by Viola Grace
Petal blinked. “Oh. Yeah. Right.”
The next hour was spent going over her statement and description of events. Darius handed over the security footage that clearly showed the aggressive attack.
Numbers were formally recorded so that the sergeant could get in touch with them, and a name was finally given to her stalker. Ken Fenler. Petal thought about it, and she blinked as she remembered that her dance instructor’s name had been Fenler.
“If his mother’s name was Nanice, he has been watching me since I was a teenager.” It was sobering, but it made a certain twisted sense.
McCaffey nodded. “We will look into it. His vehicle has yielded some connections to the arson at your home. And he looks like the image.”
She blinked and stared at him. “Huh. He does. I never connected a live person with that image in my mind.”
Darius snorted. “Of course not, or you wouldn’t have approached him.”
She nodded. “That is actually correct.”
The sergeant looked at her and asked, “Do you need medical attention?”
“No, but when the bruise comes up, I will have Darius take a photo.”
The sergeant chuckled. “That will be helpful, but I believe we have enough to keep him in custody.”
She nodded. “I hope so. I am getting tired of living in fear. I just want to get on with the rest of my life.”
The investigator nodded and smiled. “I understand, my queen. I hope you have a quiet and calm adaptation period. Your aura is very bright.”
She glanced at Darius, and he nodded ruefully. “You are glowing like the sun. I take full credit.”
She snorted and leaned over and then winced. He was immediately concerned.
“Petal, are you all right?”
“I have a bruise on my butt and thigh in the shape of an iron bar. It was the best possible place to get hit, but it still stings.”
The sergeant nodded. “Please, take photos if you don’t want to go in for medical attention. I would suggest that you go in for an x-ray, just to make sure.”
Petal nodded. “Thanks. I think I might.”
Darius didn’t hesitate; he got her into his car and drove her to the nearest urgent care centre. When she explained the attack, they put her in a small room with Darius waiting, and someone came in to take the photos of her ass to send over to the police detachment.
The questionnaire for the x-ray had one question that she was stuck on. She sat and started to count on her fingers.
Darius asked, “What is wrong?”
“The question is, could you be pregnant. Technically, I could.”
He smiled. “Then, tick that box and see what happens next.”
What happened next was a trip to the lab for a blood and urine test. She was waiting back in the cubicle with Darius when a doctor came in and announced, “Is this the partner you have been involved with?”
Petal nodded. “Yeah.”
“Do you mind him being in here? We can have him wait in the other room.”
She snorted. “Well, that isn’t the way I wanted to hear that I was pregnant, but thanks for making it obvious.”
The doctor ran his hand through his hair. He grunted. “Sorry, I am normally better at this.”
“It’s fine. How far along?”
“A pelvic ultrasound is needed for that. If you and your partner don’t mind, we can just get that over with now.”
Petal snorted as she was faced with the most unenthusiastic physician who was joined by the ultrasound tech. Darius held her hand while the scan was enacted, and they both watched as the tiny speck of life was shown on the screen. The teeny seed was a little dot, and it was confirmed that there was something going on.
The tech took some images and removed the internal exam unit. Petal winced, and she slammed her legs closed as soon as she could.
They left her to get dressed after the doctor suggested that she simply take it easy for a few days.
Darius smiled. “I will make sure that she rests.”
They brought back a stack of pamphlets and an order for her to see her personal physician. She was still sitting and waiting to get dressed.
Petal winced. “I guess I should get one then.”
Darius chuckled. “I know one who is accepting new patients. We will get you sorted out with a doctor who has an excellent bedside manner.”
She nodded. “Thanks. Hand me my clothes.”
He stood up and handed her the folded clothing, watching as she wrestled herself into her bra. She dropped the medical gown and stepped into her underwear, wincing at the pain of the mark on her thigh.
When she was dressed, he held her and kissed her softly. “Have I mentioned how pleased I am with this news?”
“I had an idea that you would be impressed with it.” She put a hand low on her belly. “So, five weeks along. You got me on the first shot.”
He kissed her again. “Spring comes when the time is right.”
She laughed, and they headed home for her official relaxing that she suspected was going to end up with her healed and naked. She really didn’t mind.
Chapter Eleven
Damek stood outside Mr. Fenler’s home and waited until he left to get into his vehicle. As the stalker drove toward the greenhouse, Damek followed.
The turn before the greenhouse was well-treed and outside of the camera range. The vehicle was snatched off the road, and Damek let the trees have him. There would be nothing more from Mr. Fenler. The vehicle was sent to the other side of the continent, and the body was sent to Underhill. The jackalopes would enjoy the meat.
Seven months of harassment via phone and mail, Petal wanted it to end, and she had authorized him to do it. He had really wanted to end that little freak.
