EB Chapter 64 Part 3
Eva
Brandon, stretched out on the patio, a mug of steaming coffee resting on the low table beside him. His tattooed arm, a roadmap of intricate designs, flexed as he reached for it. Morning sun caught the short strands of his brown hair, illuminating faint gold highlights. He wore a loose grey t-shirt, the fabric clinging to the chiseled contours of his chest. His blue eyes, usually sharp with sarcasm, held a lazy contentment. He now had pink tips on his hair. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep track of m laughing. This would be easy.
I slid into the seat opposite him, a soft smile playing on my lips. "Enjoying the calm before the storm?"
He lowered his mug, a corner of his mouth lifting. "Storm? We're talking about a baby shower, darling, not the apocalypse."
"And you think the two are mutually exclusive?" I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand. "My best friend is involved. Her idea of a baby shower likely involves glitter bombs and summoning ancient entities."
Brandon chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "I imagine Cassius would be thrilled by that. Another chance to show off his werewolf demigod strength by taming a rogue demon-bear."
"Don't put the idea in his head," I warned, my gaze lingering on his strong jawline. "So, what's your part in this grand scheme? Are you in charge of the snacks? The entertainment? Perhaps a stripping routine for the ladies?"
He took a slow sip of coffee, his eyes glinting over the rim. "Now that's an idea. I do have a rather impressive set of abs that haven't seen the light of day in a while." He starts to raise his shirt with his free hand.
"Oh, I'm quite familiar with your abs, Brandon." My voice dropped, a playful purr. "More than familiar, actually. And I'm sure you could come up with something truly… unforgettable."
He set the mug down, his full attention on me now. The lazy contentment in his eyes shifted, replaced by a spark of something hotter. "What's on your mind, Eva?"
"Just thinking about how much I've missed your… hands-on approach to problem-solving." I let my fingers trail along the cool porcelain of his mug, then up his arm, tracing the edge of a tattoo. A snarling wolf head. "Are you working on anything new? Something exciting? Or is your world entirely consumed by planning pink ribbons and tiny booties?"
He shifted, turning slightly to face me more directly. "My world is currently consumed by the thought of you, looking incredibly tempting, trying to coax information out of me."
"Is it working?" I arched an eyebrow, my thumb brushing over the taut muscle of his bicep.
"Always." He leaned in, his voice a low murmur. "But you're not going to trick me, love. Whatever it is you think we're hiding, it's for your own good. To keep you from stressing. Which, by the way, you seem to be doing plenty of right now."
"I'm not stressing," I countered, though a flicker of frustration stirred within me. He was good. Too good. "I'm curious. A goddess, pregnant with all of these children, has a right to know what machinations her mates are concocting. Is it a surprise party? A lavish trip to the Moon? A new dimension created just for our children to play in?"
He chuckled, a rich sound. "You always did have a vivid imagination. A new dimension, huh? That's not a bad idea. But no, nothing that dramatic. Just… a celebration. A welcoming. For our family."
"A family that includes me," I emphasized, my eyes holding his. "Are you sure it's just a celebration? No grand gestures of power? No displays of newfound godhood that might… accidentally reshape the landscape?"
Brandon's gaze held mine, unwavering. "No accidental landscape reshaping. Promise. Unless you count the magnificent new rose garden Vlad is so proud of. It nearly caused a localized tremor when he and Amira conjured it."
"Vlad and his roses," I mused, a new avenue presenting itself. "Always an obsession, but I do have a fondness for them. Is he involved in the 'celebration' planning?” Deeply, I imagine. He likes to be in charge.
"He likes to be the center of attention, you mean." Brandon grinned. "And yes, he's heavily involved. So is Vincent. And Bael. Let's just say there's a lot of… discussion."
"I can imagine." I paused, letting my gaze drift over his features. He was teasing me, deflecting. I needed a different angle. "You've been spending a lot of time with Bael lately. More than usual. What kind of discussions do you two have? Plotting the downfall of humanity? Trading tips on who can make the most impressive explosion?"
His smile widened, a hint of his usual cockiness returning. "Bael and I have a mutual appreciation for… creative solutions. He's surprisingly good at thinking outside the box. Especially when it comes to… logistical challenges."
"Logistical challenges?" I leaned closer, my voice a soft whisper. "What kind of logistical challenges, Brandon? Moving mountains? Altering the course of rivers? Erecting giant, glow-in-the-dark statues of ourselves in the front yard?"
He reached out, his fingers tracing the curve of my cheek. His touch was warm, possessive. "You look absolutely beautiful when you're trying to pry secrets out of me. Almost makes me want to tell you everything."
"Almost isn't good enough." I nuzzled into his palm. "Tell me one tiny thing. A hint. A clue. Is it bigger than just a shower? Is it a gathering of… others?"
His thumb stroked my jawline. "It's a gathering. Yes. Of those who matter. And yes, it's bigger than just a shower. It's… significant. But still, all for you. And for them." He gestured vaguely at my belly.
"Significant how?" I pressed, trying to keep the eagerness out of my voice. "Politically significant? Spiritually significant? Is someone crowning us Kings and Queen of the Universe?"
He laughed outright. "Now that is an idea. But no. Nothing so… official. More… personal. A formal acknowledgement. A celebration of a new era."
A new era. That was interesting. "A new era for whom? For us? For the supernatural world? For… everything?"
"For everything, darling." His eyes held a depth I hadn't seen before, a seriousness that cut through his usual flippancy. "A new era has already begun. We're just… marking it." He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "And you are at the very heart of it all."
He pulled back, his gaze lingering on my lips. "Now, if you want more information, you'll have to try harder than that. Perhaps a more… direct approach?"
I smiled, a slow, predatory curve of my lips. "A direct approach, you say? Perhaps I will. But not right now. You've given me enough to chew on." I stood, running a hand lightly over his shoulder. "Thanks for the coffee, Brandon. And the… hints."
He watched me walk away, a knowing smirk on his face. He knew what I was doing. And he was enjoying it. Just as I was. A new era. A formal acknowledgement. Gathering of those who matter. He was definitely hiding more than a baby shower.