She grinned from ear to ear. “You’re pregnant. Can I throw your baby shower? Pleeeeease.”
I looked at her in horror and then turned back to Declan, finding his emerald green eyes locked on my expression.
“I … I …” I shook my head. “I’m not pregnant.” The denial was immediate.
But even as I said it aloud, I wasn’t sure. I mean, I hadn’t taken a pregnancy test or anything, and sure I’d been late, but that wasn’t unusual for me. I couldn’t be pregnant. Could I?”
The reality of it slammed into me like a ton of bricks and I gasped. “I’m pregnant?”
Declan nodded slowly, his face still a mask.
“But…”
“And you’re almost three months along.” Melody chirped behind me.
Declan glowered at her. “You’re not helping.”
Three months. I was three months pregnant?! How the hell had I blown through my first trimester without ever realizing I was freaking pregnant?
“Wait a minute. How can I be pregnant? I don’t feel pregnant.”
Although now that I thought about it, I had been more tired than usual. I”d assumed that was because I’d been healing.
I looked down at my flat stomach and something like wonder filled up inside of me. I was pregnant. Oh-my-freaking-god!
I pressed both hands to my stomach and met Declan’s gaze again.
“Are you okay?” he asked, covering my hands with one of his own. “Is this okay with you?”
My vision blurred but I nodded. “Yeah, I’m … ” I thought about it for a minute as the realization we were going to have a baby settled in. “I … I think I’m excited.”
A smile broke across Declan’s face and relief poured down through our bond. “You are? Really?”
I nodded and happy tears fell down my cheeks. “Yeah, I think I really am.”
He lifted me in his arms and spun me around the office, squeezing me tight as Melody cheered behind us.
When Declan finally set me down again, I stretched up on my tiptoes and kissed him. I kissed him with everything I had. All of my love and my fear, but also all of my hope.
We were going to have a kid. It was scary as hell but I couldn’t remember ever wanting anything more than this little peanut growing inside of me.
When I finally pulled away, Declan’s gaze all but glowed, gold flecks dancing in his eyes.
“We’re having a baby,” he said, his words full of unspoken emotion.
“We’re having a baby,” I whispered back.
“And I’m throwing the baby shower!” Melody exclaimed.
Loved Aria’s story?
Sign up for my newsletter
for exclusive bonus
scenes and news.
Acknowledgments
This book is the fruit of many sleepless nights, exhausting days, and if I’m being entirely honest, way too many things on my plate.
I started Forged by Fire while I was pregnant with my third kiddo. (His names Steel by the way) and I thankfully finished it once he made his long awaited debut.
Thank you so much for being patient with me. I hope you feel Forged by Fire was worth the wait.
To my editor, Megan. Thank you so much for putting up with my sporadic chucks of manuscript. You’re a rockstar and your eye for detail is amazing.
To my beta readers Haley Rodriguez, Shannon Reynolds, and Anna Morales Peck, thank you so much for beta reading the first 2/3 of the book and then dealing with how long it took me to finish writing the damn thing after that.
Amy Halter. You are A-MAZ-ING! I don’t know what I would have done without you. Your words gave me so much confidence and really helped shape this story.
To my husband and kiddos, thank you for letting me pursue this journey. I love you guys so much.
And to all of the bloggers and readers who support me—you guys are everything! Without you, I wouldn’t get to do what I love. Your support means the absolute world to me.
xx
Danielle
Also by Danielle Annett
Blood & Magic
Cursed by Fire
Kissed by Fire
Burned by Fire
Branded by Fire
Consumed by Fire
Forged by Fire
About the Author
Danielle Annett is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She likes to write about kick butt heroines in volatile settings and apologizes in advance for all of the cliffhangers in your future. She can’t help herself. But she promises that they’ll all be worth it in the end.
Sign up and get notified when Danielle has a new release: https://www.subscribepage.com/y7i0o9
Stay in Touch
www.Danielle-Annett.com
And before you go
Please consider leaving an honest review.
Reviews are like giving your favorite author a hug and we really love hugs!
Missing James?
Be sure to join my newsletter so you can be alerted when James’ story goes live!
