“Don’t be so temperamental. I was being sarcastic. I do appreciate that you’ve come outside and risked fresh air to talk with me.”
Eva held back her smile in hopes Ship didn’t catch that she was being sarcastic yet again.
“Thank you for your concern,” Ship replied. She smiled then. He hadn’t caught on to it. “When are you going to tell Taio about your pregnancy?”
Eva and Lo’Ren gasped in unison. Eva’s hand went to rest on her stomach. “How did you know? I haven’t even told the healers yet.”
Lo’Ren scrunched her face. “Or me.”
“The same way I knew the first time. I can see the other energy…life force within your abdomen. Although small, it is there,” Ship replied.
Eva sighed. “I’m sorry.” She grabbed Lo’Ren’s hand and gave it a small squeeze. “I wanted to wait until after the enlightenment ceremony to tell Taio. And then I kept thinking that I could receive news about Ally any day.”
“That is no reason to deceive your mate, Eva.”
“I know. But Ship, what if we do get word about her? Taio would never let me go while I’m pregnant.”
“You are correct. But you still mustn’t deceive him.”
Eva huffed. “Okay, I’ll tell him. I guess I’ve been putting it off longer than I should have.”
“You won’t have to go far, he is on his way to you,” Ship said.
Eva looked up to see Taio walking toward her in the distance and Ship floating back to the palace before finally disappearing. Taio moved with such predatory grace. That’s my man. Eva moaned under her breath.
Lo’Ren rolled her eyes. “It’s a wonder that you don’t stay pregnant.” Lo’Ren gathered Josanis in her arms. He whimpered in his sleep and she placed a light kiss on his forehead. “I’ll take Josanis inside so that you both can have privacy.”
“Thanks, Lo.”
“Don’t mention it. And I really mean it this time, don’t mention it. Disgusting.” She stuck out her tongue.
Eva laughed as Lo’Ren and Josanis left. Lo’Ren stopped to let Taio kiss his son before she continued to the palace.
“Taking a break?” Eva asked as he reached her.
Taio settled next to her on the ground. “I thought I would spend time with my family for a while. But I see Lo’Ren has stolen one member away.”
Eva beamed from ear to ear and leaned on him. Family.
“You know, we never had a conversation about how large we want our family to be.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I never imagined I would have ever had a choice in the matter.”
He began to run his hand through her hair, playing and twisting it through his fingers.
“So…”
“So what?” he asked.
“How many children do you want?”
“Eva, I thought having one child was unattainable. I would be happy with whatever number the Ancients bless us with.”
The fingers that he had twirling through her hair suddenly stopped. “Eva? Are you…”
She looked up to him sheepishly. “Yes.”
He crushed her body to his. He buried his face in her hair and sniffled. “Royal guards do not cry.”
She smiled as her eyes misted over. “But I can.”
Taio rolled over on her, pressing her back onto the blanket. “If you weren’t my queen, I’d take you right here,” he whispered into her ear.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him. “I’ll be your concubine any day.”
About A.M. Griffin
A.M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies. She has multi-publications in other genres under a different pen name.
A.M. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Dangerously Mine
ISBN 9781419939631
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dangerously Mine Copyright © 2012 A.M. Griffin
Edited by Briana St. James
Cover design by Fiona Jayde
Photos: Bomg, Stryjek Amnd, Aleksandr Doodko/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication December 2012
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