"I think they'd at least want the option of having or knowing their babies." I shrugged. "I would want to know."
"Leave it with me," Riley said. "We'll find out and consult with the women who had their eggs removed. If they want to be a part of their children's lives, then we'll find a way to make it work."
Doryu interrupted us. "Surely Roan can arrange for a guard from the castle to accompany you to town?"
"Yes, of course," Roan said. He sent a quick text and then put his phone away. "All sorted. They'll meet you at the door."
I sighed. "I guess that's a good compromise, but we'll be fine."
"Just be careful," Doryu said.
I put my hand on his arm. "We will." Stepping onto my tiptoes, I pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “See you soon.”
We walked out the front door and found two castle guards waiting for us.
"Sir," one of them said to Roan. "Your majesty requested our presence?"
"Yes." Roan nodded. "Thank you for coming so quickly."
He handed us over to the guards and then went back inside.
"Right," the taller of the two guards said. "Let's get you ladies to town then."
We followed them down the path to the main road. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing.
The guards walked on either side of us and forward a few steps, which made me feel a bit better, but I still didn't think we needed them. Especially with Axoular behind us, walking as though he had not a care in the world. No doubt he was feigning his carelessness and ready to erupt into flames at the slightest provocation.
"So," the shorter guard said, "what are you ladies shopping for today?"
"Walk us to the baby shop, please." I was just glad the small town even had one.
"Of course, miss."
He led us down the main street and then turned down a side street. A few minutes later we arrived at the baby shop.
It was a small, cozy store with everything a new parent could need. We went in and the guards waited outside, thankfully.
Riley worked next to me in the baby department, stacking up clothes for a baby boy. "Don't worry about money," she said as she put a box of tiny, soft onesies into the cart. "It's nice to say that."
The tops of her ears blushed while her eyes were sad and misted with moisture. She wanted this to work out as much as I did.
I shrugged. "I know, but I don't want to take advantage."
"I'm sure Alexander and Roan won't mind," she said with a snort. "And if they do, then we'll just return everything." She chuckled. "But they won't. Alexander is the one who insisted the baby come with us."
"I guess you're right," I muttered. “It feels like he’s my responsibility.”
Riley smiled. “You’re putting that on yourself. Alexander and Roan are more than willing to step up, and Doryu didn’t look like he was going anywhere. Not to mention I’m ready to help at any second.”
"While I have you mostly alone..." She glanced over at Cindy, making sure she was out of earshot. "Jen, are you absolutely sure about Alexander? You seem to be getting so close to him."
I furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?"
The fresh smells of soap and shampoo, clean laundry, and baby powder filled my senses as she sighed and pulled me to sit on a bench outside the dressing room. "When I was on the run before we knew what Sárkány were or what I was, Alexander had the council try to kidnap me. And they tried really hard. They nearly killed us all in a car wreck, they tried to get us at the manor house in Tennessee. They wanted to put me in a room in their headquarters and breed me because they'd figured out that my sons had some extra strong powers. They'd wanted to take advantage of that."
She looked at me. Her blue eyes were wide and sincere. "It scares me. I don't want you to get hurt, or for him to use you for his own benefit."
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. He's different now, too. And anyway, I can take care of myself." But it bothered me. Had he condoned that? Had he ordered the attacks? Surely not.
