Yep..

Update.

Umm, yeah..

Enjoy!

***************

J.O.R.D.A.N.

I paced my bedroom, attempting to keep myself calm as possible. I breath in and out, my hands on my stomach.

There's a life in there! A small little life. The child is inside me, growing. I felt a wave of affection rush over me for the little unborn baby. But who could possibly be the father? I don't even remember the guy I went home with.

Is that bad?

I want to burst into tears and go curl up in my mom's arms, tell her everything. That I was pregnant, expecting a baby.

But then she'd be excited. She would think it's Davids, and call him and congratulate him on my pregnancy. She'd be pleased to know I was finally making a family of my own.

 I place my head in my hands and sit on my bed, taking long, deep breaths. I think I just need to calm down and relax, because this can not be good for the baby or for me.

I remove my face from my hands, looking up to see Faye standing in the doorway. She had a concerned look on her face, and in her hand was one of the boxes to a pregnancy test. 

I open my mouth to speak, but she shakes her head and walks over to me. She sets the box on my side table and sits beside me. "How long?" she asked.

"How long what?" I ask, not looking at her.

"How long," she repeated patiently, "have you been pregnant?"

"A couple weeks, I think," I tell her, looking at my feet, "I only just found out yesterday."

"That's great." She smiles happily. "Does David know?"

Dread filled me, and I was now sweating. "I..No..I mean..It's not his."

Faye froze, then turned her head to me. I looked at her, but her eyes were blank. "Not his?"

"No." I shook my head. "We broke up a month ago."

Faye's eyes widened. "What? Seriously?"

"Yes." I nodded, shrugging. "We just weren't..I don't know, working out?"

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Because," I start, "it's not a big deal. We just didn't work out, but we're friends now. We prefer friends over..dating, I guess."

"Then how did you get pregnant?"

I bit my lip, looking down at my stomach. "A couple weeks ago I was out at a club."

Faye blinked, but didn't look surprised.

"You aren't shocked?" I ask.

"Jordan," she says sternly, "you're twenty-two years old. I think it's safe to say you can do anything you want."

I gave her a weak smile, which she returned.

"I was there with Jen," I continue, "We-"

"With Jen?" Faye choked, her throat bobbing as if she might cry. "The night she..you know?"

I close my eyes, guilt falling on me like a ton of boulders. "Yes, I was with her the night she died."

"Did you tell Higgins?"

"No."

She widened her eyes. "Jordan! This could be evidence for her murder!"

"Shh," I whispered, glancing around. "I know, I know. But I want to tell our parents first."

She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, sorry. Continue."

"I was really drunk," I tell my sister, running my hands through my hair. "I remember telling Jen that I broke up with David and that I had a ma-"

Faye stared. "Had a what?"

I bit my lip. Shit, what do I tell her? 

I can't tell her I have a demon mate, obviously. Because then she'd freak out and worry about me, and she has enough to worry about with Jackson, the wedding, the fact that Witches and Warlocks use dragon blood for magic.

I can't do that to my sister, it would make her more stressed. More than she already is, anyways.  But if she found out, not from me, then she'd be so pissed. She hates what's going on, with Jen's death, the gossip, wedding, and everything else.

I might as well tell her.

"Faye." I turn to her. "Can you keep a secret?"

Her eyes flashed with uncertainty and her face scrunched up with confusion. "I..I guess so..Depending on what it is."

I shook my head. "Do you promise?"

She hesitated, and she didn't answer right away, so I assumed she was thinking it over. "Okay," she finally says, "I'll keep a secret."

"When I was kidnapped," I started, "Livius had summoned a demon."

Her jaw dropped. "Isn't that-"

"Against the Counsel's Laws?" I finish dryly. "Yes, it is. But that didn't stop him."

She nods, but didn't speak so I did. "The demon.." I laugh bitterly. "Was what some would call a mate."

Faye nodded. "Leto mentioned mates. Like, with werewolves."

I nod, letting out a shaky sigh. "Yes, it's like, another half of them. Kind of how we're bonded with our dragons. Except we don't..like, date our dragons." I snort.

"Right," she drawled out slowly, eyes narrowed. "So..what is it you're saying?"

"The demon claimed I was his mate," I tell her. "And it's true."

"How do you know?"

"I felt the sparks. I was attracted to him," I say, trying not to shudder with self-disgust.

"You've got to tell mom and dad," Faye blurted.

"No!" I reach out, putting my hands on her shoulders. "I can't, Faye. If I do, they might be in danger! You might be in danger just by knowing! Arch, he's not like other demons okay?"

"What do you mean, by danger, and not like other demons?"

"I'm afraid he might hurt you guys if he knows you're my family," I said, fear rising up as I glance around. "And he's different because..he seems..nice."

