The Stains of the Crown

Chapter Thirty One

Trigger warnings: mentions of past domestic abuse, flashbacks, kidnapping, murder, murder attempts.

Smut warning.

A few days after, Sevas shows up with a very pregnant Vita in tow. She was at least eight months along now. I can't help but wonder if she was even okay to travel.

"You sound just like Sevas," Vita says, somewhere between annoyed and amused.

"I'm honestly surprised she let you come. My mates are barely even letting me into the village anymore, and they spend the whole time keeping everyone away from me." She laughs softly.

"That doesn't surprise me, especially from Jovi. She's protective."

"She's overprotective. It's sweet and all, but they're so paranoid about me getting hurt. The other day, Vix made me hold onto her arm while I was walking down the stairs. It took us like, twenty minutes just to get down." She laughs, shaking her head. She looks over at our mates who all speak animatedly to each other.

"So have they all gotten over being upset about what happened?" I shrug.

"They seem to have. Sometimes though, I catch Vix staring at my scars, or at my stomach with that look. She said she's made her peace with it, but I'm not sure I completely believe her." She hums.

"How are you doing with all of it?" I shrug again.

"Still having setbacks. I had a nightmare the other day that had me feeling like I did when I first got back. But it's getting easier, thank god. What about you guys? How've you been?" She gives me an almost exasperated sigh.

"Sevas has been nesting almost non-stop. She's had the servants repaint the nursery a million times. And I can't get my shoes on without help, which sucks. Not as bad as getting a foot in the ribs, though. Has your baby started kicking yet?" I laugh softly.

"A little bit. Jovi's a bit jealous that she hasn't been able to feel it yet. The baby kicks more for her though." She gives me a soft smile.

"Have you decided whether or not you're going to keep it?" I shake my head, biting my lip softly.

"Jovi told me a while ago that she was okay with me keeping it, and we had a conversation about what exactly that would mean. And Vix and I had a similar conversation, but she was less convincing about being okay with it. Finley hasn't really said much about any of it, but I think she's wanting the baby more than Jovi."

"But what do you want?" I bite my lip, glancing over at my mates.

"I want to want it. But I'm terrified that they won't be able to see past its father. And I'm even more terrified that I won't be able to." She does her best to pull me into a hug. We end up breaking into laughter as our baby bumps get in the way.

"What I was trying to say," Vita says once we settle down, "is that I'm sorry that's something you have to consider. Based off of how Finley reacted when she saw the baby, I don't think you need to worry about her. Jovi... Well, I think she'd be pretty good about ignoring that aspect. Vix is a little harder to read, but I do know she's making an effort to get past it. And you," she pauses, giving me a soft smile, "you are the strongest person I know. I think if you want to see past it, you'll find a way to. After all, you managed to get past your indifference towards the baby." I hum.

"I'm worried that that was more of a fluke than something I was actually responsible for. I just... if it looks like him..."

"You're worried that if it looks like him, you'll have a flashback or think he's back?" I nod, looking over at Vix. She's laughing at a joke one of the others told. I want to smile with her, but the thoughts in my head make it hard. "And you're worried that she'll treat it poorly just because it came from Mazus?" I nod again.