Page 91 of Warlord’s Empire

She hadn’t anticipated such a frantic reaction to her call. She swallowed and managed to croak out, “I’m fine.”

His sigh of relief was audible. Then he said, “Why are you calling?”

It was so cold it felt like an ice pick to the heart. Did he not feel the same longing she felt to hear a loved one’s voice? Her eyes filled with involuntary tears. “No reason.” She ended the call, slumped into the nearest chair and cried harder than she had in months.

Less than a minute later, Shola burst into Saskia’s apartment, her frantic gaze searching before she found Saskia in the kitchen. “Are you hurt?”

Saskia shook her head, unable to speak. She tucked her head into her arms, her shoulders shaking with sobs. She felt Shola’s hand touch her shoulder. “I’m sorry it hurts so much. You don’t deserve this.” She rubbed Saskia’s back in soothing circles.

Saskia laughed bitterly, “What do I deserve?”

Shola was quiet for several seconds, then said, “You deserve to feel loved, respected, and safe.”

Despite her despair, Saskia turned the words over in her head. Loved? Yes, of course she was loved. She’d seen just how loved she was this past week in the constant visits from her family. The massive flower arrangement sent to her by the Prime Minister’s office with a note telling her, her position was waiting when she was ready to come back. Respected? That one was harder. She’d always been the baby of the family, but she liked to think she’d spent the past year and a half proving herself to them. And safe? Did she even know what the word meant? She was surrounded by bodyguards most of the time, yet terrible things had still happened to her and the people she loved.

Her musings were enough to stop the tears and she straightened, reaching for a tissue to wipe her tears. “Thanks,” she said to Shola, blowing her nose. “I know Radik sent you to check on me, but I also know you’d have come on your own and I’m grateful.”

Shola smiled and grabbed Saskia’s kettle, filling it with water and setting it to heat on the stove. “Yes, he texted, and yes, he pays me, but I’m here for you. If I didn’t like you, I’d have quit ages ago.”

“I appreciate it,” Saskia said, adding, “Ginger Lemon,” when Shola pointed at the boxes of teabags stacked on her counter.

They fell silent until the tea was ready. “Let’s talk in the living room,” Saskia said, pushing her chair from the table and standing awkwardly, her hand going to her stomach, which seemed to be growing at an impossible rate.

Settling on the couch, Saskia finally looked at Shola, really looked at her. “You’re wearing jeans,” she said, surprised. “You never wear jeans.” Or anything other than combat fatigues.

Shola smiled again, the second genuine smile she’d had since coming to Saskia’s rescue. “I fit in better wearing normie clothes.”

“You look nice,” Saskia complimented. “I like your shirt too.” It was forest green with a cowl neck.

“Thanks,” she said, squirming, clearly uncomfortable with a compliment. “You look nice too.”

Saskia burst out laughing, and, because her eyes were still watery from crying, a few more tears escaped. She swiped at them, but she was still giggling. “I chose these sweatpants because they used to be baggy on me but now look at them.” She puffed out her stomach, making the pants go tight. “I need to go shopping for maternity clothes now that I have access to the shops of Prague again.”

“I’ll take you,” Shola said quickly. “Any time you want to go. Just say the word.”

“You hate shopping,” Saskia pointed out. “You’re just saying that because you don’t want me to cry again.”

Shola shrugged. “That and Radik pays me a lot to give you whatever you want.” The laughter disappeared and Shola said, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have reminded you.”

“That Radik exists?” Saskia shook her head and pointed at her stomach. “I think this here is going to be the constant reminder.”

Shola reached out unexpectedly, her hand hovering over Saskia’s stomach, then asked, “May I touch it?” Saskia nodded and Shola smoothed her hand over the bump, a look of wonder on her face. “It seems so crazy to me that there’s a baby in there.”

“Me too,” Saskia admitted, “But I’m getting used to the idea.”

“Are you looking forward to your appointment this afternoon?”

Shaun had made an appointment for Saskia with a maternity doctor at the hospital, saying she wanted Saskia to have the best pre- and post-natal care. Saskia was finally going to get an official delivery date.

“Yeah, I think I am,” she said, resting her teacup on top of her belly.

“Are you going to find out if it’s a girl or a boy?”

Saskia was a bit surprised by all the questions, but she and Shola had been gradually growing closer since their exile to Prague. Shola was renting the apartment above Saskia’s, so they were in close proximity almost all the time. “I don’t know.” She thought about Radik, what he might want. A boy or a girl? Didn’t most men want boys? Saskia didn’t have a preference. She would love it unconditionally no matter what it chose to be.

“I think you should find out so we can decorate the nursery,” Shola said decisively, as though she had any decision-making power in the matter. “Otherwise, you’ll have to pick an ugly colour, like yellow.”

Saskia burst out laughing. “I like yellow, and colour has nothing to do with this baby’s sex. The baby can decide what it likes when it’s a little older. For now, we’ll go with animal themes. Like yellow giraffes and parrots.”