Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (20 page)

carry an alpha male child. We have no idea what to expect in that case.”

“Do you think that’s what it is, Doc?” I asked, excited at the idea.

“There’s real y no way to know this early. You have to be about four months along before we can see that.”

I had an idea. It would probably anger Levi but I had to try. “What about Raven? He was able to know through my blood that I was pregnant,

before any of you even. Maybe he could tel if I was carrying a male child.”

“Absolutely not!” Levi snapped.

“Why not?”

“One feeding is al he’s gonna get from you!”

“Levi, this is no time to get jealous, this is important.”

“It wasn’t that long ago that he fed off you. It’s not good for him to do it again so soon. Besides, it won’t make any difference in your situation to know the sex of the baby.”

“It’l matter to me. Do you have any idea the pressure that’s on me to have a male child? It would relieve a lot of stress just to know.”

He sighed. “I know, Charity, but I’m not at al open to that idea. We can wait four months.”

“Maybe you can, but I don’t want to wait.”

Doc interjected. “Levi, maybe it would be worth at least talking to Raven just to see if it can even be done.”

“Levi, please.” I begged.

“Let me think about it.”

“Thanks, babe.”

“I didn’t say yes. I said let me think about it.”

“Oh I know,” I said, rol ing my eyes behind his back.

“So,” he said, “is the brain as amazing as they say?”

“Huh?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“Wel , the way you were rol ing your eyes I figured you could see it.”

I slapped his arm. “Har, har. You’re creepy, you know that?”

“In the meantime, Charity,” Doc interrupted, “try eating a lot of protein in your meals. That might be what the baby needs. He’s taking a lot

from you and it’l get worse as the baby grows. Let’s keep an eye on what you’re eating and see if that has any connection as to how you’re feeling.”

“Okay, Doc. Whatever you say.”

Once Levi and I were alone in our room, he sat down beside me and shared his concerns about Raven. “There’s something you don’t know.

Mostly I trust Raven. I mean, he saved your life, and he fought his own kind and helped us win the battle, but what I don’t understand is why? We’re keeping a tight watch on him in the smal chance that he’s spying on us.”

“What? How can you even think that after what he’s given up for us?”

“That’s just it. Why did he do that? It would be so easy for him to give our location to the vampires. They could come in here while we’re

sleeping and slaughter al of us.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“Do you know that for sure?”

“Yes I do.”

“Would you be wil ing to stake al of our lives on it?”

I couldn’t answer yes to that because I couldn’t and wouldn’t risk the pack’s lives on anything that I wasn’t total y certain of. I needed to talk to Raven, and that’s just what I planned to do.

I was restless as I tossed and turned. Levi was sleeping like a rock beside me, a slight snore slipping from his lovely lips. I felt the air shift

around me and glanced up to see a dark figure standing over the bed. Someone grabbed me and covered my mouth as I tried to scream. I

struggled and fought but was unable to make any ground. Whoever had a hold of me was very strong. As my eyes adjusted to the dark I realized

they were vampires, their pale skin almost glowing in the dark. More than one grabbed Levi and started beating him relentlessly. He never had a

chance to recover. As I watched in horror, powerless to stop it—they kil ed him. I screamed as his head fel to the floor beside me. I didn’t even have a chance to respond—someone began biting me across the neck. It was very painful and I cried out in protest but was ignored as the biting

intensified—then my mouth was pried open and a warm liquid began gushing down my throat causing me to gasp and cough right before my world

went cold and dark.

When I woke, I sat up gasping and immediately reached for my teeth and drew in a sharp breath—my canines were long and pointy—I was a

vampire!!

I panicked and glanced around at al the blood covering the bed. I didn’t want to look, but I had to know. Reluctantly I let my eyes scan the

floor beside me—Levi’s head lay there looking up at me, his eyes glowing yel ow.

“Noooo!!!” I woke screaming and covered in sweat.

“Charity!” Levi cal ed to me. “It’s al right. I’m right here.” I continued to scream as he took me in his arms and held me, rocking back and

forth. “It was just a nightmare. I’m here. It’s okay—I’m here.”

