MAEVE POVI felt warm.Uncharacteristically warm. It was nothing like the boiling heat of a fever, but rather the warmth of a new day, shining down on me.My body creaked and groaned like worn wood as I rolled flat onto my back. I didn’t recall going to sleep with such discomfort…I must’ve slept in
But… I saw nothing. Just blurred outlines of his features. I didn’t know if he had Xaden’s eyes or mine, if he had a button nose, or if he had his father’s charming smile.Still, in the end, none of that mattered right now.This was my little boy. I could feel it deep in my soul, even without seeing
“But… that can’t be right…” I said. “You gave me this ring last—I mean, when I was only a month pregnant.”Xaden was quiet for a long, drawn-out moment, apparently lost in thought. His gaze swept over me, taking in every detail he could amid the glowing gardens around us, before flickering over to t
MAEVE POVI slowly awoke to the sensation of fingertips tracing the length of my bare back. Slow. Gentle. Full of sweet, seductive, adoring intent.Huh…There’s something oddly familiar about all of this…Groggily, I stretched, enjoying the way the silk bed sheets wrinkled underneath my skin, the co
And, after a short sweet kiss to my forehead, he was gone. I was alone.Well… I thought, lifting my hand to take in the treasure I now wore. I supposed I wasn’t really all that alone. The blue-purple stone looked just as magnificent in the morning light, if not more stunning, making my heart soar.I
It was about time he found someone he could let loose with.With an eye-roll that poorly hid his amusement, Xaden held his hand out. “Hand me those reports from the border, will you?”Burke diligently gathered the requested stack and offered it to Xaden, but not before his eyes snagged on a peculiar
MAEVE POVModest violet dress befit for the royal palace?Check.Eyes wiped dry and blotch-free?I leaned closer to the gilded standing mirror, taking a closer look at my eyes. Any sign of redness was gone, but a slight puffiness remained in my lids.Um… check?Have all of Xaden’s love bites been co
I smiled a little, not knowing if he could see it or not.“That’s really too kind of you. It took no more than two hours, at best. It was no trouble and…” I slowed, letting out a short awkward laugh, “if I’m being honest, I’m embarrassed that I gave him something so subpar.”“Why’s that?”“I mean… h