Page 40 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

I was sure though that it was him taking off on the dark black horse, and for a moment, it felt as if my heart melted through my chest to follow him.

A kick from the baby made me rub my stomach and brought more tears to my eyes. Would I ever see him again?

Please, I prayed to the gods,don't allow Fionbyr to be successful with his plan. It will break Vandor, I was sure of it.

The door opened and when Jynn entered, my heart leaped with hope. Had the gods heard my prayer?

Her face, however, was closed off and didn't bear good news. "I'm sorry, Lady Damaris, I spoke to my husband and… we cannot help you."

My heart broke, but I plastered the biggest smile I could muster on my face. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel guilty for me having put her in an impossible situation. "It's alright. Thank you for trying."

She was still inside the doorway, keeping it partially open, and a quick peek confirmed what I already suspected. There were no guards on the other side, and I wondered how that tidbit might work in my favor.

"I've got to go. I'm not supposed to be here, but I wanted to tell you. I didn't want you to think I forgot about you."

I nodded at her, forcing my tears back. "Thank you."

The door closed with a click. It was an old-fashioned door, with an iron key I was willing to bet, just like we had used in Steppenfort and like I had seen in Wyrkymburg.

A sudden burst of hope flooded my veins and made my blood feel hot as it rushed through my body. So hot, beads of sweat ran down my neck and face. This couldn't be, could it?

I moved to the door as quickly as my growing belly allowed and peeked through the keyhole. Sure enough, the key was inside, just on the other side of the door. My hands were getting clammy, and I wiped them against the hem of my dress.Easy, Damaris, easy. I forced my deep breathing to calm down. But it hammered in rhythm to my mind.We will get out of here, we will get out of here.

Or, more precisely, I told myself, we would be able to get out of this chamber. I still had no idea where we would go from there. But suddenly there was hope where there had been none before. Now I just needed a solid plan of where to go.

Just, I snickered despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. Just then though, the baby kicked again as if telling me all would be well.

The next morning brought a feeling of bereavement when I stared out the window at the fallow field. I had gotten used to seeing Vandor's army camped outside and the small comfort I had received from knowing him nearby and alive.

With a sigh, I faced another long day of sitting by the fire, reading books out loud, and the monotony only broken up by the delivery of my meals.

As my stomach was growing, I slept more, and with growing worry, I realized that I would be one of the human women with a shorter gestation period. I was in my fourth month, and if things kept progressing the way they were, I was afraid the baby would be ready to come out at the end of the fifth month, early the sixth at the most.

With each passing day, I felt my life slipping away.

By the late afternoon, loud noises from the other side of my door alarmed me. People were running and shouting, not panicking, but with purpose, as if they had a hundred things to do that needed doing quickly.

The door opened and, along with the servant bringing in my meal, an older lady with kind eyes entered.

"Good evening, Lady Damaris. I am Gordya, Warlord Grobhan's healer. Warlord Fionbyr bid me to check on the progression of your pregnancy."

By the door, I noticed two guards lurking behind, making their presence obvious. It was a threat that if I didn't comply with Gordya, they would hold me down. With a sigh, I lifted my chin and nodded.

"Thank you, Gordya. That would give me peace of mind." I only partially lied because I did want to know if my baby was doing alright.

"If you would please lie down on the bed," Gordya requested kindly.

I did as bid, and she stepped next to me and gently began prodding my extended belly. "A half Thyre child?"

"Warlord Vandor is the father," I said with defiance in my voice. "Warlord Fionbyr threatened he will have the baby and me killed the moment he is born."

"Ah, kar," she said, stepping back as if this was a perfectly natural occurrence.

She gave the lingering servant a sideways glance, and I realized she couldn't speak freely because of her.

"What is all the commotion outside about?" I asked instead, because I was curious and because I was starved for company, somebody to talk to.

"The household is readying the provision wagons. Warlord Fionbyr' and Warlord Grobhan's armies' arrival is imminent, and they want to leave first thing at daybreak," she informed me. Her eyes were intense, as if she was trying to convey some kind of message to me, a message I didn't understand.

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