I nod and his eyes fill with love as he drops to his knees and kisses my stomach. “My daughter,” he says in awe. He looks up at me with a renewed determination. “They aren’t taking her away from us. Never,” he says and stands, pulling me into the Faerie Ring and transporting us back to the forest in our world where he Teleports us home.
Chapter 7
As we land in the Entrance Hall, I say to Sebastian, “Don’t say anything yet. I don’t want to upset him any more than I have to right now.”
He looks pained, eager to share our news with the world, but he agrees and kisses me before I got to Constantine’s office.
“You’re back,” he says with a soft smile as I open the door. “I didn’t think you would be so quick.”
“I couldn’t stay. I had to get out of there, and back to you,” I say.
He looks at me concerned. “Is everything okay, my love? You look exhausted.”
“I haven’t fed in two days. Drake wouldn’t allow us.”
“He stopped you from feeding?” he asks in disbelief, already picking the phone up to call Ramon.
“He is a horrid, horrid man. I am never going back there, Constantine. Please don’t make me.” I start to cry, and he is at my side in an instant.
“I won’t, my love. You never have to set foot near him again,” he reassures me.
Ramon knocks, and I am on him feeding hungrily before he has even walked through the door. I feel better, stronger, and dash the tears from my eyes, standing straighter. I wave my hand at him dismissively and he goes.
I turn back to my husband and his eyes are fixed on my hand, which is absently stroking my stomach. I pull it away quickly, but he already knows and looks at me sadly.
“You know already?” he asks quietly.
“Yes,” I say just as quietly. “Drake knew. He said he could sense her.”
“Her?” he croaks.
I nod slowly. “I’m sorry, my love. I know this hurts you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he says, taking my arm and leading me to the chair. “You need to take care of yourself now.”
“Oh, Constantine, everything is going so wrong,” I say and start to weep again.
“What do you mean?” he asks, stroking my shoulder.
I tell him of the Fae Kings’ plans and his face hardens. “No, we will not allow them to take your child.”
“I don’t know how we can stop them. Drake, especially. He wants this child and he wants me back there in two days. I can’t go back.”
“Two days? He wants you back in two days?”
I nod sadly.
“What happens if you don’t go back?” he asks, concern etching his handsome face.
“I don’t know. I suppose he will come looking for me,” I falter as I look up at him and he shakes his head.
“No, Aefre, we cannot allow him to come here. Our daughter…she won’t be safe from him. He has used her once before to get to you. You will have to go back,” he says forcefully.
“What?” I ask in disbelief. “No, you said that I didn’t have to go back.”
“You must. To protect our own, my love,” he insists.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I am not going back there. I will go away. He will be looking for me, if I am not here, he will leave.”