Page 158 of Vengeful Guard

I smile. “Kael?”

“Are you going to have my baby?” he whispers, and all I can do is nod as the water cascades down my back.

Kael grabs me so tightly I think my ribs might crack.

“You’re pregnant.” He beams at me. “When did this happen?”

I snicker. “Well, there are many times it could have happened, but from my symptoms, I think it was either right before the incident or right after I came home from the hospital.”

“We have to get you to a doctor.” Kael frowns. “Right away.”

“I’ve already made an appointment for Monday. We’ll get to see how far along I am; hopefully, hear the heartbeat.”

“I hope it’s a girl,” he murmurs, grinning widely, tears welling in his eyes.

I giggle. “Our baby has parents who are going to love them, and that’s all that matters. Boy or girl.”

“You’re right.” He whoops and kisses me passionately. “This calls for a celebration.”

I groan. “I can’t even have champagne, Kael, how am I supposed to celebrate?”

“I'll order all your favorite foods. Spare no expense.”

He’s more excited that I thought he’d be, but I know what I want to do first.

“I want to visit my ma.”

Kael tilts his head. “Your mother?”

“I always said when I was pregnant, I’d go to her gravestone first. Tell her. I want her to be the first to know in my family.”

“That's an amazing idea, princess.”

Kael hurries to wash off, and so do I, and in about half an hour, we’re heading to Ma’s grave.

When we arrive, there are fresh daises on the headstone.

I smile. “Da's still giving you flowers even when he can’t bring them himself, huh?”

Kael hangs back, letting me have my moment.

“It’s finally happened, Ma. I found my prince. I’ve got my happy ending.”

The wind blows, as if she’s caressing my cheek.

“I'm pregnant, Ma,” I whisper, and the wind blows again, and I swear I can feel her next to me.

I stay for a while, sitting down and chatting as if she’s sitting right next to me, as if she could talk back. It makes me feel better.

When my soul is lighter, I stand up, brushing my dress off and heading to Kael. “Now we have to tell the rest of the family.”

“I hope Declan doesn’t hit me again,” Kael whines, and I bark out a laugh.

Da’s in his room, in bed as he has been since we brought him home from the hospital a week after I came home. He should still be there, but I guess this is to show others he’s not as weak as he really is.

There’s still a lot of recovery ahead of him, and he’s still too weak to even get out of bed or stay awake too long. We came at a good time, if we are catching him awake.

Marisol brings him a sandwich, and I can’t help but notice how they look at each other, but I don’t comment on it.

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