"Life isn't fair."

"I'll make you tell me..."

CHAPTER 32.

It started out innocently enough.

Jasmine watched as one of the big symbionts fed off a sick stag. The living metal partially enveloped the snorting animal, calming its prey with a release of endorphins as it sucked the putrefaction out of the stag's foot. The process took only moments. When it was finished, the symbiont released the stag and turned back into a cycle.

That was when she had her great idea. "I wonder if one of these big guys could turn into a hang glider?" she mused out loud, watching the snorting stag prance with restored good health.

It narrowed its eyes at them and stamped a cloven hoof in warning, swinging its spiked tail. She and Leo moved away from the pen.

"A hang glider?" Leo inquired, blond brows raised in inquiry behind her dark glasses.

"Sure. I've always wanted to try it." Jasmine patted the silver cycle as it glided to a stop beside them. "I'll bet that you could, couldn't you, big guy?" she crooned, stroking the cycle's *tank'. The symbiont rippled in approval of the caress.

Leo stroked her jaw with the backs of her fingers. It was a mark of her adventurous spirit that she didn't even bat an eye at the suggestion. "Hm. We could try it." She glanced around at their escort, but men and Haunt were standing back far enough that their speech was private. "We'll need a high point to launch from, though. The symbiont will have to take a run at it solo first, to test the waters."

"How about the top of the citadel? I've been up there once. It's pretty high, and we could go up in the lift," Jasmine suggested, tilting her head back to study the rocky cliff that made up the citadel.

Soon they were on top of the citadel, looking out over the forest and the sea. For a moment they were silent as fingers of wind teased their hair. It slid over feminine skin, sighing at the pleasure. It was a smooth steady wind off the ocean, and carried the wild scent of salt tang and green forest.

Leo called her symbiont over and explained via touch what she wanted to do. The symbiont responded, but instead of the hang glider, it took on the form of a giant silver bat. Spreading its enormous wings, it leapt fearlessly from the precipice. Awestruck, its audience watched as it banked into the wind and soared.

Ribbons of light reflected off of its smooth silver surface as it flew in front of the sun, becoming a black shadow limned by fire. It banked again, returned to the citadel, and slowed just enough to catch Leo and Jasmine in ribbons of silver. The ribbons retracted, lacing them to its body as it glided past. Then they were out over the ocean, the terrified cries of their bodyguards quickly lost in the rush of wind.

It was scary, but also exhilarating as they swooped and soared, at one with the sky. The symbiont dived with dizzying speed, spreading its wings to arch upward again ten feet from the ocean waves. "Are you controlling this thing?" Jasmine called over the wind, her stomach somewhere in her throat.

"How could I? I don't know how to fly!"

Jasmine's eyes got big at that pronouncement. "In that case-"

"Done!" Leo answered, and indeed they were swooping back to the roof of the citadel and a pale bunch of men and Haunt.

Keilor was one of them.

For long seconds he said nothing, simply looked her over, seeking injuries. Finding none, he took her arm in a firm grasp, saying nothing as he ushered her to the lift. His trembling hand said it all.

Jasmine cringed and dragged her heels. Opening her mouth seemed like a supremely foolish thing to do at that moment.

She did it anyway. "Would it help if I said I was sorry?"

"It's a start." That was the extent of their conversation until they entered their rooms. He released her and paced in a circle, then sat on the arm of an overstuffed chair.

"Where do I even start with you?" he demanded wearily. He ran his hand through his hair, uncharacteristically rattled.

Jasmine cringed with guilt. She had this coming, and she deserved every word. Instead of words, he stood up and turned his back on her, going over to stare out the window.

He stood there for a long time.

He didn't come to bed that night or the next.

Jayems told her that he was working with the volti, but nothing else. He wouldn't discuss her problems with her, either. "Some things should stay between a Haunt and wife. I can do nothing for you." He refused to leave the room when she went to visit Rihlia, effectively blocking that outlet.

Raziel wouldn't discuss it. "It's not my place. Speak with your husband."

Isfael remained in Haunt, and she didn't know enough sign language to bother him. Fallon was typically absent, Mathin was gone, and Leo was unavailable.

About the only ones who wouldn't run from her were Casanova and Keilor's family.

"I don't understand him," Jasmine confessed miserably to the obelisk from the overturned bucket that she was using for a stool. It said nothing, but it made her feel better to talk, even to the long dead and unknowing. "I mean, I wasn't doing anything really dangerous."

The column stared back.

