She shakes her head slightly, lips twitching. "No. I was waiting for you."
Anticipation buzzes under my skin. "Perfect."
The river comes into view—crystal clear water flowing over smooth stones, surrounded by hardy canyon plants that provide shade and privacy. This has become our spot over the past months. The place where Serah and I first started truly connecting. Where we fell in love despite every obstacle trying to prevent it.
We settle on the flat rocks near the water's edge. Lola sits with visible relief, stretching her legs out and tilting her face toward the sun. Kaelen remains hovering nearby like he expects her to collapse at any moment. Mora and Gorrak find their own perch slightly upstream, giving us space while still maintaining protective proximity.
I wait until everyone seems settled before clearing my throat.
Kaelen glances over. "What?"
"Just thinking." I let a grin spread across my face—wide and deliberately smug. "About how I won our bet."
The effect is immediate and gratifying.
Kaelen goes still. "What bet?"
"You know exactly what bet." I'm fully committed now, letting my natural personality shine through without restraint. Loud. Boisterous. The version of myself I kept carefully controlled for too long. "The one we made six months ago. The one you were so confident about."
Understanding dawns across his face, followed rapidly by horror. "You didn't?—"
"I did." I stand up and announce it to the entire group, volume rising with uncontained pride. "Zurkar confirmed it three days ago. Serah is pregnant. Which means I won."
Silence.
Then—
"You absolute bastard," Kaelen groans, dropping his head into his hands. "I nearly made it."
"Zurkar says she's about two months along." I'm practically crowing now. "Which means conception happened well before your baby is due. Clear victory for me."
Lola's face lights up with pure joy. "Serah! You're pregnant?"
Serah is grinning despite trying to look annoyed with me. "Apparently. Though I would have preferred announcing it instead of learning there was some bet involved."
"Good point." Lola looks between me and Kaelen with dawning suspicion. "What are you two talking about?"
Mora's expression shifts from confused to calculating. "Yes, what bet?"
Kaelen grimaces like he's facing execution. "It was stupid. Just—we were joking around after Zurkar confirmed you were pregnant, and Rakk said something about getting Serah pregnant too, and I said there was no way he'd manage it before you gave birth?—"
"You were betting," Lola interrupts slowly, "on whether Rakk could get Serah pregnant before I gave birth?"
"It was friendly competition," I offer cheerfully. "And technically Kaelen started it by saying I'd be too distracted by clan duties to?—"
Serah smacks my arm. Not hard—she knows the soul-binding would transfer actual force back to me—but enough to convey exasperation. "You bet onbreedingme?"
"You love that I want to breed you," I counter, catching her hand and pulling her against my side. We’ve come far enough from my stupid announcement all those months ago to be able to joke about it. Now she knows that it’s not about her body but about the family we want together. "Admit it."
She tries to maintain her annoyed expression but can't quite hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're ridiculous."
"You love me anyway."
"Unfortunately." But her amber-hazel eyes are warm with affection. "And yes, fine. I know you want this. I want this too. The bet is just..." She waves her free hand vaguely. "Very you."
Lola is laughing now—full-bodied and bright despite her rounded belly. "I can't believe you two. Grown warriors placing bets like adolescents."
"Adds excitement to the process," I say with complete sincerity. "And I won, which means Kaelen owes me—what was it? A month of patrol coverage?"
