The First Sacrifice

The Future

  When I woke up I was in our nest. I gasped and shot up only to meet the gentle arms of my husband. I flushed at that very thought.  He lay beside me, he leaned forward and pressed his palm against my stomach to coax me to lay back. He hummed and kissed my forehead.

I sighed taking in the quiet moment with him. His peace settled over me like a warm shower. 

"What happened, did I miss addressing the clans?" I asked worry taking root in the pit of my stomach.

Maddox leaned forward to gather me in his arms and tucked me into his chest. My body reacted and curled into his with no protest or hesitation. 

"The Sun God addressed the court during your fire dance. I was challenged for your hand but Thank the Sun he protested and they all backed down.  The guests are at the reception and we don't have to make any formal greetings until you feel well and are rested. They are prepared to wait till tomorrow."

I nodded softly feeling exhaustion sweep over me. "Did Isa tell you why I fainted?"

Maddox nodded and then his eyes met mine. "Partly it is due to the Sun Gods presence within you but your body is in a fragile state already... Eury we have fulfilled the heat." He said sheepishly a smile sneaking across those pink lips.

I met his eyes as a gasp escaped my mouth. My hands went to the flat planes of my stomach. His hands followed suit covering mine and causing a warm tingle run through my body peaking at the tips of my fingers and toes and the crown of my head.

"We are with child." I breathed a tear slipping from my eye. 

He nodded.  "With the successful birth of our child an heir to the RedWing Clan. Father and mother will step down and we will take the throne." He said.

"So soon?" I asked fear and anticipation gripped my stomach.

"It is custom but only if he is born successfully." He said solemnly.

"He,you assume you have produced a son? I know very little of pregnancy is it common that dragon children do not make it?" I gulped

Maddox's hand cupped my abdomen and kissed my navel. " I love this child already, but we must prepare for the realities of carrying a child in dragon culture."

"I say he, because a successful female dragon birth has not happened in 80 years. If our child is female it is most likely she will be borne still, life's breath never to reach her lungs. If our child is to make it, a he will be more likely to survive but things do happen that can steal our child away before he learns to walk." Max told me softly.

I smoothed the wrinkles between his brow." I understand but in the case that we have a daughter as your first born does she inherit the throne?" 

He smiled then. "Dragon kind follows a birth right by birth order not by sex. If you my little goddess gift me with a healthy daughter she will be the future queen of the RedWing Clan and they will be lucky to have her."

His smile faltered then, " I don't want you to get your hopes up though, it is slim to none that we would bear a heathy daughter."

I nodded and met his eyes gone was the glimmer he had discussing our imaginary daughter.

"It seems you have done what you've told me not to do." I said softly. He smiled softly and ran his fingers around my chin placing a kiss on my lips.

" I was my mothers 4th child and not her last." He said somberly.

" And yet I have no siblings. I saw what that did to my parents. I was to have 4 sisters; 3 older and one younger. I don't know if I have the strength to go through that. I already feel so strongly about this child we have yet to meet . So I will pray for sons for both of our sakes. Though the thought of having a daughter that looks like you .... she  dances in my dreams." He said softly.