Chapter 11
Ancelin wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "One minute I'm sick, the next I'm starving. And so tired." She leaned into his chest. "But I'm thrilled about everything, truly."
Krevan stroked her hair. "I've waited years to hear that news. But you need rest now. Mother will prepare something for everyone to eat. Those Triaxen soldiers are half-frozen and famished." He pressed his lips to her temple. "Let me take you upstairs."
"I can't miss anything important," Ancelin said. "The crystal—did you give it to them?"
"Not yet. I came straight after you."
Ancelin groaned. "Sorry. It hit without warning."
"Tray says we'll depart for Triaxe once the storm breaks. A few soldiers will remain to guard the house until we resolve this crystal situation. We can return later for our belongings or even continue living here if you prefer." He studied her face. "Are you feeling any better?"
"The nausea's passed, at least for now." Ancelin wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "And I've made up my mind about Verrian. I'm never coming back here."
Krevan cupped
her face between his palms, studying her pallor. "This isn't just stress, Ancelin."
"You really think I could be...?"
"The contraceptive shot isn't foolproof." His thumb traced her cheekbone. "We'll find a test when things calm down. Would it be so terrible?"
"Terrible? No." She pressed her hand against her abdomen. "Frightening, yes."
"That's not how you reacted when I mentioned it before."
"I know. But I chose to be intimate with you, and these are the natural consequences." Ancelin pressed herself against his chest. "Though it might just be the stress making me ill." A nervous laugh escaped her lips.
"Whatever the cause, I recognize your concern about bringing new life into our current situation. I don't understand your Earth expression, but I do know that with both Triaxen and Earth authorities supporting us now, our safety is more assured."
Ancelin stretched upward to kiss his cheek.
"You're adorable when you're puzzled," she whispered, running her fingers along his broad shoulders while gazing up at him.
"I just want this fear to end." They made their way to the kitchen where Vida was organizing ingredients.
The rich scent of searing meat hit Ancelin like a physical blow, sending her rushing back to the bathroom with Krevan close behind.
After emptying her stomach again, but only having dry heaves, she returned cautiously to the kitchen, easing herself onto a stool at the island.
Her hands trembled slightly as she watched Vida cook, breathing in shallow sips of air to avoid another wave of nausea.
Krevan's mother slid a plate of plain bread and a steaming mug toward Ancelin. "Eat slowly," she instructed with a knowing look. "This should calm your stomach. When did these symptoms start? Fatigue? Hunger mixed with nausea?"
"Just the past few days," Ancelin said, nibbling cautiously at the bread's edge. "It's getting worse though. I was just tired and ravenous at first. Now I'm sick too. Probably just stress from everything happening."
Vida's eyes crinkled with amusement. "What you've got isn't contagious—except to women who sleep with my son, and he’s mated with.
" She winked. "You're carrying a child. I've birthed enough to recognize the signs, and I'm done adding to my collection.
Grandchildren are much more sensible." She turned to check something simmering on the stove.
"Triaxen babies are demanding. The early months are particularly rough.
You must keep your strength up, even when you don't feel like eating.
And don't hesitate to tell Krevan when you need space.
Intimacy loses its appeal when you're fighting nausea. "
Heat flooded Ancelin's face as she realized Krevan and his father were standing in the doorway, listening. She fanned herself frantically.
"Those hot flashes confirm it," Vida said, sliding another roast into the oven. "A Triaxen child takes after its father. Your body is adapting more dramatically than in human pregnancies. You'll need Krevan's venom regularly—it strengthens both you and the baby, even helps with the queasiness."
"But I had a contraceptive shot," Ancelin protested.
Vida just laughed.
"The prevention shot isn't perfect, especially with how.
.. intimate you two have been," Vida said with a knowing smile.
"Call it mother's intuition." She wiped her hands on her apron.
"I've had seven children myself and could still have more if I wanted.
That's one benefit of being mated to a Triaxen—you stay youthful much longer than Earth women.
" She glanced at Ancelin's untouched bread.
"My youngest just turned ten. Eat, dear. "
Ancelin nibbled the bread, saying nothing.
