Chapter 22: Distractions *Ember*Every morning I woke up and until I fell asleep at night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the embryo trying to nestle inside me like a seed trying to take root, its presence impossible to ignore. I placed a hand on my belly, anxiety twisting my insides into knots. What if something went wrong with the pregnancy? What if Kieran regretted his decision to have a child with me? My phone buzzed, startling me from my worries. Rowena's name flashed across the screen. I answered immediately, a spike of panic shooting through me. "Rowena, is everything okay?" "Just calling to check in on my favorite surrogacy mama," she said brightly. "How are you feeling?" I exhaled in relief, sinking into the cushions of one of the castle’s window seats where I’d taken up space to read."Nervous. Excited and terrified all at once," I admitted as I gazed out at the castle landscape stretching toward the horizon, sunlight dappling it in shades of emerald and go
*Kieran*It had been a busy day filled with meetings. Thorne and Zephyr had kept me busy while we discussed political standings and tactics preparing our kingdom for any attacks or ambushes. I didn't want to think about outcomes like that, but preparing for the worst was always an important tactful move when ruling a kingdom. Plus, I had more important things to protect now.Ember. She was always on my mind even during these meetings, I swiveled around in my chair thinking about how I needed to continue to keep her safe here in the castle with me. If I was being honest, I was noticing how important her presence was becoming to me. I often thought about her naked body, but her wits were also piquing my curiosity. Ember was an intelligent woman and that was a bonus I had not expected. "You are thinking about her again," Zephyr's voice came from the door. He held a stack of papers and gave me a sly grin after I looked over at him."Who am I thinking about? And when did you get he
*Ember*I sat outside in the gardens on one of the wooden benches sipping a cup of decaffeinated tea. Nola had been pushing me hard with training this morning and I just wanted to enjoy some afternoon solace on my own. I choked on my tea having a flashback to the bathroom last night after we discovered I hadn't hurt Kieran with my hands. In fact, finding out I could touch him with my bare hands was what started the whole wet and sticky situation in the shower. I had nothing to complain about though, Kieran always made sure I orgasmed too. I had heard men weren't always this attentive to their partners, and it was amazing to find that Kieran reciprocated in that department.I shook my head, trying to stop thinking about how amazing it had been last night. I stood and stretched, having enjoyed the sunshine outside. I had been getting into a routine, waking up early, studying with Nola, and practicing some fire magic. The afternoon was the perfect time for me to snuggle in the libr
*Ember*I sat on the floor next to the wastebasket I had vomited in. I had been worried this entire time that Kieran's sperm sample didn't work, and now I felt my body become numb with shock at the possibility that I could be pregnant. Not only pregnant but pregnant with Kieran's baby. I couldn't believe what was happening."Don't go anywhere!" Kieran shouted excitedly, the shock was written all over his face as he pointed at me and ran out of my bathroom. I shook my head. I don't think I was going anywhere, I felt nauseous and dazed. I had never really known anyone who had been pregnant in my life. Was this what it was like to discover being pregnant? I didn't like feeling sick and out of control. I just needed to trust that Kieran knew what he was doing. I rubbed my eyes trying to will the dizziness away. We really should have kept some pregnancy tests in my bathroom. Did they really think I'd be able to make it to the lab to take a test? I heard Kieran come scuffling back
*Ember*I imagined what the cannon would sound like as the boom of it shooting at us echoed in my ears. I had let my imagination run wild with this daydream and I thought I could hear Kieran shouting my name above the loud wind sailing around us. "Ember! Ember! Are you okay?" his voice called. My eyes shot open with surprise and I looked into Kieran's worried gaze.He must have been shaking my shoulders because I realized his hands were placed on either side of me as he sat haphazardly on the window seat. "Ember! You were talking in your sleep, I didn't mean to startle you," he explained, removing his hands off of my shoulders and placing them on his thighs. "I was?" I asked with a surprised tone. Perhaps my daydream was more than that… I must have started dreaming. "Maybe I fell asleep?""I think you did, you are probably tired from everything that happened this morning," Kieran said pointing toward my stomach. "Growing a baby is hard work.""I guess so," I said, feel
*Ember*I felt a warm blush wash all over me as I lay in Kieran’s arms in the great outdoors. I hadn’t really known what it would be like. Even though I’d imagined it countless times, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it all felt. I playfully kissed him on the lips and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. "So, we are officially making love," Kieran said, propping his head up on his arm and watching me."Well, yeah," I said, feeling comfortable with him now. "I didn't know it would be this good though.""It's only going to get better," he said, still studying my body. "I need you," he whispered into my ear and I felt his dick get hard again.I smirked, "Is that so?" as I turned towards him and leaned up on my elbow."You bet it is," he said, kissing my chest and placing my hand on his cock. I stroked him with my hand and he growled into my neck. "And I think you need this again," I whispered in his ear.He lifted his head up to mine and grinned with
*Ember*"Kieran," I said, putting my book down while Kieran headed over to me and sat on the end of the lounge chair next to me. I observed him wondering why his shoulders seemed tense and his body was rigid as he sat down. Maybe he didn't sleep well. I couldn't help but reach out to grasp his arm empathizing with him since I too had been struggling to sleep lately."Ember," he said, sucking in a deep breath as my skin touched his. Did he not like it when I touched him? I had only just gotten used to the fact that I could touch him without hurting him. It would be discouraging if he didn't want me to touch him.Interrupting my thoughts, Kieran continued with a question as he looked deep into my eyes, "How are you?""Good. How are you? You don't look too good," I asked looking at him. He looked like he was going to throw up, perhaps he had been pushing himself too much lately.He gritted his teeth and gave me a tense smile. "What are you reading?"I sighed knowing he was ign
*Kieran*"We just can't be sure who this woman was, Kieran," Nola repeated in my study as I rubbed my chin in contemplation at her words.Thorne and Zephyr stood at my sides looking back from me to Nola. We were strategizing our next move in regards to Ember's strange nightmare earlier this morning. I had put all other meetings on hold, because this was Ember we were talking about. I wouldn't have her safety or my child's safety put in jeopardy. "Well, that's just not good enough," I shouted with frustration. "We need to know who we are dealing with. She's got enough magic to penetrate the castle barriers and get inside Ember's head. She has to be someone of importance, and we need to find out who she is. Now."I reiterated my words and knew that the three of them heard me. Nola gave me a very tense but serious look. It had only been a few hours before, where she had discovered I may have romantic feelings for Ember. So she knew why I was so worked up more than usual. "Ther