Ward was less pleased with Mariella’s failure to win Seth over. She’d visited him several times, but he refused to cooperate. Mariella didn’t see why he couldn’t just pretend. She teased him while telling herself that she wouldn’t actually sleep with him if given the chance, even though she knew just how good his healing touch made her body feel, how she still tingled hours after the lovemaking itself was over. She would resist the cravings of her body and her heart, even if he changed his mind and decided to pretend to cooperate as she did. She would keep her feelings to herself.
Mariella rolled over in bed, aching to touch Seth again and hating herself for it.
* * *
“Wake up, kids,” Alise said as she flipped on the lamp and approached the four-poster bed. Her cousin Niklaus followed a step behind her, as usual, like an obedient attack dog waited for orders.
“Hi, Alise!” Mia sat up, smiling sleepily. Alise came almost every morning to walk them to breakfast, and Mia was happy she did. Sometimes, early in the morning, she would feel the dark shape of something large looming at the back of her mind, like an upsetting memory she’d forgotten. Then Alise would arrive, and she’d feel so much better, happy and thoughtless, lusty for another round with her handsome lover, Sebastian, and his enchanted touch that made her feel better all over. The world always felt right again after she saw Alise.
“Wake up, Sebastian.” Alise shook his shoulder, and his eyes drifted open. His lips curled into a delighted smile at the sight of Alise leaning over him. “Pack your bags. Mia’s moving upstairs, and you’re moving back to your room.”
“Huh? Why?” Sebastian sat up, his hair sticking in every direction, looking confused and hurt. “Wait, what?”
“You’re moving back. Play time is over, boy,” Alise said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we don’t need you anymore,” Alise said. “You’ve made your contribution, and now you’re done. Oh, don’t look so hurt. You’ve had a fun couple of months with her.”
“I don’t understand.” Sebastian looked back and forth between them.
“Niklaus will help you get back to your room, if you need it,” Alise said sweetly. “Won’t you, Niklaus?”
Niklaus glared at Sebastian and motioned for him to hurry up.
“Why does Sebastian have to go?” Mia pouted. “I like sleeping with him.”
“I know, but boy time is over,” Alise said. She watched silently as Sebastian gathered his things and followed Niklaus out the door.
“When do I get to come back?” Sebastian asked.
“We’ll see.” Alise waved her hand, and Niklaus closed the door after him.
Alise seized Mia’s hands, making her feel instantly happy. Mia kissed Alise’s hand.
“Mia!” Alise spoke in an excited stage whisper. “I have the best news. Your latest lab work shows that you’re pregnant!”
“What?” Mia asked. She felt dizzy, not so elated anymore.
“You’re going to have a baby. We’ve successfully bred you with Sebastian. Your baby will be the offspring of two supernormals! That’s what the project is really all about!”
“It is?” Mia rubbed her head. “I’m pregnant?”
“You’re so lucky,” Alise said. “I’ve been trying for months, but it hasn’t worked out so far. I just learned about something else I might try, though. Anyway, why do we have to keep talking about me? Let’s get going. The maternity rooms are one level up, and I know just which one I want you to have. I decorated it myself! There’s a little crib that looks like a sleigh, little bears in Reichsheer cavalry uniforms...very cute!” Alise took her by the arm and led her out the door.
Mia trembled. “I’m going to have a baby?”
Alise squeezed her hand, flooding her with a fresh wave of happy, loving feelings. “Don’t worry, Mia. I’ll be right here with you, every step of the way. If we’re lucky, I’ll be having one, too!”
Mia smiled, fully doped on Alise’s love. Alise was right, of course. Mia didn’t need to worry, not when she had such a good friend here to help her...
Alise led the way to the maternity beds upstairs, where Mia would live for the rest of her time at the underground base.
Chapter Forty
“We have a situation,” Ward said as Tommy walked into his office. “It’s on the delicate side, but I think we’ve learned to trust each other these past few months, haven’t we?”
“Yes, sir,” Tommy said. He had no idea why he’d been called in. He wondered whether ASTRIA might be ready to send him on some kind of mission—it felt like he’d been testing and training forever, and he was going stir crazy inside the base.