I final y began to calm slightly and held onto him as if my life would end if I ever let go.

“Do you want to tel me about it?”

I barely managed to get the words out, stuttering between sobs. “The vampires ssslaughtered al of us in our sssleep, except I watched them

kkil you, then, instead of kkil ing me, they-they changed me.”

He held me tighter. “That wil never happen. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. I should never have told you what I did. Forget I said anything about that.

I wil never let them get their hands on you again. I promise.”

“I-I need a ssshower.” Before he could respond I was up and entering the bathroom. I didn’t want to tel him how much the nightmare had

affected me, but it had rocked me to the center of my very being. Seeing them kil Levi was the worst part. I knew it was a dream, and yet the

emotions were so real. The truth is I couldn’t seem to shake it. As soon as Levi was gone in the morning I planned to go straight to see Raven. I’d find out what his plans were and then I could sleep.

When I final y emerged from the bathroom, some thirty minutes later, Levi was standing at the door in front of me. His eyes held mine with a

look of such love I was powerless to look away. The piercing of his gaze stil held the power to melt away al my thoughts along with fear, worry,

logic, coherency, anger—wel you get the picture. He reached for me, putting his hands into my wet hair, and bent down, covering my lips with his. It reminded me of our very first kiss, sweet and powerful. Instantly my arms were around his neck, pul ing myself closer. It was as if I couldn’t get close enough.

He chuckled into my lips. “My kitten’s eager.”

“Oh, puppy, don’t you know me enough by now? Tonight I’m not a kitten at al , but a minx, and this isn’t eager—this is desperate.”

We both laughed.

Then we were crashing to the bed, turning our laughing into fire as our passion grew. Afterwards we took turns rubbing each other’s back

and seeing if we could make out the images we were drawing on the other’s skin. Final y, I was able to fal asleep to the feel of his hand stroking my hair and the sound of his quiet humming.

In the morning I was in the process of making the bed when I spotted the note on my pil ow. I recognized my journal paper and grimaced. I

was gonna have to have a talk with that husband of mine. I opened the note and al was forgiven.

Good morning my angel,

I enjoyed last night—or should I say this morning. I’m sorry I told you what I did to create your nightmare. Forgive me. I’ll make it up to you
later. I love you and take care of yourself until I see you again.

Yours Eternally,

Fido

I laughed out loud. Only a truly wonderful man would put up with me. Just leaving me notes shows that. He would rather text me, but knowing

I’m a technophobe he leaves notes instead. On occasion I open my journal to start writing only to find a note written from him. I’d be angry that he’s intruding on my privacy if his notes weren’t so sweet.

A technophobe, for those of you who don’t know, is someone who’s afraid of technology. I wouldn’t say that I’m afraid of it real y, more that I

hate it. I have a cel phone, and I use my computer when I have to, but that’s it. I guess I’m becoming obsolete since I enjoy hearing the voices of the people I love on the phone.

I met Levi at the breakfast table. He looked incredibly gorgeous, and my mind was tempted to forgo eating al together, but then my stomach

growled—so loud in fact I had to look around to make sure no one else had heard. Of course everyone pretended not to. “Has Barney brought my

breakfast out yet?”

“Yes, and since when do you eat red meat for breakfast anyway?”

“I was craving it, so I guess my body needs it, right?” I looked down at it and cringed. It was pink and running red. “Is it supposed to look like

that?”

“Wel , Barney said you asked for it to be cooked lightly. I think you should send it back and have him cook it longer. I don’t want you to get

sick.”

“No, that’s okay. I like it this way,” I lied, picking up the ketchup bottle and smothered the steak until it looked acceptable. “There—see it

looks good.”

Levi grimaced.

“Who’s the chef here anyway?” Grandmammy began. “I can cook pancakes better than these. Let me go have a talk with him.”

