A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

Fuck.

This was terrible timing.

“You’re not going anywhere near that battle,” Nyfain said in a low, gruff voice.

Leala spoke from behind the gathered crowd—too short to be seen among so many tall dragons and robust wolves. “How about you burn the ships, with them in it, and then blow holes in the bottom deck with cannons. It’ll sink them. No proof, no hassle.”

“And this is why she is the genius among us,” Hadriel said, although the compliment lacked the usual pride he used when speaking of her. His gaze was rooted to me.

In fact, everyone’s gaze was rooted to me.

I twitched up a shoulder, still held in Nyfain’s grasp, suddenly feeling like I was standing at the edge of a very high cliff and he was the only thing keeping me from falling off.

“I probably have a week or so before I know for sure,” I said without confidence.

More fire rolled across his shoulders. He closed his eyes and blew out a steadying breath as joy and excitement burst through the bond.

“I don’t know yet, Nyfain,” I said softly, because it was true, and I didn’t want him to get his hopes up again. Not like he had that one time at the beginning of our relationship.

His eyes opened slowly, and though we had things to plan and demons to hopefully kill, he held my gaze for a tender moment. His grip was firm on my neck, holding me close. His other hand drifted to my arm, further rooting me to the spot. His smile was soft.

“Okay,” he murmured. Then his gaze hardened. “But you aren’t going anywhere near this battle.”

THIRTY

Finley

“It’s for the best, your highness,” Tamara said as she kept pace with me, headed to the stern of the ship. Harnesses were being laid out all over the deck as Weston chose who would be going in them. He would not be left out of this fight. I had not been given a choice.

“I don’t even know if I’m pregnant, though,” I whined, watching the demon ship as our ship turned. We’d be going left, putting some distance between the oncoming demon ships. There were only two coming. No one could spot any others on the horizon. For now.

When we reached a clear bit of deck, Tamara put a hand on my arm and signaled for Hadriel, Vemar, and Leala, who’d been following us, to hang back. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Have you hit the stage of euphoria in the heat? Where, at the end of the heat wave, you feel a certain extra…high?”

I stiffened and couldn’t keep my eyes from widening. I’d used that exact word to describe how it felt lately at the end of our frenzied rush of lovemaking, when a floating sort of bliss swept through me. It was more than the intense pleasure of the heat, more than the best orgasms I’d ever had—it was almost like my world exploded into color and my entire body was alive for the first time.

I didn’t answer Tamara, afraid to.

Her eyes softened, and a little smile crossed her face.

“Why?” I whispered. “What does that stage mean?”

“How long have you been in that stage?” she asked.

I shook my head, thinking back. “I don’t know, a few days? Nearly a week? First my dragon felt it with his dragon, and then I felt it with Nyfain. I just thought it signaled we were nearing the end of the heat.”

She nodded, and her smile grew. “When you hit the stage of euphoria, it almost always means your heat has been successful.”

“But…why does it still go on?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe just to ensure it’s definitely taken hold? It always does, though. A heat never stops before the euphoria unless it wasn’t successful.”

It was hard to breathe. My thoughts turned internal, sinking into my belly where new life had possibly been started. Where Nyfain’s child might have taken root. Where the fate of the kingdom’s future generations might reside.

I might have just sired an heir.

Holy fuck.

My world exploded in colors, so many emotions rolling through me that I could barely feel them all before new ones usurped them. Joy, fear, wonder, anxiety, excitement—

“This is terrible timing,” I whispered.

“Are we doing girl talk?” Vemar shuffled closer. “I love girl talk. Can I do the girl talk, too?”

“No, you cannot.” Hadriel shoved him out of the way. “Were you invited by the former queen to drink with the girls? No, you were not. I was, though.” He hurried closer. “Darling, what is going on? Why do you look so terrified? What did Tamara say? I was doing my best to eavesdrop, but there is so much yelling going on around us that I couldn’t hear. Do you have solid news you should be sharing with your dearest friend and trusted advisor?”

Leala drifted in right behind him, a smile curling her lips. Vemar peered over their shoulders.