Chapter 11 – I Don't Play Games

My stomach dropped. Something was very wrong. Myrnin was already lifting me off the bar and went to get the door. Michael came in, his eyes looking between Myrnin and me. It was obvious he suspected something had been going on. If the guilt on my face didn't scream it, he only had to listen to my racing pulse.

"What happened," I asked tightly. Hell, we were nowhere near Morganville – was it too much to ask, for a shred of normalcy, instead of our usual daily dose of drama?

"She's sick. She's thrown up again. This can't be motion sickness. She told me to find you." Michael rushed.

I guess not.

We were moving then, headed to Michael's hotel room. My mind was spinning. There was something odd about the way Eve was intent on finding me. We're close, so it would be normal to want me by her side, but Eve wasn't faint-hearted, and certainly Michael was perfectly capable of holding back her hair should she need to wretch again.

When we reached the room, I rushed forward to Eve. She was curled up on the bed. She had scrubbed off all of her make-up and looked younger than I had ever seen her. She was looking at me strangely, like she wanted to say something but couldn't. I understood then and turned to Michael and Myrnin, "Okay, you two...shoo. I'll take care of her." I kept my voice light, not to reveal my increasing panic. Myrnin was looking at me intently. He wasn't buying my casual act; he could feel my emotions.

"But..." Michael began.

"No buts," I said firmly, hating to make him leave when he was so worried, but knowing it was necessary. I said softer, "Why don't you find her some ice and Ginger Ale."

He nodded silently, kissed Eve on the forehead and murmured, "I'll be back."

When they were gone, I turned back to Eve and waited. Tears crested her cheeks as she whispered, "I'm scared."

Scared? I wasn't expecting that answer. "Are you worried about being sick, honey?" I asked, trying to understand.

"I need you to go get me a...pregnancy test," she whispered.

My heart raced. Pregnant? There was no way she could be pregnant! How is that even possible?! I gathered my jumbled thoughts back together and forced a logical question to come out of my mouth, "How late are you?"

"Three weeks," she breathed.

I rubbed her arm comfortingly and asked, "Is that even possible?"

"I don't know," her voice broke.

"Shouldn't you tell Michael?" I urged. Oh shit, then another thought occurred to me. I looked at her with wide eyes and asked, "Is there a possibility it's not Michael's?"

"What?" she looked at me in shock, "Of course not!"

I crinkled my eyebrows. "But why then don't you want him to know?"

"Because I'm probably wrong. Before he was turned, he had always wanted to have children. I can't put him through that disappointment...if I am wrong," she pleaded with me to understand.

"Okay...it's okay...I'll go get it," I promised.

I made my way back down to the lobby. Somehow I was going to have to get a Taxi and find an all-night convenience store – while in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language. Yeah, no problem.

As I approached the front desk for assistance, I heard Michael call my name. I turned and saw he and Myrnin had just walked in and were headed back to the room. Michael looked at me questioningly. He had to suspect something. I spoke casually, "She's doing better. I'm going to run and grab her some medicine to calm down her belly." He examined my face carefully. I knew he didn't fully believe me. I added quickly, "I think she's just embarrassed," trying to account for Eve's unusual behavior. Michael nodded, seeming to accept that answer, and left to return to Eve.

"I'll be back," I said to Myrnin, planning to head over to the front desk again.

Myrnin said tightly, "You're not going alone."

My heart beat faster. Eve didn't want anyone else to know. I tried to be confident as I replied, "I'll be fine. I promise."

"That. Is. Not. Happening," He spoke each word slowly, his expression fierce.

As I stared at him, I knew I had no choice. "Okay," I nodded.

We headed toward the entrance and I grabbed Myrnin's arm. "Wait! The sun will be up soon!" I hissed.

"We won't be in it long enough for it to matter. Let's go," he insisted.

Thankfully there was a convenience store close by. Myrnin didn't ask me any questions. He just stayed by my side. I knew there was no way to avoid him knowing, and made my way to the isle with the pregnancy tests. Thankfully, many of the products had images and some English content as well, making it possible for me to know I was in the right spot. As I select a box, Myrnin made no comment. I grabbed a few more things and we headed back to the hotel.

As we walked down the hall to Eve's room, I murmured quietly, "Is this possible?" I figured it was, or he would have stopped me from purchasing it, but I had to ask.

"Yes," he replied without further explanation.

My heart beat faster.

Michael was lovingly stroking Eve's hair when we entered. He looked up and murmured, "Shane came by...looking for you. I told him you went to the store for Eve. He asked me to tell you to find him when you got back. He seemed...upset...about something."

Shane. Guilt washed over me. In my peripheral vision, I saw Myrnin clench his fist.

"Okay," I murmured and tried not to openly cringe. I had no desire to restart our conversation about running away together. And in the space of one kiss with Myrnin, everything had changed.

I pulled myself together; Eve needed me now.

I had planned for this moment, while we were at the store. I held up a small bottle and said, "I thought you might like a nice hot bubble bath. Come on, I'll help get you cleaned up, while the boys do whatever it is that boys do."

Eve nodded in understanding and got to her feet, while Michael hovered over her, ready to catch her if anything went wrong. She placed a hand on his chest and whispered, "I'm okay. Really."

I ran the bath water, while Eve peed on the stick. As the liquid ran across the test panel, two very solid lines appeared.

I shut off the water, the bathtub barely full. There was no reason for it now.

Eve stared at me; her eyes as wide as saucers. Her fingers trembled. "Give us five minutes?" she asked.

I wrapped my arms around her and whispered, "Of course."

I walked out of the bathroom and reached for Myrnin's hand.

Michael looked at me in confusion – until Eve came out of the bathroom. I wondered what her countenance revealed because suddenly Michael's full and complete attention was on her. He was by her side in an instant, while I led Myrnin out of the room.

We walked down to the atrium. I tried to keep my hands from shaking. I couldn't stop the rush of panicked and happy thoughts that kept pushing through my mind. "What happens from here?" I looked at him.

"She cannot go with us tonight. It is far too dangerous," he stated.

Okay, but that wasn't really what I was asking. "Myrnin, how does one go about having a half-vampire baby?" I asked, my voicing higher than I intended.

He shook his head and said quietly, "I don't know. It is quite rare."

Myrnin suddenly changed the conversation. "What are you going to tell him?"

My belly rolled with anxiety. I spoke the truth because lying to Myrnin was never an option, "I haven't decided anything yet."

Anger flashed in his eyes as he half-growled, "Are you going to deny what happened...how you responded to me?"

"No, of course not! I just don't think now is the best time to make any relationship changes. I have to think and figure this out. Please give me some time." I tried to make him understand. This was so sudden. I hadn't even had time to wrap my head around it yet.

"Don't think for too long," he warned, anger still flowing dangerously from him.

I inhaled sharply and breathed, "What does that mean?"

"I don't play games and I don't share," Myrnin replied darkly. With that, he turned and walked away.

I tried to keep the tears that pricked my eyes from escaping down my cheeks. I understood why he was upset. I just didn't know how to handle the next step. I couldn't put it off any longer and went to find Shane.

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