The Hideous Secret

Heir to the Throne

Days did seem to drag by in camp. No attacks, no intense training, just lounging and waiting on Rathgar. The king was still in camp--constantly talking to his ex-mate. With it brought up Analexa's comment about Alek being the king's 'heir in law'.

Alek was yet again eating--though doused in sweat after having to train all day. "Alek."

"Yes?" He questioned.

"How are you a heir in law. Shouldn't it be heir to be?"

"I do not know. I didn't understand at all what she meant. Despite me being a lord, I have no connections to the king....I'm nothing more than a soldier--a war surviving, magical, ass kicking one."

"Rathgar has a heir though? A child he does not know?"

"I would assume that is correct. I've only heard the child was their ruin of the mating bond. After all she left him to rule a new kingdom with child--never letting him know. She crushed him." Aleksandar paused, "Rath, has always known of his child. He's never made attempts to arrange to meet the child--now being an adult fae."

"Do you have a reason?"

"To many wars, and though he'd never say it....I think the child would pain him as his mate does. For this say child would resemble Analexa." Alek's food dribbled down onto the counter. He was eating a juicy steak, right from the spit.

"Do you believe the child is alive?"

"Yes, because there was no time of grief. If there had been...ah how to explain this. If the child had died he would have known. Despite him not knowing his mate's pregnancy when she left, its still his magical child. He'd still feel it. The torture he must have felt."

"Then if he knows the pain why does he demand of you to give your babies up."

"It's the way it has always been. Even his children probably won't be spared. If he had stayed a family....while getting to see his child the most often and spoiling the shit out of him or her, the child would undergo every measure of being a fae in training."

"But why does he expect you to be the so-and-so, breeder?"

"You don't want shitty soldiers as a powerful kingdom with an even  more powerful rivalry. It would just create tension and to much work to train the not as powerful fae. As much as I hate giving my babies away Allahie, I am serving my kingdom, I am insuring safety for the lesser, weaker, and needier. As a Dark Lord with ranking, and since Kennith is down, my own stand point is growing," Aleksandar paused to swallow heavily and rubbed his stomach. "I will get to probably train our children, with you right by my side."

"Are they kicking you again, darling?"

"Yes," Alek murmured, "It is quiet painful."

"What did Analexa mean, she hasn't killed you because of who you are mated to."

"I do not know. You bare no special reasons not to be killed. You are just another soldier for the side against her. The fact she would spare me over you, even the fact our babies are hellfire. I do not understand it."

"Perhaps it is because she doesn't want to see another family ripped apart so easily?"

Aleksandar laughed, took a long sip of wine---which Allahie snarled at--and then cleared his throat. "Me being a high ranking dark lord, with such a young developing family, would be all the more reason for her to destroy us. Since Kennith is down, crippling or killing me...Rathgar has few combat ready Jarls left. To my surprise Lexein...the Shifter of Hell, proves horrid in combat. He's a good Jarl, just will take out half his team in rage. Sanariix....of course he stays home when he's pregnant with six. I may have hell fire babies, but mine are illegal and Sanariix...they will all either be healers, or shadow stalkers...or both."

"Analexa." Allahie murmured, "I think I found a missing point to Rathgar's hatred. Dunniver. The King of Light."

"He's just a big name, gets all the credit. Analexa is not married to him--that I know for a fact.  A rejected mate of her status will never love again, aside from a child. She gets title of Queen for being his destructive bitch. She really is one of the best fighters to walk the earth. God's above if I ever met her child...her's and Rathgar's child...imagine the capability of that child, the destruction it could bring forth, if it was trained right."

"Alek, darling, why don't you walk around..." Allahie murmured, ignoring the history of the traitors queen. Her mate was hurting...She approached him and put her chin on his powerful shoulder. She reached down to wrap her arms around his stomach.

"Allahie, I'm fine. I'm just sore. I'm out of shape. It's not the babies....I promise." He kissed her cheek, "Though...Allahie," His voice grew dreadfully soft and painful. "I think...I think they are going to have to be born here. In this camp."

Her heart fell yet raced in the same time because of fear. He couldn't have them here! He needed a handful of medics if his son was winged, and Kennith's had raw magic!

"We need to get Kennith better, ASAP." Allahie murmured back, because her mate was really starting to be affected despite his attempts to hide it.

"Allahie," Alek mumbled, "I haven't even reached the difficult part yet. They haven't started to test their magic yet. When they do...I will have no power because mine will be used to protect me...as they are unwieldy with it."

"Oh, honey..." Allahie murmured, rubbing the swell. "We need to get you home."

"I would like to...rapid growth hasn't hit either. When that happens, because I am with triplets, I probably will be bed ridden for a few days."

"How long till they are born?"

"I'm roughly half way....."

"Master," Hawlor interjected but was interrupted.

"ALEKSANDAR, ALLAHIE, GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE!" Kennith roared, "SHE'S GONE!"

Alek's golden, panic-filled eyes met hers and he stumbled to raise to his feet--bumping his stomach into the table and cussing like a mad man. Allahie just firmly wrapped her hands around his stomach, stopping him from stumbling out of the tent.

"Honey, take a moment....." Allahie murmured burying her face against his strong back. She just stayed still feeling the swell in awe, and wrapping comforting magic around his belly to settle the babies--as the smacking the table disrupted them.

"Allahie...I...Rath...."

She firmly took his hand, and with her arm around his waist she walked out with him to meet the raging king.