Chapter 11
Winona
“I managed to convince thirty people to help out on the day,” I tell Avandair a few weeks later at night as we’re cuddling on his bed.
“You’re marvelous as always,” he replies in a soft voice full of reverence.
His compliment makes my pussy tingle. He’s still locked inside my sex, flooding my womb with his cum. Keeping his seed in my belly with his knot until it takes. Ecstasy flutters in my chest imagining myself pregnant and swollen with his child. How happy Grandor will be when he’s no longer alone.
The preparation for the party is going well. With every day, the inevitable reality of becoming Avandair’s wife inches closer. I’m excited for it. But part of me feels unworthy of the honor. I’m not sure, despite his constant reassurances that I’m actually his mate.
I sense the deep love between us, but despite how many times he has come inside me, I’m still without a child.
I wanted to fulfill his dream of showing off my pregnant belly, displaying the fruit of our passion to all the nobles in attendance.
More than that, I needed it as a confirmation of the fact that our love is more than love—it’s destiny written in the stars.
Avandair treats me with compassion and respect regardless, but my dream of birthing a big family seems to be getting further away.
That’s why I’m shocked when I throw up the next morning. Avandair’s pupils narrow. He presses my body flat onto the dining table. Lifting my skirts, he buries his nose in my pussy, sniffing. After a few moments, he drags his head away from my folds, nodding.
“You’re with child.” His mouth splits in a wide grin. He lifts me up, twirling me around. “My beautiful Winona, you’ve been bred by my seed.”
“I can’t believe it!” Tears stream from my eyes, blurring my vision. It’s unreal. I have always wanted this, but I never thought it would happen to me.
Now I’m a gargoyle lord’s fated mate, the mother of his unborn child.
“Do you want to return home?” Lord Avandair sets me back on the ground. His eyes are clouded with anxiety.
I knit my eyebrows, puzzled. “Why? Do you want me gone?”
“Not at all. I was wondering if you’d be comfortable staying here. I want you to be at ease while you’re carrying my babe. If that means you returning to the surroundings that you’re familiar with, I will arrange it.”
“There’s nobody and nothing for me in the town.” I draw a line over his solid chest with my fingertip. “Everybody I love is right here.”
The line of relief that etches onto his features is worth everything. “I’m glad you’ve taken to life at Slate Mansion.”
“I’m happy to stay in this mansion and look after it even when I’m increasing.” I run my knuckles over his frown. “So don’t be worried.”
“I feel inadequate because I can’t give you the life you deserve.” He shakes his head vehemently. “Servants should be serving you, taking care of you because you’re my mate. My lady. When you’re carrying my child, you can’t be doing hard labor. I won’t allow it.”
“I must cook,” I protest. “Or I’ll go mad doing nothing all day.”
“Very well,” he agrees. “That’s all you’ll do, apart from feeding Grandor.”
I nod. “I understand your concern. I will take care of my body.” I cradle my stomach. “This child is as precious to me as it is to you.”
“I never meant to doubt your affection for your baby. Let me show you something beautiful to brighten your mood.” He inches closer to me.
I inch back. It’s an ingrained response born from years of paranoia that was fed to me by the people around me.
Lord Avandair’s tone is soft and gentle when he says, “It’s time I thanked you for all your hard work. Your cooking has been a joy to me.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m only paying off my father’s debts.”
“Your father must pay off his own debts. I shall be paying you wages for the service that you’re offering me.” He clears his throat, the monstrous growl reverberating in the night air.
“Wages?” I gasp. “You cannot be serious. I’m your mate and will soon be your wife.”
“I’m not the kind of man to make you pay someone else’s debt because they happen to be related to you.
I admit I was high-handed in forcing you to come here and help me maintain Slate Manor but it’s been impossible to get any staff so I’ve had to resort to different tactics now.
” There’s a faint tinge of red on his cheeks.
Why is he blushing? “If you think it’s wrong for me to pay you for serving me all this time, then I’ll save that money and give it to you in another form. ”
Then I realized he might have had ulterior motives. That’s why he gave me the herbs. I don’t hate him for it, though.
“I thank you for your generosity.” I curtsy. Not because I have to. But because I truly respect his sense of fairness.
He’s not like my father who doesn’t value my work. Lord Avandair doesn’t expect me to soothe his ego and service him just because my mother left him years ago.
He’s a man who has power. Who knows he has power.
And so he is kind to those who don’t.
“Do you want to fly with me?” he inquires, quirking a thick stone brow. “I was planning to take you on a journey across the skies. It’s really pretty at night.”
My heart makes its desire known in loud, unceasing thumps. A broken cry squeezes through my mouth. I’ve always been fascinated by the clouds ever since I was a child. But they were so far, so out of my reach.
“That would be a dream come true!” I squeal. “But are you sure I deserve it?”
“You deserve better,” he says. “Soon, you’ll have to take on new duties.”
Cupping my pregnant stomach, he plants himself behind me. His wings are fully spread, their shadows trickling down the marble balcony like a black stream.
His arms clamped around my middle, gathering my body close to his.
“I’m ready,” I mutter because rejecting his offer now would be both rude and inconsiderate. “Show me what it feels like to fly.”
“I’ll show you what it feels like to soar with your mate,” his voice is so low, it barely caresses my ear. I blink, afraid I made up that sentence because of how badly I want to be with Lord Avandair. For us to become more than master and maid.
He grunts and wraps his wings around me. Unlike his solid body, the wings are papery, laced with a network of purple veins running through them. They resemble dragon wings, with sharp edges and a jagged shape.
I’m cocooned by his dominant strength. The protective fence of his arms around my body and having my skin scraping against his hard chest elicits an indescribable feeling. I never thought I’d feel so protected, so safe in a monster’s arms.
The cool night air lashes against my skin as we take off to the skies. The town flickers beneath us, a constellation of orange lights.
The privilege of being carried, of actually floating in the sky settles into my bones, filling me with wonder. Everywhere I look, there’s only dark skies—and beyond that,
“The stars are resplendent,” I murmur.
“Not as beautiful as you,” Lord Avandair’s breath hitches. His pupils are blown out into big, black circles, focused on me.
“I’ve never been so close to the stars. This is marvelous.” It’s better than being in a fairytale. This handsome gargoyle lord makes my heart flutter with delight.
“I will never forget this night.” Lord Avandair’s hot breath skims my neck.
The spot between my legs releases liquid heat, making my thighs sticky.
“I won’t, either,” I say.
Because this is the night I knew without a doubt that we were fated mates.