FIVE

“That…” Cecelia started to say, her lips parted, her gaze straying to Kate’s stomach for the millionth time.  She licked her lips, struggling to process everything that the pretty, curvy brunette had just told her.  “That’s…”

“Unbelievable?” Kate finished for her.

“I didn’t mean—”

“That’s okay,” Kate said.  “Trust me, if I was in your shoes listening to my crazy story, I’d probably have the same exact look on my face too.”

“Just to get this straight,” Cecelia murmured slowly, rubbing her brow, “Vaxa won you in his fight at the Pit and took you here, where you’ve become his queen.  And there’s this thing inside him, this force called an Instinct, that basically binds you two together as, as mates.  And now you’re pregnant with his child?”

Kate let out a little chuckle and despite the insane situation Cecelia found herself in, laughing felt like the only response.

“Essentially, yes,” Kate confirmed.

“Okay,” Cecelia murmured, letting out a quick breath.  “Okay.”

“I explained to Vaxa that his participation in the Pit was wrong.  That was why Vaxa ordered a rescue mission for you and the others.  You see, they value women.  They believe that crimes against women are the worst crimes that a male could possibly commit.  Even more so now.”

“Why now?” Cecelia questioned, her mind reeling from the influx of information.

“Because of the Plague.  Their enemies, about ten years ago, or so I gathered, unleashed this virus into Luxiria’s atmosphere.  Many of their women died.  The rest were rendered infertile.”

She took in a sharp breath.

Kate looked down at her stomach and a sad smile crossed her features.  “It was why Vaxa felt he had no choice but to participate in the Pit.  He’d heard a rumor that humans were compatible breeding partners.  He felt it was his duty as Prime Leader to try to save his race from dying out.  It doesn’t make what he did right, but all the same, I’m glad he found me.  And I’m glad that you were all taken from that horrible place, that they reached you in time before…”

Cecelia sobered.  She’d tried to block out her experiences in the Pit.  She hadn’t been there very long before they’d been rescued, but thinking about spending another moment in that dark, filthy room, as they waited to be led into that blazing hot arena, like cows for slaughter, made her feel sick to her stomach.

“So we can trust them?” Cecelia asked softly.  “Because I’ll be honest…I haven’t exactly made up my mind yet.”

“They are trustworthy,” Kate said, serious.  “You will not be mistreated here.  And you will all return home if you wish, I promise.”

“If we wish?” Cecelia asked.  “You think some of us will want to stay?”

Kate let out a soft breath and lifted her shoulders in a very human gesture, a very comforting one.  “Vaxa gave me the choice to leave.  I chose him.  I chose to stay.  Anything is possible.”

Cecelia went quiet, thinking over Kate’s words.  For some reason, her mind flashed briefly to Rixavox, to that intense look on his face that had made her shiver with awareness.  But awareness of what?

And why was she thinking about him?

“It’s quite amazing, isn’t it?” Cecelia said, with a small laugh that filled the room.  “That this is all real, I mean.  It is real, isn’t it?  I’m not completely crazy?”

Kate leaned forward and placed a warm, soft hand on her forearm.  “I can guarantee you, that your time here will be like nothing you could have imagined.”

Cecelia blew out a breath and squeezed Kate’s hand.  “I truly believe that.”

“And, of course, I’ll explain this to the other women, that they don’t need to worry about their future here,” Kate continued.  “I just wanted to come see you first since I understand that you will be leaving shortly with Rixavox.”

Cecelia nibbled on her lip, her heart stuttering at his name and because of her nerves for her impending ‘treatment.’  “Yes.  Possibly tomorrow, I think.”

Kate stood from the bed, righting her weight carefully.  She smiled mischievously.  “I meant what I said.  Watch out for him.  Unless you want to end up like me,” she joked, placing a hand on her stomach.  “Luxirians are…potent.”

Cecelia was struck speechless for a moment as she stared at Kate’s swollen belly.  The intense longing she felt surprised her, because she thought that she’d accepted her body’s limitations.

“I don’t think I have to worry about that,” Cecelia murmured, trying to infuse some lightness into her tone.  “I can’t have children.”

“Oh,” Kate murmured, eyeing her.

“It’s okay though,” Cecelia said carefully, with a well-practiced smile.  “I doubt I’d be a good mother anyways.”

It was one of many excuses she’d always given if the subject came up.  One that rolled off her tongue effortlessly, as though Cecelia herself had even begun to believe it.

Kate studied her closely and Cecelia felt herself squirm a little bit.  But Cecelia didn’t see pity, which was what she always prepared herself for.  Instead, she saw something like understanding.

Softly, Kate said, “Like I said…anything is possible here.”

Cecelia drew in a sharp breath, the words unexpected.  They sparked something in her, something that she hadn’t allowed herself to feel fully for a very long time.  Hope.

Was it possible that she was meant to be in this place?  That everything that had happened to her had led her there for a reason?

No, that was crazy.

Wasn’t it?

Tears welled up in her eyes and Cecelia blinked them away, hoping that Kate wouldn’t see.

It’s just exhaustion, Cecelia told herself.  And feeling overwhelmed.

It took her a moment to compose herself but when she did, Cecelia looked up at Kate and gave her an honest smile.  It was probably the most honest smile she’d given anyone in the past few years.

“Thank you,” was all she said.

Kate nodded at her, holding her gaze for a second more, before turning to the door.  “Now, rest, sweetie,” the woman told her.  “The northern lands are quite far and you’ll need your strength for the trip.  I’ll go speak with the others right now and then check on you before I leave, okay?  You’ll be able to sleep better in here.”

“Okay,” Cecelia said, licking her lips.

Sleep sounded wonderful.  And sure enough, after Kate left and closed the swooshing door behind her, sleep claimed Cecelia quickly.

Her last coherent thought was about Rixavox and that look he’d given her.  It was a look that had made her feel like she was the only woman in the entire world.

Hell, the entire universe…

It haunted her dreams.