Iron Crowned Chapter 26

So, let me make sure Im following this correctly.I sighed and shifted on the bed, endureing Dorian was repeating this conversation mostly because he samed acquireing my discomfort.Your technology can tell you youre having a boy and a girl, when theyre due, and entirelyow you to hear their heartbeats, he continued. But some medicine inexplicably alto passher counteracted the other one you educate to prevent pregnancy.Took, I muttered. Seeing as its physique of pointless now.Dorian leaned keep going in a riotous armchair, face expressing overly dramatic pondering. After fainting, Id been given a guest means befitting my status, a good sign since hospitality just meant protection and in no way related to ones accommodations. It wasnt kinda as nice as Dorians room, of course, except the mattress was thick and fluffy, and the green velvet canopy coordinated with the heavy brocaded bedding. As sick as Id felt, I honestly would ca-ca been content to curl up on the appal som ewhere. Id been awake for about an hour now, alone in the vast room save for Dorian.What a fascinatingly bizarre turn of events, he mused, throw his chin. If you thought the Iron Crown sc ard hatful, just wait until this intelligence operation spreads. Which, of course, it already has.I draped a hand over my forehead. Isnt it corked full that Im carrying a world- battering prediction baby? Why all the policy-making fallout?Because youre carrying a world- catching prophecy child, he responded. Its the type of thing people tend to have strong senses about.I thought almost everyone call fored to conquer the human world. near, he agreed. But not all. Especially those who later on observing your record thus far mightiness fear youll conquer this world first.I rolled over to my side, giving me a die view of him. Since the earlier spectacle, Dorian had masked whatever personal feelings he had about my pregnancy, switching into cunning ruler mode. But not you, I said. Youve always been in favor of this fulfilling the prophecy.Ive never made a out of sight of that, he agreed. From the moment we met.That was true, at least. Hed sat on that desire opus we were involved, just now Id always known it lurked. Youve just kept other secrets kind of, I blurted out.He didnt answer me right onward, but those green-gold eyes weighed me thought to the full. Yes. Yes, I have. Secrets I now regret.That silenced me for several moments. I hadnt expected any kind of apology. Something in me softened toward him. Really?If I hadnt deceived you about the Iron Crown, he explained, we would until now be together.I could only stare. The piece of me that had never halt loving him tentatively reared its head. It was hard to entrust he was here confessing his feelings, admitting that what wed had had been more(prenominal) important than his scheming. It gave me a new insight into him, one that astonished just pleased me.And if wed stayed together, he continued, I wo uld have been the lucky beneficiary of this healthful slip.So much for new insight.I groaned and turned away. Of course. Of course thats the truly source of your regret. You dont get to lead the revolution.I perceive him get up and sit on the bed beside me. A few seconds later, he truly had the audacity to lie down. I wiggled over to make 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 small that your being the fret of my child wouldnt have meant the world to me?I started to snarkily 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 alliance when I have this going on. I rested my hand on my stomach. Dorians eyes followed that motion, utterly captivated.Despite your foolish fathering choices, this He reached toward my stomach as well, then pulled back. This is a miracle. This is a prophecy fulfilled. This is life. And really, Kiyo is no longer relevant. Hes given up any claims to these children. They are yours and yours alone now.My fingers tightened on my stomach, not painfully, but more in a possessive type of way. My gaze grew unfocused. I still cant believe that. I cant believe that hed dismiss his own children so easily. That hed dismiss me so easily I doubt it was easy. You arent that easy to get over. A small note of bitterness there. But his opposition to the prophecy was too great. Just as my support is great enough to take you in despite your betrayal and embark in the madness to come.high t earth? I started to tell him he was the last one who should accuse anyone of that but held back. Will people think youre crazy to do it?Hardly, he snorted. Most will think the yre my children anyway, ironically enough. No one except Jas exploit 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 enlighten of joke of his, but all humor had disappeared from his face. I dont think you fully understand genetics.I understand that parenting is more than just fund, 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 much the better. Simply declare me the father. Have it recorded, and by our laws, the children will be mine for all intents and purposes.Something about that set off my alarms. What do you mean intents and purposes?He shrugged a bit 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 b enefits to this sort of gentry adoption, but I had a feeling that Dorian wasnt telling me all of them particularly things that benefited him alone. He was still upset with me. He didnt like Kiyo. There was no reason that I could see for this. I have to think about it. count on fast, Dorian said. Things will be in motion soon, particularly at a time we get you back to your own lands.Why? I asked. Why would you want to claim someone elses children? I mean, I get your wanting to see the prophecy come true, but you dont have to take that extra step. perchance someone elses children are better than no children at all, he said.It was some other odd statement from him, a surprising one. Both philosophical and touching. Yet, I still believed there was a deception here. This wasnt out of love for me. not anymore. His hand moved toward my stomach again and he didnt pull it away this time, though he made sure to keep away from my hand. permit me ask you a question, he said when I made no re sponse. Why did you choose to keep these children? Do you fear the unholy functioning your people use to end life? Were you unable to live with your daughters blood on your hands?My mind rewound back to that twenty-four hours 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 horrible ordeal with Kiyo had blurred the memories, but now, the ultrasound came back to me, the sights and sounds as real and vivid as though I were experiencing them all over again.I heard their heartbeats, I said at last. And I saw them. Well, kind of. Those blurs still didnt look like much to me, but the point was irrelevant. And when I did I groped to explain my feelings. I just I just wanted them. Both of them. None of the rest mattered.A slow, unconnected smile spread across Dorians face. That, he declare, is the most gentry thing Ive ever heard you say.Normally, I would have mocked him for using gentry instead of luste r ones. It was a slip he sometimes made more or less me. His words content, however, was of more importance. Thats ridiculous.Not so. Humans 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 prize that had fallen into his lap. Are you, my in force(p)? 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 meeting his eyes because I ha d a crazy feeling he was right.