"Ok, so maybe it was, a little, but why would he be so upset about it now? I've done stuff like this before." Yeah, but nobody cared then, and you weren't pregnant. She winced at that bit of inner wisdom and rubbed her face. This exploring the self stuff was not fun.

In truth, she didn't want to think about being pregnant. She wasn't ready, and it was scary. A part of her thought if she put it from her mind and went on like always, there would be no change, and she could forget, but it wasn't working. That morning she'd gotten up and found herself unable to button her pants and the illusions had shattered. She was pregnant and getting more so every day.

It was one thing to want a baby in the nebulous future and another to have one tomorrow. In the future she had time to become worthy of the task, to become a better person. Today the poor kid would be stuck with her as she was, and she wasn't ready!

She got up to pace, enumerating her failings. She'd never changed a diaper, and she knew nothing about nursing. Babies got sick a lot, didn't they? Needed shots? Clothes? A college fund? What was she doing out here, moping? There were a thousand details to see to, things to get ready for the kid's arrival, and here she was sitting around, talking to a rock!

With a new sense of purpose, she collected the bucket she'd brought the jasmine flowers in and hurried from the garden.

She had a lot to do.

Luck was with her. The first person she asked, her maid, had grandchildren, and yes, she was willing to let Jasmine visit them with her.

Her maid lived in a nice little cottage carved into the arm of the mountain, and her grandsons, aged seven and nine, adored Raziel and her Haunt escort. It was the four-day-old baby girl, though, that interested Jasmine the most.

"Her mother stepped out to do some shopping," the maid explained when Jasmine arrived. She picked the blanket-wrapped bundle up out of its crib and pulled back a corner of the quilt, exposing the sleeping face of the baby girl.

"She's so small," Jasmine said in consternation as she stared at the little one.

Her maid laughed. "She'll grow. Would you like to hold her?"

Jasmine's eyes widened. "Oh, no! I'd probably break her."

The woman snorted and handed the baby to her anyway. "Nonsense. Simply support her head and her little bottom and you'll get on just fine. Yes, there. Now have a seat in the rocker and make yourself comfortable while I go and make certain the boys aren't pestering your Haunt."

A stab of panic flashed through Jasmine at being left sole caretaker of the child, but in seconds she was alone with the babe. The little one slept on, unconcerned. Taking courage from that, Jasmine nudged back the blanket and examined the infant's hands, marveling at their small size. Her fingers were perfect, the nails exact replicas of an adult's, but so very tiny!

At that moment, it finally hit her. That was what her own baby was like, growing inside of her. Wonder blossomed in her heart, and a fierce protectiveness. Was that what had scared Keilor so, the thought that she was risking his baby so heedlessly? Shaken, Jasmine closed her eyes, feeling lower than low. It wasn't just her body anymore, was it? She was sharing it with a little one like this, whether she was ready or not. Everything she did from here on out was going to affect it.

Near tears, she carefully laid the little one back in her crib and found her hostess, thanked her for letting her hold the child and quickly took her leave.

She had a lot of thinking to do.

Keilor came home that night, smelling of sultry forest and wild air. He showed up just as she was getting ready for a solitary dinner, striding in with his hair loose and a volti at his heels.

Jasmine's eyes got wide and she scrambled up on her chair, kneeling on the cushion as she peered over the chair back. Casanova ran under the table, hiding behind her.

A half smile turned up the corner of her husband's mouth. "She won't eat either of you. Terza is here to protect you."

Not a bit reassured, Jasmine peered at the huge creature that watched her with smirking and far too-intelligent amusement. "Uh, what happened to Raziel and Isfael, and the rest of the bodyguard?" she croaked through a dry throat. "They were doing a pretty good job, I thought."

His eyes cooled. "Terza has offered to take their place. They will no longer be needed."

Terza yawned, exposing a mouthful of fangs, and licked her chops. She closed her jaws shut with a snap and a small snarl. Her far too-human eyes mocked her new charge's fear.

Jasmine swallowed. They understood each other.

Like some enormous house pet, Terza stretched out by the fireplace, roasting herself at its heat. A spicy wild smell wafted from her coat to permeate the room, scenting the air with exotic danger. The same scent clung to Keilor as he moved closer with an innately sensual grace.

Jasmine's eyes dilated, and her body grew languid and weak, hungry for him. "What did you do?" she whispered as passion fogged her brain. Was this what he felt around her?

Lightning zinged from his touch, scorching her. "You're not the only one who can inspire passion, wife."

Far into the night, he proved his claim, and Jasmine reveled in his possession.

