A Gift of Three

  A Shade of Vampire 42: A Gift of Three

  Bella Forrest

  Contents

  Also by Bella Forrest

  1. Hazel

  2. Hazel

  3. Victoria

  4. River

  5. Sofia

  6. Aida

  7. Serena

  8. Serena

  9. Vita

  10. Serena

  11. Field

  12. Vita

  13. Aida

  14. Field

  15. Serena

  16. Vita

  17. Serena

  18. Field

  19. Serena

  20. Serena

  21. Serena

  22. Serena

  23. Serena

  24. Serena

  25. Serena

  26. Serena

  27. Serena

  28. Serena

  29. Serena

  30. Serena

  31. Serena

  32. Serena

  33. Serena

  34. Serena

  35. Serena

  36. Serena

  37. Serena

  38. Serena

  39. Vita

  40. Hazel

  Novak Family Tree (You may need to turn the page to see it!)

  Read more by Bella Forrest

  Also by Bella Forrest

  THE SECRET OF SPELLSHADOW MANOR

  The Secret of Spellshadow Manor (Book 1)

  The Breaker (Book 2)

  THE GENDER GAME

  The Gender Game

  The Gender Secret (Book 2)

  The Gender Lie (Book 3)

  The Gender War (Book 4)

  The Gender Fall (Book 5)

  A SHADE OF VAMPIRE SERIES

  Series 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

  A Shade of Vampire (Book 1)

  A Shade of Blood (Book 2)

  A Castle of Sand (Book 3)

  A Shadow of Light (Book 4)

  A Blaze of Sun (Book 5)

  A Gate of Night (Book 6)

  A Break of Day (Book 7)

  Series 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

  A Shade of Novak (Book 8)

  A Bond of Blood (Book 9)

  A Spell of Time (Book 10)

  A Chase of Prey (Book 11)

  A Shade of Doubt (Book 12)

  A Turn of Tides (Book 13)

  A Dawn of Strength (Book 14)

  A Fall of Secrets (Book 15)

  An End of Night (Book 16)

  Series 3: The Shade continues with a new hero…

  A Wind of Change (Book 17)

  A Trail of Echoes (Book 18)

  A Soldier of Shadows (Book 19)

  A Hero of Realms (Book 20)

  A Vial of Life (Book 21)

  A Fork of Paths (Book 22)

  A Flight of Souls (Book 23)

  A Bridge of Stars (Book 24)

  Series 4: A Clan of Novaks

  A Clan of Novaks (Book 25)

  A World of New (Book 26)

  A Web of Lies (Book 27)

  A Touch of Truth (Book 28)

  An Hour of Need (Book 29)

  A Game of Risk (Book 30)

  A Twist of Fates (Book 31)

  A Day of Glory (Book 32)

  Series 5: A Dawn of Guardians

  A Dawn of Guardians (Book 33)

  A Sword of Chance (Book 34)

  A Race of Trials (Book 35)

  A King of Shadow (Book 36)

  An Empire of Stones (Book 37)

  A Power of Old (Book 38)

  A Rip of Realms (Book 39)

  A Throne of Fire (Book 40)

  A Tide of War (Book 41)

  A SHADE OF DRAGON TRILOGY

  A Shade of Dragon 1

  A Shade of Dragon 2

  A Shade of Dragon 3

  A SHADE OF KIEV TRILOGY

  A Shade of Kiev 1

  A Shade of Kiev 2

  A Shade of Kiev 3

  DETECTIVE ERIN BOND (Adult thriller/mystery)

  Lights, Camera, Gone

  Write, Edit, Kill

  BEAUTIFUL MONSTER DUOLOGY

  Beautiful Monster 1

  Beautiful Monster 2

  For an updated list of Bella’s books, please visit her website: www.bellaforrest.net

  Join Bella’s VIP email list and she’ll personally send you an email reminder as soon as her next book is out. Tap here to sign up: www.forrestbooks.com

  Copyright © 2017 by Bella Forrest

  Cover design inspired by Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations LLC

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Hazel

  I leaned back against my husband’s chest, sighing with contentment as I surveyed the waves gently lapping against the shoreline. Moonbeams danced across the black waters, their rays like shimmering spotlights over The Shade.

