Stolen by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 7)

Kailani climbs the stairs to the dais and drops into a graceful curtsy then comes to stand beside me. I wrap my arm around her waist and tuck her against my side, protectively, even though she requires no protection.

King Zander goes on to recognize other members of the team, but I stop listening because Kailani tips her face up to mine. “Dr. Daneth discovered something new in the last blood sample I gave,” she whispers.

On my other side, Bayla cranes her neck to see Kailani around my chest.

I frown. “What is it?” I murmur back, my heart starting to pound.

“I’m pregnant.” Her smile could light a thousand moons.

“Stars,” I murmur, touching her face. “Is it true?” I turn to look to Bayla, who is also smiling.

Kailani nods.

King Zander finishes delivering accolades, and the crowd cheers. I pick up my little warrior to carry her off the dais, suddenly not trusting her feet to touch the ground.

“What are you telling me?” I spin her around.

She giggles, the most beautiful glow lighting her face.

“We’re having a young? Truly?”

Stars, I never wanted young, but now, the thought fills me with so much pride and joy, I can hardly contain it.

“Should you be home in bed? What do we need to do?” I’m suddenly alarmed by the need to protect her at all costs.

Bayla is still near us, and she laughs. “She’s fine. She can keep working with you as an assistant trainer until the baby comes. But after that, you’ll have to find a new assistant.”

I stare into my mate’s beautiful blue eyes, the garden spinning around me. “You’ve made me so happy, little warrior.”

She tucks her head onto my shoulder and kisses my neck. “I’m happy, too.”

“Before I met you, my life was falling apart. My honor was in tatters, I hated myself for my mistakes. I couldn’t imagine a future that had any possibilities of joy. This planet rotation, I was honored by my king, alongside my incredible mate who helped me put my ghosts in the past. The one who is the biggest hero on our planet. And now she tells me we’re going to have a young, to become a family?” My eyes burn.

“I was thinking...if we have a boy—let’s name him Kyl after your brother.”

The familiar pain from thinking of Kyl lances through my heart, but it's followed by such a flood of warmth that the pain dissipates, spreading and eventually easing until all I feel is love. With Kailani by my side, I’ve been able to let go of the trauma that plagued me from his death. I’ve been able to return to my position as a trainer without the hiccups in confidence I used to have.

“Yes,” I manage to say. “Yes. I would love that.”

“I love you,” she murmurs against my skin.

“I love you so much, little warrior. Thank you. For all you’ve done for me. And for all you’ve done for Zandia.”

“Khrys,” she murmurs huskily.

“Yes, little warrior?”

“Take me home. I’d like to feel your appreciation… physically.”

My horns stiffen, and I nearly trip in my haste to maneuver through the crowd to the garden gates.

“I’ll show you my appreciation all night long, little warrior.”

“Mmm,” she murmurs, flicking her tongue against my earlobe and making my horns throb. “I was counting on it.”

End