“Cinder, stop.”
Cinder kept walking, his dramatic exit spoiled when Char naturally caught up to him with his long strides. Char’s firm hand landed on his shoulder. Cinder was aghast Char had to come around to face him.
“Cinder, what’s wrong with you?” Char demanded, eyes searching his.
“Apart from the fact you promised to spend the rest of the day with me about three hours ago? Nothing.”
Cinder knew he was being a brat, but he couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his tone. The honeymoon period was long gone. The two largest events of the century, Char’s coronation and their wedding, were over. Cinder had nothing to look forward to.
Being pregnant wasn’t nearly as easy as he had imagined, and he was tired of the court attendants and everyone else walking on eggshells around him. Apparently, they assumed non-shifter species were vulnerable and fragile.
To his surprise, Char didn’t argue. His mate let out a weary sigh. Seeing the tired lines around his eyes, guilt began to creep back inside Cinder.
Ulfric’s arrest had encouraged the rest of his supporters to rally against Char’s new rule, and Char had spent the past few months trying to quell the uprising. So far he’d been successful, but it didn’t mean the effort hadn’t exhausted him. Aside from the brief glimpses Cinder caught of Char, the new king had been traveling all across the planet speaking to the various wolf clans.
“I’m sorry. It’s just I rarely see you and forbade me to travel ever since we found out I’m pregnant.”
A tingle went down Cinder’s spine when Char brushed his lips against his for a deep and lingering kiss. “You’re absolutely right, Cinder. I’m going to have a talk with my advisors and cut down on my travels until the pups are born.”
Cinder gave him a look. “Are you placating me because you’re terrified of your hysterical mate?”
Char only wrapped one corded arm around his. “No. I’ve just realized the error of my ways. I will postpone state affairs until our babes are born. My family is important to me, Cinder. You’re important to me.”
Cinder sniffed, hating the raging emotions inside him. He wanted to cry for some inexplicable reason, wanted to lock Char in a room and have him fawn all over him the entire day.
“What are you thinking?” Char began stroking his arm, calming him instantly.
“How awful you’ve been, ignoring me while I wilt away in the palace, feeling fat and miserable.”
“I’ve already told you,” Char growled. “I’m spending the next few weeks making it up to you, and don’t you ever call yourself fat again. You’re gorgeous.”
Char kissed his cheek, while his hand stroked Cinder’s belly gently.
“Good. You can begin by paying attention to me for the entirety of the day.” Cinder yelped when Char’s strong arms easily swept his legs out from beneath him.
“Char, I’m heavy. Don’t you dare drop me,” Cinder warned, reaching out to squeeze one bicep.
“You’re not heavy. Now wrap your arms around my neck while I carry you to our quarters.”
Cinder admitted it was a treat being carried by his king like a new bride. Char really did carry him across several corridors and stairs without complaining once. He even listened as Cinder droned on about how it was killing him being pregnant.
“Don’t mistake my whining for anything else. I love our babes, and I’ll give my life for them,” Cinder said.
Char gently lowered him to the edge of the bed so his feet dangled.
“If you love me so much, then why did you buy me a backscratcher?” Char teased.
The said ornate and bejeweled implement was still beside the bed, looking unused and new. Cinder couldn’t believe Char had the nerve to bring it up. He’d purposely given Char the backscratcher to send him a message after Char kept sending him ridiculous presents during his travels. Why Char gifted him a fruit bowl made of coconut husk or a stuffed lizard rug was beyond him. Cinder might love his husband, but Char had absolutely no taste when it came to gifts.
“It’s the perfect present. I can rub your fur with it when you’re in wolf form.”
With his distended stomach in the way, Cinder couldn’t see Char clearly, but he could feel his mate kneeling. “What are you doing?”
“I’m rewarding my mate for being so patient.”
Char’s voice made Cinder’s toes curl in anticipation. He could feel Char parting his legs gently and slipping his comfortable hot pink yoga pants down. When he felt Char’s heated mouth on his half-erect prick, he groaned.
