She tried to shake her head, causing the room to whirl around her as a result. Her stomach churned with discomfort, something that rarely happened to Seraphim, if ever. “I… no.” It wasn’t blood loss. But the sensation reminded her—

“She’s pregnant,” a familiar voice announced. Energy stirred as Gabriel appeared before them, his expression bored and his arms folded. He eyed her the way he always did—without feeling. “Hello, Mother.”

Caro sighed, relieved. “Gabriel.”

Sethios’s arms turned brittle beneath her.

“Pregnant?” he asked, voice low and radiating an emotion she couldn’t define. “Caro is pregnant?”

Her brow furrowed. She’d been so distracted by Gabriel finally arriving that she hadn’t really heard his announcement. “That’s…” Impossible clung to her throat, refusing to grace the air.

Because that’s exactly how she felt.

Weak.

Tender.

Light-headed.

Pale.

Those were all symptoms she experienced during her pregnancy with Gabriel. But how had he known that?

“Explain.” The word came out far raspier than she intended.

“As I assume you already know how it happened, then you’re likely asking me to explain how I know.” Gabriel leaned against the wall, crossing one ankle over the other. “It was entirely impractical for the council to send you on this mission when my skills make me the better candidate. So I investigated—which is what took me so long to respond to your summons—and I learned that the fated line suggested you for this assignment.”

“Fated line?” Sethios repeated.

“Seers,” Caro whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. He had remained standing, his arms firm around her as he held her effortlessly in the air. She’d have found it strange at any other time, but her body currently appreciated the comfort.

“The ones you mentioned who all have the ability of foresight like Skye?”

She started to nod, but the motion did little for her equilibrium. “Yes.”

“And they foresaw Caro’s pregnancy?” He directed that question at her son.

“Yes. With your child.” Gabriel pushed off the wall and stalked toward them. “I thought it had to be wrong, that there was no way my mother would fall pregnant by an abomination, but apparently, she did.”

He almost sounded disgusted, something that ruffled her feathers. But she didn’t have the energy to defend her actions. Another spasm rocked her, forcing her to bury her head in Sethios’s shoulder to keep from crying out.

This was just like her first pregnancy—the sudden sickness that hit her out of nowhere.

Damn. If things continued as they had the first time, then she’d be out of commission for, well, she didn’t know.

Sethios’s genetics weren’t standard. Human gestational periods were nine months long, while Seraphim were closer to two.

“Oh God…” She cradled her stomach.

Caro had an unknown essence inside of her.

An abomination by Seraphim standards.

Her heart sped up at the thought.

They would kill her, or at the very least, the being growing inside of her.

Gabriel could be here now to carry out the order…