Free Rourk (Keegan's Chronicles Series Book 4) by Julia Crane Page A

done.”
    “K’ay. Thanks.” Keegan clicked off the phone and settled into bed under the covers. She placed her arms at her sides, and closed her eyes. Almost immediately, she felt her body tingled with her mother’s energy. Her stomach felt hot as the energy sank into her skin. Her mom called them hot spots. If you could feel heat, that was where your body needed it the most. With her eyes closed she dozed off, and the phone vibrated on the end table startling her awake.
    “Thanks, Mom. I feel better already.”
    “Keegan, you don’t have the flu. You’re carrying an elfin.”
    “What!??” Suddenly wide awake, Keegan pushed herself up to a sitting position, and nearly tumbled off the bed. Luckily she managed to grasp ahold of the nightstand and steady herself. “That can’t be true. I’m too young. We use protection. I’m not ready to be a mom.” The words came out in a rush and ran together. She was scrambling to process the information. Everything in her screamed no way, but she knew her mom could not be mistaken. She was pregnant.
    “Well, it failed. There is a little one growing inside of you. So get used to the idea.” There was a pause on the other end. “I’m going to be a nanny. I’m too young…”
    “Not helping, Mom,” Keegan cried and plopped back down on the bed.
    Her mom laughed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This is wonderful news. You and Rourk will be amazing parents. Wait till I tell your father he’s going to be a poppa. I’m going to have a word with your brother. How that boy keeps so many secrets, I’ll never know. I guess that’s why he’s a seer and we are not.”
    “Yeah, some warning would have been nice.” Keegan paused, maybe that’s why he was being so strange during the visit. “Tell him I miss him.”
    “He knows that. Okay, Keegan, I need to go and tell everyone. This is the biggest news our family has had in quite sometime.”
    “How many weeks am I?”
    “Nine weeks.”
    Keegan did the math in her head. That was just about when Rourk had left for Afghanistan. She smiled, and wondered if the baby had been conceived the day he left. Her heart hurt when she thought about how much time had passed since then. But that meant he was that much closer to returning. In four weeks, she would be back in his strong arms where she belonged.
    “Ok, I’m going to tell Rourk. Love you, Mom.”
    “Love you too.”
    “Mom?”
    “Yes?”
    She placed her hand on her stomach. “I’m scared. What if I’m a bad mother?”
    Emerald chuckled on the other end. “You’ll be a wonderful mom. Your heart is huge, and you have Rourk. It’s not easy, but you’ll learn as you go.”
    Keegan bit the inside of her lip and nodded. “Thanks, Mom. I’m sure the shock will wear off soon. ’Bye.”
    “Keegan. One more thing, get some ginger and chew on it or put it in a tea. It will help with the nausea. Call Anna— she’ll know what to do.”
    “Okay.” She hung up and closed her eyes, and with her minds eye thought of Rourk. At first she saw nothing, but then slowly, the darkness cleared away and she saw his face. He was in uniform and running in the dark. His face was streaked with black. His pale grey eyes looked cold and intense. He looked fierce. Like the warrior he was.
    Keegan, I can’t talk. Are you okay? The words echoed in her mind.
    She didn’t know if she should just spit it out or wait till they could talk. I’m okay. Come to me when you are able.
    The blackness returned, and she crawled back under the blankets. She was surprised Rourk hadn’t blocked her since he was obviously working. He’d probably sensed her need to speak to him. She knew he was a warrior and that’s what he did, but she really didn’t like to think about it. The thought of losing Rourk was too much to bear. She always put it out of her mind. Seeing him running like that had made her uneasy to say the least. She almost wished he hadn’t allowed her to see even if it was just a