"You're two weeks pregnant, Lady Ava.”

Those words brought me back fully to reality, the minute I woke up.

At first, I found myself blushing extensively after remembering the night I spent with the beast. And how his beast took over, when he inserted his desire in me.

Of how I struggled, but he held my two arms to my back.

“I-I am? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” I let out, asking. “It could just be a reaction from the fight tournament with Lydia a few days ago.”

I said, wondering if the beast was right in his words.

Did he sense it?

“Yes, I am very sure. Took the tests thrice, knowing how sensitive this is, in this castle. Congratulations.” he added again.

“Congratulations too, milady!” Cassandra said too.

From the look of things, it was like she found me when I passed out.

Everything was like a dream. I feared this will happen. But didn’t expect it to be so soon.

I was just 18 and pregnant, how was I going to be a mother to this child?

“I’ll give this great news to Jaskier to inform the beast and all of the Kingdom, as soon as possible!” she exclaimed.

“I-I’m afraid not!”

She froze at her spot. I gently stood up, straightening my gown before walking to them both.

“Apart from us three, anyone else knowing about this child, can be dangerous.”

“Milady… this something big.” The Doctor replied.

“You both have to swear.” I whispered, batting my eye lids.

“This secret remains between us, till I figure out how to protect this child.”

I pressed my lips, looking up with dignity.

“Bu-But, this baby would certainly promote you to be Queen. It’s being centuries and no one succeeded to this level. Why choose to hide it?” Cassandra asked.

“Apart from the pawn girls who hate me, I have a lot of enemies from other ranks, Cassie.” I said. “People try to end my life on daily basis. Now a child? They wouldn’t spare it, I’m sure of that.”

“I have to handle this carefully. And until I start showing, please do this for me. This baby should be a secret.”

They nodded, before bowing their heads. “Your wish is our command, My Knight.”

I sighed in relief that minute.

The doctor wrote down some things I shouldn’t take during pregnancy with an ink. And the days I should summon him for a check-up.

He left with Cassandra, leaving me to the peace of my room.

“My Lady.” A knock reverberated through.

“Who is it?”

“Me Felicia.” she answered. I immediately wore my garments clearing every hint that I was pregnant.

“Come in.”

I said, knowing I needed her help to know more about the myth of King Teta.

I went back to the isolation arena to see Emily afterwards. After pondering a lot, I decided not to tell her too. Because it seemed like after what had happened, we weren’t even in good terms.

“E-Emily.” I stuttered, hoping she forgave the way I treated her.

“Isn’t it the lovely Knight herself, who forgot she was once a pawn too.” she sadistically remarked with a snarl. She looked really pissed at me. Almost like the first day we met.

“Of course not, why would I ever forget that? You’re my close friend, Emily—my only close friend.” I answered.

“Well close friends don’t betray each other. Close friends don’t keep stuff away from each other!”

She exclaimed in her prisonlike bars, banging her hands on it.

“I was going to tell you about the fight, but things happened a little sooner.”

“Never thought I had plans too? I wanted a fight too, Ava. I want to be among the Five and make a name for myself for the first time in my miserable life!” she yelled.

Her eyes were red and a bit teary.

I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t possible. That the Five didn’t matter anymore because the beast made a baby already.

But…I didn’t. She would be so hurt.

“Emily you have to calm down. Get a hold of yourself. I stopped the killings as the Knight already. This isn’t the end of the world.”

“You did? Well bravo Ava, you deserve a pot of gold right now.” Emily remarked sarcastically.

“Stop doing this. I do not want to fight with you.”

I breathed out.

“Well I thought you wanted too. From the delight you took, in humiliating me in front of everyone?” she sighed out.

“About that…”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered.

“I did it for your sake. Didn’t want anyone planning to destroy you while I was away!” I cried out.

“Really?”

“You’re the Knight,” she suddenly added. “You could protect me now, Ava.”

“I’m sorry,”

She was going to hate me so much. Till I figured out what to do.

“Release her.” I ordered the guards.

She walked out without even turning to look at me. This was all my fault.

Gosh, it hurt.

….

I threw up countless of times, crying in hurt the sooner I got to my room.

“What’s happening to me?”

My eyes were so puffy. My wolf irked me in irritation, with wanting.

“Mate is hurt. Let’s go see mate.”

Huh? What was she talking about?

“Now!” she exclaimed.

I immediately made my way to the beast’s chambers without being summoned.

It could cost my life. Or attract a punishment. However, I didn’t care.

The sooner I got there, there were people around. Francesca was outside her room and so was Cicilia with anxious looks.

I ignored them, only to see Jaskier pacing around the entrance of the door.

Back and forth.

“Milady, you’re here.” Jaskier stood, trying to block my entrance.

“I have come to see the beast.” I replied him.

I missed him, so much.

And I regretted making him so angry the other day.

“I know, but you can’t go in now. There’s a wild fire!” he answered.

“W-What do you mean?”

“His father--”

“Let me see for myself.” I muttered, pushing him out of my way.

The minute I entered the room, I gasped as the beast went flying opposite direction, hitting the wall.

“W-What?”

I let out after seeing a man with a powerful aura who smelled of sea water. In his hands, was a staff and his hair had a pale ocean color.

“Who are you? Why’re you hurting him? Stop!!” I yelled instantly.

“Ava… do not interfere.” he said, with some blood on his lips.

He coughed out some, making my heart shred in hurt.

“Exactly, a mere Knight like you shouldn’t interfere. I’m his father.”

“His father?” I spat out, with a look of mockery.

“You are no father.”

Added me. Wasn’t even in a good mood before coming here.

“This isn’t what a true father would do.” I muttered.

Finally...it seemed like I was beginning to understand the beast’s story.

Of his hate and scare for his father…

“What do you even know about this? Why are you even standing by him?”

“You have no idea what his dark past contains. He killed his sister!!” he yelled thunderously.

His sister?

“He’s a monster. A beast! Who doesn’t deserve any love?”

A monster? Caspian was no monster. Monsters weren’t capable of love.

And he told me he loved me…

“I don’t care about his past or present. He’s my mate. The Moon Goddess paired us for a reason, and that’s what matters.” I rushed out, walking to him and moving to support him.

“So, please stop…don’t do any of that anymore. Don’t hurt him.”

“I love him.” I said truthfully, wondering why it took so long to realize my feelings for him.

“Love?” he snarled with a cackle.

“There is nothing of that such, in this Kingdom. Only blood, bones and power.”

“Everything else is not worth it!” he said, directing his staff towards me.

I immediately gave a defensive move, sending it back to him.

“To think you’ll think that…”

“Lady Archer will be so ashamed of you.”

I remarked, looking down on him.

I think those words broke him because the next thing I knew, a whirlpool begun to form. And what seemed like pierced of cold block, entered his skin.

He had a shocked look on his face.

“I will be back. It will definitely mean war when I arrive!”

“You can’t rule this Kingdom, in this unholy way. Not without a Queen or an heir.” he stated angrily.

Stamping his legs with a thud, as I held the beast who recovered in my hands.

“I slaved to build this empire.” he added, before disappearing.

***

Sorry for the late updates. Got your comments and to those that reached out, thank you so much. All is well. It was a little gesture but totally worth it haha

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