Revenant's Kiss | ONC 2022 Shortlister ✓

T W E N T Y

The last thing I thought I'd be seeing was a stark white ceiling, but it was exactly what attacked my eyes the moment they opened. The irritating beep of monitors sent prickles of discomfort frazzling through my aching head. I glanced down much to the dismay of my sore eyeballs and spotted an IV taped to the middle of my right arm.

"Welcome to the Stars. Glad to see you're finally awake."

I flinched at the sound of a masculine voice before my gaze snapped to a whipcord lean man with dark hair and even darker eyes. "Who are you, and where the fuck am I? Where's Soren?"

"A lot of questions coming from a lady who just regained consciousness," he said playfully, crossing his legs as he leaned back in the chair near my bed. "I'm Christian, and right now you're inside one of the patient rooms of our research center. As for Soren, he's in a separate wing but he's perfectly fine."

Holy shit. This was Christian, the motherfucking leader of the Stars. Never in my time of working with them did I ever believe I would one day see him face to face.

I had to admit though, he was anything but what I expected. With reddish black hair, ebony eyes, and a lithe stature, he didn't seem too intimidating. But there was no missing the authority masking with the way he held his head high or the sharp alertness of his gaze.

I sat up in the bed and winced against the wave of dizziness assaulting my senses. Pressing my hand as close to my forehead as I dared, I saluted him curtly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir."

"Please, call me Christian. I'm not one for formality," he admitted before standing to his feet and lacing his hands together in front of his thighs. "The way I see it, I owe you one hell of a thank you as does the rest of my people. A cure is in sight and it's because of you."

I shook my head slowly. "It's unnecessary, really. I didn't do this for anyone else but myself and Soren."

"I commend your selflessness. You're one hell of a woman." He tilted his head at me, his shoes thumping on the floor as he walked up to my bedside. His eyes swept over my face before they made contact with my own. "Daytona, were you aware you're with child?"

"Wait, what?" Shock prickled goosebumps along my arms and my mind raced. I shook my head, glancing down at my abdomen before making eye contact with him once more. "That's. . .that's impossible. I can't get pregnant."

"According to this, you can and you did." He grabbed a file from the small ledge above my head before flipping it open and handing me a square of paper.

If I didn't have the proof held between my hands, I would've said this was a mistake. But just as sure as I was alive and breathing, I was pregnant. The small dot attached to my uterine wall in the ultrasound left no doubts.

Tears flooded my eyes. I had actually conceived despite all the failed attempts throughout the years, and I had no confusion over who the father was. Excitement shivered up my spine the same moment anxiety twisted my gut. Was having a baby in a world such as this a good idea? Better yet, would I be the mother it needed?

I reached up and swiped at the tears as I tried to contain my emotions. "Sorry it's just big news for me."

"No apologies needed, Daytona." Christian smiled at me and rested his small hand onto mine, gripping it softly. "Congratulations."

A tiny smile took over my lips and a few more stray tears slipped down my cheeks. "Thank you. Does Soren know?"

"No ma'am he doesn't," he revealed, a sudden edge of sympathy sharpening his gaze.

"Then can I see him?"

He shook his head at me and retracted his hand. "No, I'm sorry. He's currently being prepped for surgery."