22

With Emily still demanding to be put down, Kian took the elevator in Selma’s apartment building. Every curse word Emily knew, she used on Kian. No matter how much she demanded, he would chuckle and stare at the numbers above the elevator door. 

Bing!

Emily tensed at the sound of the elevator finally reaching its destination. She knew in a few quick strides, Kian would have them standing in front of Selma’s apartment. Her vision shifted between blue and colors of reality. She shook her head trying to shake away the blue.

“Emily,” Kian asked with concern while setting her down onto her feet. He took hold of her face and looked her in the eyes. “Sweetheart. Everything will be okay.” 

“No,” she sobbed. “She hates me. She doesn’t want to see me.” The waterworks began again. Emily now stood in the hallway sobbing hysterically. 

“Sweetheart, listen to me.” He smiled, “Everything will be okay. I’m right here with you. You and Selma will be okay after you talk. You both are going through a lot. Okay?” He wiped her tears away with the sleeve of his shirt. 

“Kian,” she whimpered, “I’m scared she’ll hate me. I acted like a bitch earlier.” 

“Emily, you both are going through a lot. I promise. You guys will get through this.” He smiled then held her hand. “I’m right here beside you. Okay?”

“Okay,” she sniffled. She allowed him to lead her down the hallway to the apartment of doom as she was calling it in her mind.

“Ready,” he asked. She gave a swift nod, and he knocked on the door. 

Knock. Knock. 

“Come in,” Selma called out on the other side of the door. 

Slowly, Kian opened the door and walked into the apartment. Still holding his hand, Emily stepped inside the apartment. She was glued to Kian‘s side. She felt awkward, out of place, and timid. She hated the feelings that were washing through her. 

“I know you are trying to talk to Selma and all, Cas,” Kian stated running his free hand through his hair. “But, I think the girls need to talk.” Emily feared Selma’s response so she kept her eyes on the floor. She heard someone shift on the other side of the room where she had seen Selma and Casper sitting. Light footsteps approached her and Kian.

Selma cleared her throat, “Emily, I’m so sorry.” 

Selma’s unexpected apology caused another ripple of emotions through Emily. Emily had expected Selma to yell and tell Emily to go away. She hadn’t expected Selma to apologize.

“I understand, Selma. I really do,” Emily softly replied. 

“Would you like to sit down?” 

“Oh. No. That’s okay. I know you guys are trying to talk,” Emily whispered.

“Damn it, Emily, look at me. I should have talked to you. It’s just... “Selma growled. “We don’t really know each other and everything was insane. All the changes happening to me and trying to figure things out with Casper.”

“I just came to say sorry for everything,” Emily stated softly.

“Sweetling, Chakano Kralisi, calm. Happy thoughts,”  Casper urged Selma. 

“She’s not hearing me, Casper, she won’t even look at me,” Selma complained.

“We have to go. I just came to say sorry for my moodiness.” Emily didn’t want another fight between her and Selma. She could sense Selma’s frustrations. It was time for Emily and Kian to leave. Emily turned towards the door.

“Stop right there!” Selma yelled. Emily froze in place on command. 

“Do you know?” Selma asked walking over to Emily.

Oh, God. Not now, Emily thought. She knew exactly what Selma was asking her. Selma was asking if Emily knew that she was pregnant. This wasn’t the time or place to discuss this. She wished the other woman wouldn’t have mentioned it. But now the spotlight was shining down on Emily. Everyone in the audience waiting for her to perform.

With tears in her eyes, she turned and faced Selma. The other woman was staring at her with curious yet concerned eyes. She seemed worried about Emily. Emily nodded and gave Selma a smile. It wasn’t the biggest of smiles, but enough to let the Selma know she was okay. 

“Yes,” Emily’s voice cracked. 

“Do you want to know what the sex is?” Selma grinned.

“What,” Kian growled and glared at Emily. 

Emily’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach. This was not how she wanted to tell him. Him finding out in front of others was the worse place imaginable in Emily’s mind. She understood Selma had powers, but at the moment, Emily was regretting her powers.

Kian let go of Emily’s hand. His own hands were now balled into fists by his side. Emily could see his eyes shifting to black. He was trying to control himself by taking deep breaths. His breaths became angry pants. 

“Like I said, I just came to say sorry, Selma,” Emily turned towards the door again intending to walk out of the apartment. She didn’t get very far. Kian grabbed her wrist. A fiery rage ignited in Emily. The world’s beautiful vivid colors morphed into the shades of blue that Emily feared.