  It was almost eight months since we’d returned from Nevertide, and already a lot had changed. I drew my hand across my stomach, my fingertips idly flitting over the bump—it was something I did often, preoccupied with the strange sensation of having my body changed so much by the child growing inside me. Our child.

  It was still early in the pregnancy, but sometimes the baby would give me a small kick, making me aware of its presence, making me feel like a mom, which was mind-blowingly surreal and wonderful all at once. Apparently, supernatural babies showed more early activity than human ones.

  “Are you cold?” Tejus asked me, wrapping his arms around my frame without waiting for a reply. As always, his embrace made me feel secure—like our little family unit, just me, Tejus and the bump, was indestructible.

  “I’m not cold at all.” I smiled. “But this is good.”

  “How’s the bump?”

  I chuckled. “Active today… quite a few little kicks.”

  I didn’t need to turn around to know that my husband was grinning from ear to ear. He was just as excited about the birth as I was, already planning on how to turn a room in our treehouse into a nursery, and studying birthing books like he was preparing for an exam. I’d told him that Corrine would be on hand throughout the delivery and afterwards, along with my mother and my grandmother—there would be plenty of experts—but he wouldn’t listen. The astute, strategic mindset he had once used to organize armies in Nevertide, and lately GASP missions, he now focused on the birth of our child, studying everything in painstaking detail.

  “It’s around week sixteen, that sounds about right,” the ‘expert’ replied.

  I laughed, taking Tejus’s hands in mine. I placed them on my stomach and he rubbed my skin gently over my t-shirt. We stayed like that, in silence, for a while—just listening to the waves, and the crackle of the fire that Tejus had built next to us.

  I started to daydream, picturing what life would be like with our child, what our ‘bump’ might grow to be like, to look like—dark hair was a given, and so was pale skin. Sentry skills were to be expected; this had been confirmed by Corrine. It made me smile. Our half-ghoul child…it was such a weird concept.

  “How was training, by the way?” I asked eventually, coming back to the present.

  Tejus, Ben and my grandpa Derek had been teaching combat skills to some of the newer GASP members. It had been quiet in The Shade of late, and all three men had decided it was the perfect time to hone skills and ensure that all of GASP was more than ready for whatever might lie ahead.

  “Good,” Tejus replied. “Field and his brothers are impressive. They don’t over-rely on their ability to make a quick exit, which is commendable. They’re all highly skilled, and quick to learn. Field in particular. He’s going to make a good leader one day.” He paused, softly kissing the top of my head. “Just like our child will.”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course our child would. With a father like Tejus, I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.

  “Was Benedict okay?” I asked. My brother had been desperate to join in the training for weeks now, but without having become a vampire yet because of his age, my dad and grandpa forbade it. It was too dangerous for a human.

  “Not really.” Tejus sighed. “He hates being left out, but there’s nothing I can do… I think he also misses Yelena.”

  I nodded. I thought that too. Ever since she’d left, Benedict had been difficult. He completely denied it when I inquired if he missed her, but anyone could see that he did. Still, he had Julian and his other friends on the island. I hoped he would get over it soon. I also hoped that Yelena’s parents would let her return in the summer, which wasn’t far away.

  “That reminds me,” I said. “Ruby and Ash are returning soon—just to stay for a few weeks.”

  “What about the brownies?” Tejus smirked.

  “They’re staying, apparently,” I replied, still slightly bemused by the way that had turned out. The brownies had been sent over to Nevertide to help with the clean-up and had actually been helpful—which had come as a surprise to everyone, especially my mother. The creatures had liked Nevertide so much that they’d requested permission to stay and build a small community of their own. Ash and Ruby had been only too happy to oblige. The brownies’ stealing tendencies seemed to have been eradicated by hard labor, and now that Nevertide was up and running again, they both figured it was the more the merrier.

