Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

sixty-three.

Val and I went out for breakfast while Zane slept. Chris was wrapped around him in limbo. We spent the time talking about us and the kids. I ordered a meal to go for Zane to have when we got back. When we reached the room, I put Zane's food on the counter and went to the bedroom to wake him up. Chris was in the kitchen with Ray and Aria, and Val went to take a shower before we headed out for the day. I climbed in the bed, straddling my legs over Zane, watching his glow fade.

"Oh, Chris," he said half asleep. "I think three times is enough... it's hardly even noon." I laughed loudly.

"Three times? Well, that must have been fun!"

"Liz!" he said, blinking rapidly trying to wake up. He started to sit up as I leaned forward to kiss him. "Mmm, you taste like bacon and eggs."

"Yeah... I felt bad we went to breakfast without you, so I brought you some." He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me. He moved to kiss my neck, and I remembered Val desperately needing a taste of my blood the day before. I pulled him away.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I have a question, and it's going to sound weird." His face looked concerned as he interlocked his fingers behind my back. "Yesterday... Val needed, and I mean really needed my blood. Is that just her? Or do you feel that way too?" He took a deep breath, biting his lip in thought.

"No... I do too. But I didn't know how to bring it up..." I put my wrist in front of my face, dropping my fangs.

"Well, here." He put his hand on my arm, stopping me from biting.

"Liz... the baby."

"Will be fine. Celia said Chris and I could blood share, and I gave Val a bit of my blood already... If it's both of you, it probably has to do with the immortality. Just take it." He hesitantly let me bite into my arm, and he took a small sip. He glowed lightly, taking a deep breath when he was done.

"Shit..." he said. I could feel his body relax under me. "I feel relaxed."

"Well... that's good. Right?" He gave me a face that didn't seem too reassuring but smiled anyway. He kissed me again, gently laying me on my back. He lifted my shirt, kissing my stomach.

"How is my baby today?" he asked me.

"Fine. I still don't look pregnant or have felt the baby kick... but I can hear their heartbeat. Stronger every day. It's weird hearing a heartbeat inside my body..."

"But the fact that it is means good things. I love you," he said with one last kiss.

"I love you too."

After Zane ate and showered, we all got dressed to head out. We piled into my car, Chris in the front seat next to me, curious as to what I had planned.

We went to the shooting range – where he taught us all about guns and Chris blew off a lot of steam while I watched every muscle in his back engage as he loaded and unloaded guns, pulled triggers, and aimed down sight with ease.

*****

We spent one last evening in the hotel, cuddling on the couch enjoying not being interrupted by a kid calling us or two kids screaming at one another. Halfway through the movie, I heard a 'woosh' as Ray and Aria ran to their room to enjoy the same. We laughed as the door slammed shut. Zane got up to replenish his and Chris' beers as Val adjusted her position on the couch, lying down in Chris' lap. Zane came back, and handed Chris the beer, then sat down next to him. I went back to watching the movie, when I heard Chris nearly choke on his beer. I turned my head to see Val had moved to the floor, unzipped Chris' pants and reached her hand inside of them.