The Struggle(93)

There was no immediate response, but then I saw the door knob starting to turn. Stepping back, I crossed my arms over my stomach. I had this nearly overwhelming urge to run away before the door opened. If she could see a baby in a belly . . .

Okay.

I was being stupid.

I was not pregnant.

Uncrossing my arms, I hoped the smile that I fixed on my face wasn’t as creepy as the one Deacon was rocking.

The door cracked open slowly, and then I saw the girl that Deacon and Luke had technically kidnapped. She was about my height and was absolutely stunning. Raven-colored hair hung in tight, springy curls all the way to her breasts. Her skin was a deep, warm brown that was a startling contrast to eyes so pale they were somewhere between gray and blue.

“Hi,” I said, giving her a little wave.

Cora turned from Deacon and looked at me strangely, her light gaze dropping to my stomach. Her brows shot up and then she squeezed her eyes shut as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m not crazy. I’m not crazy.”

I stood as still as a cat in front of a hellhound.

Glancing over at Deacon, it didn’t appear that he had noticed anything weird, but I was seconds away from freaking out.

Okay.

That was more than just a little weird.

Cora moved aside, holding the door open for us. I forced a smile as I stepped inside the dorm room, hiding the fact that I wanted to find the nearest corner and start rocking in it. She either saw that I was sick—sick from the bands—or she saw something else.

Something that looked like a baby-shaped ball of light.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Deacon said, closing the door behind us.

Cora glanced nervously between us, and I made sure the smile was still planted on my face. “We do.”

And as soon as we got done there, I needed to find Alex.

~

About an hour later, I walked out of Cora’s room and headed toward the lobby. Deacon was still with her, and she’d calmed down a lot, but was still understandably mind blown by everything.

My stomach had settled and I no longer felt like I was about to spew vomit everywhere, but there were tiny coils of tension deep in my belly for a whole different reason.

I knew I was probably being dumb, but I needed to take a pregnancy test just to set my mind at ease. The last thing I wanted to do was share the fact that I was most likely overreacting like a mofo, but I had no idea where I could get a test. I doubted they carried them in their university bookstore.

Or maybe they did?

Then again, I remembered hearing that many of the students were given birth-control shots.

That was something I probably should’ve looked into.

Anxious and jittery, I hurried through the common area. A few of the halfs looked in my direction, but no one really paid me any mind as I pushed open the doors and spied Alex.

She was leaning against one of the columns, talking to Luke and a dark-haired half-blood I had sort of gotten to know before we’d gone to retrieve the other demigods.

“Hey,” Colin turned with a smile, his blue eyes as bright as I remembered. “Holy crap, I was wondering if I was ever going to see you again!”

“Hi.” I gave him a little wave. “How have you’ve been?”

Colin gave me a quick one-armed hug. “Perfect. I hear things have been a little crazy for you guys.”

“Understatement of the year,” Alex chimed in, and I wondered if she knew that Colin totally idolized her and Aiden.

“Yeah, that’s the truth,” I commented.

“Glad to see you’re doing okay.” He glanced at Luke. “I heard things got . . . a little rough.”

Pressing my lips together, I nodded as I forced my arms across my chest. “I’m doing good.”

“How did things go with Cora?” Luke asked, stepping around Colin.

“She finally opened the door and let us in. She’s starting to come around. I mean, she believes us now,” I told him. “But I think we need to proceed with baby steps so we don’t overwhelm her.”

“Baby steps?” Colin’s dark brows lifted. “And you left her in there with Deacon? He’s probably lighting things on fire for her.”

“Shit. You’re so right.” Luke sighed. “I better go check on them.”

Before Alex followed Luke, I tapped her arm. “Can I talk with you for a moment?”

“Sure.” She pushed away from the column as she brushed her long ponytail off her shoulder.

“Sorry,” I said to Colin, feeling bad that I had busted in on the conversation. “I didn’t mean to interrupt or steal her.”

“Nah. It’s cool. I was going to try to follow Luke. Like to meet another demigod,” he said, grinning. “It’s like you guys are popping up everywhere now.”