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  I nodded. “Uh-huh. At least, that was what Celeste called him—I could never see his face for some reason.”

  “No one can—he uses an obscuring spell.” Gwendolyn frowned. “There’s been a lot of speculation about that—about why he wants to hide. Nobody really even knows who he is.”

  “I wonder what happened to him,” I said. “I’m pretty sure Victor didn’t kill him.”

  “No, he would have woven an even stronger protection spell around himself than he did around the hill,” Gwendolyn said thoughtfully. “Although why he didn’t stay and try to help Celeste I don’t know.”

  “He didn’t like her,” I said. “In fact, I think he kind of hated her. Well, she did have a way of rubbing people the wrong way.”

  “Yeah, just slightly,” Gwendolyn said sarcastically. “What with being a complete bitch willing to kill anyone at any time, for any reason. That kind of thing tends to piss people off.”

  I laughed. “Right. But about Shadowlock…you think he just slipped off?”

  Gwendolyn shrugged. “Seems the most likely thing. I haven’t felt any of his magic signature around here, anyway. Which is good—it would drive Grams crazy to have a dark magic practitioner so close to our territory.”

  “What would drive me crazy?”

  We both turned abruptly to see an older woman with nut brown skin and pure white hair standing in the hall behind us. She was holding a small suitcase in one hand and a carry-on bag in the other.

  “Grams!” Gwendolyn ran to her and pulled her into an affectionate hug. “You’re home early! I thought your plane didn’t get in until tomorrow.”

  “I took an earlier one.” The old woman sighed and dropped her bags. “I couldn’t wait to get out of there. You know, these conferences get longer every year?”

  “I bet. Grams, this is Taylor. I’ve been, uh, helping her while you were gone.”

  I had an idea that Gwendolyn’s grandmother probably wouldn't approve of the way she'd been “helping” me at all so I decided to keep my mouth shut on the subject.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said politely, holding out my hand.

  “Nice to meet you too, child.” Gwendolyn’s grandmother held out her hand as well but just then, my stomach chose that moment to emit a long, angry growl.

  “Oh, excuse me!” I put a hand to my midsection, my cheeks getting hot with embarrassment. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Ever since I started eating solid food again it seems like I’m always hungry.”

  The old lady’s wrinkled face broke into a warm smile.

  “Now then, there’s no need to be embarrassed,” she said, taking my hand anyway. “You’re just hungry and that’s perfectly normal when you’re pregnant.”

  “What?” Gwendolyn and I said at the same time.

  “You heard me.” Gwendolyn’s grandmother smiled and patted my abdomen. “You’re pregnant, child. Do you mean to tell me you didn’t know?”

  “Oh, I…” I shook my head. “I just, I didn’t think it was possible. I mean, it’s not possible.” I looked at Gwendolyn. “Is it?”

  She shrugged helplessly. “I would have said no but this is one thing Grams always knows about. She’s one hundred percent accurate. If she says you’re pregnant, it doesn’t matter how impossible it is—you’re pregnant.”

  “But…but…”

  “If you’re worried about the baby, don’t be.” The old lady smiled at me and patted my tummy gently. “She’s a healthy baby girl and she’s going to be just fine."

  "A…a little girl?" My hands started to shake and I felt dizzy. "A girl?" I repeated but my voice sounded like it was coming from far away."

  "Easy there!" Gwendolyn grabbed me just as I started to tilt sideways. "I know it's surprising but don't faint."

  "My dream…I had a dream," I babbled. "I dreamed Victor and I were walking along the beach and we had a little girl with dark hair and brown eyes."

  "Well, that sounds just about right," Gwendolyn's grandmother said, smiling. "Like I said, child, she's going to be just fine. As long as you feed her, that is,” she added when my stomach growled again. “What would you like to eat?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t impose—” I began but Gwendolyn interrupted.

  “When Taylor was here the other night she had some of your homemade pickles, Grams. I bet she’d love some more.”

  The old lady beamed and reached for her bag and suitcase. “That’s good to hear. I made more than I should this year so we’ve got plenty to spare. Just let me put my things down in my room and I’ll get you some.”

  “Well, sure. Thank you,” I said lamely, partly because I felt faint with hunger and partly because Gwendolyn was standing behind her grandmother and making signs for me to go along with everything.

  The minute the older lady passed us and went on down the hall, she grabbed my arm and steered me into the living room.

  “Don’t say anything,” she hissed. “Grams would not be happy if she knew what I’ve been up to while she’s gone.”

  “I didn’t think she would. Don’t worry—I’ll keep it to myself,” I said. “Are you going to get in trouble if she finds out?”

  “She’s not going to find out,” Gwendolyn said grimly. “Not if you can sit here and make small talk and eat pickles while I go clear up the work room. Can you do that?”

  “Sure…I guess so.” I nodded, feeling dazed. “Sorry, I’m still just…I don’t know what to think about what she said. About me being, you know…”

  “Knocked up?” Gwendolyn grinned at me. “Good thing you and Victor are so happy together. How do you think he’s going to take the news?”

  “Fine.” I smiled at her. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine. It’s unexpected but…but so wonderful. I never thought I could have kids after I got turned. And I’ve always wanted them.”

  “Yeah, you seem like the domestic type.” She grinned at me and gave me a quick, hard hug. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.” I hugged her back and then looked at her. “But are you sure you’re going to be okay? I mean, with everything you did for me—the risk you took? I’m sorry, I just have to ask one more time before your grandmother comes back.”

  I saw that look of unease flit across her face once more but again she hid it really well.

  “I’ll be fine, honestly,” she said. “And the best thing is that I finally got Laish out of my life. Looks like we’ve both got something to celebrate today.”

  “Right.” I tried to smile at her but despite my cautious joy at my own good news, I couldn’t help being worried about Gwendolyn. What was going to happen to her? Was she really safe? And was Laish really out of her life forever?

  I didn’t know…but I had a feeling I was going to find out in the very near future…

  The End

  Coming soon, don’t miss Ruby Shadows, the third book in the Born to Darkness series.

  Nothing is for free when it comes to demons…a fact that Gwendolyn LaRoux finds out the hard way when she summons Laish, a minor demon from the Shadow Lands to help her cook up a little black magic. Unfortunately black magic has a way of growing and soon Gwendolyn finds herself drowning in darkness. Still, she’s determined to clean up her own mess. But when a creature from the Abyss enters our world and threatens her beloved grandmother, Gwendolyn has to admit she needs help—which means summoning the infuriating Laish, even though she swore never to call on him again.

  Answering Gwendolyn’s incantations in a moment of boredom was a mistake for a demon who keeps what little heart he has left under lock and key. Laish immediately fell for the Creole beauty with jade green eyes and creamy, café au lait skin and now he’s determined to have her—no matter what the cost. And thanks to Gwendolyn’s sticky dilemma, the price just went up.

  When it turns out that the intrepid witch must travel through the Shadow Lands and close the door she left open to the Pit, she knows at once she can’t make the dangerous journey on her own. Of course Laish is more than willin