“No!” Levi and I yel ed in unison, as he made a mad dash, jumping in front of her. “No, Grandmammy, Chef Barney is very particular about

who comes into his kitchen. You’d better leave the cooking to him.”

“Wel , I ain’t never heard a such a thang.” She continued to babble as she exited the room.

I spotted her entering the room minutes later but thought nothing of it, as Levi and I were deep in conversation. Then the ruckus from the

kitchen grabbed our attention. We stood as Grandmammy came strutting out of the kitchen with Barney tight on her heels. He was swinging his

pans again and yel ing at her. Of course we didn’t understand him.

“Leroy, you need to teach this crazy man some manners! He ain’t gonna talk to me like this!”

“Grandmammy, what did you do?”

“I just told him to let me do some a the cookin’, that’s al .”

Levi rol ed his eyes. “It’s best if you let Barney do the cooking. If you have a request, give it to me and I’l see that he gets it. He’s slightly sensitive about his cooking.”

“I can see that. Fine! I’s just tryin’ to help is al !” She waddled off, mumbling something, and I couldn’t help but be amused.

Levi turned to me with a grimace on his face. “If I didn’t have sil y things to deal with I could actual y run this place effectively.”

I smiled. “Oh Levi, you’re doing a wonderful job. This is part of it. How many packs are out there that have al sane people in them? If there

are any I don’t want to be a part of them. Talk about boring.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

After breakfast I waited until Levi went back to his office, sure he’d be too distracted to think of me, before heading to visit Raven.

He answered the door after only one knock. “Hey, Raven, mind if I come in for a minute?”

“I would be honored, my queen.”

“Okay—not that I mind the whole queen thing, but why are you cal ing me that al of sudden?”

“Wel , you are the queen of the werewolves—are you not?”

“Um, I guess that’s one way to put it.”

“Since I am now a pack member that makes you my queen. It is that simple.”

“O-kay. I don’t want to bother you, but I need to ask you something. And I need you to be total y honest with me. Can you do that?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Are you spying on us in order to tel the vampires where we are so they can kil us while we’re sleeping?”

He laughed. “If you would have given me the opportunity only a few months ago I would have jumped on it. But things are different now.”

“How so?”

“Wel , I did not know you then.”

“And what do I have to do with anything exactly?”

“You have everything to do with everything.”

“I think you better start explaining, Raven,” I said, eyebrow raised and hands on hips.

“Wel , there was a time where, as the youngest, I was the most feared of my brothers. I spent the first hundred years very angry; angry with

what I had become, angry at the fact that I lost Rose—and my mother. I was brutal at times. But once I met you that al changed. It was like I had a piece of my Rose again. I know you look nothing like her, but your personalities are almost the same. After I kidnapped you and you almost died, I

knew then that I would never be happy again unless you were alive. I know that sounds strange, but it is al of her I have to hold on to. When that vampire was about to kil you I had a choice to make. I could let you die and live without any remembrance of Rose, or I could kil the one thing that was threatening to take that away.”

“But those vampires that died were your friends, right?”

“Not exactly. I have never real y had any friends. Most of the ones who died were from other covens. Griffin was somehow able to convince

them to join him. Not very many of the other covens even liked my brother, Steven. Most were happy he was kil ed. He was the oldest of us and very

ruthless.”

“Raven, I have to know—are you in love with me?”

“My feelings for you are hard to explain. I am not sure I even understand them myself. I can only truly love Rose. But I do have strong feelings

for you and for some reason I need to be close to you. I am not real y sure why.”

I picked up his only photograph of Rose, sitting on his dresser and studied it. She was very beautiful, and she looked happy. She had big,

beautiful, brown eyes. I remember seeing this picture at his home when he kidnapped me. He had told me then how much I reminded him of his

long lost love. I was sad for him.

“Thank you for tel ing me this. Before I go I have one more question. If you feed on me, would you be able to tel if I’m carrying a male or a

female child?”

“I suppose that might be possible, but I promised Levi I would not feed on you again.”

“I understand. However, if Levi asked you to, would you?”

He smirked. “It would be my pleasure.”