Infinite Love

Chapter 39

Amelia

“We need to talk” all three of us blurt out at the exact same moment. s**t, well the bubble is well and truly broken. The bite of the air makes me shiver and they both look at me, somehow I don’t feel self conscious under their gaze.

Erik gives a heavy sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose, I can see his anger still bubbling under the surface just looking for a reason to come out. Inspecting Nico’s beautiful face, it feels like the whole world has changed since the last time I saw it, he looks tired and worried.

“I need a shower and clothes then we’ll talk” I state firmly and walk away from them. “I’ll cook us dinner” Nico calls after me and I can’t help a little smile, he is a divine cook, if he wasn’t who he is he would be a world class chef.

Taking my time in the shower I let the warm water soothe me, calm the torrent of emotions swirling, my nerves, my fears. Telling Erik about the baby was daunting enough but now Nico will need to know too. He will want to come with us, to be involved and I’m torn whether that will help us or make things harder. Who’s to say Erik will even trust him or want him there and I know Nico well enough to know he will not just walk away.

The skin on my fingers is beginning to wrinkle I’ve delayed the inevitable long enough. With a heavy heart I turn off the water and wrap myself in a large towel. Leaving my hair in the messy bun I look out a blush pink sweater and charcoal grey yoga pants might as well be comfortable for this entirely uncomfortable conversation.

Padding quietly downstairs I strain for any sound that I should be worried about but once again the house seems to be deserted of all staff. The only sound the soft chill out music coming from the kitchen accompanied by a mouth watering aroma. My tummy growls and I realise I’m famished.

As I reach the kitchen Erik is sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar hands in his head, Nico is pottering around with some plates about to serve whatever the delicious smell is.

He inclines his head towards the bar stools and I slide in next to Erik, he looks up finally but does not smile as he looks at me. Well s**t, it’s still like that but really I can’t blame him. Everything he thought he knew has been turned upside down.

Nico places a plate before each of us and Erik at least gives him a thank you. A large glass of red wine follows and then he slides into the seat across from us with his own. Finally I look at the dish, a lobster ravioli bisque, my mouth waters.

We eat in an awkward silence until each are finished their meal and then we all look to each other. Who starts? Who has the most important news?

It’s almost a whisper, full of hurt and betrayal, one simple word “Why?” I meet Erik’s eyes, okay so he gets his answers first. As I prepare to speak I look away from him, fidget with my still full wine glass. I can’t bear to see the look in his eyes as I weave my tale.

My voice quiet and unsure as it comes out “The day before our wedding I was outside the walls collecting flowers when Damian arrived, I could see he was evil from the moment he spoke to me and I had this terrible feeling of dread.

He decided there and then he wanted me or perhaps he decided he didn’t want you to have me and saw an opportunity to weaken you, his biggest threat for power. He threatened to kill you if I didn’t go with him, I never knew he would make you believe I was dead. I could cope with you hating me as long as you were alive. I thought I would find a way to defeat him, to come back to you”

His hand gripping mine startles me and I look up at him, the emotion in his eyes impossible to read “I would have stopped him Amelia why didn’t you come to me?”

I can’t stop the bitter laugh that is my automatic response “Erik no one can stop him! All that would have happened is that you would have been dead and I never want to live in a world without you in it!” The tears are warm and stinging as they flow from my eyes, reliving those old fears makes it feel like yesterday.

Risking a glance at Nico his face is neutral but he is engrossed in our exchange. “Papa and I wracked our brains for a way but we were lost. The best we could do was trick you, which I can’t even say I’m sorry for, into turning me so that at least I would not have Damian’s blood coursing through my veins.”

He shakes his head a little a look of awe on his face “How did you manage this?” I give him a soft smile as I wipe the tears from my eyes. “When I came to you and we made love, I gave you a drink it was laced with a potion papa made for me. I took a vial of your blood and then healed you with your own saliva. I kept it in my bodice and managed to take it just before Damian tried to turn me. Your blood took my system first and he was never the wiser.”

His eyes narrowed “You saved me” the realisation hits him. I nod to confirm his thoughts. Then his brow furrows “You could have been killed there is supposed to be four people!”

Another smile is his answer and this time I reach out to touch him “I didn’t sacrifice everything I did just to let you die! I never wanted to be in this world if you weren’t in it”

I can see his displeasure but also the relief at finally knowing the truth. “You did love me then?”

I squeeze his hand “You silly fool I have never stopped loving you, you are everything to me, you always will be”

The sound of a stool moving makes me look up. Nico is on his feet about to walk away “Nico stop please” he looks at me with hurt in his eyes.

“Nico” it’s Erik’s voice that stops his escape. He looks at him with curious eyes “It’s clear she loves you too, you matter to her and you have protected her when I couldn’t” this time I look at him curious. He glances at me with a lopsided smile “We had a chat while you were in the shower”

“Please Nico sit” and he abides by Erik’s request. “Look I don’t know what this all means or how we move forward from here but we need a plan. None of us can go back to how things were or pretend that everything isn’t different now”

“That I agree with and Damian is up to something” Nico’s tone is tense and I can see the worry in his eyes. “Tell me everything?” Erik is quick to demand.

Nico shakes his head like he’s trying to make sense of his very thoughts “I don’t know why he called me back, there was nothing valid that he needed me for and I’ve caught him in strange whispered conversations that he shuts down the moment he knows I’m there.

He’s never behaved like that before. Then out of the blue today he sends me back with no real reason. He wants me here for something but won’t tell me what. I don’t trust him.” He glances guiltily towards Erik before he continues “And he and Harlow seem to have gotten very very familiar with each other”

Erik prickles at this information and I can’t help the stab of pain it sends through me. I had almost forgotten that she existed, her whole situation was my own stupid doing. Me and my damn compulsion!

“It’s not that Lia, I’m just worried about her she’s innocent in all of this, not equipped to handle Damian if he is manipulating her” my pain lets up and I realise he is right, I’ve literally lead a lamb to slaughter, I had honestly thought I was doing the right thing. We need to get her away from him somehow.

Erik suddenly c***s his head to the side and looks at me “What was your we need to talk?” I swallow hard. Can I even make the words come out of my mouth? Is this the right time considering the danger Harlow is probably in and whatever Damian is up to?

No this can not wait, like literally at the rate this pregnancy will develop it won’t wait. I take a deep breath here goes nothing.

“I’m pregnant!” both of their mouths fall open and they simply stare at me in utter shock. I shift a little in my seat uncomfortably. I rush to fill the silence.

“My research, I found the secret to reproduction, witch dna and your maker, that is the only way for us to get pregnant and well . . . “ I trail off waiving my hand between Erik and I.

A smile starts to light up Erik’s face just as I become aware of a strange green mist working its way around us and into the room. Before I can even work out what it is I feel my head falling forward and the world go dark.