  “Will Ruby and Ash come again for the birth?” Tejus asked.

  I
snorted. “Yes. Apparently, even if the bump is ready to come out, I have to hold on till Ruby gets here, or I’m in deep trouble.”

  “Oh, really?” Tejus replied, an acerbic tone creeping into his voice. “You can tell Ruby that if she puts undue stress on my wife during labor, she’ll be the one in trouble.”

  I laughed, knowing he was only half-joking. My husband’s protective instincts had ratcheted up a couple of notches since news of the pregnancy, and it looked like it would continue at maximum until I had our child.

  Thinking about Ruby and Ash, who still hadn’t undergone their vampire transformation, reminded me that it was something Tejus and I still hadn’t decided on. I knew that it was a certainty for both of us, but I just didn’t know when. If we definitely wanted another child, we’d need to wait several more years, preferably until he or she was past their toddler stage.

  “What are you thinking?” Tejus asked after a pause, and I realized I’d drifted off into my own thoughts again.

  “About us eventually turning into vampires.” Well, sentry-vamps.

  “I’ve been thinking about that too,” he said. “I do think we should delay it, in case we want another.”

  I smiled. “Another bump.”

  “Exactly,” he confirmed.

  I let out a contented sigh. “In any case, when we do eventually turn, we’ll have to do it in shifts, so both of us aren’t consumed by hunger at the same time.”

  Tejus bent further down, gently twisting me sideways so that I faced him. His eyes were dark and hooded, sending shivers running down my spine. His lips pressed against mine, his kiss drawing the breath out of me. I snaked my arms up and around his shoulders, my heart palpitating furiously as my husband held me against him.

  “Hazel, when you’re around, I’m always consumed by hunger.”

  Hazel

  “Where’s Corrine?” Grace asked, after she’d said hello to Victoria and me. We were waiting for the witch in the Sanctuary, enjoying cups of herbal tea that Corrine had delivered before rushing off to attend to my brother.

  “She’ll be in soon. She’s just finishing up with Benedict. He’s managed to scrape both his arms trying to climb one of the redwoods.” I sighed. Poor Benedict. It was a good thing that he was out and about more since we’d returned from Nevertide, rather than pining for a game console, but I wished he’d stop taking such stupid risks.

  “Nothing serious though?” Grace asked.

  “No.” I shook my head. “Nothing serious. How are you feeling?”

  Grace laughed. “Well, hungry pretty much twenty-four-seven, and sleepy…you?” She looked at Victoria and me expectantly.

  “Exactly the same,” Victoria replied, rubbing her belly. “My little half-cub is really kicking up a storm at the moment.”

  “Can I feel?” I asked.

  “Go ahead,” Victoria replied, leaning further back in her chair. “Does anyone mind if I take a short nap?”

  We both smiled knowingly. Sleep was a major luxury for us at the moment. I placed a hand over her stomach, feeling the child’s movements against her skin. It was active.

  The door to the room in the Sanctuary opened, and we all turned, expecting Corrine to walk through, but it was Vivienne, my mom, and my grandma Sofia, grinning broadly at the three of us.

  “How are we all doing?” my mom asked.

  “Not quite beached whales yet, but it won’t be long,” I muttered. She smirked, and the women took a seat. “Especially me.”

  By far my stomach was the largest of the three of us. Of course it was. With a sentry husband, I couldn’t have expected anything different.

  “It’s certainly impressive,” my grandma replied, grinning with the happiness of someone who didn’t need to actually carry around the humongous child.

  Grace’s bump was the smallest. She was convinced it was a girl, that she could feel the energy of her child and that it was definitely feminine.

  “Have you and Tejus tried to mind-meld with your baby yet?” Grace asked me.

  I shook my head. “We did think about it, but it’s probably too early, and we’re worried we might accidentally syphon off it when we make contact. It just feels risky. Neither of us knows enough about the syphoning process to be sure that it won’t affect the baby negatively.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Vivienne agreed.

