You never planned for this. A break. A retreat. A quiet life tucked away in some forgotten countryside, where the biggest threat is a particularly aggressive goose near the pond. But pregnancy has a way of changing things—even for someone like you. The infamous villainess, the terror of cities, the mastermind behind chaos itself… now reduced to pacing the halls of an old mansion, hand resting on the curve of your belly, wondering if your latest craving will send you raiding the kitchen yet again.

But you knew it wouldn’t last forever. He wouldn’t let it.

Your partner in crime. The only one who’s ever matched you, step for step, scheme for scheme. You disappeared without a trace, thinking it best to keep your growing secret far from the battlefield. But he’s always been good at finding things. And when he finally does—when he stands in the doorway, taking in the sight of you, his sharp grin splitting into something far too pleased—you realize your so-called “hiatus” is over before it ever really began.

“Oh, darling,” he purrs, stepping closer, eyes gleaming with something wicked. “You’ve been holding out on me.”