Fiona was certain she’d misheard him. Confusion clouded her features. "What? What did you just say?"
Joy had flooded through her when Reginald accepted her, when his anger didn’t surface, but his next words blindsided her completely.
"What do you an?"
"You can’t get rid of the baby," Reginald stated again, unwavering. "I want you to keep the baby."
Fiona stared at him like he’d lost his mind. "This baby isn’t yours—you know that. Why would you want to keep it?"
Her heart shattered as she voiced that truth. Sha burned through her, but Reginald had gone mad if he thought she’d keep this child. Absolutely mad.
"No, I won’t keep the baby. I don’t want it!"
She began striking her stomach again, but Reginald caught her hands. "No! I won’t have part of him inside my body! I won’t have this child!"
"Stop it, Fiona! Fiona!" Reginald gripped both her hands, shaking her shoulders. "Fiona!"
She finally ceased struggling, tears streaming down her cheeks as she t his gaze. "Why, Reginald? Why do you want carrying another man’s baby? Am I not your mate? Shouldn’t you be furious too?"
"I am furious, Fiona. I want to kill that old bastard, but what good would that do?"
"What do you an, what good would it do?"
Her frown deepened. "He degraded you by getting pregnant. How can you tolerate it? Your mate carrying another man’s child?"
The tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
"You need to see the larger picture here, Fiona."
Reginald tried reassuring her, but her face had gone blank, detached from reality. He had to bring her back. "Fiona, Fiona!"
He shook her again, leaning down to press his lips to hers.
"My love," he whispered. "I know this tears you apart, but please do this for . You said I could be with other won after what happened with Allen, but I don’t want that. I only want you. You’re all I want."
Reginald pulled back slightly, seeing a spark of life return to her eyes. She was listening, though her expression remained unchanged, even his kiss barely reaching her.
So Reginald continued.
"Allen has no son—this baby could be a boy, Fiona. This could be our safe passage into the Valerium Kingdom. You know how cunning that old bastard is. No one can guarantee he won’t abandon us. That’s why we need to protect ourselves.
Allen might betray us, but the baby will be our insurance."
——
**Perry’s POV**
We reached the palace around midnight, when everyone had surrendered to sleep, only a few guards greeting our arrival.
I hadn’t announced my return, so the higher-ups still believed their king remained at the border.
Phoebe was also sleeping when we arrived—she’d used my thigh as her pillow, sleeping peacefully throughout the entire journey.
Exhaustion had finally claid her; she didn’t even stir when I carried her to our bedroom.
It was the queen’s bedroom, but I’d barely used my own since I started sleeping here with her.
Once I laid her down, I cleaned myself, then tended to her. Changing her clothes proved the most torturous part—I couldn’t keep my hands to myself.
I wanted to touch her, hold her, make love to her, but of course I wouldn’t while she slept so soundly. Which only frustrated more.
"You’ll be the death of ," I muttered after dressing her in her nightgown.
My hand hovered above her breast, and I squeezed lightly, drawing a soft moan from her lips. "Fuck."
She was sleeping, but her body still responded to my touch.
"Fuck..." I leaned down and kissed her lips.
I nibbled at them for a long mont before forcing myself away, walking out of the room. I knew if I stayed, I’d find every justification to continue, especially when she responded so beautifully.
However, the next morning when she woke, I was there beside her, watching her sleep.
I caressed her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"
She nodded, glancing toward the window where bright light stread in. She used to wake very early—an oga habit from her old pack—but that seed to have vanished.
"But I didn’t." I lowered my head, studying her closely. "I didn’t get a mont of sleep," I said with a grudging tone.
’Why?’ she mouthed.
I missed hearing her voice. I wanted to hear it again. "Because you consud my thoughts."
I kissed her lips when confusion crossed her features. I leaned closer, deepening the kiss until my clueless mate understood.
"Don’t deny , Phoebe. I’ve been waiting patiently for you to wake up," I whispered against her lips, making her smile.
She wanted to tease back, but couldn’t make read her lips when I covered them with mine. Instead, Phoebe wrapped her legs around my waist, taking my hand and placing it over her breast.
A sign that she gave permission to do whatever I wanted with her.
I appreciated that she waited until she was awake, so she could enjoy it too.
I grunted when she did that, tearing off her dress impatiently. I shouldn’t have dressed her last night...
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