When Belinda woke up, she tried to convince herself that it was all a dream. That she was having a hallucination or something. Because it was impossible that she was pregnant. She was on birth control. Had been for years. So, it wasn’t like she’d been completely reckless when she’d had sex with Carlos. It was just impossible that she’d be pregnant. Impossible.

And yet . . . 

There was a strange warmth in her chest as she stared at the grainy picture in her hands. She’d been assured that there was the image of a fetus in there somewhere, even if she couldn’t see it.

Fae pregnancies tended to be more rapid than human ones at first. Within twenty-four hours, the pregnancy went from conception to the equivalent of a month in humans. Magic stopped it from being too hard on the mother-to-be. At this point, it had been almost twenty-four hours since conception. She’d start feeling the effects of pregnancy soon, as though she had been shoved into her second month without warning. But as far as she knew, humans didn’t get morning sickness while carrying fae. So that was something to look forward to.

She looked up sharply when the door opened. She was cuffed to her bed, but that didn’t stop her heart from jumping all over the place when Carlos stepped in. She had to look away and remind herself that she was his prisoner and that she was still supposed to kill him.

The ultrasound fell to the bed as she released it and she sucked in a deep breath. “So . . . it appears that accidentally poisoning myself didn’t harm the . . . the fetus.”

Carlos’ expression was blank. “Happy with yourself?”

“Happy . . . ” Belinda couldn’t stop herself from shivering as she considered everything that was going to happen from here on out. “I didn’t do this on purpose, you know. I had no idea it was you in that bar. And quite frankly, I didn’t want this assignment. I’ve killed people, but it’s always been in self-defense. Never for a vague bounty. They don’t even tell us why. They don’t care. They don’t care about anything but the bottom line.”

It was perhaps too much truth, but it wasn’t like he’d believe her, anyway. Except his gaze softened and he stepped closer, sliding his fingers through hers. The touch was unexpected but pleasant. She swallowed thickly as she peered up at him through her lashes.

“Have you been told what to expect?” he asked.

“First month happens in twenty-four hours and then the rest progresses normally.”

Carlos nodded. “With one caveat. Since you’re carrying a vampire child, you’ll end up craving blood later on in the pregnancy. Drinking it is best for you and the child, but if that’s too distasteful to you, then we can always hook you up to an IV. As long as you have a good blood supply you’ll find yourself with more energy and strength.”

“And I’ll have fine-tuned senses, right?”

Carlos nodded.

“Good. Those will come in handy.”

Her mind drifted for a moment. It was clear that she wasn’t going to be filling her bounty. Not when she was locked up as a prisoner. Not when Carlos not only knew her face but also that she had been after him. He’d known from the start, though. About the bounty. It was doomed before she was even given the assignment.

“Come in handy?” Carlos interrupted her thoughts. “Handy . . . in prison?”

“You can’t keep me isolated forever.” And prison or no prison, when this came to light, The Guild would think she choked. That she slept with the king rather than killing him. And then it was bye-bye Belinda.

Carlos made a humming noise in his throat. “That’s true enough, I suppose. You seem like you can handle prison without any extra help, though.” He paused a moment. “You’re not a citizen of my kingdom. Chances are that you’ll be transferred back to the States for your trial. And given the attitudes you humans have against fae and especially vampires, I imagine you’ll be free to go back to your Guild in no time.”

“Yeah, most humans are idiots. They’re awfully puritan when it comes to vamps.” Belinda managed a smirk before it faded. Once she was back in the states, there wasn’t much stopping the Guild from getting her. “So, you’re going to release me, are you?”

“Not until after the baby is born.”

Belinda’s spine stiffened. The warmth that had been in her chest as she gazed at her ultrasound hardened into something with sharp, spiky edges. Everything else disappeared from her mind as her hands clenched and her teeth bared. “Like hell is that happening! I’m not let you take my baby away from me. I don’t care who the hell you are. So what if you’re a king? This is my baby. You have no right to rip me from their life.”

Carlos’ eyes widened. His shock only made her angrier. What right did he have to come in and judge her?

“You listen to me right now. I don’t care what nonsense you throw at me. I’ll freaking tear off your head before I let you take my child away from me. I made promise years ago never to abandon my children the way I was abandoned, and I’ll be damned if—”

She cut herself off, eyes growing wide as she realized she had said far, far more than she had meant to.

The king’s grip on her hand tightened briefly. His deep, beautiful black eyes looked at her so hard it was like he could see into her soul. Cliché, perhaps, but it was what she felt. Her throat was suddenly dry. He gave no indication that he was angry, but at the same time, she knew that she had no say in whether or not she kept this child. Not when she was a criminal.

She only hoped that was what he was going to point out when he opened his mouth.

“You were abandoned as a child?”

Was that pity she heard in his voice? All warmth disappeared. She didn’t care if he was the father of her child. She didn’t care about him being a mark or not. She was not going to be pitied. Yanking her hand from his, she glared at him with everything she could muster.

“Vampires still have a trial by combat, don’t they?”

The king’s eyes widened. “Technically, I suppose.”

Belinda folded her arms as best she could, what with one hand being handcuffed to the bed frame. “Then I want that. I don’t care about the whole citizen exchange thing. I want to fight for my freedom.”

“There’s a reason why that was done away with.” Carlos’ eyes were narrowed at this point. “Trial by combat is a fight to the death. And even if it weren’t, in your condition, don’t you think that it would be better to—”

“No, I don’t.” Her hand drifted to her stomach but she snatched it back quickly. Two thoughts went through her mind.

One was that a clean death in combat was better than the lingering death The Guild would give her for her failure. So, what if she was so successful in her assignments before this? They’d want to make a lesson out of her. If Carlos handed her over to the States, The Guild was going to get her. And then she’d be dead, baby or no baby. He did say he wasn’t going to release her until after she had given birth . . . but that was a whole eight months away and chances were that the human government would demand the return of their citizen.

