Free Baby's Got Bite by Candace Havens

me?”
    After a moment, Mikala motioned for them to follow her into the large tent behind the stall. “Dule, I need you to watch the front for me a bit.” The black cat at Mikala’s feet transformed into a young, twenty-something male with earrings and gauges in his ears. Dressed in leather, he looked like someone who might hang out in the hipster clubs in Deep Ellum.
    Bennett shook herself. “Uh. That cat just turned into a man. I might feel sicker than I thought,” she said as she sat on the large floor pillows.
    Linc chuckled, relieved. If she was joking around, she’d be fine. “You didn’t imagine it. Dule is a shifter.”
    Linc glanced up at Mikala, who gave him a knowing eyebrow lift. Crap. Whatever Bennett’s heritage, it was going to be bad news for him. As one of his oldest friends, she’d always had his back, which made her concern all the more troubling. She wouldn’t hesitate unless it was bad. Really bad.
    Whatever it was, he could handle it. He was going to have a son. A son . He was a lone wolf with no clan. And even in the best of circumstances, his kind had a difficult time bearing young. He’d given up trying to find a mate long ago.
    Bennett’s shoulders trembled. He wasn’t sure if she was cold or frightened. There was a neat stack of warm blankets near the pillows, and Linc grabbed one and draped it over her. Beside the sitting area was a small hotplate with a steaming kettle, and a table.
    Mikala handed them each a cup of tea. Bennett peeked up from under her hair with questioning eyes, as if she wasn’t sure whether she should drink it or not.
    “It won’t hurt the baby, but it’ll help your nerves and nausea. I’ll send some home with you. Carrying a wolf’s child is strenuous work. You’ll need to be able to keep your food down.”
    “Thank you,” Bennett said.
    “Calm your thoughts, wolf. I need to focus, and I can’t do that if your emotions are all over the place.”
    “It’s all right,” Linc said.
    Bennett frowned at him. “Are you nervous, too? Because as much as I want to know, I’m scared about what she’s about to say.”
    “Drink the tea, both of you,” Mikala ordered.
    The hot drink warmed him from the inside out. He closed his eyes and sighed. Anxiety dropped off his shoulders. The witch’s brew was a calming potion.
    He opened his eyes again to watch Bennett. She took a deep breath. It was working on her as well. Good. She’d need to stay calm. He scooted closer and put an arm around her shoulders.
    “Tell me first what you know of your mother and father’s families.”
    Bennett shook her head. “Next to nothing. My mom and I were close, but she didn’t have any relatives. She told me my father died before I was born.”
    “What was your mother’s name?” Mikala asked.
    “May,” Bennett answered.
    The witch frowned. “You said you were close. Is she gone from this plane?”
    Bennett nodded.
    “Give me your hand.”
    She glanced at Linc, and then held out her hand.
    “Think about your mother. Picture her in a happy moment. One of your best memories of her.”
    Linc chewed his lip as she closed her eyes. Even with the tea, what if the stress of this was too much for her and the babe?
    Mikala gasped and screeched. She released Bennett and bent over, clutching her stomach.
    Linc reached toward Mikala. “Are you all right?”
    “Don’t touch me,” she groaned. “She’s bound by powerful magic. I wasn’t expecting that—it’s very well hidden. When I touched her hand earlier, it was easy to see into her and the child’s minds. But anything about her mother is protected.”
    That wasn’t good news. Powerful magic, magic even a witch couldn’t see, meant only one thing.
    Bennett was at least part fae.
    His enemy.
    And a woman he was sworn to protect.

Chapter Eight
    “I think I feel sick,” Bennett said as they walked through the lobby of the apartment building.
    The news that she was part fae had sent her brain into the Twilight Zone .