A Kingdom's Expectations & A Shocking Revelation {Sequel}

Chapter 10

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When I woke the next morning, the sun was speckling our sheets with little droplets of light and the air felt sharper: as if it were a gift simply to inhale it in. Sebastian was still lightly engaged in sleep, his mind drifting in a different world. My fingers trailed over his bare stomach: a different kind of canvas but just as enjoyable as my usual hobby.

Despite the ill mood I found myself in yesterday and the dampening Lady Grace's words had placed over my evening, I could not help but have high spirits. For once, I felt like myself. It had been too long since coming to the Kingdom that in the space of a handful of moments... I'd felt like the young girl Sebastian had once courted - and nay, sparred with.

Lady Grace might have her wicked designs - but it was I that lay in bed with my husband, it was I that held his undivided love and attention. She was simply some jealous harpy. Perhaps if I were a more level-headed character, I would spare some pity for her situation, but her parting words had entirely dispelled any warm feeling I might have shared.

Lady Graceless would be a trial, to be sure.

But she would soon learn I was not to be trifled with.

A rumble bit away at my stomach, beginning at a low note and then entering a delightfully worrying crescendo. I looked down in dismay as the ache of hunger began to pulse inside of me.

"Stop it," I entreated crossly. A little smile danced over my lips as I brushed against light skin. A thrill ran inside of me as I realised my stomach was curving outwards as it had not done before. I was beginning to show.

I prodded Sebastian with my elbow, my gaze still transfixed. How had I not seen it before? The gentle swell of my stomach could not have simply appeared over-night; I had been distracted by too many other events of late. My husband muttered something lazily but otherwise did not stir.

My elbow accidentally lodged sharply into his ribs and Sebastian promptly jolted awake.

"R-Rosalia," he choked out, a little out of breath. "Why did you just attack me?"

"Sebastian, look," I pressed him urgently, still refusing to spare him a glance. There was a flush in my cheeks that I felt in the gathering warmth; the evidence of our child's existence was startling - even scary. Sebastian curled up beside me, his head falling on the crook of my neck to allow him proper sight.

I heard his sharp intake of breath, then felt his hands on my own: stroking the life I held within me. A terror - age-old and yet alien - bloomed within me. I had not known what it was like to be with child - the euphoria so poignant and yet the fear even more intense. I didn't realise I was shaking until Sebastian pressed down on my hand firmly, effectively ending the tremors.

"You'll be an excellent mother," he assured me: the words honey-sweet and soft in my ear.

"I can't help feeling afraid," I admitted. "Are you afraid?"

"Like if hell-hounds were chasing me."

"I cannot believe you compared the birth of our child to being hunted by hell's denizens."

"Maybe it was a bad comparison," he teased. "Perhaps it is more like I'm only hunted by the hounds half the time - and then sometimes they stop and we play Fetch."

"Fetch?"I scoffed, pushing me upwards away from my foolish husband. His arm encircled my waist and gently tugged me back, and I squealed as I lost balance - careening into him. "Sebastian!"

He chuckled and simply pulled me closer, his nose pressing into my hair. I let a smile linger, closing my eyes and inhaling in his scent. We lay together in the unique warmth we created and I wished in those moments that we never had to move - that we could simply preserve this moment. Infinite perfection.