A disturbance.
I stretch, the sheets wrapped around me carry Stoneheart’s scent. I’m in our bedroom. It gives me pause.
The bathhouse wasn’t a dream, was it? But as my sleepiness fades, the aches of my body bloom. My smile is full of secret delight as I press a pillow against my face.
Last night had been perfect. I sigh, but the off sensation that woke me is still there, begging for attention.
I take stock of my magic. Is there some upset occurring around me that my instincts are warning me about? But the bedroom is peaceful, my wards humming sweetly against my senses.
I frown and turn my searching inward. It doesn’t take long to realized what’s different.
I gasp, sitting up so fast that the world spins.
Low in my belly there’s something new.
Oh, holy shit. I’m pregnant.
Oh shit. My eyes go wide. Panic like I’ve never known makes it hard to breathe.
No—this is a good thing!I tell myself. This is exactly what we wanted, and now it’s happened. The people in the territory will feel more secure in our place here.
“You are welcome here and planned,” I say to the tiny disturbance, trying to calm myself when the self pep-talk doesn’t cut it.
I’m going to be a mom.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. What have I done? I laugh at the ridiculousness.
It’swhat havewedone?
“Don’t worry,” I say to it. “I’m going to get my head on straight really soon and stop freaking out. I just need to tap someone else in.”
I need support.
The pain in my heart is sharp when I realize I can’t call Mom about this. Not with how we left everything.
I told her I can do this. I can’t go to her the moment I start flailing.
I need Stoneheart to give me a grounding kiss in triumph, and Ben to whisper that I’m going to be great at this because I only got so far as what an heir would mean for the politics of the situation and the idea of having something of my own.
I did not really consider that we were bringing a whole other person into this.
I take deep breaths and throw on some comfy leggings and a T-shirt instead of the protective shield of a sleek appearance.
The people in this penthouse have started to feel like family, and I’m in a hurry. I don’t need to don armor up here.
The kitchen is empty. What time is it? I shake my head, unwilling to be distracted from my destination.
I’m surprised I haven’t run into Ben yet, but the best place to find Stoneheart if he’s in is the library.
Silas waits in front of the closed library doors, his tail twitching in…worry?
I learned that the sound proofing will stop people from being able to listen to discussions and blocks large noises, but if you lean in close, you can tell when the room is occupied by the soft murmur of speaking.
But when I lean in the voices sound angry.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“My lady,” Silas jumps back. “Barnes and Stoneheart seem to be in an unscheduled meeting. I’m just waiting until the coast is clear.”