Fifty-Four
MAEVE
“Rise and shine, beautiful.”
Confusion swamped my senses as a palm grazed my cheek.
“Pia?” My voice was a groggy mumble at best.
“Try again,love.”
Sunlight blasted my eyes as they snapped wide open, my body fully awakening.
Sebastian was crouched before me, his face converting a look that bordered the line between anger and relief.
“Sleep well?”
Looking around, I noted Kade who was still on his horse, picking at his fingernails seemingly unbothered. Across the way was Pia right where I’d left her, slumped against an evergreen, though she was now awake and being held tightly in Kohen’s arms.
I palmed my eyes before wiping a line of drool from the corner of my lips. “I was supposed to be on watch.”
“That’s what happens when you fight a battle, save someone's life, then go off on a stupid negligent mission insteadof going to bed,” Sebastian snapped, his dark brows merging with his eyelids.
“I take it that you're mad?” Batting my lashes, I asked what was obvious from his tone.
“Yeah, Maeve. I’m mad,” he growled. “I’m not going to bother asking why you did it, because I already know.”
I smirked. “Smart man.”
He inhaled, puffing his chest out as far as humanly possible, then leaned forward to kiss me. When he retreated, his scowl returned. “Pack up. We're going back.”
My forehead creased and my lips pursed. “No. I’m halfway there. I’m not turning around now.”
“Maeve…” Sebastian lowered his voice, dipping his lips to my ear. “Pia is pregnant. It’s not safe for her to be out here.”
My jaw went slack. “What?”
He nodded. “About four months. Kohen and her only found out shortly after we arrived in Lumosia.”
My vision skipped over his shoulder, drifting down to her stomach, only then noticing the small bulge on her lower abdomen.
Pia’s sight aligned with mine as Kohen pulled her to her feet. They stepped towards us, and Kade jumped off his horse to join.
“If it's any help, I tried to talk her out of it,” Pia assured, pointing at me.
“You didn't do a very good job,” Kade snorted.
“She’s stubborn and strong willed. It wasn't much of a conversation, more of a,this is what I’m doing and I don't care what you think,” she defended.
“Yup. Sounds about right,” Sebastian deadpanned, his voice bleak.
“Don’t forget impulsive,” Kade added.
“I’mrighthere,” I quipped.
Kohen clapped his hands together. “On that note, let's go. We have a long day of riding ahead of us.”
“We can come back with a proper army,” Kade concluded.
