Book 4: Aftermath

Xander

“Secluded in prayer?” I ask Vedran as he dances magic over my skin. “I’m going to develop a reputation for religiosity if we’re not careful.”

“Can you think of another reason why the prince would disappear at such a time?”

His magic bites slightly deeper with unspoken judgment. I swallow my wince. He has every right to judge. I abandoned him here in an impossible situation and then demanded he sneak to this far-off corner of the castle to fix my mistakes.

Still, as he covers one of the many red marks Finn left on my skin, I can only bring myself to regret how little I told Vedran. And, perhaps, that I did not ask for a wake-up call. It was impossibly dangerous, and how much Finn wants this baby will make the coming weeks that much harder.

And I cannot give up the way Finn looked at me when he said, our baby.

“I’m sorry. I’ll communicate better the next time this happens.”

He raises a pale eyebrow. “Next time?”

I