Page 193 of King Alejandro

“Dad…”

“I’m here, Princess,” I said quietly, pulling her into my arms.

“I-it’s not safe, I’m not safe…. Leave…” Her body was becoming heavy, and she soon slumped in my arms, unconscious.

“Everything will be okay.” I lifted her up, placing her on the silver.

Raven, get Dr Callum to come back down. We need to up her dosage…

I frowned, caressing her hair. How the hell was it possible for her to have broken free of the cuffs…? Her body was bound and kept subdued… where did the Djinn get the energy from? Was he somehow pulling on Alejandro’s power through the bond? This was a magic and power beyond my understanding.

I heard footsteps soon after, and Serena and Callum both came hurrying over.

“Alpha, never ask me to do something so risky ever again,” he said, looking as if he had aged a few years. I raised an eyebrow.

“Look at these cuffs. She broke through them somehow; she was fully unconscious. How is that even possible?” I mused as Callum administered another round of drugs.

“Is it possible that his hold on her is getting stronger and he’s beginning to take over?” Callum murmured. I shook my head.

“He can’t possess her unless he is physically here. He did something to attain a hold on her, but he isn’t ‘in’ her, if that makes sense. The elder witches explained that clearly.”

“But then how did he wake up?” Serena asked worriedly.

“I don’t know. He has to be drawing strength from somewhere,” I said quietly. Serena frowned, her eyes thoughtful as she felt Kiara’s pulse.

“It’s so weak…” She stroked her hair, and I could see she loved her Luna.

“We need new chains,” I said quietly.

“I’ve asked Drake to bring some more chains and cuffs…” Serena replied unhappily. Callum paused before he suddenly looked up sharply.

“I have a hypothesis…but I am uncertain if there is any truth or logic in it…” He seemed hesitant as he looked down at Kiara.

“What is it?” I asked. He seemed to struggle before he bent down, placing his ear against Kiara’s stomach.

“You said he needs to be drawing strength from somewhere, my assumption was… well…”

“Spit it out,” I growled impatiently.

“I… well, what if the Luna is pregnant? The Djinn may be drawing his strength from the foetus.” I looked at him sharply. Kiara was pregnant? I was sure she was done with kids…

Serena’s eyes were wide with shock. I simply watched Callum waiting for his verdict. He moved back slowly, his face looking thoughtful.

“I’m not sure... perhaps, Alpha, you can check; your hearing would be better than mine…”

“But if that’s true… and we are here binding her in silver…” Serena murmured.

“But the Luna heals. It would make sense. If the Djinn is constantly using an unborn foetus to survive andKiara is fuelling it with her healing, it’s a winning situation for the demon,” Callum said quietly.

I didn’t reply, pressing my ear to Kiara’s stomach and closing my eyes. Trying to focus, I strained my ears. The sound of Kiara’s heart, Serena’s… Callum’s… mine… and there it was. The tiny beat of a fifth heart. I jerked back, looking at Callum in shock.

“Well?” He looked at me with concern.

“I think she is…” I whispered, unable to make anything of the shocking revelation as I tried to process it all.

“Then we need to move her to the hospital. We can place her in one of the secure rooms that were used for rabid wolves or those who had been poisoned by the wendigos and manananggals years ago,” Callum said worriedly. “We need to make sure the poison and silver we have been giving her haven’t harmed the baby. Even though she has the gift of healing, we need to be careful.” I nodded, fear twisting in my guts.

If Alejandro learned of this, if he realised she had been pregnant all along and something happened to the baby, he would never be able to forgive himself.