Page 74 of Pregnant With Their Babes

“By who? My father? My brothers?You,my jailer?” Llyr shook his head. “No. The only two beings who showed me any love are above the surface. And I cannot see them… ever again.” His stomach clenched again before swirling. Bile rose up his throat.

Prawnsby hovered near, silent. “The realm loves you, as their prince.”

“Distant masses. Faceless, nameless merfolk.” Llyr closed his eyes. “I would give up everything I am to be no one. And loved.Trulyloved.”

The swirling of Llyr’s stomach continued to worsen. Heat flooded his face… and a trembling raced all over his body. Racing through the passage to the wastecloset, he made it to the swirling vortex of water just in time. Llyr retched, the spiral pulling it down into the castle’s sewer line.

“Are you unwell?” Prawnsby asked, swimming to his side. “I’ll have one of the healers come check in on you. I certainly hope you haven’t acquired an illness from those humans.”

It wasn’t the first time Llyr had vomited in recent days. His hand went to his stomach, and he feared Prawnsby would tell his father the truth if the healers confirmed his suspicions. If he was pregnant, and his father found out, his babe would be in danger.

A little piece of Dagr or Oz grew inside him, he was sure of it.

Llyr had no idea how he’d protect that child, not when he was a prisoner in his own home. He had to find a way—and fast. Already he thought he saw a slight swell to his stomach. Impossible after only a few weeks, he knew. But if he was pregnant… he’d eventually begin to show.

“I’m fine. I’m simply upset… that the labyrinth tunnels are now being walled up. And I’ve lostallmy freedom.”

“I appreciate that you can’t help but feel trapped, but that old entrance is a hazard. Your father is only thinking of your well-being.”

Llyr scoffed. “Right.”

“Your father truly has your best interests at heart—and those of the realm.”

“Prawnsby… please stop lying to me. Iknowwhat he is. As much of a tyrant as the boy-child I’m set to marry.” Llyr focused on his nanny and keeper. “How acquainted are you with the prophecy keeping me from my mates?”

Prawnsby shook his head. “I’m no expert in that old tale. You should ask your father.”

“I have. He refuses to tell me.”

Prawnsby opened his mouth—and Llyr was sure from the look on his face, the seahorse was going to stifle the conversation.

“Please, Prawnsby. This is my life… do I not deserve to know the truth?”

Prawnsby closed his mouth, eyeing Llyr.

“You’re as close to a father as I have,” Llyr continued. “If you care for me in any way—please. Tell me.”

Prawnsby urged Llyr to follow him. Llyr trailed the seahorse through the castle before stopping in the grand library. Trunk after trunk was lined with old scrolls—Llyr had read a great many of them in his education. But there had been a section off-limits to all but a chosen few. Prawnsby moved to the door guarding it and used a hidden key to unlock it. The door opened with a groan.

Inside the small room was dark, and a musty smell permeated the space. An old angler fish swam straight for him, teeth jutting like menacing spears—but it stopped inches away—when Prawnsby lifted an amulet in his curling tail. The fish’s eyes glowed with roughly as much strength as the small iridescent lure-like appendage hanging inches from its scary fangs.

It appeared to be under some kind of spell thanks to the charm Prawnsby used.

“Whatisthat?” Llyr said, eyeing the amulet.

“Our light,” Prawnsby answered, speaking of the fish.

Llyr was unsure if the seahorse misunderstood him or avoided his question purposefully. He reserved the question, waiting to see what it was that Prawnsby showed him. Since his tutor was often tightlipped, he might not get much. Prodding would be reserved for the more serious questions.

With his tail, Prawnsby fished through a few scrolls in one large chest. “A-ha. Here it is.” He swam over and handed the scroll to Llyr. “Read this.”

After unrolling the old seaweed parchment, Llyr grasped the anglerfish by the tail—careful to avoid those spiked teeth—and moved its light so he could read what was transcribed upon it. “There are sections missing from the text.”

“Sadly, yes.”

Llyr read the passage, worried his translation skills weren’t up to the challenge. Old Atlantean had never been his strongest skill.

Omega-born and stained by the shell, the…the next word was blurred…monarch's third offspring will give birth to two alphas on the same night…

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