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The night didn’t reply, and in my belly the babe kicked again. Tomorrow, I would tell its father the impossible truth of its conception, and I would face the consequences stubbornly.

For now, I exhaled and succumbed to the lure of Maardok’s warmth and peace.

CHAPTER FIVE

Maardok

On Islay, my clan lived in a small village near the hot springs. We were used to our island existence, mostly separate from the mainland and the larger branch of the Battleborn clan that lived in the south. We warred with them and earned the right to call ourselves a separate clan. I was ridiculously proud of my older brother for managing that, even though ‘twas my blade that cut down more of our enemy.

We fished, we hunted, we foraged, we raided, we farmed. We had no need for coin, and we were happy. The gold I had for this mission was stolen on a raid along the human coast last year and had been gathering dust until Vrogul sent me through the stones this month to ensure our enemies weren’t sneaking at us again.

It had been easy to spend the coin generously here, because we didn’t need it back home.

I was looking forward to spending this winter in my cottage, the one my brothers had helped me build when I was old enough to move from my father’s home. I was looking forward to the large bed and a winter spent with cozy fires, plenty of ale, feasts of meat and cheeses and breads, and boisterous tales from my friends and family.

But when I woke that first morning in the ruined crofter’s hovel in the middle of the human world, I couldn’t recall ever being so content.

Nay, ‘tis no’ true. Ye were this content the last time ye visited, when ye met Cataline and held her as she slept.

Even though my eyes were still closed, my lips curled at the memory, and I tightened my hold on her, pulling her closer.

During the night, I’d slid my thigh over her lower leg, and whereas I remembered falling asleep with my hand over the bairn which kicked in her stomach, now those fingers cupped her tits.

Which were soaking wet.

I squeezed experimentally, my cock hardening, and she gave a little groan as her milk dribbled from her nipples. The sweet scent filled the air and my eyes flashed open.

“Cataline—”

She tried to wriggle away.

“Oh God, Maardok, I am so sorry.”

I could hear the embarrassment in her voice, even as I caught a faint whiff of…was that her arousal? I hadn’t expected that.

“It has been happening more lately, especially when I am⁠—”

She bit down on whatever she’d been about to say as she attempted to struggle out of the blankets, and I wondered if she’d been about to confess her arousal.

“Peace, dkaar,” I told her gruffly, moving my hand and leg so she had more space. “‘Tis natural and expected.”

With another groan, she flopped back against the pillow, eyes squeezed shut—as if being unable to see me meant I was unable to see her!—and cupped her huge belly.

“Naught is natural about this,” she griped. “I am the size of a horse, and the babe has been jumping on my bladder for hours, and everything aches.”

Knowing she couldn’t see me, I didn’t bother to hide my grin as I leaned over her, spreading my palm across her stomach.

“Ye would do that to yer mother, wee one?” I growled teasingly, as if the bairn could understand me. “Cease tormenting her, ye hear?”

In response, the babe gave a mighty kick, strong enough to move my hand and cause Cataline’s eyes to flash open.

“Oh!”

I grinned at her embarrassed shock. “Yer son will be strong and brave, Cataline.”

Instead of responding to my praise—either scoffing or embarrassed, knowing her—Cataline’s expression shifted to something…uncertain, her lashes lowering to hide most of her warm brown gaze.

“I…I have to tell you something, Maardok,” she whispered.