Impaling my Heart: Vlads story (Annalese and the Immortals Book 2) by Annie Buff

listen.  "Oh my holy hell" he thought.  Vlad was actually humming a tune that sounded an awful lot like a lullaby.  "Nobody would ever believe this." And he would never tell a soul.  As he listened he couldn't help the grin.
    "T, how is she" Lachlan asked as he opened the door. 
    "She woke for a little bit.  Mehmet brought her some herbal tea.  She was worried about the baby.  I told her Lyla was fine."  Oh shit Vlad thought.  "Please don't repeat that until her naming ceremony."
    "Hey T, doona fuss.  Lyla like Lillian?"  Lachlan was pretty sure he knew. 
    "Yes, for my mother.  It was Annalese that asked me if it was okay.  She never ceases to amaze me.  Lach she really is an angel.  Oh and it was her water glass.  Mehmet figured it out.  Wasn't much, just enough to make her dizzy.  She hit her head when she fell.  She's got a bump, but my blood took care of anything internal that may have occurred.  Lach, I think this was a trial run.  I have a very bad feeling Sophia is after the baby.  It's all I can come up with.  Sophia loved Annalese.  This isn't about hurting her.  It's about me and the baby.  We tried for twenty years.  Nothing ever came of it.  I know why now but I really think she may be so obsessed with having a baby; she's going after my daughter.  The thing I can't figure is how she found out it's mine.  We have been very quiet about who we've told.  So Lach, how does she know?"
    Lachlan pondered the question.  They'd all been very hush- hush about Vlad being the father.  And council transcripts were sealed, so anything said there was secret.  When they all left the house together she generally clung to Lachlan in public.  The staff knew Annalese was pregnant again.  But that was all they knew. 
    Marcus was the only staff member that knew and he was loyal to Vlad.  Mehmet of course knew.  But he would never side against Vlad.  Lese had told Nico, but they were friends.  Nico adored her, and Lach knew Nico would fillet anyone that tried to harm her.  Who the fuck was left? He couldn't think of a soul when the light went on in his head.
    "The Gods! That damned fucking boutique!  Sophia got her hooked on that shop.  You know damn well that girl who owns it would tell her in a second.  FUCK!"  Lach was livid.  "I'm goin inta town.  I need answers now!" 
    Vlad shook his head.  "No Lach, not yet."
    Lachlan paced.  "What do ye mean not yet?  We need answers now!"
    Again Vlad said no.  "Lach, we know.  Let's keep it in-house for now.   I prefer the element of surprise.  Did you reach Nico?"
    "Hmm Nico's here?"  She trying to sit up and shake off the drug-induced fog. "Where's Nico?"  Annalese’s tiny hands brushing her hair away from her face. 
    "No love, Nico isn't here.” Vlad answered her in an ultimately loving tone. “Lach was calling him earlier.  I do suspect he will be around in the next day or so.  How are you feeling?  You scared the shit out of both Lach and myself."
    She was very hazy on what happened.  "I don't remember much.  I got up to pee and took a drink of water.  I got really dizzy and that's the last thing I remember."
    "Aye Angel.” Lachlan came to life at the animation of his beloved, “Ye hit yer head.  T gave ye blood, so ye healed quickly. The baby is joost fine.  Mehmet checked her and the doctor was here.  I need to ask ye a question OK?"
    She nodded.  "Of course Lach.  You know that I’m here for all of us."  She smiled at him.  
    "Okay Angel.  When we took ye shoppin, did ye tell the shop owner who the baby's father is?  We need to know lass.  Tis verra important."
    "Yes I did.” Annalese told him with some chagrin, “Was I not supposed to?  I was just so happy it slipped out.  Why Lachlan, what's wrong?"
    So they explained it all.  They did leave out what Vlad had in mind for Sophia, but Annalese wasn't dumb and she knew. "So this is why you need Nico.  Vlad don't kill her please.  Sophia was my