After sleeping with Freya Selwyn, August had gotten a little more absent from society - partially because of legal work, and partially because he didn't know how to deal with the guilt. It was strange, that this was what he would feel guilty over - especially after the high-stakes guilt (and vampirism) that involvement with Lyra had brought. Freya was married, was the thing - she was married and just because August did not like her husband did not make her any less married. Still, they had slept together, and just because August had not felt bad about it at the time didn't mean - well. He should feel bad about it. He should avoid her.

So while it was too conspicuous to not go to the Prewett Christmas Party - especially given the likely lack of events between the Christmas party and February - he was determined to avoid Freya when he was there. If they avoided each other as much as possible, then it was like it had never happened at all.

Of course, that was the idea; then he saw her from across the room and, more specifically, saw the swell of her stomach. It was like sound stopped around him; August made some form of excuse, and made his way through the crowd, with the required small talk. When he was ten or so feet away, he stopped, sipped his drink - looked again.

She looked pregnant.

She looked pregnant and - he didn't know what to think, yet, because it was as if he was hearing white noise.

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