“And you’ve had unprotected sex in the last two to three weeks?”

My stomach turns. “Yes.”

He nods and stands, excusing himself. He returns a moment later with a cup. He hands it to me and nods towards a door to the left. “If you wouldn’t mind getting me a urine sample.”

A what? I stare at him, wide-eyed.

“Just fill it halfway,” he encourages.

I turn on shaky legs and walk into the bathroom. It takes me a solid ten minutes and two knocks from the doctor, before I collect what he needs. I’m numb when I walk back out, frantically going over dates in my mind.

“We’ll have the answer in just a second,” he says, dipping a small stick into the container.

I stare at it, unable to breathe, my heart pounding. When he pulls the stick out and turns it over, I actually squeak with fear.

“Well, that explains your symptoms,” he says, looking up at me. “Congratulations. You’re pregnant.”

That’s the exact moment I pass out.

~*~*~*~

“Hey, Tia.”

I hear Reign’s voice and feel the soft skin of his hand stroke over my cheek. I flutter my eyelids open and realize I’m on a soft, comfortable bed. Reign is staring down at me, the doctor by his side. It all comes rushing back to me and my entire world spins as panic seizes my chest. I bolt upright and start rambling some stupid words over and over. Reign’s hands curl around my arms, and he shakes me just slightly.

“It’s all right,” he soothes. “You’re at the doctor’s surgery.”

I shove away from him, pressing my hands to my cheeks. “I, uh, I know. The doctor here was just telling me I had food poisoning when I passed out. I’m sorry.”

The doctor gives me a skeptical look, but he knows he can’t tell Reign if I don’t give him permission to. Instead, he nods his head and hands me a glass of water. “If you’re feeling better, we’ll finish the consultation and Mr. Braxton can take you home.”

Reign nods and strokes a soft hand down my cheek. “You okay?”

“Sure, if you could maybe get me, ah, an orange juice . . . that might help. I think my sugar is low.”

He nods and presses a soft kiss to my cheek before leaving. When he’s gone, the doctor turns to me. “I’m assuming he’s not the father, then?”

I flush. “He is, but I . . . I just need to process this.”

My stomach turns at the very thought of what’s growing inside me. Not because I don’t want it, because a part of me, a tiny part, is already warming to the idea. It’s just because I’m not sure I’m in the right situation. Reign and I aren’t together and then there’s the problem of Slutena being in the way.

I can’t even think of that right now.

The doctor gives me a script for some pills to get from the pharmacy, and tells me to book in for an ultrasound in another week or so to get a more accurate date. However, his notes tell me I’m about five to six weeks along. I thank him and exit the room. Reign is waiting for me at the door, orange juice in hand.

“You feeling better?” he asks.

I nod, taking the bottle from him. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you home to bed. Did he say how long it will last?”

How am I going to hide this? Reign will see me getting sick each day. I shake my head. I’ll figure it out.

“A few days.”

He wraps an arm around me and leads me out to the car. The entire ride home is quiet, probably because I hardly hear anything he says to me. All I can hear is the pounding in my head. I don’t know how to deal with this; I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with this. A baby . . . that’s lifelong. It means that forever a part of Reign will always be in my life.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

I nod, forcing a smile. “Sure. I’m just exhausted.”

He takes me home and settles me in bed, then promises to come back later that night. I’m grateful to him, so much so tears well in my eyes. I realize this is probably because of hormones, but all the same, it causes him to run a finger under my eye, swiping the moisture away.

Then he kisses me and leaves.

And I sob myself to sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

A soft hand curls around mine, causing me to jerk from my sleep. I flutter my eyelids open, blink rapidly to clear my vision. I’m faced with a familiar, beautiful face and emotion swarms me. I bolt upright, throwing my arms around the tiny form on my bed and sobbing hysterically with pure relief.

Autumn is home.

“Oh God, Autumn,” I sob, pulling back and cupping her cheeks. She’s crying too. “Don’t you ever, ever do that to me again.”

She hugs me close once more, squeezing me until the air leaves my lungs in a whoosh.

“I’m so sorry, God, Tia, I’m an asshole.”

I laugh hoarsely and lean back, my eyes scanning her, checking to make sure she’s okay. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She shakes her head, pressing her hands either side of my cheeks. “No, I’m not hurt. I’m finally free.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened?”

She shakes her head. “I can’t. Not because I don’t want to but because I promised to protect Wrath for helping me.”

My brows shoot up. “Wrath?”

She flushes and I tilt my head to the side. “Do explain.”