Chapter 28 Impossible Life 2
A knock interrupted my thoughts. "Enter."
Lyra walked in. "I heard. The healers talk. Is it true?"
"Yes."
"And you are keeping it?"
"Yes."
She sat beside me. "You know what this means. A child born of a fated bond. Born of Shadowborn and Draeven blood. Born impossible. Every kingdom will want this child. Dead or alive. As a weapon or a symbol or a threat."
"I know."
"And you still want it?"
"I do not just want it. I need it." I looked at her. "Voss showed me a future where Kael and I become monsters. Tyrants. Corrupted by power. Maybe this child is how we avoid that. Maybe it reminds us what we are fighting for."
"Or maybe it becomes a tool for your enemies to use against you." Lyra's voice was gentle. "I am not saying this to be cruel. But you need to think about the politics. The danger. The—"
"I know the risks. I am accepting them."
"Does Kael?"
"He will. Eventually. When he stops being terrified."
Lyra stood. "For what it is worth, I think you are right. About needing something good to fight for. We have been ruling through fear and violence. Maybe a child changes that."
She left.
I lay back on the bed. Closed my eyes. Tried to rest.
But my mind would not quiet. Too many questions. Too many fears.
Would the child be human? Vampire? Something else?
Would it have my powers? Kael's strength? Both? Neither?
Would I survive the birth?
Would Kael forgive me for choosing this without him?
I must have slept eventually. Because I woke to screaming.
Guards shouting. Steel clashing. The sound of battle.
I grabbed a blade and ran into the corridor. Saw guards fighting someone. Multiple someones. Assassins in black.
Coming toward our chambers. Toward me.
I threw shadows. Wrapped two assassins. Pulled them close. Stabbed them.
More came. Too many. Where were they all coming from?
"Protect the queen!" A guard shouted before going down.
I fought. Killed three more. But they kept coming.
Then Kael was there. A whirlwind of violence. Cutting through assassins like they were nothing.
"Get behind me!"
I did. Let him handle the ones in front while I covered our backs.
We fought together. Perfectly synchronized. The bond letting us move as one.
Finally, the last assassin fell. Dead. We stood surrounded by bodies.
"What was that?" I gasped.
"Assassins. Professional ones." Kael examined a corpse. "No house markings. No identifying features. Hired killers."
"Who sent them?"
"Someone who knew about the pregnancy already." His eyes met mine. "The healers. Someone in the healing wing betrayed us."
Lyra appeared. "Your Majesties. We have a problem. The assassins did not come alone. They brought something. A poison. Specifically designed to kill unborn vampire children."
My blood froze. "They were targeting the pregnancy?"
"Yes. And they almost succeeded. If Kael had not arrived when he did..." She trailed off. "Someone wants this child dead. Badly enough to hire an entire squad of assassins."
"Who?" Kael demanded. "Who would benefit from killing our heir?"
"Everyone. Every noble who fears change. Every kingdom that sees your bond as a threat. Every person who believes the prophecy means doom." Lyra looked grim. "The list is long. And they will try again."
Kael turned to me. "This is what I meant. The child makes you a target. Makes us vulnerable."
"I know."
"And you still want to keep it?"
"Yes."
He was quiet. Then nodded once. "Then we fight. We protect it. We make sure no one ever gets close enough to hurt either of you again." His hand found mine. "But you are not leaving my sight. Ever. Understand?"
"Kael—"
"Ever, Sera. I am not negotiating this." His eyes were black. Absolute. "You want this child? Fine. But you do it my way. With me protecting you every second of every day."
"That is suffocating."
"That is survival." He pulled me close. "I cannot lose you. I will not lose you. Not to assassins. Not to politics. Not to childbirth."
"You might not have a choice about the last one."
"Then I make new choices. Find new options. Burn the world if I have to." His forehead rested against mine. "I am sorry I walked out earlier. I was scared. Angry. But not at you."
"At what?"
"At fate. For giving us something precious and making it dangerous. For always making us choose between love and survival." He touched my stomach gently. "But you are right. This is a miracle. And I will not let anyone destroy it."
"So you are accepting this?"
"I am accepting that I cannot stop you. And that I would rather fight beside you than against you." He kissed me softly. "But we do this smart. Safe. With every precaution."
"Agreed."
Rowan appeared in the doorway. "Your Majesties. We have a bigger problem."
"Of course we do," Kael said flatly. "What now?"
"The outer territories. They are rebelling. Three provinces have declared independence. They claim you are unfit to rule. That the child proves you are breaking natural law." Rowan looked between us. "They are calling it an abomination. A sign that your reign is cursed."
"Let them call it whatever they want," I said. "We will deal with rebellions the same way we dealt with assassins."
"By killing everyone who opposes us?" Rowan's voice was careful. "That is not reform. That is tyranny."
He was right. I knew he was right. But I was too tired to care.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Negotiate. Show mercy. Prove that you are not the monsters they think you are." Rowan stepped closer. "Or become exactly what Voss feared and watch the realm burn."
"The realm is already burning," Kael said. "We are just trying to control the flames."
"That is not good enough anymore. Not if you want to survive. Not if you want your child to inherit something worth having."
He left.
Kael and I stood alone. Surrounded by dead assassins. Facing rebellions. Carrying an impossible child.
And I wondered again.
Were we saving the realm?
Or destroying it?
The answer changed depending on who you asked.
And I was not sure I liked what that said about us. And I had no idea if we would make it through the night.