The Hind was still making a terrible rattling noise and there was dark smoke trailing behind us. The dragon was banking hard, wings spread wide, and for a moment it was illuminated in a brilliant spotlight for the entire world to see. I didn’t know how complete the evacuation was, but somebody was going to have to some explaining to do. “Get us back to the quarantine line. Let me off and then the rest of you, run like hell.”

Julie looked at me like I was stupid. “That’s not going to happen.”

“You can’t come with me.”

“Really? And why the hell not?”

I really wish there was a better way to handle this…I screwed up my courage and dropped the bomb. “You’re pregnant.”

“Wha—wait…What?” She really hadn’t seen that coming. “I can’t be. How?”

I couldn’t resist. Near-death experiences bring out my inner smartass. “When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much—”

“Aargh! No. But I’m not…How do you know? Wait…Earl…That ass.”

“Yay! Babies,” said Skippy as way of congratulations.

Tanya agreed. “Aw, cute.”

Julie went white as a sheet, and not just at the prospect of impending motherhood. She was the smart one in our relationship. “It might be hereditary…” She’d realized what I had been thinking. “The Nachtmar called you chosen. He talked about breaking into your mind and enslaving you.”

“Right. That whole bloodline thing. I don’t know, but the poor bastard that’s stuck as its current host is sort of like me. Will this kid be like me too?” I was some sort of cosmic intersection of weirdness, and Julie was all sorts of cursed. I wouldn’t take odds on this one. “Maybe. I hope not, but we’re not going to find out. This thing is not going to possess my kid. No way. Screw that.”

“I can’t leave you—” but even as she said it, she knew she was wrong. Julie bit her lip and nodded. It was a lot of information to process.

“I’ll hit the ground running.” That was wishful thinking. I’d hit the ground limping. “I’ll find Mosh and Holly. They were with the host last. I want the Nachtmar to intercept me. I want both halves of it, him, whatever, in the same place.”

“And then what?”

“I talk them into surrendering.”

“Talk?”

“Yeah. Pretty much.”

“You? Talk? Oh, we’re screwed.”

“Thanks, hon.” I checked out the door. The dragon had got turned around was heading back up the Strip. I wouldn’t have much time at all. My leg was throbbing, and since I hadn’t walked on it for a bit, it was probably going to be extra stiff. “I’ll go as fast as I can.”