Page 57 of Urzra

He hadn’t tripped down the stairs quite like Lachial thought.Jazmine had been worn down to the point where she was about to give up.It had taken a herculean effort for her to call up a shadow from the top of the stairs when he’d entered with the tray.It had looped around his ankles and had been just enough for him to lose his balance.

“I knew I’d die all alone in that basement, but it would have been worth it just to see that pervert dead,” she said in satisfaction.

But she hadn’t died like she’d expected.Lachial had found her and now she was in a new prison.This time, she wasn’t the helpless victim her captors thought she was.As long as she kept up the pretense that she was under her sire’s control and Rahab’s coercion was still working, she would be able to hone her talents until she was ready to slaughter them all.

Chapter Thirty-Six

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AFEW DAYS HAD PASSEDsince the Mad Prophet had turned up so suddenly.Zoe felt a bit miffed at having another oracle living in their base, but she kept her insecurities to herself.“Why do I even have the ability to see into the future if Queegly’s talent is so much stronger than mine?”she murmured to Arakiel.

Her son wriggled on her shoulder as she gently patted his back to get him to burp.She’d just finished feeding him after eating dinner herself not long ago.A tiny burp came from the baby and Zo cradled him in her arms.“I love you so much, little man,” she whispered.His black eyes were locked on her face as he studied her intently.He waved his little fists like he was trying to fight against the slumber that was trying to claim him.

Grace quietly entered the nursery and came to a stop next to the rocking chair.“He’s grown so much,” she marveled.“Wynter is due to pop out her kid soon.”

“Time flies,” Zoe said, then rose to her feet.She put Arakiel in his crib, then hesitated.

“What’s up, Zo?”the kid whispered, sensing her bestie wanted to talk to her privately.

The seer walked over to shut the door, then they huddled together.“Do I look less attractive now that I’m a mom?”Zoe asked, hating how vulnerable she both felt and sounded.

“Nope,” Grace refuted.“You’re even more gorgeous now, mama bear.”

“Then why won’t Amaros touch me?”Zoe asked in confusion and hurt.

Far wiser than her years, the teen guided her matriarch over to the rocking chair, then knelt in front of her.Taking one of Zo’s hands, she looked up at the older cambion.“You look exactly the same as the day I met you, except for your huge boobs,” she said solemnly.

Zoe snickered and Grace giggled along with her.“I just don’t get why my mate doesn’t want me now,” Zoe said as despair welled up again.She was masking her emotions from the bond she had with her mate and son so they didn’t feel how upset she was.

“Amaros wants you, that’s obvious to all of us,” her tiny friend said.“Some guys get a bit weird when their females have their first baby.They’re not sure whether you want them to sleep with you or if you need more time to recover.Amaros has never been in a real relationship before.I’m sure he’s just waiting for you to give him the green light.”

Zoe’s face flamed red at that thought.“I’m not really the type to make the first move,” she confessed.“What am I supposed to say?Hey, Amaros, take me to bed and rock my world?”

They cracked up again, laughing as quietly as they could.Grace checked to make sure no one had moved closer, then put some thought into it.“I could talk to Amaros, if you like,” she suggested, but her best friend shook her head in horror.“Okay, that’s out,” the kid said.“How about we go with a subtle tactic that I’m sure will give him the hint?”

“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it,” Zo vowed, trusting Grace implicitly.