“It’s been awhile, Char.” Cinder closed his eyes when he felt the gentle press of Char’s lips on his inner thigh.
“I know, Cinder.”
Cinder moaned when Char curled his fingers around his shaft while his talented tongue began to lick at his shaft.
“So good. I’ve missed how good you taste.”
Cinder was glad Char couldn’t see the color rising to his cheeks. “Stop saying embarrassing things and get on with in it, my king.”
“As my mate wishes,” Char said and began to deep throat him.
Cinder clawed at the sheets as Char’s heated mouth enveloped his thickening length. Heat spread across his insides with every inch Char covered and his balls felt drawn tight against him. When Cinder felt his cock hit the back of Char’s throat, Char began to withdraw.
Char squeezed the inside of his thigh in warning once his mouth was free. “Don’t you dare come yet, Cinder. It’s been awhile and I intend to enjoy devouring you.”
When he felt Char begin to take him in his mouth again, Cinder closed his eyes in contentment. He was really one spoiled mate.
“I love this sweet side of you, Char, and I also love it when you get all growly,” Cinder murmured.
Cinder’s eyes flared opened and he gasped when Char pulled his mouth off of him, applying deep suction with every inch he withdrew from. Cinder began to pant. The sensations inside him were driving him mad. Heat built inside of him like a dam, eager to spill forward and drown him.
“I love you too, Cinder, especially when you whine.” Cinder felt Char’s lips on the tip of his shaft. “Come for me, Cinder. I want to hear the sweet sounds you make.”
Char’s words were enough to hurtle him into oblivion. The pleasure burning inside him crested and burst. It pooled to the rest of his insides and limbs. Cinder’s senses reeled and he felt like his body was no longer his own. Char’s warm body joining him in bed and his strong arm pressing Cinder to his rock-hard body reeled him in back to reality.
“Thank you, Char,” Cinder breathed. He felt Char’s lips on his forehead. Char was thoughtful enough to get a washcloth to clean him up.
“You’re welcome, Cinder. Once the babes are born, I’ll finally have the chance to be inside you again.” Char looked like he was about to say more, but a discreet knock on the door interrupted him. Annoyance crossed Char’s features. “What now? I specifically said we’re not to be interrupted.”
“My apologies, highness, but there’s been a commotion by the dungeons and Prince Ulfric has been sprung free by a spy acting as one of our guards.”
Cinder could feel anger radiating off Char as he abruptly stood, his jaw a hard line. He worriedly placed a hand on Char’s arm. Seeing him, Char’s expression softened. “Be careful, Char.”
“Don’t worry, Cinder. I’m going to end that bastard’s life once and for all. Stay here, I’ll post two guards outside,” Char cautioned.
Cinder nodded. When Char left, his hand crept to his swollen belly with worry. This commotion was his fault. He was the one who’d decided to spare Ulfric’s life. Pity had moved him then, but it would no longer move him when his husband's and babes’ lives were at stake.
Time seemed to stretch on for eternity. Minutes passed without hearing any new updates from the guards and despite their assurance, Cinder could see they were becoming concerned too. He paced, or rather, waddled about the length of the room repeatedly. Eventually, Cinder’s feet b
egan to tire him and he returned to lying down on the bed, feeling like a whale.
He was confident Char could deal with anything, but it worried him Ulfric’s spies had infiltrated the palace staff. What if there were more of them, and what if Char was caught off guard?
A flicker of hope sparked in Cinder when he heard the curt knock on the door.
“Gunter, is there any news of Char?” Cinder asked.
It wasn’t Char’s second-in-command who came through the door though, but an unfamiliar woman.
“Pardon me, your highness. I am Rani, the palace physician. The king was worried for your health and requested I sit with you.”
Cinder’s suspicion was easily roused.
“A physician? Where’s Jelal? He’s the one usually in charge of my check-ups.” The dark-haired and dark-skinned woman certainly wore the blue robes of a Woofian physician, but the slender physique beneath was a warrior’s body.
