by M. D. Laird
Eve stiffened. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she prepared for bad news. What would he tell her? Had he been with someone else? What would she do if he had? She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the worst, promising herself that she would not lose her temper no matter what was said. “What is it?” she asked calmly.
“I am going to be a father.”
Eve frowned as she tried to make sense of what he had said. How could this be? He was a demon; he would be dragged into Hell—Asmodeus had said so. “What? How?”
“I have adopted a baby.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. Then felt her heart beat faster as she tried to process the new information. “What? Lord Amarya’s baby?”
“Queen Eleanor offered to adopt the child, but Amarya refused as Maol would be too involved—Maol is living at the Guild of Sonneillon temporarily. I offered, and Amarya agreed as Maol would still be able to see the child but would have less contact.”
“Wow,” said Eve. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that we’ll raise the child together and we’ll be a family.”
“Are you serious?”
“I have never been more serious.”
Eve stood and paced the room as she tried to think through everything Calab had said. What was he offering her? He wanted her to marry him, move into his house and raise a child with him. This was everything she wanted and more! Did she still want that?
It was just so sudden. She had been expecting him to permanently end their relationship and he had hit her with this.
I could be a mother! I thought I would never have a child. I could marry the man I love.
But how would that work? She didn’t even know if it would work. Calab was hoping it would because he always did. He had wanted it to work before, and it didn’t. But this time is different. This time he has the chance to be a father again.
What if they failed? What if they gave the child a terrible life? Surely the child would be better with an established couple.
She turned to look at Calab who waited expectantly for her answer.
“I know this is a lot to think about,” he said. “I can give you time if you need time.”
It could work out. We love each other. We can get through this. We have been fascinated with each other for twelve years—we can’t be with anyone else. Twelve. It’s a perfect number. Maybe it means something after all. Don’t be silly. It’s a coincidence. Focus on the matter at hand. Do you want to marry Calab and raise a child with him?
“Yes,” she said, before swallowing.
I never meant to say that aloud! I’m still thinking!
“Do you mean it?” Calab asked excitedly.
Do I mean it?
“Yes,” she replied. She nodded as she felt the weight of her surety settle upon her. “I am under no illusions that our life together will be a stroll through paradise. I am expecting it to be hell on occasions, but I want to try anyway.”
He grinned and took her hand in his. “Will you marry me then?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “We’ll do it tomorrow…before you change your mind.”
He laughed. “Okay,” he said. “Then move into my house tomorrow night.”
“Then we’ll have six months to adjust and argue before the baby comes along.”
“This is nothing like the betrothals I have read in literature.”
“No, it’s not.” She grinned.
“Are you happy anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Then so am I.”
“Carpe familia,” said Eve, feeling a little teary.
Calab ginned and lifted her into his arms. “Carpe familia,” he repeated and carried her to her bed. Eve pushed aside her fears and doubts and made herself trust him. Tomorrow they would be married. They were going to be a family. She gave herself to him, and for the first time in a long time, Calab stayed with her throughout the night.
Maol sat in the parlour of the Guild of Sonneillon sulking as he made his way through the prince’s brandy. He ignored the sound of the door opening. He was tired of Eleanor trying to console him. He shouldn’t be so hard on her—she didn’t have to help him—but he felt so miserable. Everything was falling apart.
Rya had signed official papers today to confirm that she would be handing over their baby to Calab Hallward. She would rather a demon raised the child than its own father. She hadn’t even given him a say. Eleanor had tried to adopt the baby, but Rya had refused, even when Maol offered to leave the guild. Rya worried that Maol would be too involved because of his friendship with the queen. Instead, she was sending the baby overseas.
Hallward was going to raise Maol’s child with his on-off love interest, the queen of Arkazatinia. Another adamantist and target for all things evil, and that was still preferable to Maol in Rya’s eyes. He sighed. It could have been much worse. He would still see the baby. Hallward had said he would prepare Maol a room in his house and he could stay there one weekend a month. He had told him he would send a flying carriage to pick him up each month and would even let him name the baby.