“Let go of me if you want to keep that hand, Kian Lucas Nordin!”

“Then you better fucking talk to me,” Kian growled, “now!” 

The fiery rage she felt moments ago was nothing compared to the rage she felt now towards Kian commanding and cursing at her. She wasn’t his for him to control. He had stated that himself. But now, here he stood, telling her what she was going to do. 

Emily turned around. “I better? Or what, Kian? What are you going to do,” she asked yanking her wrist free of his hold? She opened her arms in a challenging manner. “What else do you want to do to my life besides change me from being human and get me pregnant?” 

Kian’s black eyes were no longer staring at her. Instead, they were back to blue-green. His face had softened. He didn’t look as vicious now. He looked like the Kian she knew.

“Emily,” he said weakly. “I’m so sorry for yelling at you, sweetheart. I don’t know what came over me.”

“Look, nerd god, you’ve obviously did enough. How about you go for a walk and allow Emily and I to talk... alone?” Selma retorted before Emily could speak. Emily turned her gaze to Selma, who was standing with her hands on her hips and a glow similar  to the one she had earlier.

Now you’re really screwed, Kian Lucas!

“Selma, I was just caught off guard. She didn’t tell me,” Kian looked defeated.

“Can’t imagine why,” Emily said sarcastically walking by him and over to Selma. Without asking, Emily made herself at home and plopped down on the sofa. Selma didn’t seem to mind; she wedged herself between Emily and Casper. Emily felt relieved not having to be so close to Casper. She wasn‘t fond of him either.

Emily felt in control of her emotions until the point when Selma brought an arm around her. The tears she thought had run out of erupted. Again she cried hysterically.

“I’m so stupid,” Emily sobbed. 

“No, you’re not,” Selma soothed. “Confused, scared, and a whole hell of a lot of other emotions from what I can read. But, not stupid.”

“I just wanted to go to the book signing.” Emily wrapped both of her arms around Selma. 

“You’re preaching to the choir,” Selma chuckled. “That book signing was the biggest thing I’ve ever planned to do.”

“It worked out for you though,” Emily stated pulling back away and looking at Selma. “You found your one and only dog boy.” She gave Cas an apologetic friendly smile for referring to him as ‘dog boy’.

“Yes, I found Casper.” Selma glanced over her shoulder at Casper. “I also totaled my car and almost lost you as a friend though.”

“Jughead can build you a new car. And I’m still your friend.” Emily burst into tears. She really felt like an emotional wreck. The tears were never-ending.

Selma embraced Emily then patted Emily’s back. Selma’s motherly gesture felt warm to Emily. It was an embrace that meant the world to her.

“Just think of it, Emily. We’d be national bestsellers in no time with these storylines,” Selma said cheerfully. 

“I’d write about a beautiful woman, who falls in love with a beast,” Emily chuckled then shook her head. “Nevermind that one has been written before. You’re Belle and he’s Beast.”

“But it hasn’t been written with the information we have about the beast and the beauty,” she reminded Emily.

“True,” Emily laughed. “This beast likes to shift then walk around naked. And, the beauty will probably kill him because of that.” 

“That is true. I’m not sure I like all of these women in this town,” Selma growled. “They’re too hands — well boobs — on with men that aren’t theirs.”

“I’m sure we could persuade those lovely ladies to stay far... far away from our men.” 

“Speaking of being persuasive, I know what you have become, Emily. Do you know what I am?” Selma asked. 

“Judging by the way you stare at people. I’m going to guess some sort of seer.”

“Well, I see auras if that counts. I can read a lot about a person from the colors that surround them. Their energy signatures. Everything from what race they are, to their emotions, to...” Selma looked at Emily’s stomach. No! Don’t tell me! I want it to be a surprise.

Emily was having a hard enough time learning she could read minds. Knowing Selma could read auras just the same as Emily’s newfound power. One was seeing the emotions and the other was hearing the emotions. Emily didn’t like either one being a gift. She didn’t like the idea of invading others' privacy. Especially in a way so intimate — their mind.

“That’s almost as bad as being able to mind read.”

“You can read minds!” 

“Selma, I’m not going to read your mind. I don’t like invading others’ privacy. Also, it makes me sicker than a dog...” Emily gave Cas an apologetic look for using the word dog in his presence since she had insulted him more than once by calling him one.

“Oh, no. I was having trouble earlier, but that was because of Nikki’s fucking elixir.” Selma snarled. Nikki seemed on everyone’s shit list.

