“I heard you screaming Shy. You reek of his scent and your own fear.”
“He was angry. He was…” the last word was barely audible, “rough.”
“Fuck Shy, I’m risking the wrath of not only Leto but the wrath of Conn…pun intended. Did Leto hurt you or not?”
Shy g rabbed Aries’ arm. “He hurt me, but it wasn’t like that! He was just so…so furious. He choked me. He wants me dead! Please don’t take me to StoneCrow Aries. You said he has no right to keep me. I-I haven’t done anything wrong. I can’t go there. Not like this, not now. He’ll kill me. He already tried, and if he finds out about the ba…” Shy gasped then realizing her mistake as she dropped her hands and pulled back into her seat dropping her eyes to the floor.
“If he finds out about what Shy? ” Aries tone was firm.
“Aries I can’t.”
“They’re approximately half mile behind us.” Aries slowed the vehicle as Shy’s eyes snapped to hers in silent plea. “Leto’s with them.”
Shy turned in her seat, “Please Aries! Please!”
“Talk,” Aries demanded. “Leto will kill you if he finds out about what?”
Shy looked down at the speedometer, the vehicle was slowing rapidly, “Please just go and I’ll tell you.”
“Answers first!”
“Jesus Aries! Please! I’ll tell you just go!”
Aries pulled her foot completely off the gas pedal and the motor whined as it slowed.
“B ABY!” Shy shrieked. “He’ll kill me if he finds out about the baby. I’m pregnant.”
Aries mouth opened as she turned to stare at Shy in shock before she clamped her mouth shut and slammed her foot back on the gas pedal, pressing it until it was flat to the floor.
Shy watched as Aries focused straight ahead, her pupils expanding until her eyes were nearly black as she slowly inhaled. “I scent no second life Shy.”
Shy lifted a hand to gently place it on her belly. “You’re not supposed to. But it’s there.”
Aries’ tone softened “How far along are you?”
“I don’t know. Five, six weeks maybe.”
Aries’ eyes crinkled at the corners, “Why would Leto want to kill you simply because you ’re pregnant? If anything that would keep him away from you. We should tell him.”
Shy smiled weakly, the action not reaching her eyes. “I believe it’s his child.”
Aries’ brows hiked, “Again I reiterate we need to tell him Shy.”
Shy shook her head and began sobbing, “You don’t understand Aries.”
“Well help me understand damn it!”
Shy turned to Aries then, “Leto thinks I worked with the Megalya. He thinks I’m one of them.”
“So tell him the truth. Shy if he’s trusted you enough to sleep with you then he’ll listen.”
Shy threw up her hands in defeat, “He hasn’t!”
“Hasn’t what?” Listened?” Aries was completely lost.
“He hasn’t slept with me Aries.” Shy’s lower lip trembled with the revelation as tears streamed freely and sobs wracked her slender shoulders. “The Megalya did this to me. They used his semen to impregnate me. He doesn’t know I’m carrying his child. No one does.” She dropped her head to stare at her belly before caressing it, “I carry his scent because I carry his child. He’s never touched me until he tried to kill me five minutes ago.”
Chapter 8
Aries nearly missed the curve in the road and had to jerk the jeep back onto the black top as she tried to regain her composure. “Shy I can’t help you if you don’t tell me everything. So please, start from the beginning and tell me all of it.”
Shy wiped her tea rs on the sleeve of Aries’ coat as she sucked in a shaky breath. She had to trust someone with the truth and the kind Walker woman next to her was as good a hope as any. “I was assigned to intern with the Megalya as part of my exit courses for college. I’d never heard of them, didn’t know what they were.”
“You were