Page 48

"My love what's wrong?" Cain asks when I walk into the dining room.

"Are you a good hunter?" I question. "Cain is the best" Theron beams. "Nova.

." Cain says softly. "Rinus said the baby will be here sooner than expected and that I'm 4 months pregnant but with how fast the baby is growing it's more like 6 months so I could have the baby any day now"I sigh.

"We were supposed to have 9 months well 5 if Rinus didn't make an error" Cain says in disbelief.

"I"m not ready, we aren't ready, we don't even have baby names picked out" he continues to ramble.

"Technically I have had baby names picked out since I was 16, I think it's only far since I'm carrying them to name them and then you can pick a middle name if you want and they will have your last name" I say.

"We don't have last names" Ares chimes in.

"Right" I mumble. "Fuck!" I whisper. "What is it Nova?

" Alara comes to sit next to me as I start fanning tears from my eyes.

"I drank and took drugs, I'm a horrible mother" I sob.

"My love you didn't know" Cain says softly.

"Rinus says the baby is healthy Nova remember" Alara rubs my back.

"However if the baby looks strange I will love it regardless" Alara hugs me tight.

"Where is Rinus?" Cain asks. "He went to check something he will be back tomorrow" Alara replies.

"What is this I hear about a bruise?" Ares questions.

"Ares don't use Tariq to spy on me" I snap.

"I"m not" he replies. "What with recounting our interactions? " I ask.

"It's for safety reasons" he says firmly. "Besides he told me you sent him to find someone who has experience with your situation and when I asked why he said there was a bruise on your belly" he defends himself. "Show me" Cain demands. I stand and the entire table comes to stand behind Cain.

"Our child did that?" he questions. "I guess" I shrug.

"Does it hurt?" he brushes his fingers on it.

"No, I didn't even feel it" I answer. Cain kneels down and puts his ear toy belly "Hi little one".

These interactions always melted my heart.

"Please be gentle with mommy" he says. Cain gasps and pulls away.

"What!" Eve asks. "I felt movement" he whispers.

"Nova?" Eve asks. "Nope mmm noo, you aren't supposed to be wiggling about." I shake my head. I unconsciously start humming to myself, this was all happening too fast. "It's a little hand" Alara squeals. I stop humming and frown, it felt weird. "I think the babe likes when you sing Nova" Zaros says.

"Do it again" they look at me excitedly. "You all shouldn't encourage the baby to come out before it's time" I frown. "Aw Nova please" Eve pleads. I sigh but hum a little longer than last time. Eve and Alara start tearing up and Ares looks at me in awe. "Okay enough of that" I pull my shirt down.

"Hi, my sweet angel, despite what everyone else is saying I need you in here for a few more months at least one or two" I say softly.

"Show my a hand and a foot if you understand" I whisper.

I didn't think I would get a response but then on my upper belly a hand and a foot print appeared.

"Holy crap" I exclaim. "My baby is so smart already" I sob. "Our baby" Cain corrects chuckling.

"My Queen" Tariq bows as he comes in. "Oh My King" he bows again when he noticed Cain.

"What can I do for you Tariq?" I smile. "Presenting Madame Angmar" he says.

"Hi Aunt Mar" Zaros waves. "Nephew, didn't think I would see you here" she replies.

"You knew someone with useful information and didn't inform me?

Cain growls. "You didn't ask" Zaros shrugs.

"My you are a pretty one" she grabs my chin and inspects me.

"Um thank you?" I say. "We want to know about the birth, you have experience with this yes?

" Cain says. "I do" she lifts up my shirt.

"You are barely showing, in the early stages I suppose" she puts it down again.

"Actually children of Talon all are born 3 months early" Eve says.

" My daughter is 4 months in and the baby is showing signs of being 6 months.

The baby is already moving, we saw a little hand print earlier" Eve continues.

"That's peculiar, show me" she demands. Lifting my shirt, I start humming but nothing happens.

"Maybe she is asleep" I say. "It's a girl?

Did Rinus tell you?" Cain asks excitedly.

"Oh um no, I don't know if it is" I blush.

"Wait you don't have weird things about boys being more important than girls and that nonsense right?

" I ask. There was no way I was going to raise this baby in a world like that.

"It was like that a long time ago but no we don't do that anymore.

If we have a daughter as the first born she will have claim to the throne if she wants it" Cain says.

"Oh that's good to know" I let out a relieved sigh.

"None of my children will take the Throne of they do not want it" Cain rubs the back of my hand.

"Did that hurt?" Madame Angmar points to the bruise.

I shake my head and she pushes on it, "Now?

". "How peculiar" she says. "What is?" Cain asks.

"It seems the child is protective of the mother, I felt a soft tap until I removed my finger" she continues.

"Oh she definitely gets that from her father" I laugh.

"In my experience the babe either rips through the belly or not. In your case it is my impression you child will not do the first thing" she smiles. "What happens when they rip through" I ask nervously. "Are you asking if the mother survives?" she cocks her head at me. "Yes" I say quietly.

"In some cases no, it varies from person to person" she says.

" As in their partners turned them?" I ask.

"Dear girl one does not just turn, it is a complicated process and even if attempted the outcome is uncertain.

However I'm sure there is someone far older than me with this knowledge" she replies.

" Your scent it's unlike others I've met" she continues.

"Yea Zaros" has said that. "Probably because he always sticks his nose where it doesn't belong" Theron states.

"Why don't you like each other?" I finally ask.

"Because he does shit like steal his friend's wife" Theron says.

"He is just mad Cain likes me better" Zaros laughs.

"Is that why Nova knew nothing about you? " Theron quiped making Zaros growl.

"Okay never mind whatever this weird pissing contest is no thank you.

If Ares and Cain can get over theirs you two can too but if not I don't want either you around I got too much to worry about" I say.

"Oh shit Emmett" I finally remember. "Okay you two this is a team building exercise find Emmett" I order.

" You want him taken care of?" Zaros asks.

"Just put him in the dungeon or another part of the castle I actually don't want him in here when the baby is here, he has a weird notion that he will be my child's father.

I have no idea where he got that idea from" I say looking at Zaros.

"Over my dead body" Cain snarls. "Hey! That's not what I told him" Zaros says.

"You heard your Queen, take a few men with you" Cain says.

"Okay one thing down a bunch more to go" I sigh.