Chapter 2
Jazmine is pregnant.
Nojan couldn’t help but hope once more that his future might look very different from the one that seemed laid before him.
As a prince of Vartik, he was destined to rule the land and marry a woman of its blood. Neither opportunity turned him on in any sense of the word. The heat between Marek and his human mate, though? That scorched him. Seeing Marek having been brought back to life emotionally and given a future that broke the chains of the past was thrilling.
After changing into something more formal, he rushed through his father’s mansion to head down to the celebration that would end their Week of Kanz. The harvest was in and the planet had gathered not only to enjoy the first fruits of their seasons of work but to hear from his father, the king. He would surely tell the people whether the omens had spoken and moved the crown from his head, only to be placed on his eldest brother Marek’s head.
The excitement in the air was palpable as he walked out of the mansion and jogged down toward the center of the kingdom. Everyone had already left the mansion, which meant he was highly likely to be in trouble for tardiness. It wouldn’t take much more than a sweet look and a few apologies and his mother would melt. His father was a different story.
A smile touched his lips as he spotted his brother and Jazmine. Her dirty-blond hair danced in the wind, brushing over her shoulders and lifting the smell of baked goods in the air.
Nojan breathed in deeply and moved around to face his eldest brother, soon to be King of Vartik. Another six months was all he had, and it would seem that Marek would ascend the throne with a bride and twins in his arms. It was a first for their people, but seeing that Jazmine was thought to be one of the light twins gifted to the King of Territh by his mistress, the light goddess, she would be welcomed. Vartiks were worshipers of the great Goddess of Light, so to reject her daughter Jazmine as their next queen would have been not only ignorant but potentially deadly.
Sadly enough, Nojan had yet to fully prove who Jazmine was, but all the signs pointed in the right direction.
Marek’s dark gaze shifted and moved across Nojan’s face as his eyebrow lifted. “What are you up to, brother?”
“Greetings to the upcoming King and Queen of Vartik. What say you?” Nojan stifled a smirk as he bowed low to the ground.
“You’re drunk as a skunk.” Marek shook his head and released the hold he had on Jazmine. “I’m going to go wish my parents well on their speech. Come to the center stage and bring Nojan with you? You’ll see it.”
“Of course.” Jazmine’s eyes followed him before turning her attention back to Nojan as he stood to his full height. “What did you drink to put you in such a good mood?”
“Tea. I’m not drunk. I figured he would rush off if he believed me in need of help. He doesn’t do well with intoxication.” Nojan smiled and reached out, taking Jazmine’s hand. She reminded him so much of Kara, his only sister. They weren’t particularly close, but that was Kara’s choice. He wanted a close relationship with her, but she wouldn’t budge. Maybe Jazmine would be different. “Marek told you of the results of the scan?”
Nojan had been given the privilege of running a full scan on their Territh visitor, under the watchful eye of his brother, no doubt. The results had been stunning. Jazmine was carrying twin babes, both encircled in the same blue light that pulsed around her. It was a sign that she was who he believed her to be. Now to prove it to her and the rest of the planet.
“He did. Thank you for supporting his decision to be the one to tell me of the babies.” Her cheeks shaded pink, leaving her more beautiful than he could imagine a woman being.
Where there should have been a seed of lust or jealousy for what Marek had found in his travels in Jazmine, there was nothing but pure, unadulterated excitement for his older brother. Nojan would seek out someone much like his soon-to-be sister-in-law if fate allowed it. Then he could run his eyes over the creature’s body and covet the thought of taking her to his bed to explore every inch of her.
He swallowed hard and pulled back his emotions as she lifted her eyebrow at him. Being subtle with his emotions had never been a strong suit. “Of course. I wanted to tell you that you will soon be one of us. There isn’t anything we won’t do to bring Caleb back to you, Jaz. Hold tight and trust Marek until you learn to trust us too.” He took a step forward and Jazmine sank into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Her brother Caleb, the male twin from the light goddess, was lost. He’d been taken from Jazmine two years prior, and the poor woman had been racing from planet to planet in search of him. Thievery had been her only means of gaining access to board another spacecraft and continuing the search.
Scarily enough, her last time around, she’d stolen from the wrong ruler. The king of Vanfia had a large price on her head, and without Marek being present to save her from herself multiple times, she might have been in a very different place than she was now.
“I will. Thank you, Nojan.” She moved back, wiping at her tears as she slipped her arm into his.
“No more tears. It’s the biggest party of the year. Hurry. I see my father ascending the stage. Let’s find Marek.” Nojan smiled at her, trying to offer her reassurance.
They rushed forward toward the stage, and Nojan made sure to greet people of their planet as he was greeted with bows and waves. They paused by the stage as Marek stood beside the queen, offering her a hand as she moved up onto the stage next to the king.
Their mother gave Marek a quick kiss on the cheek and swatted him away. Nojan’s older brother moved to the edge of the stage and dropped down in front of them as a smile played on his lips.
“All set. You guys good?” Marek moved in beside Jazmine, putting an arm around her and glancing over at Nojan. “Hands off, dude.”
“Oh, brother.” Nojan rolled his eyes. “Let’s hear what Mom and Dad have to say and then we’ll stuff our bellies full.”
“Sounds good.” Jazmine snuggled into Marek as Nojan turned to give them a bit of privacy.
His father moved up to the speaking apparatus and smiled as the crowd began to cheer. “Firstly, we thank each and every one of you for being in attendance tonight. It has been a good year for Vartik. Please know that change is in the air. We have only one choice as the greatest race of beings ever created. We will embrace it and be agile.” He paused and looked to the queen, who took a step forward.
“We are working on plans to pull our planet out of the shadows and remind the galaxies that we are alive and well. It’s time to move forward and regain our place amongst the leaders of the other worlds. For far too long, we’ve hidden in the shadows. That time is almost over. I’m only slightly sad that it won’t be under our reign that this victory will come to fruition. It’s only fitting that our son, Marek, one of the greatest gifts given us by the gods, will see it to its end.”
Nojan’s father lifted his hand, palm open, and moved it toward Marek, as if pointing him out. “The next King of Vartik has come home early to be with us. He will remain here for the next six months and begin preparation for his reign. The gods have brought to his door one of the most powerful deities in all the universe. The twin daughter of light, his mate, Jazmine.”
