Chapter 472

While we spent the rest of the day that war was declared between Moon Valley and Atalaxia quietly

together, Henry joining us for lunch and then a peaceful dinner, the three months that followed?

They flew by at a baffling pace.

A lot of it was Roger and Sinclair working their tails off, not only getting our military whipped into shape

and handling international relations to make sure that we have a variety of pledged allies, but also

dealing with an increasingly mobile wolf baby and a very, very pregnant Cora.

“I hate this,” Cora grumbles, flopping back onto my bed and pushing herself up against the cushions,

her hand pressed against her ever-aching back.” I’m never getting pregnant again.” “Well, it’s not like

you did it intentionally the first time,” I say, grinning at her and sitting down on the edge of the bed, Rafe

wiggling in my arms. “I doubt mom is going to give you a lot of choice about the second time, it being

Roger’s destiny to be a father of many hybrids.” “Whatever,” Cora mutters, leaning her head back and

closing her eyes. ” We’ll get him a surrogate. Six surrogates. However many he wants. He teased me

about having seven mates a while ago and I said no way then, but now I’m rethinking this policy.” “Birth

and pregnancy are beautiful, Cora,” I say in a too-reverent scolding voice, and when she opens one

eye to glare at me we both burst into laughter.

“Oh my god,” she murmurs, sighing and sitting up a little, stroking her hands over her seriously gigantic

belly. “I mean, I know I love the kid – but my human body is ready for this little wolf to be born.” “I still

can’t believe you haven’t told me his name,” I sigh, sitting Rafe down on the comforter and grabbing his

leg when he immediately tries to scurry away.

He’s nearly eight months now and he’s big. And fast. Rafe gives a little squeak of protest but I tickle

him as I pull him back, making him laugh. Then I reach for an apple slice on a little plate by the bed and

hand it to him. Rafe takes it eagerly, not crawling away anymore because the only thing he’s more

interested in than exploring is eating.

I smirk at my boy, tickled at the sight of him fascinated by his apple. And then I turn my attention back

to my sister.

“Roger and I just want to keep the name to ourselves until he’s born,” Cora says, smiling. “The whole

nation is following my pregnancy, after all,” she continues, rolling her eyes, “we at least deserve one

little thing to ourselves, right?” I shrug, conceding that what she says is true. In the first months of the

war people really have rallied around Cora, excited about the birth of what they’ve called the Baby

Duke as a bright spot in increasingly dark news from the war front.

It’s not that we’re doing poorly in the war in fact, Sinclair, Roger, and Henry predicted that the first few

months would be hard. We, after all, are a nation with new leadership and dwindled military forces after

our civil war. The important thing, our men have told us, is merely to hold the line and delay true action

until we’ve had a little time to build our forces.

Calvin, to everyone’s surprise but mine, has been a huge help in this. Even though I haven’t had any

word from him, our reconnaissance has reported that he’s taken a much more active role in Atalaxia,

speaking out against the war and delaying forward motion where he can.

A friend indeed, I think to myself, smiling a little as I hand Rafe another piece of apple.

“He’s been eating a lot of solids lately,” Cora says, and I look up to see her considering Rafe.

“Well, I don’t think anyone produces enough breastmilk to feed this little meatball all alone,” I say,

grinning and leaning close to my baby, sniffing his hair.

“He’s so hungry.” “Ella,” Cora says, her voice dry, “he’s not a meatball anymore. He’s a meatloaf.”

“Don’t be so mean – “I scowl at her, but I laugh at the same time.

“It’s not mean, it’s true,” she says, laughing with me. “I mean, he’s eight months, but he’s what…thirty

pounds?” “Thirty-five,” I say, smiling at my little boy.

“He’s a giant!” “You’ve seen his dad,” I say, rolling my eyes and laying down behind my baby so that I

can see my sister and use my body as a block to keep Rafe from crawling off the bed. “And it’s not like

Roger is a little guy. Your own boy is going to be a meatloaf too, eight or nine months from now.” Cora

laughs at this and grimaces.” So,” she says, turning her head, narrowing her eyes at me a bit more. ”

Have you…stopped breastfeeding?” “Mostly,” I say, trying to be casual.

