Page 166 of The Dragon's Gambit

It started with a small twitch in his hand, and then his eyes slowly opened. Brody looked around and smiled.

“What? You’re crying out here too?” Brody chuckled as he looked at Reiya. He adjusted himself and sat up. Chelsie dove into him, sobbing, and Brody wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry for worrying you, Chels,” he softly cooed to her as he held onto her tightly.

Reiya leaned into Lee and cried into his chest. She could feel Brody’s light again. He was back.

“You shouldn’t be crying now. He’s back and okay.” Lee smiled as he held onto his fairy tightly. The two men looked at each other and exchanged a smile.

“Glad to see you’re back with us, Levi.” Brody smiled while Lee laughed.

“Glad to see you’re back with US, Brody.” Both Lee and Brody chuckled as they held onto their sobbing girls.

This was a close call for the group. It was something that brought them even closer. Their bond had strengthened, and a new appreciation for one another was formed.

Chelsie leaned back and looked up at Brody. “Before anything else happens, I have something to tell you.” Chelsie watched him looking down at her curiously and she smiled.

“I’m pregnant.”

Chapter 99 Going Home

“P-P-P-regnant? I’m going to be a father?!” Brody mashed Chelsie into him, his eyes watering in happiness. “I can’t believe it.”

“You’re okay with it?” Chelsie asked quietly.

Brody chuckled and nodded. “What I’m not okay with is you not telling me before we left. You should have stayed home.”

Chelsie smiled as she leaned into his warmth. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

Brody grinned widely and sighed happily as he looked up, smiling at Reiya and Levi. He couldn’t believe he almost missed this. In fact, he would have missed this if it wasn’t for Olga. Olga … That had him thinking. Why would Olga save him? What was her motive for getting involved here? Sure, he was happy to be alive, but something seemed off. She was supposed to be this vicious, evil Queen of the Merrows. Pulling back from Chelsie, he stood up and tugged her back into his side.

He turned his head to study Olga. “I don’t get it. Why would you save me?”

Olga laughed loudly. “Those are your first words to me? Not thank you?” She watched his cheeks heat up red in response.

“Thank you. I can’t put into words how incredibly grateful I am. Really, I am. I just can’t understand why you would go through the trouble to save me. I didn’t think that ... well, to be honest, I didn’t think the merrows cared about anyone but other merrows,” Brody admitted quietly.

Olga laughed again and nodded her head. “That isn’t exactly untrue. But I guess I could explain some things a bit.” Olga looked over at Reiya and smiled.

“Well, first, let’s start here. The previous couple of Merrow Queens were incredibly vicious and were only concerned with other merrows. So, they created the reputation we have now. We do like to keep to ourselves and not be involved with others. Call it self-preservation. BUT, when it comes to the fairy royalty, I will always make an exception. We are still part of the fairy kingdom, and I am loyal to the fairy rulers.” Olga stopped to make sure everyone was with her at this point.

“Did you know one of us would die?” Reiya asked quietly.

“I highly suspected it. Kali is a dark priestess who can see the future—” Olga started but was interrupted by Lee.

“Wait, why would the dark priestess want us to kill a half demon? They belong on her side of the spectrum.”

“Yes, why indeed ... I don’t know. There is more going on here than I know. I figured by the way Kali spoke that she anticipated the princess would lose someone special. That just didn’t work for me. If she was going to demand that you accept this task, then I was going to do my best to alter the fate she could foresee. Though she may have seen the change in fate the moment I made my decision. Hell, she might have known all along that this was what I would do.” She then turned and looked at Brody. “But what you are asking is why I would choose to intervene. You are curious as to what is in it for me?”

Brody nodded his head as he held Chelsie gently against him.

“It’s simple. I didn’t want the princess to be in pain.” Olga turned and smiled at Reiya. “Regardless of what you have heard or think you know, my loyalties lie with you and your mother. The many misconceptions of who I am now are simply that, misconceptions. So why were you saved? Because you were someone precious to the princess. Simple as that.”

“Fair enough. Thank you. Because of you, I’m going to be alive to see my child born.” Brody tugged Chelsie gently as he beamed with pride.

“I wonder what the dark priestess’ motive is. Why would she want me to fight against Abaas? Did she want me to get taken?” Reiya tilted her head back to look at Lee.

“No, I don’t believe so,” Olga said plainly. “She would have known the outcome. I’m sure she has a reason, one that we may never know.”

“Thank you, for saving Brody. I didn’t know how I was going to move on without him,” Reiya admitted as Brody gave her a sad side smile.