Page 81 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

Asher nuzzled his head into her stomach, planting tiny kisses on her invisible baby bump. “I’m carrying you the whole way home. You shouldn’t be walking in your condition.”

Lita busted out laughing. “Asher, it’s perfectly fine for me to walk in my condition. I’m pregnant, I don’t have broken bones. You better not be thinking of wrapping me up in a bubble during the pregnancy.”

“Not a bubble, but confining you to our bedroom has crossed my mind.” Asher stood up and sat beside her, pulling her into his chest.

“How are you feeling about everything? I mean, the plan was to have kids. I just wasn’t planning to right now.” Lita giggled a bit.

“How does it feel like I’m feeling?” Asher whispered into her neck as he planted little hot kisses on the sensitive skin.

“You seem pretty elated, nervous, protective.” Lita searched through his feelings. They were the same as hers.

“I’m glad you can read my mind. I can’t put into words how happy I am. My love for you grows more and more each day, and the fulfillment it brings me is indescribable. My heart is overflowing with happiness.”

Lita snuggled deeper into him. “Me too. Oh, guess what?! I met real dragons!”

“What? Where? I want to meet them!” Asher’s eyes widened in excitement.

“They were here, but they left. It was the Great Dragon Sage. He told me to call him Grandpa Sage, and then there was the cutest little boy I’d ever seen.

He was maybe four years old and had these eyes that shined like amber.

He turned out to be the Prince of the West Dragon Kingdom.

He wanted me to marry him.” Lita giggled and Asher chuckled along with her.

“Can’t blame the kid there. Unfortunately for him, I already called dibs.” Asher's head was resting on top of Lita’s when Grayson walked up to them.

“And they were not at all like how Grayson described. Though, I guess they weren’t the norm. And the one was a kid, but he had a good heart.”

“He’ll become just like the rest of them.” Grayson snorted and sat down in front of them on the ground. He didn’t like being away from Lita that long either, especially with her being pregnant.

“You two better not turn into overprotective psychos on me now that I’m pregnant.” Lita watched the two men share a knowing grin. “Great.”

“Sorry, Lita. It’s just something you’re going to have to put up with. We already talked about it. You’re our number one priority. You and our future little princess.” Asher rested his hand on Lita’s stomach and lightly rubbed it.

Nathon, Alice and Dylan entered with a couple of people carrying a few trays. Alice motioned for them to follow her over to a few tables that were at the other end of the garden.

They had brought sandwiches, cookies, soup, tea, and lemonade. Lita sat down at the table.

“I know when I found out I was pregnant, my appetite instantly became more intense. I guess that’s what happens when you have a wolf cub inside you.” Alice saw her daughter’s eyes light up as she looked at the food. Yep, she was hungry.

“I didn’t even realize how hungry I was until just now.” Lita giggled and filled up her plate. Asher sat beside her and her parents sat across from them. Lita noticed that both Dylan and Grayson remained standing behind them. They weren’t eating. “Grayson, please eat something.”

“I’m good, Lita,” Grayson said, staring back at Dylan.

Lita set her sandwich down and sighed. “If Grayson and Dylan don’t grab something to eat, then I’m not eating another bite.”

Asher growled and grabbed a sandwich, shoving it into Grayson’s hand. “Eat! You aren’t going to be the reason my mate and pup don’t get fed.”

Grayson knew this wasn’t a battle he was going to win. Besides, he was hungry anyway. He took the sandwich and took a bite.

“Dylan, you heard her. I’m not going to have my daughter getting malnourished,” Alice said calmly as she sipped her tea. She didn’t even raise her voice, but Dylan immediately jumped at her command. There was no snotty quip, no sassing, just immediate obedience.

“Grayson, why don’t you listen like that? I think I need to trade my guardian in for a new one,” Lita teased, as she felt a gentle flick to the back of her head from Grayson.

“It looks like I chose well. You two obviously have a strong bond.” Alice sipped her drink, looking between Grayson and Lita.

It was important for them to have a strong bond in order to trust each other completely.

“Speaking of choosing, you should pick out your daughter’s guardian while you’re here. ”

“Wait, how does that work? And I thought there could only be three guardians at a time. Speaking of that, what if I have other children? Does only my firstborn get a guardian?” Lita remembered that was something she had been curious about before.

“Lita, sweetheart, you’ll be the fairy queen.

You can do whatever you wish. We’ve only ever needed three guardians, so that’s why there’s only ever been three.

We are a one and done race.” Alice laughed, knowing she had no desire to ever have more than one child.

“When your daughter is born, you will automatically become the queen of the fairies. However, you will not be the reigning queen until you’re ready for it.

When that time comes, you will move to Elysia and I will step down as queen.

Then, I get to live my life as an advisor to you.

Now, as for the guardian, every queen hand picks the guardian they wish to have for their daughter.

That child will then be raised to be their future guardian.

This doesn’t just have to pertain to a daughter either; it just always has.

If your second child is a boy, you can appoint a guardian for him as well.

There’s nothing wrong with having a strong protector looking out for your children for the rest of their lives.

Besides, I think they make great family, speaking from my own experience.

” Alice turned and winked at Dylan, who nodded with a chuckle.

“I think I got all that.” Lita giggled. “Speaking of family … Dad, don’t forget to check in on Drew. I think your leaving shocked him.”

“Maybe we’ll visit soon and have him meet us at the Black Ice Pack. I think us arriving at the Red Grove Pack would cause a scene. You know how uncomfortable they are with those that are different.” Nathon snorted with an eye roll.

“Yeah, I know all too well. I think you should have changed that,” Lita said with a bit of distaste for her old pack.

