The Dragon King’s Baby

Chapter 8

Rumors began to circulate that the princess was ill; she’d been seen going in and out of the doctor’s rooms several times. Veiled questions were asked of both Seathan and Addie, but their replies were always vague or the topic was changed. Jeanne had intervened when Conall had asked if Addie was ok by flirting outrageously. His attention was completely stolen by her sweet beauty. Addie hoped a relationship might develop between them.

Addie and Seathan asked those who knew about the baby to keep it to themselves. They had decided to make the announcement at the dinner after the Coronation ceremony. And the two weeks before the ceremony flew by, planning taking so much of Addie’s time that she didn’t have any to be worried about the pregnancy. She saw the castle doctor often, and the doctor who had delivered a were baby with a human mother arrived. Together, they created a contingency plan for the birth and visited with Addie together.

Two days before the ceremony, King George and Queen Claire arrived from Lomena with much pomp and circumstance. They hadn’t visited in almost a decade and were very excited to see how things had changed. Claire couldn’t wait to see Addie; they hadn’t been separated long, but Claire missed her daughter terribly. George was anxious about the visit with his daughter. She hadn’t spoken to him since she’d left, only calling when she knew he’d be busy and avoiding answering his calls.

Malik and Vada, Seathan’s parents, waited with Seathan and Addie outside as the SUV drove up with her parents. Addie nearly ran to the car door as it opened and grabbed her mother in a bear hug as she alighted.

“Mom!” Addie breathed, so grateful to have her mother there she was nearly in tears. She leaned back and gave her mother a watery smile. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

“Baby, I have missed you so much,” her mother said, tears in her eyes as well. Her mother looked her up and down, a question in her eyes. “You look different, but I can’t figure out why.”

Before Addie could speak, George stepped out of the car. “Addie!” He grabbed her in a bear hug, which she half-heartedly returned.

“Hi, Dad,” Addie said with a small smile for her father.

George and Claire greeted everyone else, smiling and happy to see old friends and new. Seathan took Addie’s hand and whispered, “You’re really going to have to talk to your father about your anger.”

Addie looked at him coldly. “I’ll handle my relationship with my father the way I want to, Seathan.”

Seathan chuckled quietly. “My love, you are so stubborn.”

Addie rolled her eyes at him. “Let’s just concentrate on telling them the good news tonight.”

“Yes, dear,” Seathan answered, his smile intact in spite of her glaring. “You’re gorgeous when you’re irritated.”

“Get used to it,” Addie warned somewhat playfully. “The doctor warned me yesterday that I’m about to become a flaming bi*ch.”

“Why is that?”

“Hormones.”

“Can’t wait.” Addie playfully slapped her husband as they followed the crowd inside.

*****

At dinner, Seathan sat at the head of the table with Addie and her parents to his right and his parents to his left. He would have preferred entertaining in their rooms, but protocol required a more formal dinner, at least the first night. As the conversations ebbed and flowed around him, he wondered if, since he was king, if he could change that. But he knew he couldn’t; tradition was tradition, after all. But he didn’t have to like it.

Addie interrupted his thoughts by taking his hand and nodding at him. It was time to let their families know about the baby. Addie was nervous. Her mother would be thrilled, her father even more so, but not for the reason he should be. With this child, the alliance would be solidified. Their two kingdoms would be safe. A little bitterness had crept into Addie’s heart about the situation. Seathan’s comment about talking to her father had irritated her more than she wanted to admit.

Seathan stood, pulling Addie to her feet as well. Everyone looked at the curiously, except Vada, who smiled knowingly and nodded encouragingly at them.

“Everybody, Addie and I would like to announce that we’re having a baby,” Seathan announced with no preamble whatsoever.

Gasps and ohs sounded around the table. George shook Seathan’s hand as Claire wrapped her daughter in her arms, jumping up and down just a little. Malik waited his turn, holding his son in his arms and exclaiming how proud he was for him.

George turned to Addie, “I’m so happy for you, Addie.” He hugged her again, smiling down at her. “When are you due?”

“In another month,” Addie answered, removing herself from his embrace.

“A month?” Claire nearly screeched. “But you can’t be more than a few weeks along!”

“Dragon shifters have a gestation of only two months. Can you believe that?”

“How have I never known that? You lucky bi*ches,” Claire said to Vada with a wink and a giggle.

Vada laughed as well. “That’s right. Be jealous.”

Claire shook her head and looked at Addie again. “I knew something was different about you. I’m so happy for you.”

“We’re happy too, although I’m scared to death,” Addie said. She took her mom’s hands. “Will you please come back for the birth?”

“Of course, sweetie, of course,” Claire replied, squeezing her hands.

“And Vada, I’ll need you too, you know. You have been through it,” Addie said to her mother-in-law.

“I’ll be here the whole time,” Vada assured her. She glanced at the men, who had ordered a round of scotch to celebrate. She rolled her eyes at the two women and smiled. “We’ve brought in a doctor who helped with the birth of a were to a human mother. Addie is the first human to give birth to a dragon shifter. She’ll be making history.”

Addie shuddered. “The only history I want to make is a healthy pregnancy and birth.”

The men surrounded their women, and Malik boasted, “Don’t worry, daughter. We have the most experienced doctors here, and we’ll bring more in if we have to. You’ll be safe.”

Addie smiled at him. “Thank you, Malik.”

Seathan wrapped an arm around her. “We’re so excited. We’re making the pregnancy public at the dinner after the ceremony.”

“Perfect!” Vada said.

“Yes. King Eckhart and Queen Helene will be here for the Coronation, so the alliance cannot be questioned after that,” George said happily, dampening the mood of those around him.

Addie glared at him and said, “Well, I’m exhausted. Apparently this baby thinks I need about twelve hours of sleep in a twenty-four hour period.”

“Of course, Addie. We must keep you and that beautiful baby healthy,” George exclaimed with a grin.

“Yes,” Addie murmured, her tone indicating her irritation with the statement. She kissed her mother and mother-in-law on the cheeks and waved good night to her father and father-in-law. Seathan followed suit, and together they went upstairs for bed.

*****

Two days later, King Eckhart arrived in a flourish of robes. A contingent of wizards and witches had come with him, flying in on their brooms, which Addie had known they could do but hadn’t realized they traveled such distances in such a manner. When she’d asked, Seathan had explained that they actually just appeared outside the castle and flew in on their brooms for show.

“Well, it is impressive,” Addie commented. She looked at the group of a dozen men and women in their robes. “Which one is Eckhart?”

“The short, fat one,” Seathan said. “The one surrounded like there’s an immediate threat of assassination. He’s a little ridiculous. But don’t repeat that.”

Addie laughed and walked beside Seathan to greet the wizards and witches. She watched Eckhart as he spoke with Seathan. He was short, at least a foot shorter than Seathan and a few inches shorter than herself. He wore deep purple robes, indicating his status as the king of witches (only the king or queen could wear that particular shade of purple in Hexe). He wore a trimmed beard that Addie would bet everything she had hid a weak chin, and his eyes, a light blue, were more creepy than captivating.