"True mates are rare among our kind," Vida continued, lowering her voice. "When a Triaxen finds his match, children usually follow quickly." She touched Ancelin's hand. "We all consider you family now. Am I embarrassing you? The men are too absorbed in their conversation to hear us anyway."
“Krevan hears everything.” Ancelin sighed.
Vida's eyes softened. "I've waited years for this moment—meeting you, seeing Krevan happy again. He's my firstborn and watching him suffer through that wrongful conviction nearly broke me." She squeezed Ancelin's fingers. "Gillian's death was truly an accident."
"I know. Krevan explained everything," Ancelin said, finishing her tea.
"I'm glad you've embraced this life," Vida said.
"It happened fast for me too with Aiden.
I knew nothing about Triaxens then. They move quickly once they find their mate—it's instinct, but also devotion.
Had I heard all the frightening stories about them beforehand, I might have run the other direction! "
"The nausea's passing. Do you think I should try to eat something?"
"Yes, but take it slow. I'll have a plate ready soon—just tartis roast. The men need their meat, especially after being out in that cold."
"Ancelin." Krevan broke away from his conversation with his father.
"I need to show Father and the others the power crystal in my office.
Will you be alright? I can stay if you're still unwell.
" He leaned down, pressing his lips to the curve where her neck met her shoulder.
The graze of his teeth sent a current through her body, warming her to her fingertips.
"Better?" His voice dropped to a low rumble.
Heat bloomed across Ancelin's cheeks as she nodded.
"You're flushing again. Are you certain you're feeling well? "
"I'm fine. Go ahead with your father. I'll stay with your mother." The lingering warmth from his venom spread through her veins, easing her nausea.
"Call if you need anything." Krevan squeezed her hand before departing. The men's voices faded as they followed him to view the hidden power crystal.
Once they were alone, Ancelin leaned closer to Vida. "What's the truth about Triaxen males? Beyond Krevan's reputation for being... dangerous. Was that just because of his imprisonment, or is it common among them?"
Vida pressed her lips together, checking the roast before answering.
"They're complex creatures. Formidable when threatened, yes, but that's not the whole story.
" She closed the oven door carefully. "With casual partners, they take what they need without much consideration.
Some women find that intensity... appealing.
" Her expression suggested she found this puzzling.
"But with their true mates—" she gestured toward Ancelin "—everything changes.
Their devotion becomes absolute. The protection, unconditional.
" She wiped her hands on her apron. "The family bonds run deep.
Every man who came here today would die before letting harm come to you—not just because you're Krevan's mate or a Vallex, but because you're now part of something larger than yourself. The Triaxen community."
"What does it mean to be a Vallex?"
"When a Vallex enters a room on Triaxe, everyone stands," Vida said, her eyes taking on a distant look. "Their word carries the weight of law, though they hold no official title. For generations, when crisis strikes, people look to the Vallex family first."
"So, when Krevan was sent to Hellgate..." Ancelin trailed off.
"It was like watching royalty thrown to wolves.
" Vida's knuckles whitened around her teacup.
"That Earth judge knew exactly what he was doing.
A Triaxen doctor from our most revered family, convicted on the flimsiest evidence?
The witness even testified that Gillian attacked Krevan first, that she screamed death threats while trying to stop him from calling authorities.
" She set the cup down with careful precision.
"But the judge needed to make a statement.
So, he sentenced my son—a man guilty of nothing but defending himself—to a place where monsters are sent to die. And our people have not forgotten."
"A single judge decided his fate?" Ancelin asked, her brow furrowing.
"One of the many shortcomings in our justice system," Vida said, clenching her hands into fists before she forced them to relax. "No juries on Triaxe."
"But that's the past now." Ancelin touched Vida's arm gently.
The older woman's jaw had tightened, her eyes distant with old pain.
"He can return home to Triaxe, to his family.
This place—Verrian—it's been little better than a prison for him with its bitter cold at least half of the year.
" She shivered, remembering the howling winds and tornado that could have claimed her life.
"If he hadn't found me and offered me protection and shelter when he did.
..I would have been a victim of this planet. "