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"I love you, Maya."
"I love you, too, Selliss."
32
MAYA
“Are you nervous?” Krista asks me as she puts on the veil over my head.
“A little, but I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy hormones.”
Lorelai and Princess Rory giggle. I’m sure they were as nervous as I am during their mating ceremony. I can’t believe we got to this day finally. It’s really all I can think about.
“How have you been feeling recently?” Princess Rory asks.
“Not as bad as in the beginning, but this is the first month of my pregnancy so I hope it gets better from here on out,” I say, caressing my already protruding belly.
“Do you have a feeling on how many eggs you’re carrying?” Lorelai asks.
“I think about six. Selliss wants more but honestly, I don’t think I have the strength for it. I have no idea how Princess Rory and Krista managed eight.”
Krista sighs. “Lasta wants more. I think he’s in a subtle competition with Prince Zalith and Lord Slyth.”
“Don’t even get me started. Slyth keeps talking about fertility, like we really need to have a dozen babies,” Lorelai laments as she rolls her eyes. “But Prince Zalith mentioned something about not having any more, right? I think your birth really scared him, Rory.”
“Well, he got over it pretty quickly. I’m definitely convinced that there’s a competition going on. He’s been pouncing on me every chance he gets.”
I tilt my head. “Well, isn’t that normal of them?”
There’s a pregnant pause before we all laugh, sharing the pain of carrying a litter and dealing with obsessive mates. But as nervous as I feel, my happiness overshadows it. All the uncertainty brought about by King Kiseri made me think this day was impossible. But once I put on my dress, it all washes away.
I chose neutral colors to match Selliss’ scales. With the color of my hair, they match his eyes, although the color’s much bolder. The dress hangs off my shoulders, accentuating my breasts and collarbone. The trail behind him is decorated with white petals.
“You look amazing!” Krista beams as she fixes my unruly hair. She plaited my tresses to place white wildflowers, even though the veil’s also decorated with petals. “I don’t even think Princess Rory took this long for her ceremony.”
“Well, because we were on a battlefield,” the latter remarks. Then she sighs. “We just wanted to be together as soon as possible. I really wouldn’t change it for anything.”
I guess I’m quite lucky to have the ceremony in Lodra’s territory. I don’t think this could happen even in secret if we were still in Yadat. The King’s been quiet so far, but I don’t even want to think about that. At least for today.
Focus on the new life you’re building with the love of your life, I think to myself.
“Oh!” I jump a little when I feel some of the eggs move. The others stare at me in surprise. “That’s the first time they did that!”
“I think you’re having more than six, Maya,” Krista says hesitantly. “Lorelai didn’t feel movement her first month when she carried her five eggs.”
The blood drains from my face. “Oh, no. Please don’t say that.”
Princess Rory chimes in. “Well, thank Vatia! Now you both will be busy with your future litter. Just enjoy yourself today and let’s not keep your mate waiting.”
I forcibly laugh, nervous about a different thing now. They guide me towards the path that leads to the altar. Our ceremony will also be traditional.
Selliss meets me there, looking handsome as always. Captain Lasta stands beside him as he shakes his shoulder in encouragement. I’ve never seen such a wide smile on my beloved’s face. It brings tears to my eyes.
“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he says.
“I think the same way about you.”
His eyes travel down to my belly. Unable to hold himself back, he gently rubs his hand over it.
