Terra's Victory (Destiny's Trinities Book 7) by Tracy Cooper-Posey Read Free Book Online Page A

she could hold her own, especially if she had a gun in either hand. That didn’t stop his belly from cramping at the idea and made him speak without considering his words. “We don’t coddle you because you can’t take care of yourself, Mia. We do it because it’s the only way we can live with ourselves, because you are pregnant and we’re both terrified this war is going to reach out and hurt you and the baby in some way. You have to let us do that, okay? You have to let us fuss and worry, or we won’t get through it.”
    The heat in her tightly held expression faded. “You’re right,” she said slowly. “I didn’t think of it that way. God, Alex, I’m sorry….”
    He shook his head and drew her into his arms. “Can I go beat your three up for you? Please?”
    She laughed, the sound muffled against his chest. “If you really have to, sure,” she said. “I can think of a better way to vent all that frustration, though.”
    His body tightened, a thousand barely seen images flickering through his mind of Mia and Wyatt, naked and twined together, or against him, or any of the hundred ways they had made love. He could almost feel her breast in his hand, heavy with pregnancy, the tip heated with arousal.
    He smothered a groan against her hair. “How in hell am I going to get through this damn meeting, now?”
    * * * * *
    Beth lifted her hand toward Blake. “Rhys, this is Blake Harvey. He’s with the NYPD. I told you about him a couple of weeks ago. I’m sorry it’s taken this long to get you two together. Blake, Rhys Wisherd. Sheriff of Erie County.”
    The two law enforcement officers shook hands, studying each other. Rhys looked ill-used and exhausted. There were dark rings under his eyes and Beth wasn’t certain but she thought there was a bit more gray in his hair than she remembered from the first time she had met him.
    He gripped Blake’s hand. “Seaveth says you have all this shit figured out. The war, being human and not letting any of it spill over into the other.”
    Blake grimaced. “Then you haven’t heard the latest news.”
    Rhys shook his head. “I’ve worked straight through Christmas, ten days straight, so far. This is the first time I’ve been out of the county office for longer than it takes to get four hours’ sleep and go back.”
    “I know what that’s like,” Blake assured him. “I had to fight to get time off this year.” He drew Rhys toward the buffet table. “First defense is keeping up your calorie intake with decent food. There’s roast beef over here…”
    The two of them moved through the crowd.
    Beth turned back to where Cora and Aithan were standing together.
    Aithan nodded at her. “Thank you for this,” he said, his voice low.
    “We’ve been worried,” Cora added. “He’s been pushing himself too much. No one can keep that pace going for long.”
    “I’ve seen Blake do the same thing,” Beth told them. “The law enforcement types like them have the hardest time juggling everything, because even in their human roles, they’re protecting people. It becomes overwhelming.”
    Aithan glanced at the two at the buffet table. “Rhys feels responsible. For everyone.”
    “Exactly,” Beth said. “Although, if it is any comfort, this war should end soon, if I am right about the prophecies and Mia’s pregnancy being the calendar.”
    Cora nodded toward a handful of vampires talking to Lindal. “The elders of the Blackarcher clan say you haven’t got a thing wrong, so far.”
    Beth smiled. “PR spin helps smooth out fears and anxieties. I make mistakes just as everyone else does. I just try to make sure the slip ups are over minor matters.” She gave them a small smile. “It’s twelve-thirty. I should call the meeting to order. Please excuse me.”
    She stepped around the eddies and flow of people, squeezing past them on the edges. She made her way around to the dais, where the lectern waited. She had put on one of the long green velvet gowns,