by Hope Hart
Now, she’ll never have to gasp for breath in a hospital bed again.
Butterflies flutter as we walk into our home. We decorated our Christmas tree a few days ago with gorgeous glass decorations from the market. They twinkle as Jaret lights a few candles and I blow out a nervous breath.
“What is wrong?” He asks immediately, perceptive as always.
“Nothing’s wrong. I have one more gift for you.”
He pulls me close, cupping my face in his hand. “I do not need anything more,” he declares. “I have everything I could ever need in my arms right now.”
“Aw. Well this is a buy-one, get-one-free kinda situation.”
He frowns down at me, obviously confused.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, clamping down on my lower lip as it starts to tremble. “You’re going to be a father, Jaret.”
His mouth falls open, and for the first time, I have the experience of seeing the Arcav Commander completely speechless.
“A youngling?” he breathes, and drops to his knees, staring at my stomach. He lifts a trembling hand and places it against my abdomen, and just like that, my eyes fill with tears.
“Yep. Is that… okay?”
His eyes are on fire as he gazes up at me, and tears spill down my cheeks at the look of adoration on his face.
“I thought I could not be happier,” he murmurs softly. “I was wrong. You have given me everything, my beautiful mate. I do not deserve you, but I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret that I am your mate.”
“I would never regret that,” I say firmly, struck by the vulnerability in his eyes. If there’s one thing that still manages to hurt me, it’s the damage that Jaret’s uncle managed to do to him while he was a child. He taught him that he was worthless. He made him think that the only reason he existed was to get revenge for his parent’s deaths.
That amount of damage doesn’t disappear overnight. I know Jaret still struggles with feelings of worthlessness. All I can do is be there for him when he needs to talk and make sure he knows that I’ll always love him— no matter what.
I drop to my knees, taking his face in my hands.
“You’re going to be the most incredible father. I can’t wait to experience this next stage of life with you.”
His smile is blinding. “I hope we have little girls with your smart mouth and green eyes.”
I grin. “Oh yeah? Well I hope we have little boys with your mischievousness and incredible smile.”
Jaret moves even closer. “Let’s have both,” he says against my mouth, before taking my lips in a deep kiss.
Immediately my body ignites. Somehow, deep inside, I know that it’ll always be this way for us. A century or two from now, I’ll still burn every time we kiss. I’ll still go out of my mind every time he puts his hands on me.
He runs the edge of one claw gently along my neck and I freeze, prey trapped in the arms of a predator. He pulls away and his eyes are dark as he stares down at me, sliding that claw down the center of my red dress.
He raises an eyebrow at me, likely waiting for me to snap at him for ruining yet another one of my dresses, but I simply raise an eyebrow back. I’d had a pretty good feeling that this dress was going to end up tattered and ruined tonight.
Truthfully, I’d be disappointed if it didn’t.
I do hold up my hands when Jaret’s claw moves toward my bra. This bra is pretty and I don’t want it ruined. Instead, I snap open the front clasp and watch his eyes burn hotter as my breasts spill out.
He moves his hand down to cover my breast, the movement demonstrating in no uncertain terms that I’m his, the stroke of his hand on my nipple proprietary.
“You’ll be sharing those soon,” I tease, and he groans, leaning down and kissing a path down my neck toward my breasts.
His hand slips lower, and I groan as he plays with my clit for a long moment, finally driving two fingers into me. I whimper and Jaret smiles against my breast. He moves back up, his mouth finding mine, and I fall into him, my strong, broken mate.
I’m desperate for him, mewling against him as he plays with me. Time to turn the tables.
I slide one hand down, reaching into his pants where I feel him huge and hard. He lets out a growl as I stroke him, and before I know it, I’m flat on my back, staring up at him as he pulls off his shirt and pants.
He leans over me and I wrap my legs around him, pulling him close. He reaches down, guiding his cock into me, and we both gasp as he drives deep.
Our bodies move together, and I let a moan free as my hips rise to meet his, and he slides his hand back down, playing with my clit.
I gasp as his thrusts drive me closer and closer to the edge, the heat and friction driving me crazy. Then Jaret looks into my eyes, and it’s the joy in them that pushes me over the edge, and he groans as I dig my nails into his back, grinding against him as my muscles tense and pleasure pulses through me.
Jaret follows me over, burying his face in my neck as he shudders against me and I smile, panting as I bring my hand up trailing it along the hard planes of his back and up, into his hair. I brush one of his horns and he lifts his head, staring down at me.
“I love you, my mate,” he says.
I grin, happier than I ever thought I could be.
“I love you too.”
