I quickly stood, lifted my shirt and looked down. My jaw dropped as I saw a faint mark below my belly button and above my groin. I was pregnant. My shock was quickly interrupted by a shout from Roarke, who rose from his chair then dropped to one knee.
"The next king!" he proclaimed.
I didn't understand. After all the information we just heard, I thought it all depended on the color of the baby dragon. How could Roarke know he was the next king? I looked to Kris and saw tears and love shining in his eyes. He reached out and ran afinger across a gold spot that was above my belly button. It was shiny and looked awfully like a scale. I was so focused on the mark below; I hadn't even noticed this mark.
"This scale represents the caste of our son. It’s called the caste marking. The color will show what affinity our son has. He is a Golden Dragon and the next king of the dragons," Krispin told me.
We stood there while the others talked around us. Roarke was still on his knees, and Devin was complaining about Krispin knocking me up. The world was a blur. It was just me and Krispin.
I love you, my Cardia.I heard him speak in my mind.
I looked at him, and even though we just met, fate had brought us together, and I knew I loved him too.I love you too. I told him through our mind link. He was all that I could have asked for in a mate, and now he and I were going to be fathers. I was going to have a son. I was scared shitless.
Unforeseen Challenges
Ben
Aftertheinitialshockof the announcement and the confirmation that not only was I pregnant, but I was indeed carrying the next king, we sat back down to resume our breakfast. In fact, Kris' mountain of eggs started appearing on my plate so I could eat more. I looked at him as he just kept putting more of his food on my plate. He looked at me, smiled, and shrugged. "You're pregnant. You need to eat," he said simply.
I heard a snort of amusement from my friend and master. Stephen smiled at me and asked the question that I had been thinking about but was too scared to ask.
"What happens now?" Master Stephen asked as he looked to both Kris and me.
I knew this question was coming and I dreaded it. Would I have to leave my home, the only home I had known for the past ninety years?
I thought back to when I’d been a scared and starving little boy on the streets and my years growing up in the coven. Those years were difficult at first. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and it had taken some time to adjust. I’d trained. I’d worked out and watched Devin and Stephen—how they’d carried themselves and fought. I’d been a sponge, wanting to learn as much as I could. I’d never joined them—I was always on the outside looking in.
Then one day, Devin had called to me as he was teaching a class and training the enforcers of the coven.
"Benny! I need you to come here for a moment," Devin yelled.
My eyes had rounded, and I’d pointed to my chest in the universal symbol ofme?
He laughed. "Yes, you."
I remember trembling as I walked up. When I stood before him, he leaned in and whispered, "I’ve been watching you. I know you can do this move better than they can. Let's show them how things should be."
We then proceeded to spar and show the rest of the men there that particular move. From that day on, I trained side by side with Dev, and we became the best of friends. As time went on in the coven, I made more and more friends. When Master Stephen elevated me to enforcer, it was one of my proudest days. I had sworn to protect and defend my coven and my people. I loved them all. This was my home.
I was brought back to the present with a touch and smile from Kris. I don't know if he saw my memories as I had seen his but by the look in his soft eyes, he had. My mind was unguarded as I thought of my childhood and home. I didn't want to leave my home; how could I tell him that? This was my family. But I also knew Kris could never submit to the rule of someone else, whether or not I viewed Stephen as a father. Kris was the king of his people.
"My mate and I have much to speak about," he said regally. I smiled at how sometimes he could become so formal and imperious.
"I was thinking," he continued, "that Ben and I can get a place just outside your territory. This way he could continue to visit his friends and family."
I lit up at the idea. I could still be close, and this way Kris wouldn’t be under Stephen’s rule. It was a win-win in my book. I looked to Master Stephen with a question in my eyes.
"Perhaps you would consider staying in the coven?” he asked.
“As Benjamin's mate, you would be welcome to join." I could tell he didn’t want me to leave, either.
"I understand that you want to keep him. However, even when I lived in Belle Fort, I was on the outskirts, just outside the pack's territory. I may not have a circle, and I’ve stayed out of the affairs of my people for millennia, but I am still the king. I don't believe it possible for me to submit to your authority," he explained earnestly.
"I understand. However, Benjamin is like a son to me, and his safety and care are paramount. The rogue that attacked him is still out there, and I would feel better if he had the protection of the coven," Master Stephen insisted.
"Agreed—until the rogue is captured. I request permission for us to stay here within the coven. I have already assigned Roarke as his guardian protector. Any additional protection would be appreciated," Kris replied.
"You're making me out to be some feeble weakling who needs constant protection. I’m an enforcer and have been one for thirty years, as well as a tracker for thirty years before that. I can take care of myself," I grumbled.
