Chapter Twenty-Three
It was late the next day before Azalyn was with Keltor when he was both alone and awake.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the room. Facing her male, she took his hand and was content to register his warm weight in hers.
Keltor squeezed and she met his eyes. “What is it, zyla? Tell me.”
“I—” What should be easy to say was proving to be harder than she’d imagined.
But as she started into Keltor’s dark brown eyes, she found the courage to blurt out her secret, “I’m pregnant.”
Happiness flared in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
She bobbed her head. “Yes.”
He brought her hand to his lip and kissed her. “Now tell me why you aren’t happier about this.”
Of course he would be able to read her. She sighed. “It’s silly, really. It’s just that things are going so well with Kelzal, and now with Toralyn making an effort…I don’t want to destroy the progress we’ve all made.”
“While we work on building relationships and earning trusts, this can remain our secret for now.”
Her eyes widened. “How, exactly? The doctor already knows, and I suspect it won’t be long before others suspect it, too, especially if I get as ill as when I carried our other two children. It’s partly why I was secluded in the middle of nowhere with my new Sulani aunt.”
“Ill?” Keltor echoed.
Scrunching her nose, she answered, “Let’s just say that unlike most females, I lost weight rather than gained it.”
Concern filled his gaze. “Should you even be up and about? Let alone spending so many hours working with the council? And before you ask, Farren informed me of your long hours.”
“I’m going to have to have a word with him,” she growled.
“Feel free. But I won’t allow you to change the subject. Tell me what you need Azalyn, and I’ll do what I can, even if it means relying on others to help me until I can get out of this bed again.”
“I’m fine for now, truly. But as much as I want to have another child with you and look forward to watching our child grow up, I don’t want the other two to think I want them any less.”
Keltor whispered, “Lay next to me.”
Careful to stretch out against the side opposite his injured leg, she rested her head on his chest. The second his arm wrapped around her, she felt safe and warm.
No matter where she was, Keltor would always be her home.
As he traced her arm with his forefinger, some of the tension eased from her body. His voice rumbled in her ear. “You’re tired, stressed, and probably not eating enough. And I know you’re worried about Kelzal and Toralyn. But if we pace ourselves and share the news at the right moment, I have faith that they will feel joy and celebrate with us.”
“Kelzal, perhaps, if it’s a male.”
“By all accounts, he’s been slowly coming into the role. Not to mention a certain talented female has been helping him learn how things function and how to handle council meetings.”
She frowned and glanced up. “How do you know so much? You’re bedridden and have only been awake for less than a day.”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “I have my ways.”
“And let me guess, you’ll only share them once I’m your bride?”
“Perhaps. It depends if you promise to stay out of trouble until after our child is born.”
Our child. Warmth bloomed in her chest at Keltor’s words.
And yet, there was something more important she needed to discuss first. “I think the bigger question is whether I can still become your bride or not, given recent events.”
“Of course you will become my bride. The Sulanis haven’t reneged, according to my sources. Besides, they have been granted exclusive rights for the announcement. Everything is already in place.”
She blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Look inside the drawer next to the bed and see for yourself.”
As much as she didn’t want to leave Keltor’s side, her curiosity was stronger. Sitting up slowly, so as to not jostle the bed, she finally opened the drawer and extracted a large, rectangular package.
The paper was striped in gold and lavender, the colors reminding her of Keltor’s and Azalyn’s skin tones respectively.
She carefully unwrapped the package and revealed a wooden box. The royal seal was stamped into the black wood with a green-tinged gold inlay, the official color used for all royal seals.
Taking a deep breath, she released the latch and opened the lid. Inside were two ceramic mugs, glazed in a shimmery white. In the center of each was a face—one hers, with the words Queen Azalyn, the other Keltor’s, with the words King Keltor. Emblazoned on the inside lid of the box was a date about two months in the future, coupled with a few sentences:
The claiming ceremony of King Keltor tro el Vallen and Azalyn Sulani will be broadcasted exclusively in Sulani Merchant shops around the planet. Join us for the celebration and activities to commemorate the happy event.
From her decades working for the Sulanis, she immediately recognized a marketing ploy when she saw one—never before had there been merchandise related to the monarchy for sale, not even for the coronations. “They’re going to make a fortune off the merchandise.”
Amusement tinged Keltor’s voice. “I suspect so. The announcement sets are due to go on sale in a few weeks. Both Ulrick and I are confident that the first publicly broadcasted claiming ceremony of a king and his bride will be too good to overlook. Not to mention the public support of the Sulanis selling wares related to the palace will make quite a few think twice about rebelling.”
The Sulanis were the exclusive vendor to many establishments around the globe, not to mention many corporations had loan accounts with them, too. “Let’s hope so.”
“Azalyn.” She met his gaze again. “It will work. Even if I have to use a hover chair to attend a ceremony in an underground bunker, we are going to be married on that date. After all, that’s the anniversary of when we had our real first kiss.”
A long ago memory, of stealing a kiss under a tree, flashed into her mind. “How did you remember that? Not even I could tell you the date after decades.”
“It was important to me, zyla. It was the date a female stole my heart for the first time, and I never seemed able to forget her, no matter how hard I tried.”
Gently placing the box on the shelf next to the bed, she slowly moved until her face was just above Keltor’s. “I love you, Keltor tro el Vallen.”
Reaching up, he cupped her cheek. “I love you more, Azalyn Rippak Sulani.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So, this is to be a contest, now?”
“Not until I’m healed. Then we can try to outdo each other in the bedroom.”
Snorting, she pressed her forehead against his. “You may be king, but you’re still just a male.”
He smiled slowly. “A fact I will remind you of often.”
She felt something warm against her abdomen and looked down to see Keltor’s hand. Without hesitation, she laid hers over his.
