As the water soaked over my skin, Damon looked at me and said, “Is it too hot?”
I shook my head as the hot water poured over my body, and I shut my eyes and felt intense relaxation. As I allowed my body to soak in the warm water, Damon used his fingers to gently massage my shoulders, and soon I felt his lips caress against my neck. I still felt awful, but I moaned in pleasure from the delightful feel his kiss gave.
“I love you so much Miranda,” he whispered in my ear as he moved his hands towards my breasts.
As I moaned a bit louder, suddenly the door creaked open and just as Damon’s hands reached my breasts, Ben stood in the doorway. Damon quickly pulled away as Ben’s face turned bright red, and he began looking around the bathroom in embarrassment.
“Uh...um...um,” he said. “Are you feeling better?” he finally spurted.
“Damon was just giving me a bath,” I said quietly, feeling embarrassed by what Ben had walked in on.
“The healing fairy is here...when you’re done,” Ben said as he quickly turned around and shut the door, leaving as quickly as possible.
“I’ll wash you real quick and get you back to bed,” Damon said.
Damon found a bar of soap and quickly washed my body. Next he found a bottle of shampoo and lathered it through my dirty hair. When I was completely clean, he lifted me from the tub and wrapped me a towel, and then he carried me back to the bed where he quickly dressed me in a pair of long underwear.
Once I was clean and bundled under the quilt, Damon said, “I’ll get the healing fairy.”
Damon quickly returned with a tiny brunette fairy by his side. Ben was right behind them, as they hovered around the bed.
The fairy quickly examined me and said, “What are your symptoms?”
“Nausea, weakness...exhaustion. I slept fourteen hours the other day.”
The fairy tapped her fingertips on her chin and said, “Hmmmm.” After she thought for a moment, she quickly placed her hands on my shoulders and shut her eyes; then she shook her head. She checked my nose, my throat and ears. Then she listened to my heartbeat. “Nope,” she said to herself.
As the fairy continued examining me, Damon, Ben and I looked at one another in confusion, as the fairy seemed to find nothing wrong. Finally the fairy placed her hands on my lower stomach and shut her eyes once more. She didn’t move as she looked to be deep in thought.
Suddenly she smiled and said, “Ah-ha!” as she opened her eyes.
“What’s wrong with her!” Damon cried
The fairy smiled and said, “I would like a moment alone with her.”
“She’s my wife,” Damon said.
“Who is he?” the fairy asked pointing to Ben.
“I’m her…” Ben stopped, as he wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Okay, husband stays...he goes,” the fairy cried.
“Both of you...just go,” I said in aggravation, as I just wanted to know what was wrong.
Damon and Ben both looked aggravated as they trailed back to the living room, shutting the door behind them.
As soon as the men were gone, the fairy gave me a huge smile and said, “Well...you’re pregnant.”
Chapter 14
“Are you serious!” I cried in disbelief.
“I’m sorry. I guess...this is unexpected.”
“Yeah...you could say that,” I hissed. “Are you sure?”
“I’m pretty sure,” she said. “I’ve been a healing fairy for hundreds of years, and I have seen my share of babies. I was able to use my magic to see the baby. It’s tiny.”
I threw my hand across my forehead and said, “Oh jeeze.”
The fairy gave me an odd look, but said, “I can treat you if you plan to stay awhile.”
“I’m not sure,” I said.
“Well, I’m right in town if you need anything honey. Congratulations!” she cried.
“Thanks,” I said. As she was heading out the door, I said, “Can you send the guys back in.”
She smiled and nodded her head.
Only seconds after the fairy left, Damon and Ben piled in my room. They were both frowning as they gathered around the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Ben asked as he reached for my hand.
As I thought about how to tell them I was pregnant, I realized that only a month ago, this situation would be much less complicated. When the three of us agreed to be a family together, we had discussed Luke and Benny, but we had failed to mention any future children. Damon and I had discussed having another child in the future, but we had no intention of trying for a child this quickly as Luke was only five months old.
“So what’s wrong?” Damon asked impatiently, as I had been sitting quietly for longer than he wanted to wait.
I looked at Damon; then I looked at Ben. They were both frowning and looked very concerned. I looked back and forth between the two of them for several moments, feeling terrified to tell them the news.
Finally Damon raised his eyebrows and threw out his hands as he said, “So?”
“I don’t really know what to say,” I said softly.
“You can tell us,” Ben said as he brushed his fingers through my hair.
I threw my hand over my mouth. I looked at Ben. Then I looked at Damon, then the wall. As I stared at the wall, looking neither of the men in the eye, I said, “I’m pregnant.”
I looked to Damon first and saw that he had a giant smile on his face. He looked just as happy as he had when I told him I was pregnant with Luke. When I looked towards Ben, he looked confused.
When Damon noticed I wasn’t as thrilled as he was, he said, “What’s wrong? Is the baby okay?”
“I guess. The fairy didn’t say much.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Damon asked.
“Damon, I don’t know if the baby is yours or Ben’s.”
Damon looked dumbfounded; then he said, “It has to be mine through. I mean…” he paused for a moment as he scratched his head. Then he said, “But the two of you only...that one night. Right?”