Maol had cried. He desperately wanted to raise his child himself. He didn’t want to be there once a month. He wanted to be there for everything. He wanted to change nappies and wake up in the night to feed it. He wanted to see it learn to crawl and walk and talk and whatever else it was that kids did.
“Pour me one of those,” Eleanor said.
He sighed but did as she said.
“Demons have the best wines and liquor.”
He shrugged. “I used to work for a king. I’m used to the best.”
“I’m worried about you,” she said softly.
“Don’t waste your time. I’m getting exactly what I deserve,” Maol muttered.
She stood behind him, put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. “You deserve to have someone who cares about you.”
“Why?”
She kissed his cheek, and he closed his eyes. He wished she would just leave him alone. He didn’t deserve her sympathy.
“Dine with Thomas and me tonight.”
“The prince hates me.”
She chuckled and tightened her arms around him. “The prince hates everyone. Come anyway.”
“Why? Why won’t you just leave me alone?”
“Because we are friends and friends don’t let each other suffer alone.”
“I deserve this.”
“No one deserves to suffer.”
“I’m not much of a friend, I’m always snapping at you.”
“I’m married to a demon; I can cope with a little snapping.”
He sighed and placed a hand on top hers, she slipped her hand in his. His giant hand holding her tiny hand. “I’ve made such a mess of everything. I was so happy when I learned I was going to be a father and now I’ve just messed it up. My kid is going to barely know who I am. It will forget about me every month. I won’t be welcome at the Hallwards’, I’ll just be in the way, and they won’t really want me there. They’ll be scared that I’m going to try to take the baby every time I’m there.”
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Eleanor. “It will be difficult for all of you but you will adjust. The important thing is that you can still see the baby.”
“I suppose,” he grumbled. “I need to concentrate on trying to be a better person. I need to learn to hold my temper and refrain from killing people, then at least once the child is grown, they may want something to do with me—until they learn I killed their grandfather anyway.”
“Let’s just take one day at a time.”
“I’m not getting my hopes up. I will probably be allowed to go to the Hallwards’ for the first few visits, then they’ll start making excuses. Soon years will have passed, and I won’t have seen the child.”
“They won’t,” she said. “I’ll declare war on Arkazatinia if they do.”
“I’m sure.” He grinned. “T
hough it may help to have a powerful friend. Did you speak to your carpenter friends?”
“Yes. I have just received a reply from him, he wants you to call into his workshop in two days ready to work.” She stood and handed him a letter.
“That’s something,” he said, taking it from her. “Zayn and Karim, too?”
“Yes.”
“Good. The sooner I’m a master carpenter, the sooner I can build a house and get out of your way.”
“You know you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“I’m not sure the prince feels that way.”
“He just likes to complain. Just walk around without your shirt now and again—that will cheer him up.”
He laughed. “I will try it at supper.”
She smiled. “You’ll join us for supper?” she asked, taking a seat and picking up her drink.
He nodded. “I can see that you are going to force your friendship upon me no matter what I say.”
“Ah. You’ve noticed how stubborn I am. You’ll have something to talk to the prince about. It’s his favourite aspect of me.”
“It’s not,” said the prince, entering the parlour.
The queen turned and smiled at him. “Hello, Thomas,” she said. “Maol is joining us for supper.”
“I heard,” he said. “So is Nathaniel.”
“Oh?”
“He says he wishes to pay his respects on our latest marriage, though I expect he is just trying to store up some influence over the queen.”
“Ah.”
The room was silent for a few moments until the prince held his hand towards the queen. She smiled, stood from her seat and took his hand.
“I’ll see you at supper, Maol,” she said, allowing the demon prince, the king, to lead her from the room.
“We have received a message on that stupid vox thing,” Thomas said, leading Eleanor towards their room. “Queen Genevieve and Hallward were married yesterday.”
“Really?” she asked, surprised. “The same day as us.”
“They are having a party next week—no need to ask if you want to go.”
