*Lucas*
I blinked my eyes open and rolled over to look at Sasha. She still slept soundly, her left hand resting on her pillow near her face. The engagent ring I gave her glinted in the morning light.
My heart swelled and I leaned over. I kissed the tip of her nose and ran my thumb over the ring.
Sasha wrinkled her nose and murmured, then fell back asleep.
I couldn’t believe how adorable she was or how lucky I was. I was engaged to my true mate, and we were going to be a family soon. Not only that, but Sasha was my true love.
My phone beeped, and I groaned and rolled over, turning the alarm off. The clock told I had to be at the palace in an hour for a eting with Xander.
He wanted to give my new royal assignnt. It was an exciting day, to finally be back at work, but I was still much more elated over Sasha agreeing to marry and our baby’s imminent arrival.
I kissed Sasha on the forehead. “I love you,” I whispered.
She murmured again but didn’t wake up. I watched her a mont longer before getting out of bed and getting ready for my eting.
I showered and took extra care to shave and comb my hair. Xander and I knew each other pretty well these days, but I didn’t want to drop the ball on my professionalism. I dressed in a nice suit and had Ian swing around to pick up.
The guards escorted through the palace, but they didn’t take to Xander’s office like I’d expected. Instead, they brought to a different office. I recognized it as the one that belonged to Stone in another reality.
The office didn’t have a naplate on the door. I went in and found Xander sitting at the empty desk. It was a mostly bare room with basic furniture and so empty bookshelves.
“Right on ti.” Xander popped up from the chair. He strode toward and took my hand, shaking it firmly. “Let be the first to officially congratulate you on getting engaged.”
“Thanks.”
I smirked like a crazy fool, too excited to hide it.
“I suppose I shouldn’t take up too much of your ti. With your new assignnt and a baby on the way, you’ll have your hands full for a while.” He pulled a folder off the desk and handed it to . “This has all the details.”
I arched an eyebrow. “The details of what?”
“Your newest assignnt. It’s a project we’re starting from scratch, and you’ll be taking the lead on it.”
“Really?” My heart jumped into my throat. I’d been slacking off for a while and I worried Xander would notice. I wasn’t sure he’d want to give more responsibility.
“You’ve worked hard as an engineer. I know your focus has been elsewhere of late, but you’re damn good at your job. Besides, you’ll want work like this once you have a family to care for.”
“You seem very excited about this project.” I opened the folder and gawked. The first page was a square footage estimate, and it was huge.
“Well, it’ll be the first of its kind in the Dark Realm. I feel like you are uniquely qualified to provide insight into this one.”
I nodded and flipped through the pages, getting a feel for the scope of the work.
“Are you sure there’s a place near the capital large enough for this?” I tapped the square foot estimate.
“I already had it surveyed. Lucas, you’re going to be heading the project for the design and construction of the first airport here in the Dark Realm.”
“Wait, seriously?” I gaped at Xander. “You think we’re ready for that?”
“I’ve been about progress since the beginning. Things have been a little unsettled the past few years with the Lycaon Church gaining more power. It is ti I returned to my promise of progress. An airport is a huge step forward.”
“I think it is a great idea, but are we equipped to design and build it? The Light Realm has technologies that we don’t.”
“I know, I know,” Xander waved away my concerns. “I have a specialist coming in from the Light Realm as a consultant. He’ll help answer all your questions and get you what you need. Trust , Lucas. We are ready for this and you are ready to oversee it.”
I sighed and nodded, though I wasn’t fully convinced. It was a huge project, one that would pay very well and keep my family comfortable for a long ti. But it was also a huge responsibility.
If anything went wrong or if I couldn’t pull it off, it would be my neck on the line. Was I really ready for that big of a job?
“Xander, aren’t these projects usually reserved for the Head Royal Engineer? I’m grateful and everything, but–”
Xander grinned and nodded. “Don’t worry, I already thought of that. There is no one else I trust with a task of this magnitude, and I’ll make it worth your while.” He walked around the desk and opened the top drawer.
My chest swelled with pride. King Xander trusted , more than anyone else, with this kind of job. I needed to prove that his trust wasn’t misplaced.
“Here we go.” He pulled a small na plaque out of the drawer and set it on the desk.
