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“Know what, my love?” he asked softly.

She could tell him, or she could continue to hold the secret. The choice was hers.

Instead of answering, her worried expression crumpled into devastation, and sudden sobs shook her body with worrisome force. He wrapped his arms around her and curled her up against him. With each tear soaking his chest, his heart broke all the more. But he merely cradled her in his hold as instinct bade him. Forcing anything now would only break her trust.

Her sobs lessened until finally, she was down to sniffles. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

His shattered heart seized at her words. What did she mean? Gods, she wouldn’t ask the healer to rid her of…? No. Surely not. “What can’t you do?” he asked carefully.

“Hide things from you.” She swiped her palm against her wet cheek. “Maybe I’m wrong about you guessing, but it doesn’t matter. It’s too much. Far too much to bear alone.”

He pressed a quick, soft kiss to her lips. “You may share your secrets as you will.”

With a huff, she wriggled until she leaned over him, her arm braced across his chest. Fear haunted her gaze like her lingering tears, but she met his eyes steadily. “I didn’t think it could happen so soon, but…I found out this morning that I’m pregnant.”

Fierce joy slammed into him—had he thought he’d felt the extent of it earlier?—until he could barely breathe. His arms tightened around her waist, squeezing her closer. But was his hold too tight? He loosened his grip at the thought, but a pained expression had already crossed her face. Had he hurt her? Gods, he’d taken her roughly earlier, too. Perhaps he should call for the healer.

“You’re upset,” Tes said, a stark, hollow tone to her voice.

“Upset that I’ve hurt you.” Ber cupped her cheek. “I didn’t mean to hold you too close. And after our fierce lovemaking earlier—”

“What are you talking about?”

She blinked down at him with a confused frown, and Ber released a long breath. “When I squeezed your waist, you appeared pained. I must take more care. Though I suppose it’s foolish of me, considering you’ll have to face battle soon.”

His wife stared at him for a bit longer. Then she dropped her head to his chest and released a sound that could have been a sob or a laugh. His heart pounding, he wrapped his arms more gently around her and was rewarded with the feel of her shaking against him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell if it was in amusement or grief.

Either way, it seemed he’d broken her.

Laughter overcameTes with surprising force, though she did her best to suppress it. Ber wouldn’t understand, and she couldn’t explain it. Was this euphoria? She could think of no other word for the intense relief and happiness rolling through her.

He isn’t angry, and he won’t try to stop me.

His arms tightened slightly around her—but only slightly. “Are you crying?”

Finally, she let her laughter free. “Can’t you feel my emotions?”

“I’ve been afraid to check those too closely,” he replied with obvious chagrin.

And something else, a slightly somber tone that muffled her amusement. She lifted her head so that she could see his face. “Why?”

He sighed. “At first, I was shielded to avoid upsetting Speran and Elna, since they’re both sensitive to such things. But after…maybe I didn’t want to know all the reasons why you wouldn’t tell me.”

“I don’t understand.” Had he guessed her condition? But there was no smugness in his demeanor—only pain. “I only learned the truth this morning. How did you find out?”

“I was returning to our room after caring for Speran.” Ber’s eyes slipped closed. “I’d just started opening the door when I heard another voice. When I paused to determine who it was, I caught the end of your discussion. It has eaten through me like poison the entire day. I do understand your reasons, though, and I’m sorry I’ve been untrustworthy.”

All day?

Suddenly cold, she shivered against him, and he pulled the blanket over them without a word. Of course he did. He always cared for her, after all. Guilt seeped into her blood and stole her breath. Why hadn’t she been honest in the first place? No wonder he’d questioned if she still wanted him as her king.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you, but I panicked and—” She shook her head at herself. “No. No excuses. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. If you’d confronted me this morning, I would have deserved it.”

When his eyelids swept open, it was happiness, not recrimination, in his gaze. “I don’t want to linger on the past. Let’s take this moment and savor it, Tes. A night of joy just for us.”

He was right—such chances would grow slim far too soon.

And so she followed where he led.