I nodded my head.
“But it can’t be...can it?” Damon asked.
“Damon...the timing...it’s exactly. Remember? Me and you...we...you know, the night before...Ben and I did,” I said.
“Miranda, I’m confused,” Ben spoke for the first time since I had announced I was pregnant.
I looked between the two of them once more and gazed at Ben as I said, “I had sex with Damon the night before I slept with you. If my timing is right...and I’m pretty sure it is, it had to happen one of those nights. I don’t know which one of you is the father.”
“Are you sure?” Ben asked gently.
“I’m certain,” I said.
“But you’re my wife...it’s my child.” Damon huffed.
“Damon...that isn’t how it works,” I said softly as I began to feel emotional. I realized Damon hadn’t considered children when he agreed I could have a relationship with Ben.
“I just can’t believe...I can’t believe you could do this to me!” Damon yelled.
“Damon please,” Ben said. “We don’t even—”
“Just leave me alone!” Damon yelled as he ran out of the room, slamming the door much too hard behind him.
“Miranda,” Ben whispered
“I’ve never seen him act like this,” I said as tears began streaming from my eyes.
Ben crawled in the bed besides me and wrapped his arms around me as he wiped my tears away.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Ben said softly as he gazed lovingly into my tear stained eyes.
“I screwed up,” I sobbed, “I shouldn’t have let Desmorelda take my son. I shouldn’t have cheated on Damon. I shouldn’t have let David die, and I shouldn’t have gotten pregnant!” I began to tremble as tears sprung from my eyes.
Ben held me tight and said, “Oh baby, you did nothing wrong. A child is a wonderful thing. You shouldn’t be upset.”
“Then why did Damon run out of here like that?”
Ben shook his head, “I don’t know, but I am sure he is going through a lot of emotions right now….just like you are...just like I am.”
I saw a tear begin to fall from Ben’s eye as he quickly wiped it away. “I’m sorry,” he cried.
I nodded my head and said, “I love you Ben. I love you so much. Maybe I made a mistake by marrying Damon. Maybe it was a big mistake.”
“It wasn’t a mistake. You love him, and he loves you. He was good to you, and he was good to my son. No one could have foreseen any of this. The whole situation is complicated...it’s shitty.”
I nodded my head and said, “So now what?”
Ben pursed his lips and exhaled loudly. Then he shook his head and said, “I’m not sure. I know one thing...I love you Miranda, and if you want to be with me, I’m not going to leave your side. If this baby is mine...I will be thrilled. If the baby is Damon’s...I’ll love it as my own.”
“But what if it’s yours and Damon hates it?”
“Damon raised Benny, why would he hate this child?”
I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes. “Just the way he’s acting,” I said.
Ben held me tight as he caressed my waist and looked deep into my eyes.
“Can you stay with me tonight?” I asked him.
“Of course,” he said as he kissed me on the lips.
Ben crawled under the covers with me, and for the first time in eight years, just the two of us fell asleep in each other’s arms.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, Ben’s blue eyes were staring into mine. As soon as he saw that I was awake, a smile washed across his face.
“Good morning beautiful,” he said.
“Good morning,” I smiled as I began to wonder if I was in a dream.
“I love you so much!” he said as he gently kissed my lips. As his lips touched mine, I felt sparks penetrate through my skin and tingle down my spine.
As Ben lifted his face away, I pulled it back down towards mine and kissed him even more intensely. Ben cupped my chin, pulling me in closely as the two of us kissed for several minutes. It had been so long, since I felt such intensity with the man I loved. As he softly kissed my neck, he quickly pulled off my shirt exposing my breasts and began caressing them softly while I moaned in pleasure from his delicate touch.
He pulled his mouth away and quietly whispered in my ear, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I said as he pulled off my bottoms, completely exposing me to the air.
As he pulled off his shirt, he softly gazed at my naked body. Suddenly I felt a sick feeling in my stomach that quickly ruined the mood.
As my expression quickly changed, Ben said, “Are you okay?”
“I feel sick,” I cried as I began to gag.
I quickly crawled from the bed and stumbled to the bathroom to vomit. When I returned to the bedroom, Ben had already fetched me a glass of water.
“When’s the last time you ate?” he asked.
“I had a little bit of jerky yesterday before we reached town...but I think I threw it up.”
“Let me see if Ella has some crackers. I remember last time those helped you,” he said.
As Ben said, “last time,” I suddenly hoped Ben was the father of my unborn child. I began to reminisce the time we spent together before he had been brutally murdered by Desmorelda. Being with Ben was like being in a dream—he was romantic and passionate and his love was like no other—both physically and emotionally.
Damon was a wonderful father and a wonderful companion. He was a great king and a loyal husband, but my love for Damon was so different than my love for Ben. The passion between Damon and I always seemed to be lacking, and at times it felt as if we were much too different from one another.
As I lay in bed waiting for Ben to return, I tried to imagine my life without Damon—a life with just Ben and I. The two of us making love and holding one another passionately. I tried to imagine Ben playing with our two boys and the child that was inside of me. I saw Ben’s sweet smile and the way he brushed his fingers lovingly through my hair.
