“I think we should add a few more,” Ryder countered as a wicked glint filled his dark stare. He leaned closer, a devilish smile curving his sinfully full mouth. “How about we get started on that right now?”
“Eww, he’s going to kiss mommy!” Zander warned as he scrunched up his face in disgust. Blue depths the color of freshly polished sapphires examined Ryder as if he were about to do precisely what he’d suggested. “Get him!” he shouted, and I laughed at the look of panic that flashed over Ryder’s face as Cade and Kahleena moved to do as their brother had ordered.
“Gods,” Ryder chuckled, holding one on each arm while Zander held onto his neck. “They’re attacking me, shouldn’t you be helping?”
I stared into Ryder’s golden eyes before moving my gaze to Kahleena, who squealed with laughter as hers sparkled with merriment. I leaned over, taking advantage of their conquering the mighty King of the Horde by kissing him gently, brushing my lips over his before pulling back as the children made gagging sounds.
“Didn’t you just say you wanted to make more?” I crossed my arms to stare at him pointedly with a wide grin I couldn’t hold back.
“Can’t we just practice making them?” His eyes glowed while his eyebrows wiggled playfully.
“I love you, Fairy,” I whispered huskily. I smiled before leaning over, kissing his lips again as our children cringed. Ryder pulled me down onto the bed and then leaned over me, smirking roguishly as the kids laughed and attacked us both. I’d just let out a hoot of laughter when the alarm screamed out a warning.
“Our kids,” I said, sitting up.
“Take them to the tower,” he ordered through clenched teeth, standing to release the beast that had been observing us play from within Ryder’s form. I stood abruptly, collecting the children as Zahruk entered the room with Sevrin and Savlian.
“Come, my darling little monsters.” I grabbed hands, collecting them as we moved out into the hallway, finding Olivia and Ciara there waiting beside their mates. They stood on tiptoes to deliver soft kisses to their men before falling into step behind me. Both women were heavy with child, and we expected deliveries to come any day now. Cade and Kahleena each took a hand while Zander latched onto Ciara’s, gazing up at her in wonder.
“Oh, my,” Olivia whispered, grasping onto the wall with one hand as the other rubbed her swollen belly.
“Olivia?” I asked softly, noting the way her eyes pinched together in pain.
“I’m fine.” It was a lie; her face lost color, but she slowly gained her footing and started forward.
My stare moved to Ristan, who examined her slow progression from the bedroom where Ryder was glamouring on armor. Something had him worried. He studied her form with a look of horror and fear while she held the wall moving away from him.
“Protect her, Synthia.” Ristan shook his head, his gaze swirling as a frown tugged at his mouth. “I cannot lose her.”
“Ciara, no babe without me,” Blane warned, studying the overly pregnant female beside me while Zander glared at Blane, crushing on his auntie something fierce. “I love you, my world.” Eventually, I’d have to break it to Zander that he couldn’t marry his very married auntie.
“No. No one says goodbye today. Do you hear me? No one says goodbye before going to battle; it is bad luck. Let’s go, ladies. Darynda, help Olivia. Mira, help Zander with Ciara.” I took Fury from his mother and tucked him into my arm. “Kahleena and Cade, with me now,” I instructed firmly, straightening my spine against the worry forming in the hallway. “Everyone hold hands and follow mommy, just like we practiced.”
I turned back a moment, staring into golden depths that smiled at me with pride burning within them. “I love you, Fairy. See you soon.”
“I’ll always come back to you, Pet.”
I swallowed past the lump that formed in my throat. My heart hammered against my ears, deafening the sound of the drums in the courtyard as Ryder sifted from the room, vanishing from sight.
Death stepped from the shadows, watching me before his eyes lowered to my children and the women moving with us down the hallway. He bowed his blond head, turning to disappear back into the darkness without a word.
Chapter Two
I was good under pressure. I was amazing in chaos, but the fact that my babes were in danger horrified me. The idea that Ryder was heading out to face an unknown enemy left me feeling numb. All because some ancient law forbade the queen and king from riding into battle together.
It was medieval bullshit that needed to be rewritten immediately, but the impending war was putting a kibosh on those details at the moment. One of us had to remain in residence, or one of our heirs if they were of age to rule. Sure, before Ryder had taken his throne, Lachlan played his placeholder, but since taking our vows, the law was in play. I hated it. It all but had me ringing the dinner bell, wearing mom jeans and an apron.
I stopped at the door, counting heads as the women entered the room one by one. Turning, I peered down the hallway as the sound of footfalls echoed from the other end. Lilith and Icelyn appeared with their arms full of little ones.
“Darynda, with me,” I said urgently, moving toward the women who had dirty children behind them. Mixed fae orphans were being dropped off daily at castles throughout the many kingdoms as a result of the mage war currently ravaging the countryside. Ours had been overrun with little babes, changelings, and other creatures’ offspring lately. It looked like we were building an army of filthy but cute tiny urchins.
Once I reached Icelyn, I took the tiny bundle from her arms as her hand moved to her swollen belly. Her face scrunched up, and a frown tugged at my lips. Darynda picked up a small changeling and held him to her hip before catching my eyes over Icelyn’s ice-blonde head. Glancing at Icelyn’s belly, Darynda’s mouth flattened into a straight line, and she absently worried her bottom lip as we ushered everyone into the protection of the tower.
When we reached the door, I spun on my heel, tilting my head to the right while I used my inhuman hearing to see if anyone else was rushing toward us. Leaning forward, I peered into the room, gazing at the multitude of little ones along with the few heavily pregnant women getting settled inside.
I silently stepped inside the room and placed my hands against the wall, waiting as the glowing blue runes sealed us into the safety of the heavily warded tower. It was Ryder’s version of a safe room. We had ample supplies and multiple rooms and nooks that could be filled with people.
It was also his idea of a pretty prison to hold us, so when the big bad warriors went to war, us damsels could sit around drinking tea and eating biscuits. As proof, Darynda was taking coffee and tea orders. Ryder was one stage above a caveman, and yet I loved him all the more for it.