we bonded the way we did. I knew it!”

True to James' prediction, Giovanni went at him but I caught him around the waist. ”Stop!”

”He is not setting foot near our daughter. Do you honestly want someone like James to be whom our daughter ....”

I cupped his face. ”Yes. And so do you. Think about it. He loves life and he's fun, Giovanni. He's also got a heart of gold. James is powerful. More powerful than any of you give him credit for and he's never made a play to take you out of the running and become a master himself. He's a great man. One you should be proud to know will be there for our daughter someday when she needs him most.”

He didn't appear convinced. His gaze went to Pallo. ”Do not let him near us. I will not have him fawning over a baby.”

Conlan laughed. ”Have no fear, Giovanni. I learned the hard way that supernatural males need nothing in the way of a spell to prevent them from acting indecently with their mate. They have an inborn switch that simply shuts off the moment they encounter their mate before she is of age. Depending upon the era and the culture, the switch will not flip back on until it is socially acceptable for them to be a mated pair. Though, he will be very protective of her always, even when she is growing within Gwyneth.”

I took Giovanni's hand in mine. ”He's exactly who I'd want her to be with. Please be happy for him. And, look at it this way, because James is who he is, you already know him so you don't have to worry about her bringing home someone like you.”

His mouth dropped open. ”I am not that bad! I would be ....” He paled.

I grinned. ”Horrified if she brought home an ex-henchman for the King of the Dark Realm and a Master vampire whose very name strikes fear in most.”

He looked at James. ”No encouraging her to dye her hair bizarre colors. No drunken orgies. No s.e.x period. Ever. No touching her ever.”

I gave James a sympathetic look. ”I'll work on him. We have a little bit yet.”

”Yes.” Conlan laughed. ”Eighteen years for the idea to grow on him before she does everything she can to defy him in order to be with the man she will be born to love. Correct me if I am wrong but was that not what the two of you did? Did you not permit Gwyneth to defy her father and run off with you?”

Giovanni cursed repeatedly in Italian making Pallo laugh.

Conlan pointed at him. ”Watch what you find funny, Pallo. I have foreseen children in your future. Multiple children. You will be in need of Giovanni's guidance in the area of raising a daughter in the midst of supernatural males. You do not see it now, but one day, all of you will be very close, as will your families.”

Caleb took a step back. ”Don't go aiming that wis.h.i.+ng daughters upon me. Uhuh. Just sons. I'm not spending the rest of my life constantly worrying about men touching them. Not happening. I'll take six sons before I take one daughter. I'm not a fool. I know Gwyneth and if the King of the Dark Realm has issues controlling his daughter, what the h.e.l.l makes me think I can do any better with one of my own?”

We laughed.

Conlan stared at him. ”Careful what you wish for, Caleb.”

”That or be d.a.m.n happy you're not on Giovanni's. .h.i.t list for the next eighteen years,” James added, keeping his distance from Giovanni.

Conlan glanced at Giovanni. ”Stop worrying. Not only will she be born healthy and happy, she will not be what you hate most about yourself, Giovanni. She will be your little angel, always. It could be worse, you know.”

”In what way?” Giovanni glared at James, who looked downright terrified.

”Your daughter could be destined for ...” He looked at Pallo. ”Explaining why it was her father sired the man and her mother... well... it could be much worse.”

”Ol' violet eyes has a point,” James offered. ”Though, I'd like to be the first to put in a request to have the torch pa.s.sed to Pallo. At least he and Giovanni would hold true to form and keep trying to kill each other then.”

”Do not fear, James.” Conlan winked. ”Your mate has many adoptive uncles. They'll want to kill you, as well. Should make for a fun time for you. I know how much you like pus.h.i.+ng the b.u.t.tons of those around you.”

James cringed.

My stomach fluttered and the silver light in Conlan's hand grew bigger, taking him by surprise, too. ”Gwyneth?”

”I-I'm not doing it.”

Giovanni slid his arms around my stomach. ”Wonderful, already my daughter takes after her mother, acting out at will.” He chuckled.

The silver light grew even larger. We all stood in awe as it filled with an image of Pallo with a little girl who looked to be around the age of four on his lap. She had on a yellow dress, her jet-black, straight hair was long and in a ponytail. Her obsidian eyes were wide as she stared at Pallo's hand as he did a magik trick for her, making her giggle. ”Do it again, Uncle Pallo! Again!”

He repeated it, the smile on his face huge, bigger than I could ever remember seeing it. He laughed as she jolted then giggled. She clapped her hands and gave him a serious look. ”Bravo.”

Pallo laughed long and hard before kissing the top of her head. She twisted and wrapped her arms around his neck. ”Tell me again, the story 'bout how I got my name. Tell me 'bout how you saw me in a v-v...”

”Vision,” he supplied.

She nodded emphatically. ”Yes. Vision. Tell me about how you saw me with you and how you just said my name out loud and Mommy and Daddy knew it was what my name should be.”

Pallo watched the image playing out. ”Sophie,” he said softly.

Giovanni hugged me tightly and I knew then that Pallo had just helped us name her.

The image kept going. The little girl touched his dimpled chin. ”Are you my other daddy? Like my brother? He has two. You and Daddy. Are you my other one?”