Iron Crowned Chapter 26

So, let me discoer certain(a) Im following this correctly.I sighed and shifted on the bed, boping Dorian was repeating this confabulation mostly because he equivalentd sightedness my discomfort.Your technology raise tell you youre having a boy and a girl, when theyre due, and forein truth(prenominal)ow you to hear their heartbeats, he continued. But some medicine inexplicably wholly counteracted the separate wholeness you take to keep pregnancy.Took, I muttered. Seeing as its configuration of pointless now.Dorian leaned congest in a plush armchair, memorial tablet expressing to a fault dramatic pondering. After fainting, Id been effrontery a guest room befitting my status, a good sign since hospitality solely meant protection and in no look related to ones accommodations. It wasnt quite as nice as Dorians room, of line of productsline, exactly the mattress was thick and fluffy, and the spurt velvet canopy coordinated with the voiceless brocaded bedding. As sick as Id felt, I honestly would consume been heart and soul to curl up on the basis somewhere. Id been awake for closely an hour now, however when in the vast room scantily for Dorian.What a fascinatingly bizarre overrule of events, he mused, stroking his chin. If you thought the put duty Cr profess scared people, just reside until this news spreads. Which, of course, it already has.I intent a hand over my forehead. Isnt it heavy(p) enough that Im carrying a creative activity-conquering prophecy chela? Why alone the political radioactive dust?Because youre carrying a reality-conquering prophecy child, he responded. Its the attri yete of thing people t completion to curb well feelings about.I thought virtu all(prenominal)y everyone wanted to conquer the human world.Most, he agreed. But not all. Especially those who later on observing your record thus far remote baron fear youll conquer this world first.I rolled over to my side, freehanded me a better vi ew of him. Since the previous spectacle, Dorian had m communicateed whatever ad hominem feelings he had about my pregnancy, switching into wile ruler mode. But not you, I said. Youve forever been in favor of this fulfilling the prophecy.Ive never make a secret of that, he agreed. From the moment we met.That was true, at least. Hed sat on that desire while we were involved, besides Id always known it lurked. Youve just kept other secrets instead, I blurted out.He didnt answer me right away, but those green-gold eyes weighed me thoughtfully. Yes. Yes, I have. Secrets I now regret.That silenced me for several moments. I hadnt expected some(prenominal) kind of apology. Something in me softened toward him. Really?If I hadnt deceived you about the Iron Crown, he explained, we would still be to goher.I could only stare. The piece of me that had never stopped loving him tentatively reared its head. It was onerous to entrust he was here confessing his feelings, admitting that what wed had had been more(prenominal) than(prenominal) important than his scheming. It gave me a new appreciation into him, one that astonished yet happy me.And if wed stayed to lasther, he continued, I would have been the lucky beneficiary of this medicinal slip.So a good deal for new insight.I groaned and turned away. Of course. Of course thats the real source of your regret. You dont get to gratuity the revolution.I heard him get up and sit on the bed beside me. A few seconds later, he actually had the insolence to lie down. I wiggled over to counterbalance room.Its more than revolution, he said. I also told you the first time we met that Id have a child with you, regardless of any prophecy.Im not convinced that the with me part was so relevant.Dorian touched my cheek and turned my face toward his. Do you really believe that? Do you really believe my feelings for you were so clear that your being the mother of my child wouldnt have meant the world to me?I started to snark ily correct him with worlds, but it seemed petty. I dont know what I believe, I said honestly. I dont even know if I have the energy or motivation to analyze our relationship when I have this going on. I be my hand on my put forward. Dorians eyes followed that motion, abruptly captivated.Despite your foolish fathering choices, this He reached toward my jump out as well, therefore pulled tolerate. This is a miracle. This is a prophecy fulfilled. This is life. And really, Kiyo is no longer relevant. Hes introducen up any claims to these children. They are yours and yours only when now.My fingers tightened on my stomach, not painfully, but more in a possessive emblem of way. My gaze grew unfocused. I still cant believe that. I cant believe that hed dismiss his own children so substantially. That hed dismiss me so easily I doubt it was easy. You arent that easy to get over. A small note of severity in that respect. But his opposition to the prophecy was besides capacious. Just as my support is great enough to take you in disdain your betrayal and embark in the daftness to come.Betrayal? I started to tell him he was the last one who should accuse anyone of that but held back. Will people turn over youre unfounded to do it?Hardly, he snorted. Most entrust think theyre my children anyway, ironically enough. No one except Jasmine had heard my brief paternity exchange with Dorian in the hall.I frowned. I think sometimes Kiyo does too.They can be.My first reaction was that this was some cast of joke of his, but all biliousness had disappeared from his face. I dont think you fully hear genetics.I understand that parenting is more than just blood, he said, still deadly earnest. And as I said hes relinquished any claims. You are in control, and if even he and others question the childrens parentage, then so practically the better. Simply declare me the father. Have it recorded, and by our laws, the children give be mine for all intents and purp oses.Something about that set off my alarms. What do you mean intents and purposes?He shrugged a figure too casually. Titles. Prestige. Protection. Inheritance if either is strong enough to hold my kingdom. Which, according to the prophecy, your son should be.I dont know, I said. There might be some safety benefits to this sort of nobility adoption, but I had a feeling that Dorian wasnt telling me all of them particularly things that benefited him alone. He was still dollar volume with me. He didnt alike Kiyo. There was no reason that I could see for this. I have to think about it. entail fast, Dorian said. Things will be in motion soon, particularly once we get you back to your own lands.Why? I asked. Why would you want to claim mortal elses children? I mean, I get your lacking(p) to see the prophecy come true, but you dont have to take that extra step.mayhap someone elses children are better than no children at all, he said.It was another unrivalled statement from him, a surprising one. two philosophical and touching. Yet, I still believed there was a deception here. This wasnt out of applaud for me. Not anymore. His hand locomote toward my stomach again and he didnt pull it away this time, though he made sure to keep away from my hand.Let me ask you a question, he said when I made no response. Why did you contain to keep these children? Do you fear the iniquitous procedure your people use to end life? Were you unable to live with your daughters blood on your hands?My mind rewound back to that day at the doctors. That day? Hell. It had only been earlier today. So much had happened since then that weeks might have gone by. My despicable ordeal with Kiyo had blurred the memories, but now, the sonography came back to me, the sights and sounds as real and bright as though I were experiencing them all over again.I heard their heartbeats, I said at last. And I dictum them. Well, kind of. Those blurs still didnt look like much to me, but the poin t was irrelevant. And when I did I groped to explain my feelings. I just I just wanted them. some(prenominal) of them. None of the rest mattered.A slow, rummy smile spread across Dorians face. That, he declared, is the most gentry thing Ive ever heard you say.Normally, I would have mocked him for exploitation gentry instead of shining ones. It was a slip he sometimes made around me. His words content, however, was of more importance. Thats ridiculous.Not so. adult male overthink things. They throw away life heedlessly. Honestly, after(prenominal) all this time, I was beginning to think you were more human than shining one.I hate to tell you, but I am, I said.Dorian made himself more comfortable, and the hand on my stomach moved so that his arm lay over me, almost but not quite an embrace. It was possessive, like I was a deem that had fallen into his lap. Are you, my dear? Youre expressing philosophies very like my own. Youre carrying a child that will allegedly conquer the human world a world you cant go back to for a while, seeing as it would give the kitsune an edge. Youre safer here in this world where, Id like to add, you rule not one but two kingdoms. That, he declared triumphantly, makes you, by my reckoning, more like a gentry than a human.I looked away, not coming upon his eyes because I had a cracked feeling he was right.