  Corrine swept in, smiling brightly at us all. We had all been having regular check-ups in the Sanctuary, just so that Corrine could make sure we were all on track. She was being extra-cautious in monitoring us since we had all gotten pregnant at around the same time. As a result, Corrine wanted to make absolutely sure that she wasn’t missing anything, getting to know the development of our children as well as she could before we gave birth. If all three came at once, she wanted to be as prepared as possible.

  “You’re all here, good! Rose, I’ve sent Benedict home, he’s fine. Just a few grazes, nothing I couldn’t fix.”

  “Thanks, Corrine,” my mom said, sighing.

  “So, on to you.” Corrine smiled down at me, placing her hands on my stomach. She left them there for a while, nodding happily.

  “All good here,” she confirmed, and then moved to do the same to Victoria and Grace. She gave the same murmurs of satisfaction at examining both of them, and then turned to face us all, her eyes bright. “I can actually tell you the gender of your children…if you want to know?”

  Vivienne, my mom and grandma looked at us excitedly.

  “Yes,” I replied. “I do. Vicky, Grace?” I turned to the others.

  “I’m positive mine’s a girl, but yes,” Grace confirmed.

  Victoria took longer to make up her mind, glancing thoughtfully at her mother. “I don’t think I will,” she replied eventually. “I want it to be a surprise.”

  “Of course!” Corrine exclaimed, winking at Victoria. “It’s a secret I’ll keep to myself then.”

  “So, is mine a girl?” Grace asked. Corrine nodded. Grace looked down at her stomach, a smile playing on her lips as she protectively ran a hand across her bump. Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink in gratitude and I felt my eyes well up. It was such a lovely moment—I couldn’t wait for Grace’s girl to be born. No doubt she would be just as beautiful and graceful as her mother was.

  “And you, Hazel, you’re having a boy!” Corrine delivered the news with rapture.

  I laughed. It didn’t come as a surprise, judging by my size. The baby inside me was all Tejus, and I couldn’t wait for him to enter the world.

  “Oh, I can’t believe it!” my mom burst out, tears running down her cheeks as she hurriedly tried to wipe them away. “I can’t believe you’re having a baby boy, Hazel! And I’m going to be a grandmother…your father’s going to be so excited.”

  We all hugged and congratulated one another, my grandma looking dizzy with amazement as she came to grips with the idea of being a great-grandmother to the new arrivals.

  “I love to see The Shade expanding.” My grandma sighed happily. “Derek and I wished for nothing more. And even now, it hardly seems real…I never could have guessed how much happiness I had in store for me. I’ve been well and truly blessed.”

  I glanced over at Grace and Victoria. Since we’d first heard the news of our simultaneous pregnancies, we had wondered if the Oracle had something to do with it. On the day of the wedding I had dismissed the Oracle’s strange action—how she had placed her hands on all three of our stomachs, and murmured something about our ‘strong tribe’. But after we’d found out about our pregnancies, her actions had come back to me, and I felt that perhaps we had her to thank for the healthy children we’d been blessed with.

  “What?” my grandmother asked, noticing the way I was looking at Grace and Victoria.

  “It’s something the Oracle did.” I shrugged, explaining what had happened at my and Ruby’s wedding.

  “That is... odd.” My grandmother looked a little worried. She paused to glance at my mother and Vivienne, wetting her lower lip. “Perhaps it was a superstition of her people.”

  I grimaced. Thinking about the ‘people’ of the Oracle didn’t exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy—the Oracle had been half Ancient. Not a pleasant species.

  “Well, if she is the reason we’re all having kids at the same time,” Victoria said with a shrug, “I’m not complaining. It means I have the two of you to keep me company.”

  Grace and I smirked. I was also thankful that I had two others to share this with. Of course, I had my mom and grandma, who knew exactly what they were talking about, but in terms of sharing the day-to-day aches, pains and sleepless nights, Grace and Victoria had been invaluable.