And the second thought was that this gave her a better fighting chance. Carlos clearly cared about her pregnancy. He wouldn’t want her to be killed. And so, whoever he chose to fight her would have that handicap to deal with.

She smirked at him. “I can handle any vampire you throw at me.”

***

Any vampire? Carlos stared at her. When she first brought up the trial by combat, he was certain this was her attempt to complete her mission to kill him. But it seemed like she didn’t know. Well, he wasn’t going to tell her. The vampire she was on trial for attempting to harm was him. He was the judge.

He would be the one that she was fighting.

“It is your right, I suppose,” he said reluctantly. “Trial by combat is outdated, but it’s still codified in law . . . ”

“Good.” Belinda’s smirk turned into an all-out grin. “Select your champion, then. I’ve got things I want to do.”

***

After his talk with Belinda, Carlos discussed the matter with Pan. He had suggested that perhaps it was best to go through with it all. She was clearly counting on her pregnancy to protect her, and if he got her on the ropes, she’d change her mind. Then, the fact that she had requested a trial by vampire law would mean he wouldn’t have to hand her over to the humans, and the assassination attempt and her pregnancy could be kept a secret.

He could only imagine how many of his enemies would go after her and his child if they knew about them.

The fight would take place in his personal gym. The equipment was all cleared out, leaving it empty save for a table that had an array of silver-iron stakes on it. Weapons they would both need to go after.

When the guards brought Belinda in, her eyes widened at the sight of him. He wished it could be because he was bare-chested and she was awed by the contours of his chest and abs. More likely she realized that this was her chance to finally kill him. Carlos had to work to prevent his hands from shaking. This wasn’t what he wanted. But what he wanted hardly mattered, did it?

“What are you doing here?” Belinda squeaked.

“This is your trial. And I’m your judge.”

The guards unlocked her handcuffs and stepped outside. They’d remain there for five hours – or until one of them won.

Belinda glanced back warily, then focused on him again. “So . . . I’m fighting you.”

“Yes.”

She stood still for a moment, staring at him. Then she darted across the room, making a beeline for the stakes. Carlos hadn’t intended to allow her to get near them, but he had been so surprised by her burst of speed that she reached them before he did. She snatched two up and twirled them expertly. She whirled back and punched him straight in the face.

Carlos stumbled back, blinking at her strength. She was very muscular, but it still took him by surprise. It must have taken her by surprise, too, because her next blow was slow in coming. He was able to easily block it and lift her into the air. He spun her away from the table and then pushed her deeper into the center of the room, making sure to keep spinning her. She stumbled, but righted herself and took a deep breath.

“Toying with me, are you?” Her eyes narrowed as she charged him again.

Carlos grabbed her wrist, twisted the stake from her hand and flung it aside before sending her on her way again. As she spun on her heel to face him again, he darted in close. He gripped her other wrist, the stake pointed towards him, and wrapped his free arm around her waist. She made a soft “oh” and actually relaxed into him. It took him by surprise enough that his grip on her loosened.

Something that cost him. She wrenched her hand free and punched him in the face again, then kneed him between the legs. Carlos groaned as he fell to one knee. She stood over him, stake risen high, fire in her eyes.

“Stop being such a coward and fight, damn you!” Bits of spit flew from her mouth. “This is a trial by combat, not you dancing around with that dumb expression on your face as though you’re afraid to hurt me. You’re a vampire! Show a little of that bloodlust you’re famous for. Fight!”

She brought the stake down. He grabbed her wrist again, but this time instead of moving the blow aside, he brought it down. She jerked but he held tight, bringing the stake right to his heart. The sharp point pressed into his skin. His heart hammered.

This was a bad idea.

She was going to kill him.

And yet her eyes were wide, fearful. She opened her mouth, closed it and opened it again. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not going to hurt you. I won’t. You are carrying my child. And even if you weren’t, I wouldn’t.” The words tasted thick on his tongue – like he wasn’t quite certain what to do with them. It had been a long, long time since anybody had ever made him feel this vulnerable. If Daye had sent Belinda, then she had made a good choice. “I . . . am drawn to you in a way I have never known before. And I’ve had many lovers. Some just one night, others hundreds of years. None of them have made me feel the way you do.”

Belinda shook her head rapidly. What she was denying, he didn’t know. “If I don’t kill you, the guild will send people after me. I failed, and worse than that, I slept with my mark and I got pregnant. I’ve broken every rule and they’ll kill me for it. But it won’t be quick. It’ll be long and painful, and even if I survive long enough to give birth, they’ll take my child. They’ll claim it as a replacement for me and make it live the life they made me live.”

He knew that her fear of The Guild was too entrenched to be banished by his words. No matter how well he could protect her, she had no reason to believe him. He took a deep breath. “You’d better kill me, then.”

Her hand trembled. She lifted the stake a little higher – then threw it away. Tears started to course down her cheeks and she collapsed next to him, shaking her head. Her fists pounded his chest without any real enthusiasm.

“What did you do to me?” she demanded. “What vampire spell did you cast on me? I never cared about anybody but me and I liked it that way. What did you do to me?”

Carlos let her keep beating him, her blows like gentle taps more than anything else. She slumped into him and he put his arms around her. His heart soared at what she was saying, even though he tried to stop himself. She lifted her face to his and he responded on instinct. Their tongues clashed as they kissed, each fighting for dominance. Belinda’s fingers wrapped into his shirt and he held her close.

Moving fluidly, Carlos stood, picking her up with him and heading for the door. The guards outside looked startled, but he didn’t care as he carried his lover toward his room.