Chapter 80

Ember

I wake up and groan remembering that I have to attend Luna training with Bianca again today. This time, a politics lesson. I’m grateful that I won’t have to exert myself or put the baby in harm’s way, but I also know that this particular instructor has a penchant for stepping out mid-lesson for a break and I am not looking forward to hearing what Bianca will have to say in his absence.

I dress with enough time to grab a quick breakfast and some herbal tea from the kitchens. If I am going to continue hiding my pregnancy from Bianca I need all the strength I can get both mentally and physically.

When I arrive at the small sitting room that will host today’s lesson, I see that I am the first to arrive. I nod to myself before getting settled into a comfortable position.

I don’t feel too bad today, I just hope I can make it through the lesson without another incident. I worry about how Bianca might try to goad me when the professor steps out and wonder if I can distract the professor with questions to avoid his break altogether.

I’m lost in these thoughts when someone beside me clears their throat. I jump and look over to see that Bianca has joined me on the couch.

“Not even a hello for your dear sister?”

I roll my eyes, but play along, hoping the instructor will appear soon. I was only planning on having to deal with Bianca for a few minutes in the middle of the lesson.

“Hi, Bianca.”

Her eyes scan my face and then glance down at the rest of my body as if searching for something.

“Are you feeling better?”

I nod, playing nice. “Yes, thank you. I’ve been getting more rest.”

Her eyes take on a cruel glint as she answers. “More cake too, by the looks of it. You’re getting a little pudgy, Ember. Particularly around the middle.”

I shift self-consciously at her words. Although I wasn’t obviously pregnant yet, there had been some slight changes in my body. I think about trying to reposition myself in an attempt to look smaller, but I know that it would be too obvious.

It doesn’t matter now anyway. She’s already picked up on it.

The instructor enters the room. I breathe a sigh of relief as he settles in and gets started on the lesson.

I glance at Bianca out of the corner of my eye, unsure of what her game is. She couldn’t resist the cheap shot at my weight, but she was acting differently today. There was a fake air of concern to the conversation.

I shrug off my concerns and do my best to focus as the instructor explains the circumstances leading to our current system of monarchy within the pack. I find myself very interested in the topic and almost allow myself to forget that Bianca is there when the instructor stands and stretches.

“I need to step out for a few moments. I’ll be back shortly.”

I suppress a groan as he turns and exits the room. I look down at the notes I had taken, pretending to look engrossed in the words there, and hoping Bianca had gotten what she wanted to say out of her system at the beginning of class.

Bianca shifts to face me, her eyes once again searching. “Ember?”

I sigh. “Yes, Bianca.”

“I know that your pregnant.”

My heart drops into my stomach as my eyes shoot from their place on the page. I stare at Bianca open mouthed. No.

She looks at me almost pityingly, but I know that she has no good intentions. She never does. I need to lie.

I shake my head a bit too vigorously before catching myself and calming down. “That would be impossible.”

The pity in Bianca’s eyes turns cold for just a second before she catches herself. “I know that you had sex with Kaine. It couldn’t have been anyone else.”

I shake my head. “No. I-”

“Stop trying to hide it!” She snaps.

Panic floods my veins as I think of something, anything to say to convince her. If she knows that I’m pregnant I have less time than I thought. I’m not ready to leave.

Bianca takes a deep breath and looks at me in an attempt to be earnest. “I’ve decided to forgive him.” She pauses. “Both of you.”

I blink at her confused.

She continues. “I love Kaine, truly, and I want to be his wife. Holding onto this will only cause everyone more pain.”

My heart wants to trust what she is saying, but my brain is screaming at me that something is wrong. I wait for the catch.

“The thing is… Kaine would want to know that he has a child, and I would hate to take that knowledge away from him but having a child out of wedlock would hurt his already shaky reputation.”

I start to breathe easier. Maybe she wants me to leave for a time. That was my plan anyway.

She continues, “I will be his Luna, the child’s stepmother. In the eyes of the Kingdom that won’t do. The child can only have one mother, Ember.”

Nara pushes forward, close in case I need her and my hand flies protectively to my stomach. She plans to take the child. Red hot anger, flood my system and it takes everything I have not to strike her.

I take a deep breath. That would do nothing to help my standing.

Before I can think of something else to do or say the instructor walks back into the room. As he does, I stand. “I’m sorry, I just remembered there is a new recruit that I need to observe today. Finish the lesson without me.”

He doesn’t have a chance to reply before I am bolting out of the door. I rush back to my room, as panic rips through my body. I finally make it to my room and fall onto my bed, curling into the fetal position.

I sob.

Once I leave the Palace I can never return. Not now that Bianca knows about my pregnancy. I need to keep my baby safe.

Kaine

I curse as I realize that I am running late for another meeting. Ever since the last attack in my quarters, I’ve been taking longer routes around the palace. I want it to be impossible for anyone to predict which way I’m going to go.

The unfortunate result has been my tardiness. I start to increase my pace, but slow again when I hear my stepmother’s voice carrying from her usual parlor.

“Kaine has been so unpredictable lately. Have you heard the latest rumors going around?”

I hear the chatter of a few other noble women and then a laugh.

“I know, I know. I am more aware than anyone that the chatter around court is often untrue, but I’m his stepmother, and I have to say, I’m starting to agree. He’s not stable.”

More chatter.

“He thinks an engagement will look him more credible, but he conducts himself like a maniac around the palace. It’s shameful. Jasper is much better suited to be heir.”

When I hear the general sounds of agreement from the group in the room, a growl emerges from low in my throat. I grit my teeth and force myself to walk away.

My stepmother had backed off on the public criticism after my reputation got a boost from defending Ember after the ball. It appears that now that my reputation had once again fallen into disrepair, so has her restraint.