Petal was at the greenhouse and taking inventory. She wasn’t allowed to lift anything heavier than a clipboard. She was beautiful as the sun came through the plastic dome of the greenhouse, and her body was outlined in light.
She was a masterpiece of curves and soft skin, and she was his.
* * * *
Petal looked at the dwindling supplies in the greenhouse and got ready for the move of inventory from the grow spaces.
She smiled at him. “Hey, Darius. How has your day been?”
“Oh, same old, same old. You are looking lovely today.” He grinned and came over to take her into his arms.
“Thank you. You are as adorable as always.” She lifted her head for his kiss.
He threaded his fingers through her hair and pressed soft kisses against her lips until she was leaning against him. “So, we have had a record-setting year. What happens next?”
“We lay in supplies for fall and winter. Folks still like to use nature to decorate, and I know that you know this.” She chuckled.
“Yes, but I love to hear you explain things to me. You get so frustrated.” He chuckled and reached down to rub the side of her belly.
“Funny guy. You are in a good mood.”
He shrugged. “I took care of a few errands.”
“Uh-huh. You were up to something.”
“Maybe. It doesn’t matter. Have you made your decisions for the baby’s room?”
She sighed and pulled the colour swatches out from under the documents on her clipboard. “That one.”
“It’s white.” He blinked.
“It’s Polite White. It has a nice pinky tinge. I think that with Popular Gray as the baseboards, it will look nice.”
“It is going to be generic and boring.”
She made a face and pulled out the second set of swatches. He grinned and chuckled. “Pansy colours. Lovely. Mauve for the walls, violet for the baseboards, and sunflower yellow for the crib.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I am glad you like it. You know what Doc Wilkerson said. I am not allowed to do anything more than wandering around for two hours a day, and the clipboard is as heavy as I can go.”
&n
bsp; “I know. I came to collect you. Your time in the yard is up. Back to sitting with your feet up in my office.”
He wrapped his arm around her and ushered her to the teashop. Despite the heat, the new shop had a line out into the yard as folks lined up for their favourite custom mixes and get cold or hot tea to travel with.
The women in line got a look at Darius, and they sighed happily. It seemed they didn’t even mind Petal and her huge belly today.
He smiled and steered her past the waiting crowd while her legs started to throb. He settled her in his chair, put her feet up on the stool that he had set up for this purpose. “I will bring you some tea.”
She wrinkled her nose at him, he left, and she returned to the computer to do the books for the week.
It was taking him a while, and she heard raised voices from the front of the shop. She struggled to her feet and headed out to find her husband.
The woman who was making all the noise had her hand on Darius’s arm. Petal pulled up the fey energy that she had been learning to channel, and she smiled brightly. “What seems to be the problem?”
The woman blinked, dazzled by her glamour. “I ordered this tea, and he is telling me that it is for someone else.”
“Ah, that would be me. You ordered a prenatal tea?” Petal looked her up and down. “It is right on the label. That and my name.”
Petal tilted her head. “Why are you touching him?”
The woman snatched her hand back, and Stella, at the counter, cleared her throat. “Tea for Patty.”
The woman’s eyes widened, and she turned and snatched the tea, running out of the shop. Darius shrugged and handed Petal her tea. Her name was on it, and a big heart had been drawn on it. She was pretty sure that it was what the woman had been after. Darius was an intermediate artist, and he was still exceedingly hot. Women fawned over him randomly and every time they went out shopping. The heart on the cup must have been a red cape to a bull.
“Thank you, dearest. I am heading back to the office.”
He grinned. “I will come by and rub your feet and ankles later.”
She grinned, and the women in line made wistful noises. Petal didn’t care. She had the guy and the tea. It was a pretty good day.
Sergeant McCaffey was at her door when she opened it to answer the bell. He looked at her, and his eyes widened. “Miss Black, may I come in?”
She nodded and waddled ahead of him. “Please. Come in.”
He wiped his feet and followed her.
She paused. “Coffee or tea?”
He smiled. “Tea, please.”
She nodded and filled the tea strainer while she used magic to boil water. “So, what brings you by today?”
She put the tea and cups on a tray with additives like sugar, lemon, and honey and carefully walked it over to the table. She huffed and sat across from him.
“To be blunt, Your Highness, what do you know about Mr. Fenler?”
“Well, the basics. He started watching me when I was a teen, followed me, and screwed with my life for a decade. He recorded me, stalked me, called me, texted me, and put cameras inside my home, which gave him a lot of extremely awkward footage. Why? What is he planning to do now?”
“He is missing. His parents haven’t seen him in weeks. His car hasn’t been seen, and there is no activity on his accounts.”
She poured two cups and shoved the lemon and honey toward him.
“That is fortunate for me and a bit scary. Do you think he is coming for me, or did he run?”
The sergeant grimaced. “He would not have given up on you. You know that. His shrine to you persisted while he was in the institution.”