Morning came too quickly, and with it, responsibilities.

"I'm sorry, Keilor." Jasmine rolled up on one elbow and regarded her doubtful bedmate. "I have been too reckless lately, and...." She gritted her teeth, made herself say it. "...selfish. You don't need to sic the volti on me. I've already decided to mend my ways."

"She stays," he said, flinging the mussed covers off and getting up. Sun-lit dust motes danced around his lean body with distracting glee. "Are you hungry? I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon."

Expelling a breath of frustration, Jasmine got up and threw on her clothes. "You're determined not to trust me, aren't you? All right, fine. I'll just have to prove it to you."

"I'll welcome your efforts," he said in the grim tone of a man who was hearing an empty promise. "What would you like for breakfast?"

The rest of the morning didn't go any better. Jasmine asked for his opinions regarding the baby crib and gear, and he politely offered her his thoughts, giving her his full attention before returning to his paperwork. When she mentioned going to see if Leo would like to go shopping, he didn't even look up from the document he was examining.

"She would not," he answered, and his tone was final.

"I beg your pardon?"

He laid aside his pen. "You are restricted from seeing her without Jackson or myself present until after your pregnancy. Then you may do as you wish."

Jasmine put her hands on her hips. "Are you telling me I'm grounded?" she asked, almost more amused than annoyed. "Aren't I a little old for that?"

"I could lock you in your room."

Tilting her head, she mocked, "Ah, well, glad to see you're not completely lost to reason. I would stay away from her big symbiont, you know."

"I know you will," he answered, implacable. He stroked the end of his pen against his fingers, waiting for her to lose her temper.

It was a very close thing, but she mastered it, stuffing it away until she could deal with it in private. "All right. I'll see you later."

He raised a brow, mildly surprised when she closed the door without slamming it, and that she only frowned a little at Terza, who padded after her.

Sitting back in his leather desk chair, Keilor contemplated the door. His brief absence while he mastered his temper seemed to have chastened his recalcitrant wife more than he would have expected. For all he knew, she might even mean her words of repentance.

Unfortunately, he doubted it. Whatever the reasons for her carelessness, he'd had enough nerve-wracking experiences lately that he was taking no more chances. Hence, Terza. Not only would no one dare to cross a volti in her prime, but a volti was also one creature he never had to worry about Jasmine charming into complacency.

He had another reason for accepting her offer of assistance, however. Yesande was on the move, and had even dared to brush the borders of volti-patrolled forest, tempting death with reckless presumption. Raziel and Isfael were needed elsewhere, and since he couldn't be at Jasmine's side constantly, Terza was the next best thing.

Of course, the best thing would be for Jasmine to exercise some caution and common sense, but since that was unlikely to happen...

He was a little encouraged by her visit to see her maid's grandbaby. Raziel had said she'd looked shaken, so perhaps she was finally beginning to realize the seriousness of her responsibilities. Or not.

With an oath, he grabbed another paper and got back to work. Time would tell him soon enough whether or not she'd really changed.

CHAPTER 33.

"What is that?"

Jasmine glanced sourly at her silent shadow, who'd followed her into the gardens where Rihlia had been taken to get some air. Hellish eyes full of golden fire stared back at her from the shade of a tall hedge. "My newest nanny, Terza the Terrible. Why, don't you like her?"

A low, rumbling growl came from the beast, and Rihlia's eyes widened. "I don't think you ought to bait her, Jas."

She sniffed. "Keilor should have thought of that before he sicced her on me. After all, he's the one so concerned about me taking risks. It would serve him right if he found her snacking on me." Remorse stabbed her the moment she'd said it, and her friend's horrified expression didn't help.

"I didn't mean that," she sighed. "Just ignore me. You know how I get when I'm mad about something, and this infernal bitchiness I've felt ever since I got pregnant-no offense," she said, widening her eyes with arch disrespect at the volti, "is driving me crazy. And now Keilor's all but said that he doesn't trust me to be careful of the baby..."

"Can you blame him?" Rihlia broke in. "I'd have killed you if I'd been him."

Jasmine winced. Close friendships had their drawbacks.

"You don't take those kind of risks with a baby, Jas, ever."

"I wasn't thinking of it like that; not then. It was only yesterday that I finally realized that I wasn't just pregnant, I was carrying a baby."

Rihlia stared at her. "I just know I'm going to be fascinated by this explanation."

Jasmine leaned forward. "The day before last I had a condition. Yesterday it finally dawned on me that my condition was a baby."