“I saw her stomach the other day.”
Theo and I lock our eyes onto Vlad as he snickers and shakes his head.
“Come on, guys. Get with the program. Clarissa loves all of us, and we all love Clarissa. Can we move on and stop being shocked about things like this?” he asks.
“You saw Clarissa’s stomach,” I say.
“Yes. She has a slight protrusion. I’d say she’s a little over three months along,” Vlad says.
“So it’s true. She’s actually pregnant,” Theo says. “Because if that’s the case, then she really is the woman in the prophecy.”
We all pan our gazes back over to Clarissa. My eyes study her closely. Her smell is overwhelming, and the slight paunch hanging from her stomach looks different in my eyes now. It wasn’t something I would’ve even noticed had it not been brought to my attention. But now that I know where to look, I can’t stop seeing it.
Clarissa’s pregnant.
“That would explain the nausea,” I say. “And her mounting strength.”
“It explains a lot, but it only solidifies one thing,” Theo says.
“We have to protect her at all costs,” I say.
“In another time, I would’ve said keeping this from Clarissa wasn’t a good idea,” Vlad says. “But now? I’m with you guys. We need to get out of here and get set up. And keep our eyes peeled for Toshi. Because if he’s in the hands of the Council, he’s got an equal chance of being killed as he does being used as a weapon on their side in this war.”
“Then let’s go,” I growl. “Because no one gets to pick on that Cat but me.”
Chapter 23
Vlad
Ilook back at Clarissa one last time and her eyes are staring right at us. There’s something in her look that’s unsettling. Theo, Sebastian, and I walk out onto the porch and head for the edge of the village, preparing ourselves for the fight ahead.
But I hear the cottage door rip open.
“Hey! Wait a second!”
“Come on. Move faster,” Sebastian says.
“You really think that’s going to help us when she’s stronger than all of us combined?” I ask.
“Stop! The three of you! Now!” Clarissa roars.
I whip around in the snow, and she runs for me before she cracks her hand against my cheek.
“Well,” I say as I rub my face. “Not quite the reaction I was expecting.”
“Don’t worry,” she growls. “They’re next.”
“What are you so angry about?” Theo asks.
“Those plans in there aren’t the ones you guys have been talking about,” Clarissa says.
“Yes, they are,” Sebastian says.
“No, they aren’t. Extra keen hearing, remember? And I can read your mind, genius. Those are fake plans. Nothing like the ones you guys have set up among yourselves.”
“Clarissa, you can’t fight in this war,” Theo says.
“The hell I can’t. What were you guys thinking, lying to me like this? I’m the reason this war is occurring!”