“I think my problem is because someone...” Emily put her hand on her stomach. “... is being very picky about what I do and how I feel.”

“Yes, he’s very protective of his mama.” NO! Emily wanted to wring the other woman’s neck for revealing the gender of the baby. Emily already knew it was a boy. Having accepted the fact she was really pregnant her body had given her the feeling the baby was a boy. And, now Selma had just ruined it for Kian.

“Selma,“ she shouted playfully hitting Selma’s arm. She wanted to slug Selma, but kept her cool and stuck to a playful touch to keep the peace amongst the room.

“What?” Selma looked around confused. This one really is clueless, Emily sighed in her mind. 

“I wanted to surprise Kian with the sex of the baby.” Emily turned to Kian and smiled. “I already knew the sex.”

“Fuck!” Selma cursed. Emily turned her attention back to the swearing woman. “I’m sorry. I see what you mean about this being as bad as the mind reading. I’m going to have to work on keeping things to myself. Unfortunately, I can’t turn this shit off.” 

As much as Emily wanted to be pissed off at Selma, she couldn’t be. Her and Selma were both going through a lot of new things. Things that were out of their control. 

“Loose lips sink ships,” Emily grinned and waved a finger at Selma.

“I’m sorry... truly,” Selma insisted.

“Emily,” Kian whispered surprising both Emily and Selma. Neither of them had seen him walk over to the group. 

“Yes,” Emily whispered looking up at him? Looking into his blue-green eyes made her knees weak. She was a nervous wreck about what was to come with her and Kian. All she knew was she wanted to make it work somehow. Paranormal or not. She wanted this man more than she wanted air.

“I really am sorry.” 

“I know you are, Kian.” She smiled weakly then stood up. She didn’t get any further, because, with one long stride, Kian was over to her and had her wrapped in his arms. He inhaled sharply pulling her closer to his body. His warmth physically and emotionally was just what Emily needed. It eased all of her worries. She felt safe again. 

“I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. Not now. Not ever,” he breathed against her neck.

“Us,” she corrected. Kian looked down at her and gave her a funny look. “It’s an us now. And, you aren’t going to lose us. We aren’t going anywhere without you.” 

Us, she thought. The thought of them having a baby together put her on cloud nine. 

With a big smile on her face, she stood on her tippy toes and kissed him. 

“Us,” Kian chuckled.  He leaned his forehead against Emily’s. “I’m going to be a dad.”

“I know,” she giggled. “Unbelievable isn’t it?” 

“Mmhmm. It really is,” he breathed. “I didn’t think I was able to have children.” Emily looked up at him. She would have thought with all the sex that he had with the paranormal women of Camden that he would have gotten one of them pregnant. So how was he able to get Emily, a human, pregnant? In all the stories she had read, there was never any talk about an incubus producing a child with a human. 

“Maybe because you bit me,” she asked uncertain.

“Maybe,” he placed his hand between them and rested it on her stomach. He looked down at his hand. “I’m going to be a dad.” 

“Yes. We established that part,” she teased. Emily looked at Casper and Selma who were sitting close to one another on the couch. 

“We should go home,” Kian whispered. She couldn’t agree more.

“Sorry for the intrusion, Selma. We will get out of your hair now,” Emily smiled. “We’ll talk soon... right?”

“No intrusion...” Selma smiled. “Especially, if it means we can begin to work on being friends.”

Selma stood up and made her way over to the door. Kian took hold of Emily’s hand before leading her over to the door. Emily looked Selma over. Selma looked really happy. Her and Selma weren’t close, but she liked knowing Selma had found her happiness.

As she was passing by Selma and out the door, Emily’s vision suddenly turned blue. Both Kian and Selma were a bright blue. Emily’s eyes drifted down to three more tiny bright lights. Three lights were inside Selma’s stomach. Imagine that, she chuckled. Looks like I’m not the only one.

“We’ll talk soon, promise.” Selma crossed her heart and smiled.

Emily nodded as she pulled the door closed. When the door was halfway closed, she looked at Selma with a huge grin. Payback! 

“Perhaps, you should read your own aura.” Emily gave Selma a wink then closed the door behind her with satisfaction running through her veins.

“She is, too,” Kian asked laughing as they made their way towards the elevator. 

“It would seem so.”

“Cas is going to die from shock,” he smirked pushing the button to call the elevator.

“Especially when he finds out it is a litter.”