so why'd you have to rain on my parade?

       

I'm shaking my head. I'm locking the gates.

The news of the horrid situation that her poor Kit had gotten himself in to, combined with the even temporary inability to control her powers resulted in a rather snippy reply to Troy. After all, Samantha hardly felt as though the shadows that had curled around her were badass. Sure, Samantha was incredibly able to utilize those powers to protect herself under normal situations, and she had no doubt that if she was truly in any danger she would be able to use them again. But the fact that heightened emotions even slightly influenced her abilities made her feel quite like the young girl who had just come to Sacrosanct, who hid in an unfurnished apartment because the emotions she felt were paralyzing. Samantha was well aware of Kit's soft face as she snapped at his brother, and even more aware of the way that Troy instantly backed down from his previous comment. Even as he spoke his apology, Samantha held no anger or irritation for him, rather just the lingering chill of goosebumps on her arm.

"No, I'm okay. I just... the baby seems to have an ability to influence my abilities just a little," She stated as she moved across the room, stepping into the arms of the one person that so easily brought her that comfort she desired in times like this. Just his proximity was enough to make her body relax, and for a moment she entirely forgot about Troy just across the room as she felt Kit's warm breath upon the nape of her neck. As much as she was excited by being able to bring the Marks boys back together finally, she couldn't deny that she was eager for when Troy would return home to his family and she could have her Kit all to herself again. How desperately she wanted to curl up in his arms and- her attention on this sweet moment between them momentarily cut off by the insistence from Troy that he would like to go and look at the location where Kit had been held. No, no, absolutely not.

The young woman's gaze was sharp as she eyed both of the faerie men standing before her, the command that followed holding every bit the sharpness of the fae queen that she used to be. For a moment, the look in Troy's eyes made her wonder if she had lost all pull she had once held over him, if he would drag himself into danger along with the man she was falling in love with. Samantha was not above using his daughter to guilt him into staying safe, and was close to opening her mouth to say just that thing when the softness appeared once more on Troy's features, his stubbornness relenting. "Dark Hunters would be the ones that should be investigating this. That I'll gladly allow." She promised. "But please, neither of you near there. I don't want to worry about either of you, and I'd bet your family would feel the same way, Troy."

It was the mention of the person that she'd lost that seemed to remind Troy of exactly what she had gone through, and the thing that had ultimately driven her away from Sacrosanct in the first place. The sad look in his eyes was all the confirmation that Samantha needed that he remembered how lost and alone she had felt after Aiden. It had been one of the lowest points in her life, one when she had considered how much she didn't want to be immortal and to watch the ones she loved continuously slip out of her life. But things were so different now. So different, even, that her relationship with Aiden felt far away. Sure, there had been happiness with the Were King, but it was nothing compared to the comfort she felt whenever she stepped into Kit's arms or felt their child stirring within her. But it was Kit's words that brought her attention out of those thoughts, the two simple words that slipped into his sentence and made her heart flip. My love. He'd called her my love.

Once more, the young woman found herself wholly wanting to push Troy out the door so she could fully explain just how deeply her feelings went for Kit in privacy. And yet this reunion was one that should be celebrated and allowed to take its time. For now, Samantha waved the talk of revenge away with a quick flick of her wrist, urging that they would have dinner and talk. Samantha noticed the way both men smiled at her, and for the first time she could see the similarities in their smiles. "I don't mind cooking," Samantha protested, even as she settled back on the couch beside Kit, her phone in hand as she flipped through it. "But they just added one of my favorite Chinese restaurants to Doordash, and I think I'm addicted." She gave Troy a sly smile. "It's Happy Dragon, I used to order from there all the time, I'm sure you remember." Even as she continued to consider that she could cook, the young woman was happily punching in her own order before she passed the phone along to Troy.

The instant she'd handed the phone off to Troy to input his own order, Samantha turned to Kit. Easily, Samantha slipped her fingers between Kit's own, drawing his attention to her. How easily she could feel his contentment and his joy at being near her and Troy. This was their family. How she wanted to go back to the young girl that had just come to Sacrosanct and tell her that things would be so much better for her. And yet, even as she thought about it, there was so little she would have changed. She had found her confidence working at the burlesque, had loved Aiden even if he wasn't her one true love. She had met Dorian and Troy and Vhalla. All people she considered vastly important to her. And she'd ended up here, with a man that she loved in a way that felt as if it would consume her.

"I... I wanted to tell you something," She murmured, a smile growing on her features. "I've been having this feeling, and it just keeps getting stronger and stronger. But Kit, I'm pretty sure we're having a girl. We're going to have a daughter."

this is why we can't have nice things

       

Samantha Cassidy