For a few moments, they remained that way, their hands protecting their unborn child, as if to ward off any threats that may come in the future.
And for the first time since learning of her pregnancy, Azalyn began to think that everything would work out.
Well, until the door slid open and all hell broke loose.
~~~
Even with his hand over Azalyn’s abdomen, it was still sinking in that he was going to be a father.
Again.
If not for his damn leg, he would’ve lifted Azalyn into the air, twirled her around, and shown her how grateful he was for the news.
But the moment was ruined by the door opening and a teenage female with golden skin and dark blue hair raced into the room. Close on her heels was Toralyn.
Toralyn growled, “You were told to wait.”
The teenager somehow managed to keep enough distance from Toralyn so as to avoid capture. “He’s my brother. I have every right to see him.”
Keltor frowned and put the female’s looks and words together. “Kasarra?”
At her name, she turned her head.
And Toralyn promptly tackled the girl to the ground.
With a sigh, Keltor mustered as much steel into his voice as he could. “Let her up, Toralyn. If she went to this much trouble, then she’s earned a few minutes with me.”
If looks could kill, Toralyn’s would’ve sliced him in two. But she obeyed, and the female who was his half sister rose to her feet.
Dusting her skirts, she stuck her tongue out at Toralyn and Keltor immediately felt a headache forming behind his eyes.
Thankfully the teenager looked back to him and said, “Yes, I’m Kasarra.” She stood tall, although it didn’t help much since she barely came to Toralyn’s shoulder. “And you are my brother Keltor.”
He resisted a laugh at her words. “Yes, that is me. What is it you wish to discuss?”
“I—” She paused before finally saying, “I don’t know. I just wanted to see you.”
Toralyn muttered some choice words, but Keltor ignored them. After all, Kasarra was only sixteen. “Well, you seem fortunate to share my good looks. There’s no denying we’re related.”
Regaining her composure and standing tall, she said, “I’m not so sure about that. Apart from my hair, I take more after my mother.”
At the young female’s firm tone, Keltor had to admire her.
It also reminded him of his father’s long-hidden female and his multitude of secrets.
An older female rushed into the room. Short, with golden skin and magenta hair threaded with silver, she stopped at Kasarra’s side and grabbed the girl’s bicep. “Kasarra Mayven, you were told to wait.”
Looking between the two, Keltor saw the resemblance. “You must be Jalarra.”
At her name, the older female met Keltor’s gaze. “Yes.” After a second, she quickly bobbed her head, as if remembering her place. “Your majesty.”
“No need for formalities. Keltor will do. I must thank you for allowing us to stay at your retreat.” When Jalarra remained quiet, he added, “My father spoke highly of you to my bride.” He gestured to his side. “This is Azalyn.”
As if on cue, Azalyn moved to stand in front of Jalarra. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jalarra.”
Jalarra studied Azalyn’s face before replying, “So, you found a way after all.”
“Pardon?” Azalyn asked.
Shaking her head, Jalarra took a step back, taking her daughter with her. “Nothing. We should leave the king to rest.”
“I hope we can talk more later, if you have the time,” Azalyn said with a smile.
“Perhaps.” Jalarra took another step back. “Congratulations on your upcoming claiming ceremony.”
With that, Jalarra exited the room, her daughter in tow.
Toralyn spoke up. “I’m going to watch her more closely this time.”
And before Keltor could say a word, his daughter left, too.
The room was almost too quiet. How quickly he’d grown accustomed to chaos with his ever-growing family.
Azalyn sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand. “You know what you need to do.”
He smiled at his female. “Yes, I know. As soon as I can maneuver into a hover chair, could you arrange a meeting with my father, his lover, and my sister? Toralyn and Kelzal should be there, too. I only wish Korjal could join us, making the Kelderan-arm of my family complete.”
According to reports, Korjal had disappeared. Keltor had a few of his guards searching for his brother, but until they could return to a newly rebuilt and secured palace, most of his resources were spent protecting the retreat complex and searching out more of the antimonarchist leaders.
Squeezing his hand, she said, “Of course. But I must say, I already like your sister.”
“I figured you would say that,” he drawled.
Azalyn laughed. “Well, you did say how you hated being alone and isolated. It now seems you have more family than you know what to do with.”
He smiled. “Yes. As much as it will turn my hair gray, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” After kissing the back of her knuckles, he added, “But I think we should share some of the…boisterousness with Kason. The doctor said I could move about with a hover chair in a day or two. If we schedule a meeting with my father and his other family, and then a video one with Kason about fifteen minutes after that one begins, we can all talk to him and his bride. Kason will make sure that Kalahn is there, too.”
“I still think Kalahn would be a better watch guard for your other half sister on Jasvar, Kajala, than Kason.”
He grunted. “Kalahn can barely keep herself out of trouble. How is she supposed to do it with someone else?”
“You should at least give her a chance, Keltor. The responsibility might be good for her. Not to mention she and Kajala are only a little under four years apart; they have the greatest chance of bonding with each other. Because as much as I love my older male, two of your children are older than your half siblings.”
“Did you just call me old, zyla?”
“Older, your majesty. There’s a difference.”
Tugging her hand, Azalyn leaned close enough so that her lips were only a few scant inches away. “I can’t wait until I’m healed enough to leave this bed and show you just how many years young I still am.”
She ran a hand down his body, under the sheet, and lightly brushed his semihard cock. At her light touch, he turned to stone. “I look forward to it.”
He kissed her, stroking the inside of her mouth, and lightly nipping her bottom lip. No matter that he’d had Azalyn dozens of times over the last month or so, it wasn’t enough.
As he groaned at her taste, he decided no amount of times would ever be enough.