Page 49 of Fated Moons
It smelled like Ali, Trask’s offspring. Which meant it was a witch or wizard fairy, depending on gender.
And the scent was wicked strong for only having been conceived last night.
Holy shit. He was going to be a father.
He was not ready for that.
“What are you thinking?” She propped up on her elbow. “And don’t say something dorky or sweet. You were deep in thought about something. Something that made your forehead crinkle.” She scrunched her face. “You do that when something either troubles you or you don’t know what to make of something.”
“Ah, you know me so well already.” He took her hand and kissed the inside of her palm before easing from the bed andstepping into his jeans. “I can’t lie to you, but I’m afraid to tell you.”
“Were you thinking about the Legend of the Fated Moons?” She placed her hand on her stomach. “And what might be in here?”
He nodded.
“Yeah. I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Kind of hard not to when we just did it again without using birth control.”
She wrapped her body in the sheet. “Even I didn’t think about that until it was over. I’m not a wolf. I don’t mate the same way. I should be aware of the fact I’m not using birth control.” She leaned against the headboard.
He ran his fingers through his hair. He should just tell her about the baby. It was the right thing to do. But he couldn’t. She didn’t want to deal with it yet. “My understanding is when it comes to these pairings and fated mates, procreation is instinctual. It’s not in our nature to think about it.”
“You’re not making me feel any better.” She raised her hand. “I know last night I was a little more accepting of the idea.” She tapped her finger to her chest. “And part of me is. But all of this changes my entire life. Being a part of the royal family was hard enough. If the legend is true, this will be even harder.”
“One thing at a time, and right now, we need to figure out who cast that spell on me because now that we’re out as a couple, they will want to stop us from making that legend true.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I need to check with those who have been guarding us. Rest. I’ll bring you coffee in a little bit.”
“Okay.” She palmed his cheek. “Let me know if anything happens or if there is any news.”
He stepped from the master bedroom and headed down the short hallway to the kitchen. One of the reasons he’d bought thehouse was partly because the master had been on the main floor and had sliders that went out to a small patio near the pool.
He filled the pot with water and poured it in after scooping out double the amount of coffee, knowing that Amanda was good for at least one full-sized mug.
He stood in front of the coffee machine with his mug in his hand as if this would hurry up the process of the water filtering through the grinds. He needed a shot of caffeine so he could clear the matting cobwebs from his brain.
Love and mating were one and the same. Intellectually, he understood that.
Emotionally, he comprehended that had happened.
Amanda was real.
And she was his.
He’d cared for a few women over the years. However, not once had he ever dreamed about them having a future that included love, laughter, and children.
And there was the rub.
Because of his father, he’d never wanted kids. He’d put that thought right out of his head. If any woman had brought it up, that was his cue to run.
It was not that he didn’t like babies; he loved them with all their innocent curiosity. He knew he was nothing like his father, but still, he worried that he’d be a horrible father and somehow continue the legacy his father had left him with.
But there was no going back.
He was going to be a father.
And of a powerful creature that was going to help change the world.
That had been predicted. Written in the stars. It was more than legend. It was a reality. One he couldn’t run from even if he wanted to.
