As she reached for the crystal platter, strong arms encircled her from behind. Draven’s familiar warmth pressed against her back, his hands settling possessively over her belly. Even now, after months of marriage and shared intimacy, his touch sent electricity racing through her body.
“My beautiful queen,” he murmured against her ear, his voice dropping to that rough timber that made her knees weak. “You’re supposed to be resting, not working.”
“I’m pregnant, not incapable.” She leaned back against his solid chest, savoring his strength. “Besides, I wanted everything perfect for our announcement.”
His hands tightened on her stomach, protective and possessive. “Everything is already perfect because you’re here. Our child, our kingdom, our life—it’s all because you chose this.”
Through their rock-solid mate bond, she felt the fierce pride radiating from him, mixed with that alpha possessiveness that never failed to make her pulse quicken. Six months of marriage hadn’t dimmed his desire for her—if anything, pregnancy had intensified his protective instincts to a level that was both thrilling and occasionally overwhelming.
“Draven,” she breathed, feeling a heat pool in her body despite their guests waiting just beyond the doors.
He chuckled deep. “Later, my love. Right now, our family is waiting to discover whether they’re getting a prince or princess.”
Our family.
The words still made her heart skip. Her mother had extended her stay indefinitely, finally building the relationship they’d both craved. Liam visited monthly with his wife, completely enchanted by his role as future uncle to dragon royalty. Harper had even convinced her law firm to let her work remotely for extended periods, claiming she needed to “supervise Lila’s happily ever after.”
“Come on, then.” Lila turned in his arms, rising to press a quick kiss to his lips. “Let’s go give them what they want.”
They entered the ballroom together, Draven’s hand possessively placed on her back. Their guests erupted in cheers and applause—her mother beaming from the head table beside Liam, his wife, and Harper, Gerri practically vibrating with excitement, Lyric wearing his usual dignified smile, and several council members who’d become genuine friends over the months.
“Finally!” Gerri called out, her eyes flashing that distinctive gold. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since I first introduced you two.”
“Patience, Gerri,” Draven replied, though his tone held affection. “Some revelations are worth the anticipation.”
He guided Lila to the center of the room where an ornate box sat on a pedestal, wrapped in neutral silver paper. Inside lay the answer they’d all been waiting for—the results that would reveal their child’s gender.
Lila’s heart raced as Draven’s hands covered hers on the box. She could feel his excitement matching her own, tinged with that fierce protectiveness that had only grown stronger since learning of her pregnancy.
“Ready?” he asked softly, his golden eyes locked on hers.
She nodded, unable to speak past the emotion clogging her throat. The ballroom fell silent around them, anticipation thick as honey in the air.
Together, they lifted the lid.
Pink and blue balloons erupted from the box like confetti made of dreams, floating upward toward the vaulted ceiling in a cascade of pastel colors. Lila stared at the rising balloons, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.
“Twins?” she whispered, her hand flying to her rounded belly.
The realization hit her like a gentle avalanche. All that kicking and turning, the way her body felt impossibly stretched, and how she’d grown larger than she’d expected even for dragon shifter babies. Two little lives had been growing inside her this entire time, wrestling for space and attention.
Tears poured down her cheeks as the magnitude of it crashed over her. “Six months pregnant with twins,” she breathed, wonder and joy mingling in her voice.
The crowd erupted in cheers, but Lila only focused on Draven’s face. His golden eyes blazed with pure masculine satisfaction, that alpha pride radiating from him in waves that made her pulse race despite her emotional state.
“My precious queen,” he whispered. “You’re carrying my heir and my little princess.”
Before she could say anything, her mother rushed forward with tears streaming down her face, followed by Liam, his wife, Harper, and Gerri. They surrounded her in a whirlwind of hugs and congratulations, everyone talking at once.
“Twins!” Harper squealed, bouncing on her toes. “Leave it to you to overachieve even at pregnancy.”
“I knew it,” Gerri announced with satisfaction, her eyes flashing gold.
Liam wrapped his arms around her carefully, his protective brother instincts warring with his excitement. “Two little dragons to spoil.”
Her mother’s hands fluttered over Lila’s belly with reverent wonder. “Oh, sweetheart, they’re so lucky to have you as their mother.”
Through the chaos of celebration, Draven’s strong arms finally reclaimed her, pulling her against his solid chest with possessive certainty. The crowd around them faded as he captured her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears.
