Cassarah #3
Cole walked up to me and cupped my face in his hands, holding my gaze intently.
“Cassarah, you are now carrying our children. I know you understand this, but it worries us to no end since we’ve seen you pull some crazy stunts.
As Izel reminded us, there is no one who has a heart as big as yours for others as you do.
We need to know that applies to doing everything possible to keep you three alive and healthy.
None of us have said it because, like you, the news was shocking and unexpected, but we are over the moon that we will be fathers someday in the near future.
All that we ask is that you protect them with everything you have while we do the same for you. ”
My heart ached at his words. While in a way they hurt, feeling like they didn’t trust me to protect the children growing inside me, I also understood why they would feel that way.
The last time we were in a battle, I did things that would certainly put them at risk.
Then some events have recently unfolded that could have caused me to lose them.
I’d promised I would hear them out, and I would.
I needed to understand their fears so I could help them move past them the best way possible.
I covered his hands with my own and smiled. “Thank you for being honest, my love.” He pressed a kiss to my lips and stepped back with the others. “Does anyone else have something to say, or did he speak for the group?”
“Little bird,” Jade said, crossing his arms. “I need you to look me in the eye and tell me that putting your life on the line is no longer a thing you’ll consider.”
Holding his seafoam green eyes with my own, I answered. “My life is no longer my own, Jade. There are two other lives who share mine, and I will do everything in my power to protect them so I will get the joy of being their mother.”
I paused, taking a calming breath before I continued, “But hear me when I say I’m not going to be treated like an invalid just because I’m with child.
No one is going to lock me away for the last few months of my pregnancy just because I grow too round.
The fact I’m going to be a mother has nothing to do with how I will rule the kingdom I’m in charge of.
None of you will be able to keep me from having a normal life before or after these children come into the world.
I love each of you more than life itself, and I understand you want me to be safe, but don’t put me in a bubble. I will only resent you.”
“If you allow us to keep you safe, Cassy-bear, then we will happily let you live the life you want. We want our lives to be filled with joy and happiness. None of us want to strip that from you in this new journey, but for that to work, we need to do this together,” Dayson interjected.
“I agree with everything you’ve said, even if it does sting a little that you’re convinced I won’t protect myself,” I shared, dropping my gaze at the bowl still in my hands.
Someone kneeled in front of me, took the bowl and set it aside, then grasped both my hands.
“My heart,” Zan crooned, causing me to lift my gaze.
“That is not what we believe, but we also know how strong your conviction is. Ending this battle is all we’ve been focused on for the past few months, and it’s consumed our every thought.
All we want is to know this mission you’ve been set on doesn’t overshadow the future we now see growing inside you. ”
He reached out and placed one hand on my stomach.
“I never thought I would have a family of my own… no one would want to risk the chance of their child being born blind. This is the greatest gift I could ever receive, and it scares the hell out of me that it might be ripped from us before it can ever start. The Lost King is not one who believes in the sanctity of life.”
“What Zan said, none of this is an attack on you,” Gavin assured me.
“This is all because we don’t trust the Lost King not to play a trick on you or somehow force you into a situation where you put yourself in danger.
We wish we could take you out of this fight, but we won’t.
You need to see this through. It’s your purpose in life, and the fates have decided you are the one who will bring this war to an end.
We only wish it wasn’t the case, but we will be beside you the entire time. ” The others all nodded in agreement.
“Now that you have got all this off your chests, I suggest we get some dinner and then call it an early night so everyone is well-rested for the world to implode around us,” Becka interjected, breaking the tension hanging in the room.
“Let’s get this bodice on you, and we can join the rest of the court for dinner.
It would be best for them to see things happening as if we didn’t kill two people today. ”
That made my stomach lurch again. I quickly grabbed the bowl and emptied my stomach of what was left from lunch. A cloth and a goblet of water were handed to me to wipe my mouth.
“Do we think we could keep the talk of death, killing, and corpses to a minimum?” I groaned. “That seems to be incredibly upsetting at the moment.”
“Damn, if I didn’t know you were pregnant, I would have thought you’d gotten soft on us,” Becka teased as she took the bowl from me. “Seems you were going to start showing signs soon enough.”
“You might be my best friend, but I kind of hate you right now,” I muttered as she helped me redress.
Becka planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “That’s how it works with sisters… get used to it. Now pull yourself together, and let’s get this show on the road. We need this to be believable.”