Page 53 of Blood of Dragons

“I don’t want her to worry. Her only priority is our child. Everything else is my responsibility.”

“I thought marriage was a partnership.”

“Not when she married a future king.” The kingdom and the crown were my domain, my responsibility. I was supposed to protect her, as well as everyone else. If she was worried, then I wasn’t doing my job correctly.

“You just like to carry all the weight up the mountain.”

“I’m her husband. That’s my burden.”

“No, you do that with everyone,” he said. “With me and Rosella, especially.”

I looked down into my tankard.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about, Talon.”

I continued to stare at the contents before I met his look again.

“Drink up. Next one’s on me.”

I smirked. “Wow, I don’t think you’ve ever bought me a drink.”

“Don’t get used to it, asshole.”

It was getting harder for Vivian to do things. Cooking was too difficult for her, so I had the servants prepare all our meals and deliver them to the cottage. She napped several times a daybecause she was up most of the night. The doctor said the baby was doing fine. It was just an uncomfortable position for her.

I planned a picnic for her under the olive tree in the garden. It was close to the edge of the cliff, showing the Northern Sea below, the galleons as they moved along the shore to bring goods to port.

She leaned against me, her back to my chest, her head resting against my shoulder. She wore a summer dress, her hands on top of her belly, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. The servants had packed a picnic for us in a wicker basket, but we hadn’t eaten it yet because she was so relaxed in my arms. At one point, she fell asleep, and I let her be because I knew she was exhausted.

I knew this pregnancy was hard for her, harder than it seemed to be for most women, and I wished there was something I could do to make it easier for her. We planned to have more children, and I’d hate for her to go through this every single time. The morning sickness, the evening sickness, the back pain, the lack of appetite.

Footsteps sounded on the grass, and I turned to look at the armed soldier as he approached. He glanced down at Vivian, seeing that she was asleep, and unsure if he should wake her. He looked to me for direction.

“What is it?” I asked quietly.

“Your father wishes to speak with you. It’s urgent.” He stepped away as Vivian stirred.

Her eyes immediately opened at the sound of the voice that didn’t belong to me. She stiffened as she watched the soldier walk away. “What happened?”

“My father requires my presence.” I got to my feet and helped her up. “He said it was urgent.”

“Is everything okay?”

“I’m sure it’s fine, baby.”

“But nothing has ever been urgent before.”

“Soldier,” I called to him across the grass.

He turned around and faced me.

“Escort my wife to the cottage.”

“I can make it on my own, Talon.”

I grabbed the basket from the ground and handed it to the soldier. “Escort her.”

“Of course, Prince Talon.”