she
laughed, he chuckled. “Alright, maybe I am.” His laughter soon died as he
thought of the chaos Madison’s family was going through. “She just had a baby.
Little Aurora Maxine Davenport.”
“Claude
told me of the baby. I didn’t think she was due so soon.” Jacquelyn leaned back
in her chair and played with her wedding ring. “Madison’s pregnancy is part of
the reason why I wanted to speak with you.” Jacquelyn raised determined emerald
eyes to her father’s curious jade. “My next fertility cycle is coming. I told
Claude and Claudia that I wanted to try for another child.”
That
news was not a surprise. A female vampire went into her fertility cycle nearly
every twenty-five years. After being forced to give Claudia up, it stood to
reason that she would want to try again. “What was Claudia’s reaction?” Victor
couldn’t care less what his son-in-law thought. His granddaughter was his main
concern. It had taken her a long time to get over her feelings of abandonment.
Jacquelyn
mused as she took a sip of her wine. “Claudia is being surprisingly supportive.
She only asks that if history repeats itself that I send the baby to either her
or you.” She smiled as he frowned. “And you and I probably both feel that she’s
too young to care for a child.”
Victor
looked a little less than amused. “If you and Claude decide to have another
child, you will have my full support. However, I do not think this is the best
time.” He took note of how her shoulders fell and continued. “Claudia is a
pleasant young woman and I am happy to call her my grandchild. However, for
whatever reason, you still have not realized the damage your abandonment caused
her. I would not wish for you to do that to another child.”
“What
happened to Claudia wasn’t my fault,” Jacquelyn argued.
“I
never said it was.” Victor sipped his wine as he tried to think of what to tell
his daughter. “Our actions, however well intentioned, have potentially
disastrous consequences. Not only for the child, but for your
own health as well.”
She
was silent as she thought over his words. “There are times when I hate you,”
she whispered.
He
gave her a small smile, knowing that she would think over what he said, yet
still do exactly what she wanted. Before he could comment further, his cell
phone started to ring. A frown crossed his face when he saw one of the Maxwell
sons calling him. “Pardon me, Sweetheart,” he said before lifting the phone to
his ear. “This is Victor.”
“I’m
sorry to disturb you while you are away, but you need to come back home,” Jimmy
Maxwell told him simply. “We were told that, ‘now would be a good time to tell
the King that he will have to destroy the snake.’”
Victor frowned. “What Oracle told you this?”
“Tsukiko
Himura.”
Victor
looked at his daughter and pressed his lips together. He would have to cut
their visit short. “Where would you like for me to meet you?”
“We’re
all heading to Eric’s room right now. The hospital called. Eric is showing
signs of waking up.”
“I
shall be there within the hour.” As he disconnected the phone call, he looked
at his daughter. “As I have said, if you want to have another child, I will
stand beside you. But before you rush into anything, think about the past and
what has happened.” He stood and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I will return
when I am able,” he said softly. “Until then, feel free to use the family jet
to go to Germany. Claudia is missing home again.”
* *
* * *
He
had to be more than just a Mage. Lily was sure of it. Even fully clothed,
watching Barry move heavy boxes from one room to another was slow torture. She
could see the way his muscles flexed under the cloth. If she didn’t know any
better, she would swear he was teasing her.
Barry
grunted as he put the final box on the floor. “These boxes are way too heavy
for just books,” he announced as he dusted his hands
laughed, he chuckled. “Alright, maybe I am.” His laughter soon died as he
thought of the chaos Madison’s family was going through. “She just had a baby.
Little Aurora Maxine Davenport.”
“Claude
told me of the baby. I didn’t think she was due so soon.” Jacquelyn leaned back
in her chair and played with her wedding ring. “Madison’s pregnancy is part of
the reason why I wanted to speak with you.” Jacquelyn raised determined emerald
eyes to her father’s curious jade. “My next fertility cycle is coming. I told
Claude and Claudia that I wanted to try for another child.”
That
news was not a surprise. A female vampire went into her fertility cycle nearly
every twenty-five years. After being forced to give Claudia up, it stood to
reason that she would want to try again. “What was Claudia’s reaction?” Victor
couldn’t care less what his son-in-law thought. His granddaughter was his main
concern. It had taken her a long time to get over her feelings of abandonment.
Jacquelyn
mused as she took a sip of her wine. “Claudia is being surprisingly supportive.
She only asks that if history repeats itself that I send the baby to either her
or you.” She smiled as he frowned. “And you and I probably both feel that she’s
too young to care for a child.”
Victor
looked a little less than amused. “If you and Claude decide to have another
child, you will have my full support. However, I do not think this is the best
time.” He took note of how her shoulders fell and continued. “Claudia is a
pleasant young woman and I am happy to call her my grandchild. However, for
whatever reason, you still have not realized the damage your abandonment caused
her. I would not wish for you to do that to another child.”
“What
happened to Claudia wasn’t my fault,” Jacquelyn argued.
“I
never said it was.” Victor sipped his wine as he tried to think of what to tell
his daughter. “Our actions, however well intentioned, have potentially
disastrous consequences. Not only for the child, but for your
own health as well.”
She
was silent as she thought over his words. “There are times when I hate you,”
she whispered.
He
gave her a small smile, knowing that she would think over what he said, yet
still do exactly what she wanted. Before he could comment further, his cell
phone started to ring. A frown crossed his face when he saw one of the Maxwell
sons calling him. “Pardon me, Sweetheart,” he said before lifting the phone to
his ear. “This is Victor.”
“I’m
sorry to disturb you while you are away, but you need to come back home,” Jimmy
Maxwell told him simply. “We were told that, ‘now would be a good time to tell
the King that he will have to destroy the snake.’”
Victor frowned. “What Oracle told you this?”
“Tsukiko
Himura.”
Victor
looked at his daughter and pressed his lips together. He would have to cut
their visit short. “Where would you like for me to meet you?”
“We’re
all heading to Eric’s room right now. The hospital called. Eric is showing
signs of waking up.”
“I
shall be there within the hour.” As he disconnected the phone call, he looked
at his daughter. “As I have said, if you want to have another child, I will
stand beside you. But before you rush into anything, think about the past and
what has happened.” He stood and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I will return
when I am able,” he said softly. “Until then, feel free to use the family jet
to go to Germany. Claudia is missing home again.”
* *
* * *
He
had to be more than just a Mage. Lily was sure of it. Even fully clothed,
watching Barry move heavy boxes from one room to another was slow torture. She
could see the way his muscles flexed under the cloth. If she didn’t know any
better, she would swear he was teasing her.
Barry
grunted as he put the final box on the floor. “These boxes are way too heavy
for just books,” he announced as he dusted his hands
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