Cinder consciously began to back away. From the gap in the door, he spied two armored and unconscious bodies on the ground. He swallowed, and his eyes darted desperately for his special weapon.
The heels were nowhere in sight. Probably locked somewhere in his trunk. Cinder had grown too big and clumsy to wear the treasures, plus Char had expressly forbidden him to wear the heels in case he somehow fell and injured himself.
“I won’t enjoy the distasteful task I was given, but I can promise you a quick death,” the woman, the assassin, said. She drew two matching curved daggers from beneath her cloak, her expression hard and grim.
“Why do you even follow Ulfric? He’s unfit to rule. In fact, I think he’s not entirely sane.”
Cinder knew he had to keep talking and stall her, but he also knew he was cornered. The only exit left was through the large bay windows, but the royal chambers were on the fifth floor. His hands protectively curled around his belly. The assassin bit her lip at the gesture, and her distraction was all he needed.
“I am sorry for this, truly. Babes are rare among us shifters, and I take no pride in what I must do.”
Cinder was certain Ulfric didn’t deserve her fanatic loyalty, but he didn’t point it out for fear of offending her.
His back hit the dresser and his hands slowly went for the only weapon he had for his disposal: Char’s ghastly backscratcher.
“What will happen to Char? Does Ulfric intend to kill him?” Cinder aimed his most innocent and desperate look at her. “Please. I need to know if he’s going to let Char live.”
She shook her head, taking a determined step towards him. “I can promise you I’ll make certain Prince Char dies a clean death. Now stop resisting and make this easy for yourself.”
“Okay. I’m ready,” Cinder managed weakly.
She nodded in approval. Cinder only had the element of surprise to his advantage. He was no match for a shifter’s speed or reflexes. As the knives descended, he clutched at the backscratcher and madly swung it right at her head.
Surprised filtered across her features, but Cinder didn’t give her time to recover. Grasping the heavy jewel-encrusted object with both hands, he swung again. This time, he sent her to the floor.
Knowing how hardy and hardheaded shifters were, Cinder tried to put in another swing for good measure, but his enormous belly got in the way. Oh damn it all. It was horrifying that he couldn’t even bend down.
A hand latched onto his right ankle and pulled. Cinder’s center of gravity was yanked under him as he screamed.
The sound of shattering wood followed, and Cinder caught sight of Char’s deadly black furred form coming at them.
“Save the babes, Char,” he gasped. Cinder managed to twist his stubborn body at the last second so it was his back that hit the floor. He couldn’t care less about himself. The only thing that mattered was bringing his children safely into the world.
Cinder’s vision floundered. A wave of nausea swept through him. All he could hear was a woman’s screams and Char’s claws viciously ripping through cloth and flesh. Then Char was back to human, shouting for help.
“Cinder, stay with me,” Char said above him.
Cinder could feel his large hand clasping his fingers and warmth began to sweep past him. Tears began to gather in Cinder’s eyes. He worried immensely for Char. What would Char do without him? Char was so smitten with him, Cinder was terrified he’d never fully recover. He just hoped the cubs would be enough.
“Char, I fought her off. I used the back—”
Cinder couldn’t continue. Intense, white-hot pain he’d never experienced before lanced through his entire body. He began screaming his lungs out. Cinder squeezed Char’s hand as tight as he could despite the pain, hoping Char understood the babes were coming.
“Char, the cubs,” Cinder managed to gasp, shutting his eyes at the awful pain assaulting his body.
Char’s eyes widened, and he began to shout more viciously at the panicked guards.
“Get the fucking birthing women and physician here right now, or I’ll tear off your heads myself.”
* * * *
Never before had Char felt this awful. It felt like the ground had been forcefully yanked from under him. Even when his father died, he hadn’t felt this much dread. When the physician and birthing women arrived, they’d thrown him out of the chambers, saying he was helping no one.
“The king, thrown out his very own quarters. The fucking nerve,” Char muttered under his breath. He knew it was inevitable given he was about to kill someone, but it still stung he couldn’t be by Cinder’s side.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. We let our guard down when the assassin claimed she was a physician.” Gunter’s chastised voice made Char turned his attention to his second.
