Tink blinked slowly. “With a baby?”
“What other thing would I be pregnant with?” I asked.
He gave a little shake of his head, and then a wide, beautiful smile broke out across his face, briefly stunning me. “Does that mean I get to be a godfather? I’ve always wanted to be a godfather. I can babysit. There are so many things I can show this child. I can make his or her toys come to life. Did you know that? I can teach them the wonders of Harry Potter and Twilight. Oh! And Game of Thrones. Well, that will probably have to come later. But think of all—” He came to a grinding halt while I gaped at him.
Tink drew back from me and then stood, lifting his hands. “I’m about to ask a potentially obvious question here. Bear with me while I collect myself.”
“Yes, it’s Caden’s child,” I stated dryly.
“You didn’t bear with me!”
“Tink.”
He clasped his hands together under his chin. “You are having his child?”
I nodded.
“You are carrying a baby inside you right now that has your and his DNA?”
“Yes.”
Tink bent at the waist so we were at eye level with each other. “You are impregnated by him?”
“Yes. Yes, Tink. I’m pregnant. He’s the father. Caden’s the dad,” I told him, exasperated. “The King is the father.”
“Holy shit.”
I snapped my mouth shut.
Tink blinked.
My heart stopped as my belly rolled all the way to the tips of my toes.
Neither of us had said that.
Tink straightened.
I looked over his shoulder.
And I saw not one, not two, but three fae staring at us in utter shock.
Chapter 7
It was the fair-haired Kalen who’d spoken. He looked as shocked as I felt. Standing beside him, Faye looked as if a slight breeze might knock her flat on her back. And of all people to be here, Tanner was with them.
He looked like he was seconds away from vomiting.
The five of us just stared at one another in silence while my heart pounded against my ribs. I thought I might hurl. Tanner and I could go puke together.
Tink was the first to break the silence.
“I dyed my hair,” Tink announced. “Do you all like it? I think it complements my skin tone.”
For the first time in, well, forever, Tanner ignored Tink. “You’re pregnant,” the leader of the hotel said. “By…” He seemed as if he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
My throat dried. “I…”
“We heard her,” Faye said, blinking as her features settled into their typical blandness. “I don’t think we need her to repeat it.”
This couldn’t possibly be any worse.
Well, if Caden had been with them, that would have been worse.
“I knew…” Tanner paused for a rough inhale. “I knew there was something between the two of you. It was obvious even before your abduction. I thought it was a passing fancy, but the way he behaved while you were missing told me it was more.”
“Told everyone it was more,” Kalen muttered under his breath.
“Now I understand his reaction earlier, why he demanded to be with you—”
“Wait.” I shot out of the chair. “He doesn’t know.”
“What?” Faye’s brows lifted.
“I haven’t told him. I don’t plan to tell him—”
“What?” Tink echoed in a demanding tone.
Kalen pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret coming out here tonight.”
“What do you mean you’re not planning to tell him?” Tanner asked.
“In other words, are you out of your freaking mind?” Tink cried.
“This is like one of those daytime talk shows,” commented Faye.
Kalen glanced at her. “You’re thinking of Maury?”
The female fae nodded.
“Love that show,” Tink chimed in.
“He behaved that way and doesn’t know you’re carrying his youngling?” Tanner asked.
“I’m going to be the godfather,” Tink announced.
“Thoughts and prayers for that child,” Kalen said.
“I know humans have their own views on these types of matters.” Tanner lifted his chin. “But we believe that the father has the same rights as a mother—”
“Okay, everyone needs to shut up for a second, stop judging me and listen,” I snapped, a fine sheen of sweat dotting my brow. “I just found out today, and I am planning to tell him eventually. But not right now. None of you are going to say a word to him. For two reasons. Number one—it’s none of your business.”
Tanner sucked in air, looking absolutely affronted. “He is our King.”
“And this is still not your business,” I told him. “The second reason is because I’m trying to do the right thing, and that does not involve giving him a congratulations card at the moment.”
Kalen’s brow wrinkled.
“I’m about to tell you all something that I hope shines a whole new light on this situation. Caden chose me. Not his betrothed. Not any other fae. He ended his engagement with Tatiana.” The stunned gasps from the three fae echoed like thunder. “I don’t think he’s going to pick another fae, and I’m sure as hell not into a party of three. He loves me. I love him, but I know what will happen if he doesn’t choose a Queen. I know what’s at stake. I assume each of you understands as well.”
Tanner was slow to nod, even though he looked a little green under his silvery skin.
“So I know that no matter what I want, what he wants, it can’t be.” My voice warbled, and when Tink opened his mouth, I pointed my finger at him. “I do not need to hear how love is worth everything. Do you think I don’t want to run in there and throw my arms around him and never let go? This isn’t easy for me, but I am pregnant. I am going to have a child. And even though I have no idea how to even raise a kid, I know I don’t want to bring him or her into a world that will go to hell in a handbasket. I know Caden needs to marry one of his own. I know the entire fae race and all humans depend on that. So, no. I’m not telling him anything until he’s happily married. Then, I will tell him.”
Breathing heavily, I willed the knot of emotion swelling in my chest to fade. It had to. “So if any of you have any hope of preventing a catastrophe from happening, then you will keep your mouths shut about this, and you will do everything in your power to make—” I tried to swallow, but the knot had crept into my throat. “Everything in your power to make sure he marries Tatiana or another fae. That’s what you should be doing. But if you tell him what you overheard… I don’t know what he’ll do.” Pressing my lips together, I shook my head as I remembered him talking about his sister Scorcha. I tried to push away the image of him brushing the knots out of a little girl’s hair. I tried to forget how careful and gentle he was when he did it for me. I cleared my throat. “I have no idea what he’d do, but it won’t help to make sure the right thing is done. That much I do know.”
No one spoke.