My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

He stood very still, his ancient hand on my barely–showing belly, feeling something. Whatever vampires felt when they were close to new life.

“Hello, small one,” he said quietly. “Your sister is very excited to meet you. She’s already buttding you parliamentary systems out of blocks and planning to teach you about horses. Your parents are terrified and thrilled in equal measure, which seems appropriate. And your Uncle Cas- He paused. “Your Uncle Cas is going to do his best to be worthy of that title. To be there for everything. To teach you about vampire history and listen to whatever you decide is important and catch you when you run at him full speed.”

I was crying again. Hormones, probably. But also love. So much love for this family we’d built, for this vampire who’d chosen to be part of it, for the future we were creating one impossible choice at a time.

“We should tell the pack,” Cas said, stepping back. “Emma, you’re going to start showing in a few weeks. Better to control the narrative now than have rumors spreading.”

“Practical as always.”

“Someone has to be.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll start coordinating enhanced security protocols. Nothing obvious–I don’t want to alarm Grace–but I want additional coverage in place before you’re visibly pregnant.”

“Cas-”

“Emma, you’re carrying the second child

Ian Alpha and Luna who’ve built the most successful supernatural integration model

in centuries. During a Council ceasefire

11

we wait to see if an ancient vampire votes to shift eight hundred years of ideology.

He looked back at me. “That baby is going to need protection. Probably less than Grace needed, but still significant.”

“I know.”

“Good. Then let me protect them. Let me do what I failed to do eleven centuries ago.” His voice was quiet but absolute. “Let me be Uncle Cas in every way that matters.”

“Always.” I smiled through tears. “You’re already Uncle Cas. The baby just doesn’t know it yet.”

After he left, I stood in the kitchen processing everything. Cas’s smile when I’d asked if he wanted this. His hand on my stomach, greeting the baby who would know him as family from their first moment of awareness. His immediate shift into protective mode, already planning security protocols for a pregnancy that was barely six weeks along.

This was family. Complicated, chosen, built from vampire deals and desperate phone calls and the stubborn refusal to accept that love followed anyone’s rules.

Grace appeared in the doorway, dragging her stuffed horse. “Mama? Did you tell Uncle Cas about the baby?”

“I told him.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he’s going to be Uncle Cas to both of you. To you and your new sibling.”

“I knew he would.” She said it with complete certainty. “Mama, can we write to Aldric now? I want to tell him I’m going to be a big sister and also ask him what he thinks about baby horses in the parliamentary system.”

“Baby horses in the parliamentary system?”

“Well, they have to start somewhere. They can’t just be full parliament members immediately. There should be junior positions. “She was completely serious. “I think Aldric will understand. He seems like he’d appreciate structured government.”

I laughed genuine, releasing all the emotion I’d been holding. “Okay. We can write to Aldric. Let’s compose it together.” “Excellent.” She settled at the kitchen table with paper and crayons. “Dear Aldric, this is Grace. I have important news. I’m

+15 Bonus

going to be a big sister which means parliamentary structures need age–appropriate representation…”

I watched her write, her six–year–old hand carefully forming letters, explaining governmental philosophy to an eleven–hundred

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