“I tried. Trust me. When I first brought Alice back, I really was determined to change everything. They’re just too set in their ways.

I could have ordered it as their alpha, but what would that do?

I wanted to see how they really felt. I wanted their honesty.

And we got it, loud and clear. One day, I hope that will change.

Drew is a strong leader. It’s his elitist mate that will be an issue.

You didn’t hear that last part from me.” Nathon chuckled as he saw Lita raise her eyebrows in shock over his distaste for Kennedy.

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m not a fan either.” Lita giggled while Asher nodded his head in agreement.

“Are you close with Caspian? You two were inseparable as children.” Alice was curious as to how their relationship was after she’d regained her memories. She knew he was a member of the Black Ice Pack, so they would have met.

“Yes, we are. In fact, he’s here, too. We left him with the others we were traveling with.” Lita thought about something for a moment and then looked at her parents. She felt a bit perplexed. “Why don’t you guys have cell phones so we can call and text you?”

Alice and Nathon chuckled. “They don’t work here. Think of this like a black hole. It’s completely off the grid.” Nathon shrugged. “There is electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, and you can watch movies on televisions. There is no cell phone reception here, though.”

“Well, why not have them and then just walk out of the barrier whenever you have to make a phone call?” Lita thought she may have solved the problem until she heard Asher laughing beside her.

“Lita, babe. We couldn’t even get a car in here. We had to walk for two days to get here. I highly doubt there is cell phone service available out here.” Asher kissed the side of her head. She was too cute sometimes.

“He’s right. There’s no service anywhere near here.

However, we can send letters to each other through fairy messengers.

We can get messages to one another through them within hours.

And in an emergency, you and I can communicate.

It’s draining, but it can be done.” Alice knew it wasn’t optimal, but it was the best they could do.

At least she would be able to finally leave and visit now.

“I just don’t want us to lose touch. It felt like the buildup to this journey was so big, like something that only happens once in a lifetime.

I know that isn’t the case. I’m sure I’m just feeling like that because I haven’t seen you in so long.

It makes visiting feel impossible. And I don’t want that.

I want us to be close. I want to get together during the holidays.

I’d like to—” Lita was interrupted by Alice at that moment.

“I want all of that, too. Selfishly, I want to keep you here and not let you leave. I really wish I could, but we can’t do that.

Your pack needs you. Drew needs you. We’ll visit!

We’ll both make the necessary efforts to stay close.

Drew too. I haven’t seen him in so long, either.

I bet he’s handsome like his father.” Alice smiled at Nathon.

She was thankful that she at least had him by her side now.

She had hundreds of fairies around her, all wanting her attention.

Yet, she’d still felt so lonely these past years. Part of her was missing.

“Lita, I’ll make sure you get to do whatever you want. Whenever you want to visit, I’ll make it happen. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to make you happy.” Asher tried to reassure her that this visit wasn’t her last.

“Does that include laying off on being overprotective?” Lita smirked at him.

“That’s never going to happen. Might as well settle in for the long haul there.” Asher chuckled along with Nathon.

“I’m glad she’s found someone who knows how precious she is.

I knew she would be safe with you, Asher.

I’m not going to lie, though. I had my doubts about how delicately she would be treated in your pack.

It does have a rough reputation.” Nathon was very grateful that he could relax knowing his daughter was in good hands.

“We are a strong pack. But what makes us strong is our bond with each other. Lita is a core member of my pack. She is their luna. She is treated a million times better in my pack than she was in her own.” Asher knew that last line was a bit of a jab.

That was the point. Anywhere was better than the pack she grew up in.

Nathon nodded his head sadly. “You’re right.

She wasn’t treated the best in my pack. I could have ordered everyone to treat her with the respect she deserved.

I just felt that was wrong. I wanted to know who really cared.

Besides Drew, there was only Teo. Because of this, my heart has hardened against my own pack.

I have no desire to return there. I hope Drew can create a better pack than I was able to.

Their lack of caring and compassion for my mate and daughter left me very sore with them.

As their alpha, I can’t forgive them. I gave them everything, but they couldn’t accept what was precious to me. ”

“Let’s look to the future and concentrate on creating a brighter one,” Alice said warmly, touching Nathon’s leg. She could tell he felt bad. “Lita, I just thought of something. When it comes to visiting, your father and I can make it there the same day.”

“Really? How? You going to ride dragons?” Lita giggled, knowing that was out of the question.

“If we ever become good enough friends with one, then maybe!” Alice laughed. “No, we will ride hippogryphs there. If I can’t abuse being the fairy queen once in a while, then what’s the point?” Alice grinned happily. The idea had just occurred to her. They could easily fly there.

“You want me to fly on the back of one of those things?” Nathon asked nervously. He was all about pleasing Alice, but he was not a fan of some of these creatures here. They creeped him out. And for some reason, hippogryphs gave him the willies.

“Yes, you’re going to ride on the back of one of those cuties.

I suggest you start making friends with them.

” Alice grinned. She knew that, if it was to visit his children, she would be able to get him to ride one.

Really, there didn’t have to be a reason.

All Alice had to do was ask it of him and he would do it.

“I guess I’ll just stay here and watch over the place when you make those trips,” Dylan said teasingly. He didn’t want to ride a hippogryph either. His feet belonged on the ground.

“Of course not. You’ll be coming with us. I won’t hear another word about this subject, will I?” Alice looked at Dylan out of the corner of her eye. He didn’t object, though his eyes were screaming it.

Lita thought about how Dylan was a perfect match as her mother’s guardian, and how Grayson was her perfect guardian. She didn’t want to mess it up. She wanted her daughter to have her guardian and a best friend, too.

“So, how do I go about picking out a future guardian?”