"I don't think he would hurt us, Jordan," Faye says gently, though her eyes were gleaming with worry. "If he knows how much we mean to you, I don't think he'd lay a finger on us."

"The girl is very right," chuckled a familiar voice out of nowhere.

Faye jumped and my heartbeat quickened. I jumped up, pulling my sister behind me.

"Show yourself," I demanded him.

"Very well." A swirl of black smoke appeared in the room and then faded, replaced by Arch.

"Hello, Jordan." Arch gives a crooked smile.

"Arch," I say coolly, pulling my sister closer to me. 

"I can practically feel the girls fear dripping off her like rainwater," Arch says casually, his eyes holding amusement and curiosity. "I thought she'd be braver."

Faye tensed and when I glanced back at her, she looked like she wanted to lash out at him. "Don't," I murmur to her. She huffed and relaxed.

"Don't worry." He waved her off. "I don't take people like you to Hell. I take the bad people."

"Stop," I snap at Arch, glaring at him. "If you're trying to-"

Arch chuckled, flashing his white teeth. "I won't hurt her, mine. She's important to you, I see, so she's not in danger."

I felt Faye relax a little. "And my parents?" I ask.

"Safe," he told me, bored. "Along with most of your Hover. Some of them have been..naughty."

His shining blood red eyes gleamed, which I found very sexy..No! Stop looking at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Faye spoke up.

Arch crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. His eyes didn't travel anywhere but Faye's face as he replied, "It means there's some very bad people here, Faye."

"How do you-"

"I'm a demon," he interrupted her, "which means I know a lot of things."

I narrowed my eyes, "My parents-"

"Won't be harmed, nor told of this situation," Arch continued on, smirking. "Don't worry, I don't think Faye will say anything."

Faye growled, glaring at him. "Who are you to speak to me as if you control what I do or don't?"

I glance at Faye. "You aren't planning on telling them, are you?"

Faye waved her arms around her. "For God's sake, no!"

Arch hissed low, scowling.

"What's with you?" I ask.

"Do not mention that name in front of me," he snapped at her, his red eyes flaring.

Faye gulped and I storm forward, pushing Arch. "Don't use the demon mojo on my sister, asshole!"

He looked unfazed. He blinked at me then turned to Faye, bowing a little. "Forgive me. I did not mean to be rude."

Faye hesitates, then nods. "Sorry..for using his name?"

"I am not entitled to have anything to do with Him," Arch says blankly. "Therefor, it is hard to her His name."

"Oh."

"I didn't know that." I raise an eyebrow at him.

"There's a lot you don't know about demons." He met my gaze, his nose twitching. He then froze, sniffing the air once more. "You are with child?"

I froze, placing a protective hand on my stomach and glancing down at it. "Yes."

His eyes clouded with possessiveness and he pulled me to him. 

"Um." I glance at Faye, ready for Arch's rage about me carrying a child that isn't his..

She nods silently and leaves the room.

Arch looks down at me, but rage nor anger gleamed in his eyes. It was pride. 

"You conceived?" he asked.

"Er.. I..yeah?" I stutter, confused.

He pulled me to him again, nuzzling my neck. "Our child will be perfect."

"Our?" I froze, pulling away from him. He looked shocked that I had left his arms. "Do you mean-"

He grins. "I see you don't remember that night very well."

I blushed, looking away. "No, I don't."

"Well," he starts, but when realization hit me like a ton of rocks I look up at him, snarling, "I slept with you?"

He grinned. "Yep. And don't worry, you wanted to."

"You-" I wanted to scream at him. My anger was only increasing by the minute. "You mother-freaking asshole! You knew I was drunk! You stupid son of a-"

He was in front of me in a flash, growling. He grabbed my arms, not tightly, but more gently. "I do not accept the foul language you use against me."

I poked his chest, snarling, "Well it isn't up to you! You knew I was drunk, you asshole! And yet you still let me..Urgh! That is not how you earn my respect and love!"

Arch frowned, studying me. "I regret our first time being when you were intoxicated, I do, Mine. But I do not regret the outcome of it." He glanced down at my stomach.

"Do you only care about the outcome?" I ask coldly, suddenly feeling weak. "What about me?" 

"I did not expect you to become pregnant," he tells me, eyes scanning my face. "That was just by luck. Do not tell me you don't feel the pull, Mine."

I close my eyes. "I do feel it, Arch. But I-"

"But what, Mine?" he asked gently. "You do not have feelings for me?"

"Is it just the mate bond that makes you have feelings for me?" I ask tiredly.

He stared at me as if thinking about it, then shook his head. "No. I am very lucky to have met you, Mine. I am lucky to have you. And the baby."

I smile weakly at him. Maybe, just maybe, we can make this work.

*************

OMFG YES! LONGER CHAPTER! :D

Haha, till next time, beauties!

-Grace xx