Chapter Thirteen
Meghan
Something’s going on. I don’t know what it is. But people have been acting weird for days. Conversations stop when I enter the room. People shoot me odd looks and quickly turn away when I stare back. At first, I just put it down to the holidays and all of the planning for Christmas, but something is definitely up.
“Maybe people are mad that I’ll be continuing with my flight training,” I mutter to Methi as we walk through the palace. He’s dropping me at Harlow’s for a girls’ breakfast.
“Don’t fret, my love,” is all he says, and I shoot him a look. He’s been acting strange as well. Every now and again a look of guilt crosses his face, and I’ve just about reached a point where I’m ready to shove him in one of the many empty rooms in this huge palace and make him talk.
“I don’t fret,” I growl. “What kind of pansy-ass word is fret, anyway?”
A door opens behind us as I stalk through the halls and Eve pops her head out. She swaggers out when she sees the coast is clear, Korva following close behind her.
“Someone just got laid,” I mutter, my mood darkening further. That’s one more thing that Methi and I didn’t have time to do today because Harlow insisted on this spur-of-the-moment breakfast. You’d think she’d have her hands full you know— being the Queen and keeping a newborn alive.
A slow smile crosses her face at my voice. “Don’t hate me ‘cause you ain’t me,” she says and I roll my eyes.
“You know why Harlow decided this breakfast absolutely had to happen today?”
Eve shrugs. “Who knows? All I know is that I need coffee stat.” With that, she turns and kisses Korva goodbye before striding off toward the Royal Quarters.
I narrow my eyes but follow her. I’m going to figure out why everyone is acting so weird. Methi takes my hand and I relax as I meet his eyes. He’d tell me if I had anything to truly worry about. If I know one thing, it’s that Methi will protect me from anything that could ever cause me harm— either physically or emotionally.
“I love you,” I say softly and he pauses, turning and backing me into the wall. The corridor is empty, but even if it was packed with people, I’d still be entranced as I stare into his eyes.
“I love you more than I ever thought could be possible,” he whispers, his lips meeting mine. I sink into him, enjoying our stolen moment before it’s interrupted with a wolf whistle.
Amanda grins at me as she turns the corner.
“Someone’s going to be late for breakfast,” she says.
I eye Methi, tempted to duck into one of the empty rooms for a quickie, but Amanda links her arm with me.
�
�Break it up, lovebirds,” she says, and I grin up at Methi, who leans down for one more kiss.
“I will see you soon,” he says, turning and striding away.
We both watch his butt appreciatively as he makes his way down the corridor and I snort at the gleam in Amanda’s eye.
“Don’t let Jaret catch you looking at Methi’s butt. He’ll probably make sure he’s demoted or something.”
Amanda bursts out laughing. “Hey, I’m a hot-blooded woman. I can appreciate a good-looking man as much as the next girl.”
“Mmmhmmm.”
We make our way to Harlow’s and the door swings open as we arrive.
“Finally!” Harlow says, and I grin at her, my mood lightening as I take in the baby in her arms.
“Have you got a name for her yet?”
Harlow smiles down at her gorgeous newborn. “We do. Meet Zera,” she says. “It means ‘beginnings.”
I move closer stare down at the baby’s tiny face. I take her hand, marveling over her fingers and teeny fingernails.
“It’s perfect,” I breathe, running one finger over the tiny stub where her horns will grow in.
The room is silent and I realize everyone’s staring at me.
“What’s going on? Is brunch still happening?” I feel a brief pang of fear and turn it into belligerence. “You guys mad at me or something?”
Harlow grins at me and moves closer to the sofa, gesturing for me to take a seat. The room is full of women, and I narrow my eyes at my mom, who’s standing next to Saria, a glass of wine in her hand.
“We have a surprise for you,” Harlow says.
“Huh?” That wasn’t what I was expecting. Harlow bites her lip and I realize she’s nervous.
Eve moves closer, a wide grin on her face. “We know you and Methi want to get married, but your schedule is going to be crazy for the next year or two.”
I nod, not following. “Uh huh.”
Harlow tilts her head at me. “We missed you guys so much when you were gone, and we thought now would be the perfect time for you to get married.”
“Sure,” I say, frowning. “But I haven’t had time to plan a wedding.”
Bree grins at me from across the room and Amanda raises her eyebrow.
“You’re not usually this dense,” Amanda says. “We’ve planned your wedding. For today, if you want it to happen.”
My mouth drops open and Harlow smiles. “Surprise.”
“I-I thought you guys were mad at me.”
“Why would we be mad at you?” Eve takes a seat next to me, a look of concern crossing her face.
“I dunno, you were acting so strange.” My lip trembles. “You really did this for me?”
“Your friends wanted to make sure you had a special day,” Mom says. “Methi agreed to keep it a secret so we could surprise you. Everything is ready, but only if this is what you want.”
