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She nodded, pulling one of his hands away from her face to reach down and press against her flat belly. She held it there, letting him absorb the words while they stayed in an almost trance-like state.
Grux’s knees gave out from under him, and he dropped to the floor before her, his reverence for her so overwhelming that he choked up.
He’d never had the thought cross his mind before of her carrying his offspring. But now that it was here, he couldn’t think of anyone else he’d want to be the mother of his child.
Grux had never been one to dream about fatherhood or even think that far ahead to plan for it one day, but Scarlett was perfect. She was the divine incarnate, and the image of her carrying his child and holding it in her arms while they looked down at their baby’s sleeping form filled him with an immense warmth.
“Grux?” She tilted his chin up, her eyes widening at his tear-stained cheeks.
“Sorry…”
He watched her swallow. “Are… are you upset?”
“What? No, no.” He chuckled, pulling her closer so he could wrap an arm around her waist. “Never.”
“Are you sure?”
Her voice was so small. So scared. It made his heart ache.
“I’m excited.” He smiled at her. “I’m so excited that you’re carrying my child.”
Her eyes went wide. “Y-you are?”
“Yes, Scarlett.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against her belly. He couldn’t believe she was carrying life right inside of her. Right there. “I’m honored.”
That word didn’t even begin to properly explain how deeply he felt about her. How he was going to be worshiping her now until the end of time. It was a great honor for someone to carry the life of another, let alone that of a crown prince in Lorr. How could he be so lucky that it was her?
It seemed almost impossible that he’d be blessed with such a gift.
Slowly, she ran her fingers through his hair. They were shaky at first but grew more and more confident the longer he stayed wrapped around her.
Eventually, she let out a small, content sigh. Her body relaxed into his hold.
She spoke quietly as she said, “Me, too.”
Chapter 9
Theydecidedtokeepthe pregnancy a secret between them for the time being.
With the bounty hunter looking for her somewhere on Lorr, neither of them wanted to give Grux’s father or the Flemlars any more ammunition to use against her in order to drag her back to Xoyosis.
Relief had flooded her as soon as she realized that Grux wanted to be in this together with her. Never, in her wildest dreams, did she think that he would want to be a part of the pregnancy. It wasn’t like either of them had planned for this in the first place, so why would she think he wouldn’t feel forced?
But he’d surprised her in more ways than one.
He’d decided that the best way to protect her was to get her off of Lorr and someplace else. Where? He wasn’t sure, but they’d figure it out once they secured a ship.
She was worried that she was putting him in a compromising situation. She didn’t want him getting hurt protecting her, and she especially didn’t want him to have some kind of fallout with his father.
He’d only told her bits and pieces about what had happened between the king and Grux’s older brother so far, and by the sounds of it, things hadn’t ended on good terms. The last thing she wanted to do was cause a rift between them all.
“This way.” Grux tugged her along, keeping her close while they navigated the streets.
Scarlett couldn’t help but look over her shoulder every few minutes, worry striking her over and over again while her mind tricked her into seeing shadows that weren’t there.
The ever-present threat of the bounty hunter breathed down her neck with every single person they passed in the streets on their way to the boarding docks. She couldn’t help that paranoid part of her screaming in fear while the deep need to hide threatened to pull her into a panic.
As soon as the boarding docks came into view, she sighed in relief.
