Page 31 of Ramiel

Chapter Nineteen

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WYNTER WAS CRANKIERthan usual when she dragged herself out of bed.She knew she’d kept her mate awake with all the tossing and turning she’d done, but she hadn’t been able to get comfortable.“Pregnancy sucks,” she muttered as she laboriously changed into a maternity dress.

Sinai had created the dresses for Zoe and Wynter, so they weren’t as hideous as some maternity clothes could be.They fit over her gigantic belly, so Wyn didn’t feel like she was being squeezed inside her clothing.

She grabbed hold of the aircon unit that was on wheels and rolled it to the dining room.Everyone was already in their seats since she’d gotten up a bit late.Tolas beamed at her in greeting and stood up to pull her chair out for her.“Sit, beloved,” her mate said, then helped her onto her chair.He pushed it in a bit for her, then positioned the aircon directly behind her.

“You look a bit ragged, Wyn,” Grace said sympathetically.“Did you get any sleep at all last night?”

“Sure,” the redhead said in a fake cheerful voice.“If I added up all the minutes I drowsed for, I must have had a full hour of sleep.”

Zoe winced, knowing exactly what her sister had gone through.“It’ll all be over soon,” their matriarch said soothingly.

Wynter looked down at her stomach ruefully.“I hope so, because I can barely reach my plate,” she said.

Vic snickered, which set off the other females.The males exchanged their usual baffled looks, still unable to understand their sense of humor.

Angel was munching on a strip of bacon Eze was holding for her while she was draped over Sin’s shoulder.Her purring sounded loud to their enhanced hearing, but at least she wasn’t yowling for food.

Qi and Koach had altered their routine completely now.They shared breakfast with their family before heading to the hospital in New Jersey.Dr.Forgan treated any problems before they went in search of anyone who needed medical assistance.“Survivors are becoming scarcer around New Jersey now,” Qiana reported.“We’ve been finding more people with black souls than gray souls.”

“I’ve been using mind control to send the humans with gray souls to Pastor Hogan,” Kochab said.“They won’t make it without some assistance.I send the ones with black souls westward if they’re alone or in small groups.”His mind control wasn’t as powerful as his commander’s.

“How many of them were heading to Manhattan to join Oliver Giamano’s militia?”Amaros queried.

“Too many,” his brother said gravely.“Not everyone believes the Mad Prophet’s warnings, or they’re too desperate to care.”

“They’ll get a rude shock when they get processed and find themselves working as slave labor,” Xan said with a scowl.She used cameras at various farms and facilities to spy on the workers.Their conditions were terrible.

“When are you going to carve an animal on Arak’s door, Oak?”Bria asked.Oaklie had engraved owls on hers and Urzra’s bedroom door.She liked the idea that her sister thought they were wise.

Oak contemplated her answer as she chewed and swallowed.“I need to see a person’s spirit before I can decide,” she said.“Little Arak is just a baby.It could be years before I’ll know what sort of animal suits him best.”

A sharp pain deep inside Wynter made her flinch and she hunched over.“What was that, beloved?”Tol asked in alarm.

“It was just a twinge,” his mate said, then resumed eating.

Zoe caught Qi’s eye and they shared a knowing look.“I think I’ll take a day off from searching for survivors and get some intense training in,” the trauma surgeon said casually.

“Koach can spar with us,” Jac said with a grin.“It’s about time I got to beat him again.”