Meadow's Keep (The Gatekeepers Series) by Shanon Grey

to her feet, not letting go until she was steady. “What are you having,” Jasmine grunted, “a whale ?”
    “Some days it feels like it, ” Morgan groaned. She flung her arms around Jasmine. “Oh, to be lean and mean again,” she laughed.
    Jasmine hugged, stepped back , leaned over and stroked the round belly. She cooed a loving comment and planted a kiss, only to feel a foot against her mouth. “I just got kicked,” she exclaimed, thrilled.
    “Welcome to my world,” Morgan said and pushed on her stomach, rearranging the offending limb. “Inside?” She glanced at the building.
    Jasmine nodded. She was glad she and Morgan had not only made their peace but become friends along the way. Something deep inside her told her Dorian and Eryk would need the both of them.
    “Let’s give them a moment, then.”
    Jasmine looked around the garden. Even for fall, it was lush and full. Morgan’s magical touch had brought it back to the opulence Morgan’s birth mother, Melissa, had enjoyed. It was a shame Morgan never got to know Melissa—they were so much alike. Unfortunately, Melissa and Thomas Kilraven had died in a plane crash a little over a year before—which was what had brought Morgan to Rutherford in the first place. Jasmine wondered if Morgan would be married to Dorian had they not died. Jasmine forced herself to stop musing. History didn’t change.
    Morgan led Jasmine toward the beautiful cottage nestled at the back of the garden. The Dutch door stood open. Jasmine loved the cottage and was thrilled that little had changed in it over the last year. Herbs were hanging from the beams in the great room, drying, their fragrance scenting the air. Crystals and stones rested on window sills and the mantel, sparkling. French doors led to the back bedroom and bath. The woven rug rested in its special place in front of those French doors.
    An involuntary shudder passed through Jasmine. “Any activity?” she asked, letting her gaze linger on the old woven rug.
    Morgan ’s gaze followed hers to the rug and she shook her head. “Nothing. Which is making Dorian a very happy man.” Her hands went protectively to her stomach. “Let me go pee and we’ll go check on the boys.” She waddled the walk of a very pregnant woman through the bedroom to the bathroom.
    Jasmine pushed down a twinge of jealousy and called toward the back. “When you have some time, I need to talk with you.”
    Morgan appeared, pulling down her shirt over her pregnancy pants. “I will be so glad NOT to have to use every facility within reach,” she laughed. “Want to talk now?”
    “No . But soon.”
    “ Okay. Let’s go see how the boys are getting along.”
    The y walked back through the garden, arm in arm. Morgan stopped right before they reached the steps. She turned to Jasmine. “How are you doing?”
    “Good,” Jasmine commented and dropped her arm.
    Morgan took her hand. A small, controlled current went from Morgan to Jasmine, almost a challenge. Jasmine laughed. “No fair. I don’t want to risk the babies.”
    Morgan’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”
    Jasmine put her arm around Morgan’s shoulder. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
    Morgan rolled her eyes. “Not if I can help it.”
    “Sweetie, you are way too big for that to be housing just one little Drake. I mean…I know Dorian is special and all…but really.”
    “Well, there’s my lady love,” Dorian’s voice carried through the screen door. He stepped out on the porch to help her into the house.
    “You know, I expect this treatment to continue after the babies are born,” she leaned on his arm and stepped into the kitchen. Her gaze turned from the face of her husband to the man now standing on the other side of the kitchen table. She stopped in her tracks, which left Jasmine on the other side of the open door.
    Jasmine made a small sound in her throat.
    “Oh,” Morgan blushed and stepped forward, extending her hand. “I know I shouldn’t be