Chapter Forty-Six
Tor
Two Months Later.
“Mia?” I called, looking at my watch. We were already running late, and now, she was taking an extraordinarily long time in the bathroom.
I didn’t particularly care since the event wasn’t one that would change if we were ten minutes late or thirty, but she’d been quite keen on us getting there on time.
Silence followed my call.
“Mia?” I repeated, stepping toward the bathroom.
I’d lost her once in the bathroom, and I wasn’t about to let that happen again. If she didn’t respond, I was barging in.
“One sec!” she called hastily.
The sink came on. I frowned. What was she doing in there? The order was all wrong.
“Is everything okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“N—”
The word was cut off, only to be followed by the distinct sound of vomiting.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” I asked. “We can cancel. I’ll call your dad. We’ll reschedule. It’s fine.”
More silence. Then the sound of the toilet flushing. Water continued to flow from the sink for a moment. Then it shut off. I could hear Mia moving around. A slow sigh escaped her, and then she opened the door.
“We don’t have to go to brunch with everyone. I’ll call them and—”
She shook her head. “No, we’re going. I’m fine now, Tor.”
I frowned, glancing from her to the bathroom and back. “You’re not telling me something. What is it?”
“Just … not now, okay?” she said.
“Why not right now?” I pushed.
“Because …” she sighed harder and swiped at her eyes.
“Are you crying?” I said, reaching out to embrace her.
She pulled away.
“Okay,” I said, irritated. “What’s going on? What did I do wrong?”
“What? Nothing!” she said. “Let’s go to brunch.”
“We will,” I said. “But after you tell me why you won’t even let me hug you when you’re crying.”
Tears spilled from her cheeks. “Because I don’t want you to be mad at me!”
I gaped, stunned at her. “What the fuck are you talking about, Mia? Why would I be mad at you? I’m so confused. I don’t get it.”
She continued to try. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I mean, I did, but not now. We hadn’t talked about it, and it’s so soon, and I’m sorry.”
“Come here,” I said, snatching her hand before she could take it away and guiding her to the bed.
She sat down, her arms wrapped around her body.
“Please tell me what’s going on?” I all but begged. “You haven’t done anything. Are you talking about us being late? That’s not a big deal, I promise.”
She was silent for a moment, then let loose another sigh, her entire body sagging with it. “This kind of late is.”
“Huh? You’re speaking English, but I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying, my love. Can you please just tell me what’s going on?”
She shuddered, then stilled, lifting her head to meet my eyes. “We’re late, Tor.”
“I know,” I said. “But it’s not a big deal. The others will wait for us. They’ll understand.”
I moved to get her up, but she shook her head, still staring right into my face, locking eyes.
“No, Tor. We’re late.” She moved a hand.
To cup her belly.
I stared, my brain trying to put all the clues together.
Late. Stomach. Morning vomiting.
The answer came and smacked me over the head so hard I stumbled backward. My legs shook so bad that I sank into a crouch.
“Are you serious?” I whispered.
“Yes,” she moaned. “I’m sorry. I know you were enjoying life with your mate, the two of us, just doing what we wanted. I don’t know how it happened. I was so good with my pill, and …”
I moved to her in a blink, pressing a finger to her lips.
“You are pregnant. With my child?”
She nodded.
“We’re going to have a baby?”
Another nod.
I sank to the floor, unable to stay upright.
“I’m going to be a daddy?”
Mia nodded, watching me nervously.
“I’m going to be a daddy,” I repeated. “You’re sure?”
Yet one more nod.
“I’m going to be a daddy!” I shouted, leaping to my feet, lightning shooting between my fingertips, filling the room with charged ions. “I’m going to be a daddy!”
I ran to the doors and flung them open to the balcony, unleashing my lightning into the sky. It cracked, and a giant boom followed.
Several heads were drawn my way.
“I’M GOING TO BE A DADDY!” I shouted at the top of my lungs before spinning around and running back to Mia, picking her up and—gently—whirling her around.
She laughed, then sobered, tapping my arms, getting me to set her down.
“You’re … not mad?”
“Mad?” I cried. “How could I be mad?”
“Well, we didn’t really talk about it or anything,” she said nervously. “And you’re the prince. I don’t know if there are protocols and ways to do it. I just … We were having fun going wherever we wanted without care. Now we’ll have to start planning for a child. I don’t know.”
“Mia,” I said, cupping her face in my hands.
The face of the mother of the first of my children.
A beautiful face, one that I never tired of staring at.
“You haven’t made me angry at all. In fact, you’ve done the exact opposite.
You’ve made me the happiest dragon around.
I could not imagine a life without you and kids in it.
True, it hasn’t come up, but that’s because I was trying not to rush you.
There was so much for you to adjust to in this life.
I was trying to wait before we got to that point. ”
Her eyebrows rose incrementally. “You mean … you wanted kids?”
I grinned, nodding at her. “Oh, you’d better believe it. And even better, I wanted them with you!”
She laughed, and I gathered her into a giant hug. “This is the best news, darling. The absolute best. You have just made my morning and more.”
“I’m glad,” she said. “I was so nervous.”
I stroked her hair, smiling down at her, trying to project my emotions into her so that she would abandon all her worries.
“My dear, there’s nothing to be nervous about. You will have me. Now and always. The only change today has wrought is now there’s one more person for me to love unconditionally.”
“Or two,” she said.
I blinked. “What?”
“Twins run in your genes, Tor. We might be having twins.”
I blinked a second time. “Two babies?”
It was Mia’s turn to grin. “Double daddy duty,” she said.
“If they’re anything like I’ve been told my sister and I were as babies, God-King help me,” I whispered.
But I was still smiling. Because it didn’t matter. One baby or two, I would love them all the same.
“The oldest shall rule,” I said, kissing Mia on the cheek. “This I promise you, my love. Male or female, the firstborn shall rule after us.”
Mia held me tighter, and I tightened my arms around her, relishing the presence of her body, filled with life.
A smile tugged at my lips as more thunder rumbled from outside, echoes of earlier.
I’m going to be a daddy!
***
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The end of Book 2.
To read Book 3: Prince of Iron, turn the page.