Page 21 of The Lost Nation

Ronan huffed, but let it go. We sat on a large boulder that jutted out from the cliff, and Kieran tossed each of us an apple he’d packed in his satchel.

“Are we going to talk about the inevitable?” Kieran queried, as if discussing nothing more exciting than the weather. Ronan tensed, his shoulders hunching forward slightly.

I took a bite of my apple, and lifted an eyebrow.“And what would that be?”

Kieran swallowed, pausing to cut out a bad section of fruit with his small blade.“Our possibly pregnant mate, of course.”

Tension knotted my shoulders, but I only flinched mildly. I turned to Ronan. “Did you, ah…”

“Get in therebefore my inevitable departure tomorrow? Yes.”

My face flushed, and Kieran laughed. A year ago I’d have likely turned on them for making sport on me, but it was a testament to how we’d grown that I merely sighed.

“I just wanted to ensure you saw her.”

Ronan rolled his eyes. “As if my draken would allow anything less.”

“We should know quickly, right?” Kieran asked hurriedly, his tone belying the casual air hetried to project.

I pushed my memories far back, to a time when our island wasn’t a quiet paradise, but a bustling hive of draken livelihood. “I think we’ll smell it as soon as it’s viable,” I said slowly. Ronan looked awed, as if he couldn’t even comprehend such a thing.

I continued. “Of course, we won’t know whose child it is until she gives birth, and even then only if Wren tells us.”

Kieran scoffed. “As if it would matter. Let’s get this out of the way right now: I don’t care if the children are biologically mine or not. They willallbe my children.”

My draken bristled at the thought of another draken claiming what could be mine, but I firmly shot him down. Wewantedmore drakens protecting any children and watching over them, didn’t we?

Pouting, my draken agreed.

“I feel the same way,” Ronan spoke up, his eyes still glinting with a glazed, far-away expression.

I didn't care about bloodlines. I cared about Wren.Anychild she has would be a child of mine.

My throat tightened up at how vehemently and quickly these men were able to override their instincts to better protect our mate. I cleared my throat as they both stared at me expectedly.“Of...of course I don’t care,” I began. “Obviously I will need an heir for my throne, but beyond that it shouldn’t matter. Itdoesn’tmatter,” I corrected, began they were right.

One child or one hundred, I would fight to the death to protect my family. That included Wren, Kieran, Ronan, andanychildren we had.

Kieran clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. “Well, now that’s taken care of.”

I rolled my eyes, but our attention was stolen as Xana crested over the horizon, relief on her fae was she spotted us. She landed roughly next to Ronan, who steadied her with a gentle hand. I raised an eyebrow at the familiarity, silently impressed. Xana was improving by leaps and bounds if Ronan could casually touch her.

“What’s wrong?” Ronan asked, and it was then I noticed her frantic breathing, and the way her glance kept shooting to me nervously.

“I...I’ve been looking for Benedict. I found out something and I can’tbelieveno one put it together soon, but youneed to know.”

She collapsed in front of me, still fighting to get enough air. I knelt down to her level, projecting an air of calm.

“Take a moment and breathe," I said. "Whatever you must say can surely wait a few minutes.”

Xana shook her head frantically back and forth, but put both palms out to steady herself. She took several deep gasps, and looked straight into my eyes.

“Baila is the fire demon.”

Chapter 11

Wren

Iwas practicing some meditation exercises with Astrid, trying to get the last few steps of my next blood ritual solidified, when the entire island shook. My eyes shot open, and Astrid shot towards me.

---