“What are you going to do with her?” Fred gestured to the sleeping baby in my arms. “Thinking of taking the baby home?” He lifted a perfect brow.
“I don’t know.” I wasn’t lying about that. Looking down at the baby, I was tempted to take her back home and nurse her like my daughter, but I couldn’t overlook the stress that would bring. Yeah, I’m pregnant, I know. And soon, I would have to take care of the baby in my womb. The truth is this, I hadn’t thought that far.
Having this girl return home with me would cause a change in my schedule. I would have to look after her while keeping my mates on their toes with my pregnancy. And with the way things were going, I doubt I would have that amount of them to spread love to someone else. Taking her back didn’t seem that much of a good idea, because I didn’t want to just abandon her. She needs love, not a mother who might not be that perfect of a mother. Well, I hadn’t tried being one.
“I will take her,” Chris announced, coming over to us. She must have seen my reluctance to part with the baby despite how much I knew this would cost me. “You can take her back this way, don’t you think? Being the godmother doesn’t sound so bad, right?” She smiled, reaching out for the baby, but I shook my head.
“I will take her,” I started, a bit too serious.
And there went the same woman who listed reasons she didn’t think having the baby was a good idea, taking the same baby she didn’t want to be burdened with.
“I know this will disrupt my affairs, but I will have her.” Smiling, I turned to look at my mates, pouting cutely. “You will let me keep her, won’t you?”
It wasn’t even a question, and I could tell they knew. I just wanted it to seem like they had an option.
“I doubt we will be able to change your mind over this.” Sighing, Blue reached out to pat the baby’s head while Fred placed his right thumb on her forehead.
“I believe we have a daughter now, right?” He looked at me, with a cute expression, his blue eyes sparkling.
“Not until you put a ring on it.” I lifted my left hand, showing them it was still empty. They haven’t even put a diamond on it. Funny how I was saying this when I was already knocked up. All these months of sleeping with them, and I never mentioned a ring?
What the freaking hell.
They looked uncomfortable with my words, averting their gazes as they rose to their full height. Coughing, Fred turned to look at Chris. Who was suspiciously blushing? “It’s time to check on the kids.”
“True!”
As they all rushed to do the task, I watched their backs, unable to shake off the feelings that they had something they were keeping from me. Why else would they look like that? Or could I be imagining it all?
Shrugging, I focused on the sleeping baby in my arms, patting her as I whispered into her ears. It was official. I’d gotten a daughter without having plans for one. I just saw her and knew I must have her, and I did. She had become mine.
Grinning, I sat down on the ground – don’t judge – and watched my mates and Chris as they tried to help as many people as they could.
It wasn’t easy. With the amount of damage done to the village, I reckon it would take months, if not years, to rebuild everything and get the children settled down.
“Is this the only village in the kingdom?” I asked Chris when she came over to check on me. Having spent close to three hours watching them, I had enough time to think of things I didn’t even think of initially, like the number of villages they had. Whenever they spoke of their kingdom, I always thought it was as big as our country, not just a small village that could be raided in a day.
“Not at all. These are the ones who live close to the palace.” She looked around, her expression heavy as she let out a sigh. “They are mostly children, whose parents abandoned them. Some are beggars and -”
“Beggars?” I couldn’t tell why it sounded funny, but it did. Picturing creatures like them, sitting on the streets with plates and begging for arms, was funny, but I didn’t laugh. I couldn’t do that, not with the heaviness that hung on the air like a blanket.
“Believe it or not, but this kingdom isn’t different from Earth. You will get to know what I mean soon.” She looked down at the dozing baby. “Do you want me to help you carry her back to the palace? We are through with what we came here for. Your mates just need to divide tasks among the guards and living parents..”
“Yes please.”
She carried the sleeping baby from me and helped me to my feet as we waited for my mates to join us.
“What do you mean by this place isn’t different from Earth?” I asked, looking around. Tall trees loomed in the distance. Birds flew around, hooting at the scene before them. “Do you mean the undeveloped part? Like the forest for hiking?”
She shook her head, a small smile appearing on her lips. “When you see the city, you will know what I’m talking about.”
“The city? Where is it?” I looked around, half expecting the ‘city’ to materialize in front of us.
“Yeah, the city.” Nodding, she winked, adding, “I might take you to my favourite spot if we have the time. That’s if those bastards don’t show up again.”
Before I could ask more about the city and his favourite spot, my mates walked up to us, smiling as they placed kisses on my cheeks.
“It’s time to go home, Bunny. You have worked hard today.” Grinning, Fred swept me off my feet, carrying me like a bride.
“Stop! It’s embarrassing!” I covered my face as I tried not to think of the people who saw us. How the hell was I supposed to act like a stern queen if they would do this?
“Not to us.”