Bonus Chapter Three
Imogen
Bianca nods her head excitedly, though I still have my doubts about her intentions. Yet, I no longer fear her. I know I can take her down and I can tell she knows I will make good on my word to incinerate her. My father clears his throat, disturbing our little tiff.
“Well, isn’t this nice? See? You can get along,” he says, making me glare at him.
I know she is his daughter and has an attachment to her, but I don’t, so I don’t feel an ounce of guilt at threatening her. Growing up, I always wanted a sibling. I suppose this is their way of cursing me with that wish. Bianca holds the dress out to me, and I take it from her. She stands up, making me eye her suspiciously as she glides over to me, ever so graceful with her movements.
“Come, you should try it on.” She says, and my father comes over, holding out his arms for Thaddeus. I hand him over and roll my eyes. This is ridiculous, I know already it will fit. My body couldn’t have changed any in a couple of months.
Deciding to play nice, I walk up to my room, Bianca’s eyes sparkling when I don’t kick her out. She looks around at the photos on the walls of my little family. I place the dress on a hanger before undoing the zip and looking at it. I feel Bianca looking at it behind me.
“It’s beautiful.” She says, running her fingers over the fabric before slipping the dress off its hanger. I strip my clothes off, leaving me in just my bra and panties.
“God, you have great boobs.” She states, making me chuckle as she helps me step into the dress. The fabric feels smooth against my skin, the dress flowing to my feet.
“Can you zip me up?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at her and she nods, stepping closer and I feel her slowly tug the zip up before it catches. She gently tugs on the zipper, but it doesn’t budge, and I feel the tightness around my abdomen.
“I can’t zip any further. Are you sure you gave her the right measurements?”
“Yes, she even checked them herself,” I tell her, and Bianca tries to zip it up once more.
“Argh, it won’t go any higher.” She curses.
“Shit, what the hell am I going to do? I don’t have time to get it altered.” I really like that dress too.
“I can fix it,” she offers, and I turn to look at her skeptically.
“What? I am being serious. My mother was a seamstress. I can do this. Let me do this for you.” She says, looking at me hopefully. Suddenly, the door bursts open and Theo walks in.
Bianca curses, ushering him out of the room and his face matches the same shock I had when I first laid eyes on her in our house. “What are you doing here?” I hear him ask, pushing past her.
“Theo, it’s fine.” I tell him when I feel he is about to lose his cool through the bond.
“Out, it is bad luck to see her in her dress before the wedding!” Bianca says, pushing him back out the door and closing it. I can feel him waiting outside, ready to jump her.
Bianca helps me out of the dress and helps me place it back in the bag before doing it up.
“Are you sure you can fix it?” I ask her, worried.
“Positive. We will just retake your measurements, and since I don’t need sleep I will have plenty of time.” She says, draping the bag over her arm.
I nod, but will go and buy a backup just in case, even though I know no other dress will be as nice as that one, but better to have a dress than show up in jeans and shirt. I reluctantly let her take it and Theo knocks on the door, obviously listening in.
“You can come in,” I tell him, and he waltzes in but this time with Tobias.
“Why are you home?” I ask, curious about why they left work early.
“Astral is coming over, she wants to make sure the magic is still secure in your bracelet.” I nod, Astral comes every couple of months to check the bracelet strength to hold the magic.
Thaddeus’ magic isn’t like anything we have encountered before, and sometimes I can feel its darkness around us like a dark cloud, trying to get out, though it hasn’t actually escaped. We have noticed it reacts to Thaddeus’ moods, my bracelet sometimes becomes burning hot against my wrist.
“Well, isn’t this a strange thing to come home to, our ex-wife helping our future wife?” Tobias says, shaking his head.
“I don’t mean any harm; I just want to make amends,” Bianca tells them. Theo and Tobias are unsure as their feelings hit me through the bond.
“Well, Astral is downstairs,” Theo says, and we follow him downstairs.
Astral is sitting on the couch and as soon as I step into the room, I watch as her aura glows around her and her eyes turn white, reading the atmosphere and everyone’s aura’s. She smiles softly before getting up and embracing me. I hug her tightly and Thaddeus runs out, having escaped my father, grabbing her legs. She smiles fondly at him, brushing his hair from his face as he beams his bright smile up at her.
We all sit down, and my father brings out a tray full of coffees, handing each of us our cups. I watch as Thaddeus climbs up on the couch and sits beside Astral, playing with the charms on her bangle.
“You’re looking well, excited for the big day or are you getting cold feet?” She says, smiling at the horrified looks on Theo and Tobias’s faces.
“Nope, they are toasty warm.” I reassure them, and Theo sighs. I know she is having a dig at them. I hand her the bracelet, and Thaddeus instantly tries to reach for it, but she pulls it away; the stones light up at his closeness. She checks it for any cracks, and I watch its aura flicker as it reacts to Thaddeus being so close to it, like it is calling out to him.
She hands it back, frowning. “It is weird. I feel it growing stronger every time I hold it. Do you notice it too?” She asks, and I nod. I haven’t told Theo or Tobias. I didn’t want them to worry, but I have noticed the darkness sometimes. It makes me feel cold and hollow.
“We might have to put a binding spell on it soon, just to make sure it can’t get out, and reinforce the stone.” I nod in agreement.
“I see you’re doing well, Bianca.” Bianca looks at her nervously before smiling, but says nothing.
Bianca has angered many people with what she has done. It will take a while before she earns any trust from anyone, but I suppose to gain it, I have to give it to her.
“Well, I best be off. I will have a meeting with the coven to figure out our next steps.” She says, hopping up and drinking the rest of her coffee before placing it on the tray. Tobias and Theo follow me out to say goodbye, and I watch as she hops in the car. She winds down the window as she starts the car.
“Oh, and congratulations!” She yells to us, a devious smile on her lips, making my brows furrow in confusion.
“On what?” I ask.
“You’re pregnant, dear. How hadn’t you noticed?” I gasp at her words, shocked, and I feel Tobias’ and Theo’s shock through the bond, before I feel their excitement flood me.
“What? How?” I ask, confused.
“Well, when two or in your case three people have sex…” I cut her off, waving my hand at her, I know how babies are made. She chuckles softly. “You’re not a full vampire yet, Imogen. You’re still half witch, I can’t wait to meet her,” she says, before laughing while she winds the window up. I watch as she drives off. I know better than to doubt her, I’m more shocked I didn’t pick it up myself. But it does explain how my dress doesn’t fit.
Turning around, Theo can’t hide his excitement as he jumps up and down, Tobias is side-eyeing him, like he has gone mad. “We’re pregnant,” I say, letting the words sink in.