The Legend of the Eight: The Hunted (Book 5)

5: What to Expect When You're Expecting a War

FIVE: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING A WAR
FEBRUARY 7
CHLOE LAWSON

SHE SHIFTED BETWEEN TWO black Stuart Weitzman block heels, adjusting her plum-colored shift dress so that it concealed her baby bump properly. At twenty-two weeks, her belly had grown larger and rounder though she was still able to disguise it when needed—like at the new King's coronation party where she was surrounded by hundreds of judgmental strangers.

She was standing on the perimeter of the Diamond's ballroom, nursing a club soda with lime while she waited for her date to return. He was over by the live orchestra, talking to Louis Westerfield—the new liaison for the Mortal World. The job used to belong to Jessica Miller, the mother of one of Chloe's classmates, but she suddenly quit her job after the holidays. While she waited for her date, Chloe saw her brother, the newly-dubbed Lord Damon Donovan, making his way over to her.

"Look at you, Lord Donovan," she teased, nudging him with her elbow. "Enjoying the party?"

Damon stood beside her and glanced out at the party, taking in the hundreds of people who'd gathered to celebrate the new King.

"It's weird," he said. "Everyone is celebrating like today doesn't mean we're giving up on Walt. And don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Leo. He worked so hard to prepare for this and he'll be a great King. But Walter was a great King too. I just wish they would give me more time. I know if I had more time, I could figure out a way to wake him up."

Chloe leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know, but it's been three months. We need a King. And no one said you had to stop working on the cure. At least now you won't be racing against a clock."

"I have a lead," Damon said after a minute, like he was deciding whether or not to give his sister this information. "And it's risky. It's really risky. Not to mention if the wrong people find out, I would have to answer to the Council. But this could be it. It could actually work."

He continued to look over the party and as he did, his eyes landed on one particular guest. She danced in a circle with her friends and laughed while she sipped champagne. Her navy gown hugged her slim frame in all the right places and the emeralds in her tiara brought out the green in her eyes.

"You're doing this for her, aren't you?" Chloe asked, following her brother's gaze across the room. He shrugged.

"I guess, I just thought that if I could do this one thing for her, it might make up for everything else I didn't do."

Chloe looped her arm through his and squeezed tight.

"She looks beautiful tonight, doesn't she?"

He smiled and his eyes never left her. Across the room, Sir Oliver returned to the circle with two champagne flutes, offering one to the princess. She accepted it and kissed him, the look of love twinkling on her face. Chloe looked up at her brother and saw the jealousy twisting its way into his dark brown eyes before he looked away, avoiding those green eyes as if they'd turn him to stone. Chloe snorted through a laugh.

"What?" he asked, shoving her gently.

"Oh nothing," Chloe assured him but that was a lie. "It's just, I see the way you look at her and how that look changes when you see her with her handsome diplomatic friend, Sir Oliver. It's funny. I didn't know your face muscles could move like that."

"She's happy," said Damon, his eyes falling back on her and watching her smile. "I'm not going to ruin that. After everything she's been through, she deserves to be happy. She deserves all the happiness in the world."