“Well, it’s a good thing Cinder was resourceful enough to wield a backscratcher, wasn’t it?” Char said bitingly.
He then regretted his outburst. At first, he’d been enraged to discover both the soldiers he’d posted, men he trusted with his own life, had failed in protecting his mate, but blaming them for what happened was helping no one.
Char’s only consolation was the knowledge Ulfric was truly dead, and most of his allies who'd meant Char and Cinder harm were arrested and imprisoned. Without a leader, his brother’s supporters would drift apart and some would eventually flock to the new government. Char didn’t believe for a second his throne was secure, but his brother had been his greatest threat.
Most of his subjects loved Cinder, and loved him even more for bringing the planet the next ruling heir. Heirs, Char corrected. Cinder was carrying twins.
Cinder, please don’t die on me. I can’t raise our children alone.
Char let out a breath and eventually said, “What’s done is done, Gun.”
“It won’t happen again, Char. I promise you this.”
“Thank you, Gun. Your loyalty means a lot to me. Without you and the men, we wouldn’t have been able to wrestle the throne from Ulfric, or quell his little rebellion.”
Gun delivered a formal bow. “You honor me, Highness. Please allow me to say this. Cinder is strong and he’s proven it over and over again by breaking us out of prison and fending off the assassin. He’ll make it.”
“I hope so.” Char rubbed at his face.
Was it only just a few hours ago he had been alone with Cinder, talking about their future? Damn it all. He’d really been looking forward to spending quality time with Cinder. Much earned quality time. Char had severely missed Cinder when he was visiting the other clans. Why did matters always have to spiral out of hand?
“This is unbearable. What is happening inside?”
Gunter clasped his shoulder. “Patience, Highness. I know it’s the most awful feeling in the world waiting for your mate to give birth, but it will be over soon.”
Char bit back a remark. Gunter spoke from experience. He had two cubs of his own, and his mate had had a hard time with both pregnancies.
The doors opened several minutes later, revealing one of the birthing women. The wide smil
e on her face made Char breathe a sigh of relief. “Cinder and the babes are fine?”
“Your mate was injured during his fall, Highness, but he will recover. Both your babes are healthy.”
Char followed her back into the chamber. His eyes were only for Cinder and the two small figures curled up against his arm. Cinder’s tired eyes found his immediately. “Come see your children, Char.”
Char went to him and gave him a lingering kiss on the lips. He closed his eyes. “You scared the hell out of me, Cinder.”
“Oh, don’t be dramatic, Char. I’m built to last.”
Char had to smile. Cinder gently eased the crying girl in his arm. Immediately, the delightful, tiny pink bundle stopped crying as she caught sight of Char. Adorable amber eyes blinked at him. When she smiled and wiggled in his hands, it felt like a bolt of lightning struck him.
“Cinder, our daughter is beautiful,” Char whispered.
“And she looks exactly like you, brooding eyes and all. I really thought I would be giving birth to puppies. You could have warned me!”
“They’ll start shifting during their first week or so.” Char handed his daughter to a nursemaid and picked up his son. The boy seemed to be a tiny copy of Cinder. While he had Char’s yellow eyes, his mop of red hair and the contemptuous look he gave Char was all Cinder’s.
“Then we have to puppy-proof the entire palace.” When Char exchanged looks with Gunter, Cinder glared at them. “What did I say now?”
“They’re going to be fine, Cinder. They’re half you and half me, after all.”
“Your Highness, I believe Cinder has had quite an exciting day. It would be best to let him rest,” the physician suggested.
With his son cradled in his left arm, Char squeezed Cinder’s hand gently with his right. “Relax and rest your body, Cinder. The babes and I will be here when you wake up.”
“That sounds like a good end to our story, Char,” Cinder murmured sleepily.
Char kissed his forehead. “This is just the beginning of our story, Cinder. The good parts have yet to come. Now, sleep.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
Cinder and Char Page 5