My mouth drops open. “Are you kidding? I can get married today, with all you guys here, and I don’t even have to organize it? This is the best surprise ever!”
The room cracks up, and before I know it, someone’s handing me a glass of champagne, and I’m being hustled into Harlow’s dressing room, which has been turned into a bridal salon.
“Holy shit.”
Harlow gently rocks Zera as she lets out a tiny whimper. “I have a few suggestions,” she nods toward a rack of dresses that has been set aside. “But any of these dresses will look beautiful on you.”
The morning passes in a blur. I only need to try on a few dresses before I find ‘the one,’ and I’m not at all surprised when it’s one of the gowns that Harlow picked out. For someone who lives in jeans, her taste is exquisite.
The gown is made of lace, the mermaid silhouette hugging my body and giving me curves I didn’t know I had. It’s cut off-the-shoulder, with an intricate design across the bodice— tiny pearls gleaming in the light. I feel like a princess, and voices hush as I stare at myself in the mirror.
“Oh, my baby,” Mom says, stepping closer and running her eyes over the dress. “You look beautiful.”
“That’s the dress, isn’t it?” Harlow grins, and I nod, still entranced with my reflection.
“I’m getting married today,” I whisper. Being mated to Methi has been more than I could ever have wished for. But he asked me to marry him because he wanted me to have ‘every human experience,’ and now I get to walk down the aisle surrounded by our friends and family.
Mom steps forward, handing me her bracelet. “Something old,” she says, and my eyes fill with tears. This was grandma’s bracelet, and mom wears the delicate gold piece every day.
Harlow hands the baby to Amanda, who coos over him while Minerva brings in a box which she gives to Harlow.
“Turn around,” she says, and I glance down as I feel a heavy weight around my neck.
“Wow, Harlow are you sure?”
I turn back around, eyeing the diamond necklace in the mirror, and Harlow smiles at me.
“I wore that for my wedding. Now you have something borrowed.”
“My dress is something new,” I grin back at her, and to my shock, Saria steps forward.
“I do not understand this human custom of something old and stolen and blue,” she says and every woman in the room bursts out laughing. She ignores them, reaching behind her and handing me a delicate gold hair comb, blue jewels glimmering along the edge in an intricate pattern.
“On my planet it is tradition to give the bride something that you value. This was my mother’s. She liked you, you know.”
The room goes silent as I take it, staring into Saria’s eyes. For a moment, I could swear I see a flash of pain in them, and I step forward impulsively, wrapping her in a hug.
She stiffens immediately, before slowly relaxing. Then she steps away, eyeing my hair.
“Now you must do something about the knots on your head,” she says, and I just smile at her.
Minerva takes care of my hair, and then she does something with makeup to make my eyes sparkle. She paints my lips a soft pink, and by the time she’s finished, everyone else has gotten dressed, even Zera, who’s wearing the tiniest lace dress I’ve ever seen.
“She’ll spit up on it in about two minutes,” Harlow grins at me. “But her daddy insisted.”
Before I know it, I’m ready.
“Mom,” I ask. “Will you walk me down the aisle?”
My mom smiles shakily, her eyes filling with tears. “Of course, darling.”
I know Arax would have walked me down the aisle if I’d asked, but for all those years it was just me and mom. She’s the woman who raised me and the one who taught me everything I needed to know about life.
We all walk down to the garden, and I blink back tears as I take my place, mom’s arm linked in mine.
Everyone takes their seats, but all I see is Methi, standing down the end of the garden, his heart in his eyes as he looks at me.
He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman alive.
The ceremony is a blur. All I can focus on is the violet eyes of the man I love and the mating bond, which pulses with his pride, adoration, and love as he says his vows.
He slides a ring onto my finger, and I take a moment to gape at it. It’s blinding, sparkling next to the pouq ring, which will also never leave my finger.
“You may kiss the bride,” the celebrant says, and our guests cheer, laughing as Methi takes my lips in a deep and slightly inappropriate kiss, wrapping me in his arms.
I feel like I’m walking on air as we walk back down the aisle, and I see the grinning faces of everyone we love. I can’t believe they managed to plan this and keep it secret.
“Am I dreaming?” I ask Methi, and he laughs at me.
“Only if I am dreaming as well,” he says.
I look back at our friends and family, who are still clapping and cheering, faces shining with joy.
This was the best Christmas ever.
Author’s Note
I hope you
loved this Christmas novella! It was so fun following up with our favorite characters and seeing just how they all reacted to the holidays.
Next up in this series is the Arcav Captain’s Queen— which you can find here. I’ve loved writing Saria and Roax’s story, and I hope you’ll love reading it!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope you have the most incredible time with your loved ones.
Hope x