She grinned. “Obviously.”
“At least I don’t have to take you shopping anymore,” he said, smiling coyly. “You have to wear your colours now you’re the queen.”
“Oh,” she replied glumly. “I hadn’t considered that. Green has never suited me.”
Thomas grinned, opening their bedroom door. “Well, you can trust me to get you out of it quickly at the end of the night. I’ve told you before that I will take you to bed whatever you’re wearing.”
She slipped her hands around his neck. “Mmm,” she said. “My dependable husband.”
He brought his lips down to meet hers, and they shared a brief kiss. Thomas’ cobalt eyes smouldered at her.
“Have you forgiven the queen her outburst now?” Eleanor asked.
He shrugged. “There seems little point in holding a grudge. I appear to have developed a cordial relationship with Hallward against my will, so I may as well speak to her as well.”
Eleanor laughed. “I do enjoy your logic. On a serious topic, your prediction has been realised and two out of three continents now have a demon king.”
“Yes.” He frowned. “Though, Hallward isn’t a proper demon. He isn’t a strapping prince like me.”
She giggled. “He’s a former strapping prince.”
“I am much more handsome.”
“I have to agree, though I am rather biased in my opinion.”
He smiled and removed an envelope from his breast pocket. “A wedding present,” he said gruffly.
Eleanor’s smile widened as she opened the envelope to reveal ownership deeds for the island off the coast of Axandria where they had stopped when Thomas flew her to Arkazatinia for the first time. “James Island?” she asked, beaming.
He shrugged. “I know how sentimental you are.”
She felt tears prickle at the corners of her eyes. “Thank you, Thomas, that’s very thoughtful. I love it.”
He shrugged again as Arakiel entered with a jug of wine.
“In the middle of the day?” Eleanor mused, taking a seat on their bed.
“Haven’t you just finished a brandy? Besides, we’re on honeymoon,” said Thomas, grinning mischievously and sitting beside her. “And I’m celebrating my ascension to king.”
Eleanor chuckled. “Seriously, though. Isn’t it strange that we have two demon kings and two alchemists with former high prince powers? What does it mean? Are you secretly taking over Anaxagoras?”
He gave her a wicked smile. “I am taking over the Axandrian queen’s body, though I am being very blatant about it,” he purred, pushing her onto the bed and kissing her neck.
“You’re hopeless,” she said, folding her arms around his neck. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation about the future of our world.”
“Hmm,” he muttered, nibbling her ear. “I can’t talk when I’m hungry.”
Eleanor found herself lost in Thomas’ kisses and pushed her thoughts aside. She would contemplate the future of the world another day—or night.
“It’s all in Plato, all in Plato: bless me, what do they teach them at these schools?”
C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
By some miracle, I am here again having managed to complete the second book in this series. It has taken some time, and is a little delayed, but it’s done! And I couldn’t have done it without some fabulous people at my side. I again owe thanks to my sister Carrie, who has always been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic. I also need to thank my daddy who has done an amazing job promoting my work to anyone who’ll listen. Thanks are also to be awarded to my fantastic friends and beta readers including Eric Knox, Hannah Redpath, Linda Bartlett, Andrena Briers, as well as my awesome cover designer and formatter JC Clarke from The Graphics Shed. And further thanks to friends who have helped me promote my work including Tigg Jackson, my cousins Ryan and Ashleigh, my Uncle Karl and not forgetting my mummy.
Most of all, I would like to thank you, the reader. Thank you for supporting The Crown Prophecy and for sticking with me and supporting The Adamantists. Your support means everything!
I shall be working on the final instalment of The Crown Prophecy series, though this will be released in 2019 as I shall be going into my third year of my degree in September this year (2017) and I probably should concentrate on that. I shall be working on some smaller projects and you can stay up to date by liking my Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/authormdlaird, joining my mailing list at www.tinyurl.com/mdlaird, or by following me on Twitter @MDLairdAuthor.
Thank you all again.
Carpe somnium
MD
xx