Petal grimaced and stroked her back. “So I have heard.”
“So, you haven’t seen him?”
“Not since the victim-impact statement at the hearing that didn’t do fuck all.”
He sighed. “I know. I am sorry for that. I also know your house is protected against incursion. Do you think that King Damek could have had something to do with the disappearance?”
“Only if I was threatened. So, as long as there was no direct threat to me, I am sure that nothing happened. I can also account for Darius’s whereabouts every minute of every day. He is never more than ten minutes away from me.”
“Where is he now?”
She pulled up the camera feed on her cell phone. “He is at the shop, behind the counter.”
She showed it to him, and he nodded. “Right. I stopped there first. He told me that if I bothered you, I had better either do it politely or prepare to leave this plane.”
Petal smiled, and she sighed as she went through another contraction.
Sergeant McCaffey looked suspicious. “Is something going on with you, Your Highness?”
“I have to get Darius’s attention, so if you don’t mind?” She sent a quick text, and then, she sent another one.
“What are you doing?”
“I just sent a message to Darius, the doula, and the midwife. It looks like this fey anchor is going to be arriving in the world in the next day or so.”
She poured herself a cup of tea and calmly set herself up. “So, what else would you like to know?”
The sergeant’s eyes widened. “You are not scared?”
“Nope. I am healthy, everything is where it should be, my stress levels have dropped, and I am tired of being huge. So, I have a doula to talk to me and a midwife to take the burden of catching the baby. Darius gets to keep me calm.”
“Why do you call him by his mortal name?” He was confused.
She laughed. “I call him Damek, but we are usually naked at the time. We go into the woods and let a little power out. I can’t be as direct with him when he wears his fey aspect. It dampens my sense of humour.”
“Ah. The fey kings wield a lot of power.”
She grimaced as her body twinged again. “You are telling me.”
“Are you in distress?”
She sipped at her tea. “No. Not yet. I watched the videos and read the books. Darius even made up pop quizzes. This is going to happen whether I like it or not, so I am just dealing with it.”
“You didn’t intend on having a child?” He frowned.
She laughed. “No. I am part of the project that Puck engaged in to get the kings out of Underhill. I don’t know if all the ladies ended up knocked up, but I do know that my friend Audra is due in two weeks.”
The sergeant looked back toward the door. “Is the spring king coming?”
She snorted and didn’t make the obvious joke. “Yes, his phone tracking says that he is on the way. You are welcome to stay for labour and delivery if you like. The few fey I have met have said it is honourable and desirable to be near a high fey birth.”
He looked ill. “I am on duty for another four hours.”
“That’s fine. This little one won’t be here until the evening.”
He nodded. “I will try and come by if you truly don’t mind.”
“It’s fine. You can even strip off your glamour when you come in. Everybody else is doing it.”
He grinned. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I have seen goblins, giants, trolls, and I am going to be fully powered and in labour. Not much is gonna scare me.”
He bowed, and Darius burst in through the door. “Petal!”
She nodded to him with a grin. “Hello, my love. Things are underway.”
He nodded and came to her side. “What do you need?”
She laughed. “I have you and a greenhouse. I am set.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. She gave birth outside on a couch made of vines that supported her while her son made his entrance into the world with a wild squall.
Seventeen underfey were present at the birthing of the new prince of spring, and as his parents held him, a wave of magic entered the world with those in attendance gaining power. Petal watched the changes that were affecting those aro
und her, and she smiled. It wasn’t the smoothest of starts, but now that she had her family and her occupation of choice at her disposal, she was going to work on finding out how to make things even better. Damek was sure to help if his enraptured expression was anything to go by.
He murmured, “He is perfect. When can we make another one?”
Petal grunted. “It’s a good thing you are cute, or I would strangle you right now.”
Damek looked at his son and spoke softly. “Do you see how your lovely mother talks to me? It’s a good thing she’s a stunning beauty and holds my heart for eternity, or my feelings would be hurt. Now, how many brothers and sisters do you want?”
The baby’s hand opened in a tiny starfish.
“Five? Five more sounds good.”
Petal groaned. “That sounds like a lot of work and a nanny. Definitely a nanny.”
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Whatever my queen desires.”
She sighed. “I do like the sound of that. Next year an expansion into garden boxes and a delivery service.”
He helped her to sit up and handed her their son. “Whatever my queen desires.”
She pulled him down and explained what she desired in vivid detail. His kiss sent a wave of heat through her, and the magic sparked between them again. She was hoping that they kept sparking for all the years to come. If not, she was just going to have to find ways to keep things interesting, and since she was gaining control of trees and vines, that had endless possibilities.
Author’s Note
Three down, three to go. I am just gonna get all the kings situated, and we already know who Storm ends up with... so I guess he is next.
Thanks for reading,
Viola Grace
About the Author
Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.
An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.
