“Peter was your son?” My skin heated rapidly.
Axoular put his arm around me and squeezed. “Keep it together, Riley.”
I breathed deep to try to calm myself—not an easy thing to do.
“He was. And you killed him.” He pulled in a deep breath. “I was angry at first, but in retrospect, I could see why you might be alittleangry.”
I scoffed. “Alittleangry? A lot. And how could you know if the baby is his, or Anthony’s or Elias’s?”
“Haven’t you been the busy little dragon?” He templed his hands and rested them on his chin.
“Screw you, dude. You don’t know me, or my life, or my relationships.” Axoular squeezed me again, a reminder to be calm.
“No, I don't. Nor do I want to. I simply want my progeny and I’ll leave you in peace.”
His words struck me as hilarious. I burst out laughing so hard I nearly peed myself, which reminded me I really needed to use the restroom. I fought back the laughter. “Of all the bad timings, but I need to pee. May I stand?”
The door opened and a man stepped in with a gun. Dumadi waited for him to position himself in front of the closed door and then nodded. “You may.”
“I don’t believe for a second you’ll shoot me.”
“It’s loaded with tranquilizers. It will knock you out again, but not hurt you or the babe.” I opened my mouth, but he cut me off. “Nor did the medicine we gave you in the car. It was specially brewed for us to make you sleep but not your child.”
Well, thank goodness for small blessings.I stood, shooting both men the worst looks I could muster, and waddled to the bathroom. The weight of the baby on my hips suddenly felt like he’d added on a good ten pounds. Somehow, I was sure the stress of the day was making every small ailment seem worse because I felt like throwing up when I’d just been hungry a few minutes before.
When I’d finished and washed my hands, I walked out to find the three men staring off into space. “Couldn’t find anything to talk about without me around?”
“Your defender here would only growl when I attempted to speak to him, so I gave up.”
“Well, can you blame him?” I asked as I sat back down beside Axoular.
“Now, back to business. I want my son’s child, and I’ll happily release you back to the little harem of men you’ve collected for yourself.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’ll die first.”
“Somehow I don’t think you will,” he said smugly. “You’ve got two or three other children to consider, do you not? As well as the wellbeing of your new lover here. Pity to have you both die, and your children be orphaned.”
“They wouldn’t be orphaned and—we’re going around in circles. How do you know if the baby is Peter’s?”
“Our prophet told us as much.”
“You have a prophet?” I asked with wide eyes. Every story book I’d ever read that had prophets described them as being rare and precious. I’d come across a book on prophets in the library at the manor. I’d only skimmed it, but I’d learned enough to know the fiction books were based on truth. Prophets were one of the rarest creatures on Earth. They transcended species and could be born to any mother of any shape, size, or ability. They were usually given power and wealth and waited on hand and foot.
“Indeed, we do. She said, ‘The dragon bears the child that will both begin and end the war. The child of The Dragon and The Hidden is The Chosen.’”
“What’s The Hidden?”
“Weare The Hidden. You supernatural creatures, calling yourselves the Unseen, with your councils and rules. You had no idea we existed until Peter defied his entire heritage and training and revealed himself.” He rubbed his hands over his face wearily. “I think he must have grown to care for you, Riley. I don’t know how else to explain destroying years of careful planning.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m glad he’s dead. And I’m glad I got to be the one that killed him.”
Fury crossed Dumadi’s face, but only for a moment before his perfectly controlled façade slammed back into place. “I understand your anger, but I would appreciate a modicum of respect for a mourning father.”
“You must earn my respect. Kidnapping me and threatening me isnotthe way to do it.”
His jaw twitched, but he didn’t reply.
“What else do you have to tell us?” Axoular said, voice perfectly even, but I could hear the tension and anger in his voice, even if Dumadi probably couldn’t.
