“Yeah, yeah, yeah. First and whatever,” he says.
“Good. Now. Who’s waking her up to see if she wants to eat?”
I watch all of the guys shoot up from the table and head for the hallway.
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” Toshi says.
“I think I’ve got something to help with her nausea,” Theo says.
“And I’ve got something else to do,” Vlad says.
I grin as they all trample each other to get down the hallway and into their respective rooms before my eyes fall on Clarissa’s sleeping form.
Cowards.
Chapter 9
Clarissa
“S o this prophecy’s true?” Joel asks.
“Looks like it,” I say.
“You’re the woman in the prophecy.”
“I must be,” I say.
“But you being pregnant doesn’t suddenly make you the savior of the Primal races,” he says.
“No, but being pregnant and being the only female that can successfully mate with all the Primal races does.”
“Then we need to get you somewhere safe. If you’re pregnant—”
“I am pregnant,” I snarl.
“Since you’re pregnant,” Joel corrects, “then you need to be safe. This war is coming, and you don’t have only you to look after any longer. You have a child you have to consider.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m backing down from this fight. I can’t explain it, but this pregnancy is changing me.”
“It changes every woman, Clarissa.”
“Not what I mean,” I say.
“Then what do you mean?” he asks.
“I mean, I feel different. Stronger. Yes, the nausea’s kicking my ass, but there are other differences. I feel bolder. My bite is more potent. I’m salivating more. My grip is stronger. I tried to help Josie cook the other day and when I gripped the wooden spoon too tightly, it splintered. In my human hands.”
“You don’t have to specify, Clarissa. You’re human. I know you have human hands.”
“I’m not human, Joel.”
“Yes, you are. Which is why you need to stay behind. Primal females can do all sorts of things when they’re pregnant. Their wombs become like iron caves. It’s almost impossible to kill the fetus of a Primal, but you aren’t one of them.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not. You’re human. You started off human, so you’ll always be human.”
“Joel, stop it. I’m more Primal with each passing day,” I say. “And it took me a long time to digest that and accept it.”