Chapter 14

*22 years old*

Thea awoke, smiling pleasantly as the morning's sun filtered through the curtains of her bedroom, she stretched out her soreness from the night before. Next to her, Damian groaned before flipping over and going back to sleep. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him.

Things between them were better than ever. More and more she found herself considering bringing up their mating but she feared it would change things. Most days she decided it was better to leave things as they were.

The aroma of coffee filtered into her bedroom as she stood up and headed towards her bathroom. Just as she approached the barn door to her bathroom, she was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea. Running to the toilet, she threw up powerfully.

She rarely got anything more than a simple cold. Whatever this was, it didn’t like the dinner she had with Damian. Collapsing onto the floor next to the toilet, she just hoped it was over. Then, suddenly it wasn't and once again she was leaning over the toilet.

“Zoqa, are you ok?” Damian asked worriedly as she once again collapsed weakly onto the floor. He grabbed a wash rag and ran it through the cold water. He wrung it out and then proceeded to gently wipe down her face.

“Ugh, I don't know what’s wrong with me,” Thea moaned as she leaned into Damian's gentle hands weakly.

“Galena, you are needed,” Damian muttered.

“I’m here, my Prince,” Galena announced as she appeared behind him. “Thea, you’re so pale!” she exclaimed as she immediately came to her side. Placing a hand on her forehead, she closed her eyes. When they opened a smile appeared on her face.

“What is it? What’s wrong with her?” Damian demanded.

“Nothing is wrong with her, my Prince. Congratulations are in order, though. Theanna, you’re pregnant.”

“I am?” Thea asked, shocked.

“You are and your daughter asks that you don't eat any more fish. It makes you both feel sick.”

“A daughter?” Damian gasped as he collapsed down onto the marble floor next to Thea.

“Yes, my Prince. Congratulations!” she added with a smile as she turned away from them and returned to Ikisat.

“Dnirya, a baby,” Thea whispered as she looked at him nervously. They'd never discussed children, especially since they weren't even truly mated yet. What if he didn't want any, especially a daughter? What would she do then?

“A daughter, Zoqa. We’re having a daughter,” he said with a broad smile on his face. “I never thought I would father a child. Thank you, Zoqa, for blessing me.”

“Oh Dnirya!” Thea exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His simple words ended any negative worrisome thoughts for her. She knew whatever happened next they would do it together. They held each other for a long time, basking in their love.

“I think it will be best to limit who knows about our joy, Zoqa,” Damian stated as he smoothed her pink hair away from her face.

Thea nodded in agreement. “What if Innara learns of this?”

“That’s what worries me, beautiful. I think we should tell Darius and Helen tonight at dinner but otherwise keep this news quiet. She has spies everywhere and I don't even know if we can prevent her from knowing but we need to try.”

“I'm scared, Dnirya. What if I mess up?” Thea asked as tears filled her eyes.

“You’re not alone. We’ll do this together and together we will do the best we can,” he consoled as he placed a kiss on her temple. “Let's shower and get something you can eat. We have the whole day together to make plans.”

~~*~~

Later that evening, they arrived at the home of Darius and Helen, excited to share their news with them. As they got settled at the table, Darius helped Helen serve dinner. “Ok, you two, something is obviously going on,” Helen commented as she smiled at them. Damian looked at Theanna with such adoration, Helen found herself nearly blushing.

“Well, it seems that we’ve been blessed and I’m pregnant, with a daughter. We’ve decided to name her Elina,” Thea told them, tears of joy in her eyes.

Helen squealed in joy as she pulled Thea up and engulfed her in a hug. “Oh my beautiful girl, I’m so very happy for you.”

Darius in turn shook Damian's hand. “Congratulations. A daughter is truly a blessing above all others.”

“Thank you! We debated where we should live, for the time being we’ll stay in Ikisat, unless being there causes issues. We think if Nihasia appears with hormonal shifts or for any other reason that she would be safest there, with no chance of consuming a living soul. What do you think?” Damian looked at Darius honestly wanting his thoughts on it.

“When Nira was pregnant with Theanna, her powers created many interesting situations so in this case I have to agree,” Darius lamented.

Just at that moment a sneezing fit suddenly hit Theanna. With her sneezes, it seemed what were normally small bits of fire turned into a blast of light that burnt dinner to a crisp, along with everything on the table. “Oh boy!” she gasped as looked around.

Damian and Darius looked at each other and in unison said, “Ikisat, definitely.”

~~*~~

Innara sat on her throne, her pale grey Daemoni form glittering in robes of black diamonds. She was enraged. “That hybrid trash is what?” she screeched.

“Pregnant, my Queen. Prince Damian is the father,” Hezin, a member of her royal guard, reluctantly nformed her.

“She dares to despoil my blood further with that traitor? Hezin, gather the legions. No, never mind I will handle this myself!”

With a flourish she vanished from the throne room. Appearing in her darkened private chambers she approached a golden bowl that swirled with a black thick fluid. Dipping her finger into it, she murmured,

***Ozz zes irmaenzoqiaer ona xnaeter gontazz,**
(All knowledges are broken shades,)
***Ir ya vast gont o knaoq ruzxabbi,**
(In gulfs of dark a scattered horde,)
**Qaekayabbi yaes gae zes yaezzoth,**
(Together they do my bidding,)
**GAEDNAEES S'OQ ZUED RAEQ XA!**
(DESTROY WHAT MUST NOT BE!)*