Page 76 of Lycan King's Claim
Today, I intend to absorb every sensation—the floral fragrance, the warmth of our entwined fingers. However, the opulence around us dims in comparison to the love I see reflected in his eyes. I feel as though I'm coming home. Xandros, my pillar of strength, draws a breath as we're told to exchange our vows.
“Sienna,” his voice quivers with emotion, “Today, you become my wife and my Queen. My promise is to cherish, shield, love and adore you for all our days.”
Tears blur my vision as I respond, “Xandros, you’ve been my refuge, my safe haven, my love. As your wife, my pledge is to always stand by you, as your partner and confidante. My heart is forever yours.”
And with that, Xandros and I placed each other's rings on our fingers. When we kiss for the first time, as husband and wife, it's as if my body becomes a conductor for electricity. My nerves tingle, every hair follicle stands at attention, every part of me feels awake for the first time in my life.
Cheers and applause erupt. And once we pull away, my eyes go to Carina and Tasha in their light purple dresses who discreetly wipe away their tears.
Amidst the clinking glasses and jubilant shouts, Xandros raises our clasped hands triumphantly, and I revel in the sheer euphoria of the moment. We're enveloped in warm embraces and heartfelt felicitations. Carina approaches, “You two are a match made in heaven,” she whispers. Xandros is momentarily ensnared by boisterous friends. From a distance, I admire his infectious laughter when he eventually makes his way over to me with mischief in his eyes, and asks, “Shall we?”
“Lead the way,” I reply, feeling a rush of exhilaration. The world fades as we dance. My head rests on his shoulder, his heart's rhythm a song in itself, one that beats to the tune of mine.
As we dance, I can feel the heat emanating from his body through his suit. His cologne lingers in my nostrils and stirs something deep inside me. Xandros moves with grace, each step an effortless display of our connection, as if we have been dancing together for years on end.
For a moment, everything around us fades away until it’s just him and me swaying to the music. The way he looks at me tells a story of love that needs no words; those amber eyes of his pierce right through my soul with their intensity.
The song ends too soon, before it does, I take one last look at him in all his glory—this perfect man beside me whom I’ve loved for so long that time has now lost its meaning.
44
TWO MONTHS LATER
The cold, hard floor beneath my bare feet sends a shiver up my spine as I race to the bathroom. My stomach churns with nausea, and although it has been a part of my morning ritual for the past week, today feels different.
A little voice inside me whispers that perhaps it's time to confirm my suspicions. My heart pounds with anticipation as I reach into the cabinet, pulling out a pregnancy test.
“Here goes nothing,” I murmur, fingers trembling slightly as I rip open the packaging. The air is heavy with tension as I wait for the results, watching the seconds tick by on the ornate grandfather clock in the corner of the room. In the silence, the sound of my own breaths seems deafening.
A beep from the test snaps me back to reality, and my gaze fixates on the tiny display. Positive. The moment the word registers in my mind, a tidal wave of emotions sweeps over me—joy, excitement, and a hint of anxiety. I clutch the test tightly, feeling the edges bite into my palm, grounding me amidst the whirlwind of my thoughts.
“Xandros,” I breathe, his name a prayer on my lips. I imagine how he'll react, his eyes lighting up with delight and his strong arms wrapping me in a tight embrace. Still, there's a nagging fear deep down, that somehow this happiness might slip through our fingers like shattered glass. I know he fears me getting pregnant, worried it will be too much on my body, that I would mystically turn back to my former vessel self.
“Sienna, are you alright?” Xandros' deep voice calls from outside the bathroom door, concern lacing his words. I hadn't realized I had been standing here for so long in front of the mirror, lost in my thoughts. “Y-yes,” I stammer, trying to regain my composure.
“I just… I need a moment.”
“Take your time, love,” he reassures me gently.
“I'll be in my office if you need me, Mom has Anna.” As the door closes softly behind him, I clutch the test in my hands, my heart swelling with a mixture of hope and anxiousness about how he'll react. Our lives are about to change once more, and the thought both exhilarates and terrifies me. The way Xandros freaked out when the condom broke scares me.
As I envision our growing family, there's a sense of fulfillment that settles deep within my soul. For this new life, this second chance. Knowing I had no choice but to tell him after what felt like forever, I finally built up the courage to confront him and let him know.
A whirlwind of emotions surges through me as I clutch the positive pregnancy test, my heart pounding with both elation and anxiety. The castle's cold stone walls seem to close in on me, the closer I get. With shaking hands, I tuck the test into the pocket of my dress and rush from the room, my footsteps echoing through the dimly lit halls. The artwork lining the walls dances with shadows, their intricate patterns weaving stories of love, loss, and battles fought long ago and King's and Queen's of centuries prior. My heart races in time with each resounding step, a whirlpool of thoughts and fears swirling within my mind.
I finally come upon the heavy wooden door leading to his office. A faint glow spills from beneath it, casting a warm, golden light across the cold floor. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation that lies ahead, praying it won't become an argument based on his fear, and gently push the door open.
The room is filled with the scent of old books and parchment, a testament to Xandros' relentless pursuit of knowledge. He sits at his huge desk, his brow furrowed as he pores over stacks of paperwork. For a moment, I hesitate, unwilling to interrupt his concentration. Sensing my presence, Xandros glances up, his piercing amber gaze meeting mine.
“Sienna?” he murmurs, concern lacing his voice. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing's wrong,” I reply hastily, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I have something to tell you.”
Instantly, Xandros pushes back his chair, motioning for me to sit on his lap. I do so, feeling the warmth of his body seep through my dress, and I finally find the courage to speak.
"Why are you anxious, you forget I can feel you,” He murmurs, pressing his lips to my shoulder. “Is Anna okay?” he asks, and I nod.
“Xandros,” I begin, my voice quivering with emotion, “I'm pregnant again.” For a moment, the world seems to stand still, the only sound our mingled breaths in the dimly lit study. And then, as if time had been waiting for this very instant to unfurl its wings, reality rushes back in, filling the silence between us with tension as I await his answer.
