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“Is Grisella giving you a problem, too?” I asked, stunned at the depth of the issue.
“I’m not here to discuss the staff,” Zephy told me, ambling closer toward me, her hands extended.
For the first time, I noticed how flushed her cheeks were, eyes glazed peculiarly as she neared me. My head cocked toward her, a fusion of alarm and interest spiking through me as I studied her beautiful face. Something was different about her today, something elusive; her aroma changed in a subtle but alluring way.
Her dark hair flowed freely around the bare skin of her shoulders, tendrils sweeping over the swell of her breasts, and she’d never looked more lovely than in the pale sunlight dappling through the windows of the study as she took hold of my hands.
Instinctively, I thought, “I need to remember her exactly like this.”
“What is it, my love? What’s wrong?”
Zephy shook her head, leading me toward the settee and sitting me down. “Nothing,” she reassured me. “Nothing at all.”
“Then why are you so serious?”
A smile curved her full lips, displaying the ivory of her teeth, and the gleam of her eyes increased. “I have news,” she informed me, her voice lowering to a near whisper, her hands drawing me closer.
“What news?”
Without another word, she splayed my palms on the lace of her dress openly, pressing my fingers to her abdomen, tilting her head to stare at me. For a moment, I didn’t comprehend her gesture, but when she tittered, biting on her lower lip, the understanding overcame me.
“You’re pregnant!” I almost roared, jumping up, excitement overtaking me.
Like a child myself, I leaped, and Zephy laughed outright, a hand flying to her mouth to smother her reaction.
“Shh!” she insisted, waving me down.
Immediately, I sank back to her side, cupping her face in my hands.
“I’m sorry,” I told her earnestly. “Is everything all right? Have you spoken with a pre-natal healer? Is there a problem?”
Her brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “No… nothing’s wrong,” she replied slowly. “I haven’t told anyone but you.”
I whooped and laughed, again bouncing up to pace and wring my hands excitedly. “We’ll find the best pre-natal healer in the kingdom!” I promised, wracking my mind for a name. Of course, in my happiness, I could think of nothing but my upcoming parentage. “I’ll have Aradia tend to that at once.”
“Cade—”
“We’ll have one of the adjoining suites designed as a nursery at once,” I went on, making plans, my pulse racing as I envisioned my son’s face already. “Are there any twins in your family? We might plan for twins in case. Or triplets! Could you imagine triplets?!”
“Cade—”
“And I’ll make a formal announcement tonight!” I went on, still not hearing her until she finally rose from her place and stood in front of me, grabbing my arm to stop me mid-pace.
“CADE!”
I stopped my babbling and stared at her, exhaling sheepishly. “I’m sorry,” I chuckled, embracing her to rain kisses over her face. I paused long enough to look at her and stare fully into her dark, endless eyes. “Thank you.”
She laughed lightly, nervously. “For what?”
I kissed her again and rubbed my nose against her tenderly, unleashing a spray of rose petals over her head, only to hear her giggle again. “For being my mate, my partner, my lover. And now…”
I placed my hands firmly on her belly. “For building our family and bringing along the next generation to Ironhelm. The kingdom will be so pleased as soon as it’s announced. You’ll see.”
My final kiss landed on her lips, but she didn’t return it, her lithe frame withdrawing as she stared at me with concern. At last, I read the worry on her face.
“What is it, Zephy?”
“You can’t announce it yet,” she told me quietly. “We should keep it a secret.”
