Chapter 6
6
E lise walked through the crowds of revelers, her hand tightly clasped around Kian’s. She had gotten used to big celebrations over the years because the fae loved a party, but she had also learned to stick close to her mate and use him as a buffer when she got tired of talking.
"You are frowning, Elise. Is everything okay? Do you need some water?" Kian asked, pulling her gently away from the fire.
Elise smiled fondly up at him. "You're still a pushy ass mate."
"And you are still an infernal human," Kian replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I'll never stop worrying about your comfort, Elise."
"You're so sappy," she said, gently pulling on his antler.
His eyes heated. "Don't start that, or there will be trouble."
"Ohhh, you got me so scared, Blood Prince."
Kian nipped her on the neck, making her jump and horny all in a split second. He whispered against her skin, "Scared is not how I want you, my beautiful mate."
Oh gods, she really shouldn't have started this when they had fuck knew how long to go of socializing. They were interrupted by a group of screaming children running to the lake to swim. Kian chuckled at the sight.
"I'll have to ask Alruna what the elves do to have so many little ones running about," he said, his smile dimming. Fae fertility rates were a problem that he was still trying to solve.
You need to tell him , a little voice whispered to her.
Elise wanted to tell him about not having a period for eight weeks now, but she didn't want to get his hopes up and have it not happen. She knew it wasn't just a hunch. She had been carrying around a positive pregnancy for days. She just didn't know how to bring it up. She hadn't even told Chrissy. Mostly because she would tell Oberon, and there would be no way to hold back his excitement.
"Our secret to getting children is a blood sacrifice every nine years," Gudrun piped up from behind them. The volv? waggled her brows at them.
"Really? What kind of blood sacrifice?" Kian asked curiously.
"Don't tell him that. He will believe it," Elise complained.
Gods, the things he had done to protect and preserve his people weighed heavily enough on him. He didn't need to think blood sacrifice was the way to go to make more babies.
"It's a joke, my prince. The real secret is the land. You look after its fertility, and the land will look after you. You and the fae have only just realigned your magic to the earth, so it needs time," Gudrun replied. She looked Elise over. "Something tells me it's already working."
The witch winked at them and twirled away into the crowd. Elise was going to murder her.
"Hmm, a blood sacrifice might have been easier." Kian frowned at her. "What's that look about? She was only joking. And I would never consider such a thing...unless there was no other choice. I mean, technically, it could work if it was the right spell."
"Fuck. Stop. You are not sacrificing anything or anyone. I forbid it, Kian," Elise said and grabbed his hand. "Come with me."
Kian followed her to a quiet place in the trees surrounding Layla's house. Elise took a few breaths, fighting back her sudden nausea. There didn't seem to be anyone in hearing distance which was good. The fae were the absolute worst gossipers, and that wasn't even including her nosy family members.
Kian crossed his arm. "Elise, I really wouldn't sacrifice anyone without your permission. You seem more upset than usual about?—"
"I'm pregnant," Elise blurted out. She rummaged in the bag over her shoulder and pushed the pregnancy test at him. "It's really early, and I wanted to be absolutely sure before I told you. But no blood sacrifices, okay? They aren't needed."
Kian stared at the test in his hands and then back at her. There were a few moments in their relationship where she had seen him too shocked to speak. He looked at the test again and back at her, his golden eyes wide.
Elise put her hands on her hips. "Oh my god, if you don't say something soon, I'm really going to start freaking out. I've been freaking out since I missed two periods. I know you have wanted kids forever and I wasn't ready, and you never pushed me. I stopped taking my pill about six months ago because I thought that maybe I was, and now I'm scared you're not ready, or that if I lose it, you will hate me, and I'm just so goddamn emotional."
She was crying, and she really, really didn't want to be more of a mess than she already was. Stupid hormones .
Kian pulled her into his arms and held her close. "I would never, ever hate you, my love. I'm just... I can't form the right words. I'm so terrified, happy, and in love with you. I don't know how to express it. Please don't cry, my heart. Don't cry."
"But you're crying," Elise pointed out.
Kian reached up and touched his wet cheek. "I...I am. Elise, you are pregnant."
"Yes," she sniffed. "But I don't want to tell anyone else for a while in case something happens. And I swear to all the gods, if you start acting like an overprotective dick bag more than usual, I will lose my shit."
"We can't have that," Kian said, his laugh caught in a sob. "I agree with you. This can be our secret joy for a while longer yet."
"Because you don't want to give people false hope, I get that," Elise said.
Kian cupped her cheeks. "That's not the reason. So much of our life has to be shared because of who we are. We need some things to be for us until they can't be. Whatever happens, if you give me ten children or none at all, I'll always love you, Elise. You are first in my heart, no matter what happens. You are my everything."
Elise was crying again as she pulled him closer to kiss him. "And don't you forget it."
"Never." Kian lifted her up in his arms, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. She breathed in his scent of fir and smoke and kissed him with all the love and frightened hope she had in her heart.
Elise pulled back from the embrace. "And you have to tell Oberon, not me, because he will cry like a lot. And then try and do something crazy like grow an enchanted forest around me so nothing can harm me. He'll be more overprotective than you."
"You're wrong. Killian will be the cryer," Kian said, making her laugh. "But you're right about Oberon and the enchanted forest."
"I know. They are all going to be more overprotective than you," Elise said. She tried to think about how her father would have reacted to her being pregnant. Probably worse than all of them put together. It made her miss him more than ever.
Kian kissed the tip of her nose. "You gave us all hope when we were cursed, Elise, and now you give us hope again. You are never going to stop being a wonder, my love."
"I might remind you of that when I'm big as a house and have cankles," Elise said, her heart aching with so much happiness.
"I will rub them for you," Kian promised. "I'm so happy I kidnapped you."
"There is my psychopath prince," Elise said, kissing him again. "You better not teach our kid any of your bad habits."
Kian's smile was sharp and full of danger, sending a hot thrill through her. "Maybe just a few."