A Court in Flames

Chapter 5

Yrene's POV

We'd finally arrived in Orynth and when we opened the doors to the sitting room, we found that everyone else had already arrived. Josefin immediately ran over to Fleetfoot who was laying beside Lysandra's chair.

Then Lysandra said, "Hey, we can figure out one of the questions!" and she got an evil glint in her eyes and Lorcan just groaned.

Dorian then asked with a rather confused expression, "Did we miss something?"

Lysandra was about to say something when Lorcan cut her off, "Maybe Elide should share her news with them before Lysandra asks anything." Lysandra just scowled at him before sitting down and just glaring at him before she smiled wickedly. 

Lorcan glared at her as she shifted into a smaller version of him to fit into her gown. She stood up and twirled around. Everyone laughed at the sight of Lysandra-as-Lorcan in a gown. Manon probably laughing the hardest of everyone.

Lorcan scowled at Lysandra.

Lysandra then proceeded to bow and shifted back to her preferred human form.

We had sat down on the remaining seats. Fleetfoot was now laying on Josefin's lap. And I had realized that Rowan had slipped out of the room and Aedion hadn't been in the room at all.

"So what's the news?" I asked, Elide.

"Well, I didn't know when you all were going to get here so I already told them because they would've figured it out rather quickly. Anyway, I'm gonna have a baby."

"Now, here is a prime example princeling, that is a witchling, I am not."

"And I've told you before, I don't care. I'm still going to call you that. Also, I am not a prince anymore so that nickname doesn't work anymore." Manon just stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why does no-one have a normal reaction?" Elide wondered out-loud.

"Congratulations!" I told her.

"Except for Yrene. No-one else has a normal reaction."

"Okay. So now can I ask my question?" Lysandra asked and by the way, she said that I kind felt as if she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Go ahead," Lorcan said, exasperatedly. 

"So, Manon," Lysandra started while leaning forward, "I asked Aedion a question earlier, which he rudely left unanswered. Now... I was wondering... Are you pregnant?" I was downright shocked at the question, but Manon just burst into laughter.

"I don't believe I am unless I  became pregnant in the last week, shifter."

"Good. I didn't want to be the last who wasn't pregnant. You hear that, Aedion! You were right! I'm not the last one! Now, get your ass back in here! You never answered my question! Too bad, Aelin's not here. I would've asked her to burn Aedion's ass."

"Lysandra! Josefin's here!" I shouted at her, mortified that she'd said that in front of Josefin.

"Oh. Right. Josefin, you are not allowed to repeat that. Evangeline would be giving me grief for that."

"Speaking of Evangeline, where is she?" I asked her. 

"Oh, she gave me grief when I told her she has to attend our Yulemas gathering and then ran off to Gods know where. Josefin don't you ever give your mother grief."

"Oh, hello, everyone." Aedion said nervously as he entered the room, "You called?"

"Can you cover Josefin's ears?" Lysandra asked politely. I did because I knew the alternative was to let her hear Lysandra. "You're damn right I did. You never answered my question."

"What was the question again?" He asked nervously.

"You know perfectly well what the rutting question was."

"Can we just discuss this later?" He pleaded. "When we don't have company."

"Oh, don't mind us, Aedion," Manon told him and he shot her a glare. "What? This is rather enjoyable."

"Well, I didn't know you wanted to have a baby."

She turned towards everyone else, "How many of you knew I wanted a baby?" Everyone raised their hand. "So it seems we have a new problem, Aedion. Because literally everyone else knew. So why haven't you been listening to me?" She asked him with an accusing finger.

"Uhhh... Fine, I lied about not knowing. I just get uncomfortable every time you mention that stuff."

"Oh. Why? Don't you want to be a father?" Her face fell as if he really might not want that.

"I don't know. Look. Can we please talk about this later?"

"Ya, okay."

The doors flew open and Evangeline appeared.

"He's gone."

"Who?" Lysandra asked worriedly and Evangeline just handed her a note and I watched as her face blanched.

"What is it?" She wordlessly handed me the note.

It read, 'To whoever may find this,

I know that my duties lie to this kingdom as the king-consort. But, I know that this kingdom really needs its Queen. So I have gone looking for her. To bring her back to her kingdom.

-Prince Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius'

"Oh. Well, I guess there's no stopping him. We'll just have to wait until he returns." I told the group and the nodded in agreement.

"I guess that leaves Fenrys in charge. This should go well," Aedion stated as he sat down.

Fenrys, who'd just been lounging on the couch sat up quickly.

"You're kidding, right?"

Rowan's POV

I skimmed over the Lanis river on my way past Perranth.

The wind's singing their secrets to me, but not one word about Aelin. As Oakwald forest grew closer and closer. I knew I should start my search there. So as the winds carried me South I started my search for my mate.

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Aelin's POV

I woke up again and remembered my pregnancy. Even though I still had that one memory I didn't dare think about it, in case he took it away and when I escaped I'd be able to remember the child and come rescue them.

Then I realized that Rowan had probably started searching for me and I mentally groaned. He better not have left Fenrys in charge. Rowan, you are an insane, reckless fae. 

Then the man came in again. So I asked a question I knew I'd regret, but didn't care, "How long?"

"Aelin, darling, do you really not know?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I did," I growled.

"Four months, on the dot." He said matter-of-factly. "And I think you know what that means."

I did. I meant my due date was approaching faster than I'd expected.