As I fantasized my life without Damon, I began to feel empty inside. How could survive without Damon by my side? He had been my rock for the last eight years. Every night I woke up screaming in terror, Damon was there to guide me back to sleep. From the moment I took the throne of Sidhe, even before he was crowned King, Damon had been by my side offering me guidance and wisdom. I valued Damon as he was very much like my father with his wisdom and strength.
As thoughts continued to trail through my mind, I realized how much I needed them both. Damon and Ben both agreed to stay by my side; I couldn’t leave Damon, not after eight years of his strength.
Not long after Ben left, he returned with a plate of crackers. As he fed me one cracker at a time, I began to gradually feel better.
As I chewed on crackers, Ben said, “What do you want to tell the others?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “We have to continue on our journey.”
“I don’t think you should continue,” Ben said, “You can stay here until the baby is born. I can go with the others to rescue Benny. Then we could open a portal and return to the castle. I know children shouldn’t go through the portal...but it would be safer than a long journey with Benny and the baby.”
“I think a portal would be the best way for us to return home, and the mountain fairies may help…but I can’t just stay here while you and the others get my son.
“Miranda...you’re pregnant. If Desmorelda hurts you...or...kills you...you have to think about the baby.”
“She won’t kill me!” I cried, “I didn’t come this far to give up. The first few weeks of pregnancy are always the worst. I’ll rest a few days, and I’ll be just as strong as before. I’m not giving up! Desmorelda must die! She killed you, she killed David’s wife and she took our little boy!”
Ben looked concerned, but he didn’t disagree. Then he said, “Damon’s not going to let you go...and if your father finds out, he will do everything he can to stop you.”
“We can talk to Damon. Maybe the three of us should keep this a secret for now.”
Ben nodded his head, but he didn’t look assured. “I’ll get Damon,” he said as he left the room.
Ben and Damon quickly returned to my side. Damon looked just as grim as he had the evening before, but he stood by the bedside waiting to here what I had to say.
“I want to rest a few days…then I want to continue on this journey,” I said as I stared Damon in the eyes.
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” Damon asked.
“I have to Damon. I have to see my son,” I said.
Damon nodded his head. “Okay,” he said to my surprise.
“So you are okay with this?” I asked as confusion washed across my face.
“You’re very powerful Miranda, and we can use our magic to protect you,” he replied.
I nodded my head, but I was surprised Damon had so easily agreed. Then I said, “I think we should keep this a secret between the three of us...I’m not ready to tell the others.”
Damon shook his head, “No. If you want to keep going, I only insist you tell the others. Our fathers are strong and can protect you, and my mom and Emerlee can use protection magic on you if needed. Everyone needs to know, your protection is a priority.”
I nodded my head. He was right, but I wasn’t ready to tell everyone I was pregnant—especially not in this situation.
“Do you want to go out there...or do you want me to bring them in here?” Damon asked.
“I can go out there,” I said. I was growing sick of being confined to the bed.
I climbed out of bed. I was feeling a bit better, since I had been able to rest and eat crackers. The jerky and freeze dried foods did not help with my nausea.
As soon as I entered the tiny living room, everyone jumped up, excited to see I was out of bed. Delia and Nathen were sit
ting on the couch enjoying the fire while my Dad sat on the floor nearby. I could hear Emerlee and Ellie in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Nathen quickly gestured me to take a seat on the couch.
“I’ll get Emerlee,” Ben said as he headed to the kitchen, and quickly returned with the fairy by his side.
As I sat on the couch, Delia, Nathen and my father gazed towards me, waiting to hear my diagnosis. As everyone looked at me, I could feel my cheeks turn pink as all the attention was on me. I sighed, and as I took a deep breath in, I said, “Well...I’m pregnant.”
No one said anything for a moment, but my dad quickly jumped off the ground and wrapped his arms around me. “Three grandchildren!” he cried.
Delia had tears in her eyes as she gave me a big hug, “This is wonderful!” she sniffled just as I saw Nathen hug his son. “We love you so much!” Delia said.
Everyone was hugging and congratulating Damon as they assumed the baby was his. I quickly looked towards Ben who was still sitting on the floor quietly. He held his hands in his lap and looked down at his legs uncomfortably. I knew it made Ben uncomfortable, but I wasn’t ready to tell everyone the baby might not be Damon’s, so I quietly accepted everyone's congratulations, as Damon put on a show.
As soon as everyone settled down, my father said, “Why don’t you stay here Miranda. The rest of us can head out tomorrow!”
“Actually,” I said, “that is why I wanted to tell you.” My father looked confused. “I can’t stay here,” I said. “This is my little boy. I have to keep going with the rest of you.”
My father wasn’t sure what to say so he looked at Damon. Damon said, “We can keep her safe. Of course, the healing fairy can look her over before we go, to make sure she can handle the journey...but she’s made it this far and has been pregnant the entire time.”
“I don’t like it...but it’s not our decision to make,” Nathen said as he looked at me. “I will defend you and keep you safe if you wish to continue you on. Do you think you can keep going...you’ve been so sick?”
The Portal to Sidhe: Book 2 Page 16