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“You need to eat!” Mom insisted.

“Give her air, Valencia. Darla, hurry and get some fruit and muffins from the kitchens.”

“She said she doesn’t want anything!” Darla shouted back.

“Everyone needs to back off while I go take a shower!” I cried, throwing the blankets off a second time. “I get that you want to be useful ... but I just want to clean up, take something for my headache, and figure out how I’m going to break this news to Thorne.” I shoved my way into the bathroom and slammed the door. I could still hear them talking outside, planning how to handle this new situation.

Palming my belly, I imagined it growing full and round. My pinkie touched my transplant scar.I never imagined my life would ever change this much.I’d hoped for many things. I’d just never expected them to come true.

But this was real. Thorne and I were going to have ababy.

I couldn’t wait to tell him the news.

- CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX -

HAWTHORNE

The first thing I did when I woke up was message Nova.

Me:Hey, how are you feeling today?

Me:Better?

Sitting up in bed, I waited for the little bubble to pop up to show she was responding. When nothing came, I set my phone on my bedside table and stretched.She’s probably still sleeping.It was a little after nine in the morning—I’d hoped to sleep later, but I’d forgotten to close my curtains, allowing the sun to stab me in the eyeballs as it rose.

Yawning so wide my jaw cracked, I placed my bare feet on the rug.I’ll shower, shave, then go check on her myself.My stomach rumbled.All right, all right. I’ll eat first, THEN go see her.It wasn’t like Nova was going anywhere.

Standing under the hot water, I hummed gently. The sound reverberated through the black marble shower. Even though she’d gotten ill last night, Nova had assured me she’d had a great time.Just hope her mom doesn’t give her hell for skipping their dinner appointment.

After drying myself off, I lathered on some shaving cream. A few careful scrapes with a razor turned my jawline smooth. I didn’t normally care about stubble—but when I thought about kissing Nova, I wanted to do everything I could to make the experience pleasurable.

I’d never wanted to make a woman feel sogoodbefore.

Wiping my chin, I glanced at myself in the mirror. The last time I’d really stared at myself like this was right after I’d learned I was going to become king. My eyes had been hollow that day. Angry. Resigned. Today the onyx centers were glinting with joy. After dressing in a pair of cedar-brown pants, matching shoes, and a tight-fitting smoke-gray shirt with long sleeves, I checked my phone again.Still no response?Surely she was awake by now. Had her battery died or something?

Sticking my phone in my back pocket, I opened my bedroom door. Right away I saw the two maids huddled nearby; they were crouched over something in their hands, talking in wispy voices.

Their heads jerked up at the sound of my door opening. Wide-eyed with a guilt I didn’t understand, they spun to face me. The girl on the left hid whatever she had behind her back. “M-morning, Your Majesty!” she squeaked.

“Morning,” I said, arching an eyebrow. I closed the distance, studying them both. “What were you two talking about a second ago?”

“Nothing,” the other girl blurted.

“It’s hers!” said the first, simultaneously.

“Amy!” the one on the right gasped, stepping sideways. “How could you!”

“Sorry, Stasia,” Amy mumbled.

Putting my fingers to my temples, I sighed. “I’m lost. What’s going on?”

Hanging her head, Stasia revealed a newspaper. She offered it to me, her eyes downcast. I took it gingerly, squinting at the maids before I unfurled the wrinkled pages.Holy shit.The front was a photo of Nova in a toilet stall, the words stamped above claiming she was experiencing morning sickness. “Is this city obsessed with scandals?” I asked, handing the paper back.

The maids hesitated, then Stasia took the newspaper, folding it into a crisp square. “We’ll throw it in the garbage right away, Your Majesty.”

“Everyonehasto stop calling me that,” I groaned. Fuck, my head was throbbing. The headline kept rolling through my mind.Nova can’t be pregnant. I’ve been cautious...haven’t I?The first time in the cemetery pricked at my recollection. I pushed it down with a huge inhalation.Calm your fucking self. Just go talk to her, she’s probably laughing about this photo of her in the toilet right now.

“Um,” Amy said, biting her lip. “Can we go now, Your Maj—sir?”