n and yeast pulled m

ing was painted a soft lavender color. There were glow in the dark stars

servants quarters. It was

middle of a cluttered but cozy living room. A thic

hine," a voic

silk robe with a tiger print. She was dancing slightly to music

oice was thick with sl

ully. "I let you sleep in. Sal knows

me a mug. It had a cartoon

s herbal tea. Ginger and ho

my cold hands. "Thank you. For everyt

by not passing out on my floor again. And by he

pink box on the s

Higg

tairs. She is basically my grandma. She adopts every

a rhythmic knockin

Knock

n!" Zoe

twenty two. He had messy sandy blonde hair and kind brown eyes beh

a grin. He held up a carton of or

"Aria this is Liam. He lives in 4B. He is

on the counter. He looked at

"You must be the runaw

ned. "I

me. "Zoe attracts strays. I was one of them two year

ave the aggressive growl of the Alpha males

Aria,"

at me with a clinical eye. "Zoe said you got

er,"

a violent lurch. The smell of the coffee brew

on the table and clampe

ointed. "Second d

made it to the toilet before my stomach empt

ut it was Liam who knelt beside me. He gathere

oftly. "In through the nos

usea slowly receded leav

toilet for me. He wet a washclot

ed. I wiped my face

m training to be a nurse. I have seen wa

cloth stopped hal

you say?

n eyes were kind but seriou

ed by strong smells. Dizziness. Fatigue. And loo

"I am just tired. I

se when I helped you up. It is racing. And Zoe told

o argue but the wor

ck the weeks

The heat. T

been si

stomach. The flutter.

e," I whispered. "

t dancing anymore. Her face was serious

ile you were sleeping," she sa

e box. It was a

t. It looked

oe said. "Be

ingers. Liam and Zoe exchanged

outside," Liam sai

osed th

bathroom. My heart hammered aga

x. I followed t

life. I sat on the edge of the bathtub and stared

was over. I was a teenage

s carrying the child of

as carrying the heir t

strong heir. He had said I

the timer

e

like jelly. I walked to t

ink l

ght. They wer

iti

s. I gripped the edge of th

preg

ng to be

It was not a happy sound. I

nstantly. Zoe and

eed to ask. Th

e into a fierce hug. I buried m

fiercely. "We got you. You

He placed a warm

he said. "There are cli

who had known me for less than twenty four hours were

If the father finds out... he will

ngerous light. She looked li

ated firmly. "You are Aria now. J

p you get medical care under the radar. I have f

placed my hand over the tiny

ted me. He had

by? This ba

ed through me. It was the same cold f

ice was shaky but sur

t up the room. "Then we are going to need mo

start bringing you vitamins. And

ress with purple hair and a n

They were not powerf

hat tiny bathroom I rea

a pack of wol

und my o

ou," I w

and. "Welcome to

scent of cinnamon and fr

I was broke. I

t time in my lif