The plaque read, “Royal Engineer–Head of Aviation Developnt.”
“Wow... I an... really?” I gasped. I went to the desk and ran my hand along the plaque. It was the greatest honor I’d ever received.
I didn’t think I’d ever stop smiling.
Xander smirked and held out his hand. “Congratulations!”
We shook hands, and I couldn’t stop staring at the shiny na plaque.
“I’ll have a real plaque made for you to hang on your office wall and another for the door. This is the real deal, Lucas, are you ready?”
“Yes. Now, do you have ti to talk about the budget and so of these preliminary designs?” I opened the folder and spread the pages out on my desk.
Xander chuckled. “Right to business. I’d expect nothing less.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon going over possible plans and designs for the space Xander had outside the capital. We talked about the budget and worked on the numbers. He gave a map of the exact area so I could sketch potential layouts for the airport.
Finally, Xander had to get back to his family and I needed to get ho to Sasha.
“Lucas, you know how important this project is to the future of the Dark Realm, right?” he asked as we walked to the front door of the palace.
I nodded. “Of course. It’ll be a challenge to get it right, but I am up to that challenge.” I smiled widely, my skin humming with the excitent. Already, I had so many ideas to get down on paper.
“Good. With that attitude, our realm’s prosperity is going to keep increasing. I can’t wait to see what you co up with.”
He saw off and I had Ian drive back to the mansion. I couldn’t sit still. I bounced my legs and drumd my thumbs on my thighs. All I wanted to do was go ho and tell Sasha the good news.
We’d only been back in our bodies for a few weeks and already, all our dreams were coming true. This job was what I’d been waiting for and soon, I’d have my family to share it with.
And Sasha would be my wife.
Could this day get any better?
I sighed and leaned back, trying to relax. I knew Sasha would be just as excited and happy for with this new promotion as I was. It ant we might need to live closer to the capital, but I didn’t think she would mind. We’d be close to friends and family that way.
I rushed inside and dropped my files on the coffee table in the living room. “Sasha? I’m ho!”
I paused and frowned. The entire first floor was dark... no lights on anywhere.
“Sasha!?” I headed upstairs, where I saw a light on in the nursery. I figured Sasha was probably working on it more, even though she knew I didn’t like her doing that while pregnant.
I pushed the nursery door open and my stomach sank.
“Sasha!” I ran to her and knelt at her side.
She was on her hands and knees, breathing heavily, her brow coated with sweat and her shirt soaked through.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” I asked.
She groaned and shook her head. “L-Lucas....”
Her fingers clawed at the floor and she groaned again.
“What do you need?”
“Lucas, I’m in labor. The baby is coming!”
“The baby is coming? THE BABY IS COMING!” I sprang to my feet and grabbed the bags Sasha had packed for us in anticipation of this day.
I flew down the stairs, taking them two at a ti, and tossed the bags in the trunk. Ian stared at like I was a madman.
“Sasha’s in labor. We need to get to the hospital.” I didn’t even stop. I raced back inside, still shouting to Ian.
I ran up the stairs, taking them three at a ti. Sasha was right where I’d left her, her face beat red. I took her arm and looped it around my shoulders. Holding her waist, I helped her to her feet.
“Can you walk?”
“Yeah... just... let lean on you.”
I nodded. Sasha let all her weight fall on . With every step, her arms tensed around , and I could hear the sound of her gritting teeth. When we got to the stairs, I stopped.
“Lucas....”
I scooped her into my arms, bridal style. “This’ll be faster.”
I got her into the back seat. Ian already had the car idling.
“Okay, Ian, go. Let’s go!”
He pulled out of the driveway, going a little faster than usual. I wanted to scold him but my focus was on making Sasha comfortable.
I took her hand and wiped her brow with a cloth. “I’m so proud of you, Sasha. Soon, very soon, we’ll be holding our son.”
She breathed heavily and nodded at . Her fingers clenched around my hand and I gasped. Man, she had so strength....
If I thought I was excited about my new job for the palace, it was nothing compared to the happiness and excitent I felt about eting my son for the first ti. I tended to Sasha all the way to the hospital, talking to her, and encouraging her.
This was the happiest day of my life.
Reviews
All reviews (0)