Page 169 of Destiny of a King

Dravic’s gaze followed. “How long?”

Adira’s brow rose.

“How long have you been able to speak?”

“It took some time.”

His brow drew together in annoyance. “And how long have you known about the bairn?”

“It wasn’t long after,” Adira admitted, having sensed the child within her before she showed any signs of being with child.

Dravic muttered an oath and turned away, running a hand through his hair before turning back to her.

“You left me. You discovered you carried my child. You regained your voice, and not once did you think your king should be informed of any of it?”

“My king?” Adira’s smile appeared slowly. “Is that who I am to you? My king?”

“Bloody hell,” he mumbled as he crossed the distance between them in several long strides. “Do not think being able to speak is going to make arguing with me any easier.”

“I thought it might,” she said with a soft laugh.

Her gentle laugh stopped him for a moment, his heart hammering in his chest hearing it. Then all the anger he had carried through the long winter simply disappeared and he hurried to her.

He caught her face between his hands. “You are truly here.”

“Aye,” she assured him, her smile wide.

“And you are well?” he asked anxiously.

“I am.”

His gaze dropped once more to her rounded stomach. “And our bairn?”

Adira took his hand and placed it on her stomach and as if the bairn knew his da’s touch, he let loose with a kick.

Dravic’s eyes went wide with wonder. “He is strong.”

“Like his da,” she said with a whisper.

Dravic pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

He had kissed her many times, but this felt different. It felt as if part of himself that had been missing returned. Two joined as one. He felt whole and he never wanted to feel as empty as he had without her ever again.

He had barely lifted his mouth from hers when a small golden light shot between them.

Dravic jerked back.

Fiora hovered directly in front of his face, hands planted on her hips.

He stared at her. “So, this is where you’ve been, you bloody traitor. Here with Adira.”

“Someone had to look after her,” Fiora scolded.

Dravic scowled at her. “You could have told me where she was.”

Fiora laughed. “Not my place.”

“Not your place? I spent the entire winter miserable without her, worried senselessly about her. And you could have prevented all that.”