Because I know what she’s getting at here and it’s not something I’m ready to chat about. I haven’t

even told Sinclair what I’m trying to do, let alone Cora.

“Sometimes I breastfeed before bed – helps him sleep.” It’s a lie, though. I stopped doing that a few

weeks ago. Cora grins at me a little, seeing through it.

“Ella,” she says, laughing and leaning forward towards me. “Why don’t you just talk to me about this!?

Everyone knows that you’re trying to have another baby – ” “Cora!” I shout, sitting up and whipping a

throw pillow at her, which she swats down, laughing. “Nobody knows that!” “Mom knew it,” she says,

tucking the pillow behind her back.

“Mom is an all-knowing goddess,” I counter, rolling my eyes.

“And seriously?” she says, “Sinclair, who watches you like a hawk, has no idea?” “That honestly

surprises me too,” I say, leaning back down on the bed and giving in, having this conversation even

though I don’t think I’m ready for it. “But he’s so busy I think he’s distracted and hasn’t put the pieces

together.” “So why don’t you tell him?” “Cora,” I say, my face falling now a little bit with worry. “You of all

people should know why.” “What? I ” and then her face falls too. “Oh, Ells,” she says, shaking her head.

“It’s not going to be like that again.” And I feel tears prick my eyes as I look down at the comforter

suddenly overwhelmed with the memories. Because – honestly, I have done this all before. I spent

years trying to get pregnant and it never took. Of course, we didn’t know then that I couldn’t get

pregnant with a human partner, and that’s obviously changed now.

But the emotions? And the waiting? And the not getting pregnant?

Because I have been trying for months now… And I’m not pregnant yet.

“It is like that again,” I say quietly, not looking at my sister.

“Hey,” she says, moving forward on the bed and reaching out a hand to my shoulder. I look up at her,

and she points at Rafe. “What’s this?” “What?” “What’s this?” she says again insistent.

“It’s Rafe, Cora – duh, and he’s not a this -” “It’s your baby,” she says, shaking me a little. “And if you

want another one, you can have another one, okay? It’s foretold! You’ve had visions about this!” she

says as tears fill my eyes as I get precisely the pep talk I need from my no nonsense sister.

“Then why hasn’t it happened yet?” I ask, quietly.

“Maybe you need a little help,” she says, giving me a shrug and a smile. “I mean, a medical procedure

helped you get pregnant the first time – maybe you and Sinclair just need a little medical assistance to

get pregnant, like thousands of women do. And hey, that’s what I’m for!” “I wanted to do it naturally this

time,” I sigh, glaring at her, a little jealous. “Like you, when you got knocked up the first time you had

sex with your mate.” “Yes,” she says, looking at me earnestly before glancing down at her gigantic

stomach. “And now I am miserable, and can’t sleep, and pee every five minutes – ” I burst out laughing,

shaking my head.

“The grass is always greener!” she says, giving my shoulder a little shake before leaning back against

the pillows. “But seriously, Ella, you just finished breastfeeding – and maybe it just takes time. Maybe

just…trust the process.

Have a lot of sex. And if in a few months things are still stalled? We’ll try something else.” “Okay,” I say

with a big sigh, rolling onto my back and taking my baby with me.

Rafe gives a happy little squeal as I pull him onto my stomach, cuddling him there. “Thanks, Cora,” I

add. “I needed that.” “Well, I need a c-section, immediately,” she murmurs, disgruntled. “Can you

please arrange that? You’re the Queen.” “Just trust the process, Cora,” I say, grinning as I throw her

words back at her, making her groan. “Have a lot of sex – if in a few weeks your baby still isn’t born – ”

“Weeks!” she moans, tilting her head back and pressing her eyes shut. “No way, Ella. I’m not making it

weeks. This baby has to come immediately or I’m going to lose my mind. Now, preferably, or tomorrow

at the latest.” I grin at my sister, feeling sorry that she’s so miserable but also happy and excited.

But if she’d only known then how prophetic that last statement would be