Page 2 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Prawnsby swam behind Llyr and read over his shoulder. “Dear me… that escaped my notice.” He pursed his lips. “No worries… it’s something you have no need to learn about.”

Llyr spun to observe the seahorse. “But they talk of treasure found inside. I want to go on a treasure hunt! Like that story you read to me—Alesio and the Magic Cavern.”

“We discussed the difference between fiction and non-fiction, remember? The story was a work of fiction, Prince Llyr.”

Llyr frowned. “Doesshipwreckhave something to do with humans?”

Prawnsby sighed. “Youknowyour father does forbids you to discuss those creatures. How you found out about them, I’ll never know.”

Llyr kept his mouth shut, refusing to get the cook’s son, Ryland, in trouble. Ryland’s stories of the sea outside the castle walls kept him enthralled. The boy was his only friend… Even his own brothers kept to themselves, refusing to play with him.

“Did you ask my father about a trip into town?”

“I’ve told you over and over he willnotallow that. There’s no reason to even ask.” Prawnsby cleared his throat. “Now… get out your arithmetic scrolls. You need much more practice with your addition.”

Llyr sighed.“Yes, sir.”

Hours after his work was complete—when Llyr was about to drift off to sleep—he heard his door open and close. Something swam closer…

Ryland.

A smile came to his face as he sat up straighter in his seaweed bed.

“I found a tunnel today. It leads to a labyrinth under the castle,” Ryland whispered. “At the end… it comes out close to theEnchantress’ lair.”

Llyr inwardly gasped, excitement filling him. “The old sea witch? My father says she’s evil.”

Ryland frowned. “Nah… a little scary, but she’s okay. My brother says there’s a shipwreck near her caverns, too. Wanna sneak out with me?”

Excitement wound in his belly. “Oh yes!” Llyr murmured a little louder than he should. He swam above the bed. “A treasure hunt!”

“Shhh,” Ryland whispered. “Prawnsby might hear.”

Llyr nodded. He rubbed his hands together, his smile growing.

“Okay, let’s go,” Ryland murmured before taking his hand and leading them down the corridor.

After several twists and turns, they stopped at one of the large statues guarding the end of the passageway. Swimming behind the sculpture, Ryland used his tail to push it out a few inches. Llyr added his own tail strength. Once repositioned, a hole was exposed.

A case of nerves tackled Llyr’s stomach as he beheld the inky darkness inside the void—but the potential escape it offered was too exciting. Before slipping through to freedom, he gave Ryland one last smile.

It was the first of many adventures they’d have outside the castle walls.

With no one the wiser.

1

Present Day

“Your Highness? Whereareyou?”

Hiding inside the castle’s vast wine cellar, Prince Llyr Arwyn Of Aegeaus wished his constant companion and irritation would finally give up the search. It rarely happened in the many years Prawnsby had been his minder, teacher, escort—and spy—but there was always hope. Llyr knew he couldn’t truly fault Prawnsby. The prim and proper seahorse only did his job—one commanded by Llyr’s overprotective father. No one seemed cognizant of the fact Llyr was now an adult and had no need of someone always hovering.

Someone always in the way.

Someone always there to suckallthe fun out of every adventure Llyr attempted.

He’d been little more than a prisoner in his own home for the last nineteen years. Now he faced a new form of shackling. Llyr refused to be bound any longer. He longed for freedom…

---