Page 1 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Prologue

Nearly two decades ago…

“The King Consort’s body is being prepared. Shall I open the Grand Hall and allow our citizens in for the viewing or would you prefer something more private, Your Majesty?”

King Augustine III lifted his stare to his steward, his head still in a fog. Grief had him in a grip, but if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t as devastated as he should be. His boys would grow up without a papa… as if he had time to govern the whole realm and take over child rearing alone. “The realm loved Xavier. Allow for a public viewing.”

“Very good, sir,” Prawnsby said before swimming closer. “I’ve been told… that you haven’t seen the new babe?”

The reason my husband is dead?“No. I don’t believe I can bear it. Not yet.” He would see the child eventually. Once he’d gotten over the shock of his loss.

“Sire… I think we must discuss something.”

The king sighed. “Can Inothave time to grieve?”

The seahorse was silent a moment, eyeing him closely. His beady little eyes saw too much. “It’s as she predicted.” Prawnsby paused, wringing his hands in the way that never ceased irritating Aegeaustine. “The red hair. The swirling eyes. The shell-shaped birthmark… it’s all there, just as the enchantress said.”

The king growled under his breath and turned his back to Prawnsby. “Then it has begun.”

“Perhaps she’s right about the prophecy, too. That it’s not as foreboding as you think.”

King Aegeaustine spun to face his steward. “Are you mad? I will not trust the word of that witch! She has no proof. This scroll simply disappeared? I think not.”

“What reason would she have to lie? She would lose just as much as we if she’s wrong.”

“That creature thrives on chaos. Always has, always will.” The king stroked his beard. “We cannot let the child fulfill this destiny of his. I will not be the king to usher in the end of our existence.”

“Or maybe…just maybe… it would be a new beginning, as she said. Change doesn’talwayssignal destruction.”

The king narrowed his eyes on the seahorse. “Humans are violent. Destructive. Allowing them into our world will be the death of us. Look what they’ve already taken from m—” He hissed in anger. “They willnotdestroy this world. It is ours alone.”

The king could see an argument brewing in Prawnsby’s gaze, but he was smart enough to keep his counsel to himself.

“The child will never see outside this castle.”

Prawnsby gasped. “Youcannotkeep him prisoner!”

“I can’t?”The king lifted his chin and glared down at the seahorse. His long beard fanned out some, swept by a thin current. “If it’s what I must do to ensure the realm’s safety, I will do just that. And more, if I must.” He tilted his head. “Andyouwill help me.”

“Me, sire?”

“Yes, you. From this point forward, you are the omega’s protector. You will ensure his care, teach him our ways… and keep himinsidethe castle at all times.”

Prawnsby’s eyes widened. “Sire! Please… how am I to contain… a merman child?”

“Figure it out, Prawnsby. I have no time to rear the whelp myself. I have a kingdom to run. Negotiations with the Atlanteans have not been going well of late. Our army and theirs have clashed along the borders again. It’s all a nightmare.” He lifted his stare to Prawnsby. “And I have a funeral to face. Three young with no papa.”

“Yes, sire. I’ll do whatever you wish.”

* * *

Seven years later…

“Prawnsby… what is a…” young Llyr asked as he read over an old scroll. “Shipwreck?”

“Where did you ever see that?” Prawnsby asked as he swam closer.

Llyr lifted the old scroll. “This was last night’s reading you left for me.”

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