Chapter 159
Natalia
My heart sank as I processed what Lilith had just shown me. Her hand on her belly, that smug smile. She was pregnant, wasn’t she?
Of course she is.
All those stupid fantasies I’d been having lately about maybe working things out with Andrei, about the twins having their real father, about us being a real family… All of them suddenly crumbled to dust.
Andrei was going to have a baby with Lilith. He had chosen her, just like he always had.
Despite everything, it sent an unexpected pang through my chest. My wolf whined perhaps causing it. Yes, that was what it was; the mate bond. Nothing more. Nothin
I forced myself to smile. “I assume a congratulation is in order.”
ling the distress–or
“I believe so. Thank you.” Lilith’s eyes glimmered, although whether with tears of joy or a glint of malice, I couldn’t quite tell. Perhaps both. “I’m sure you understand why this changes everything.”
I understood perfectly. Andrei would never leave Lilith now. Not when she was carrying his child. Besides, he had always loved her, even when we were married. I was just the mate he never truly wanted.
But I decided not to let it get to me. That ship had sailed many years ago, and I was at peace now. I had my children, and that was all that mattered. And the summer solstice ball was in two weeks, which meant that I had preparations to make.
A little while later, after spending some time playing with the twins, Andrei approached me and Damon on his way out with an unexpected request.
“I want you to bring the twins to the ball,” he said. “And their nanny, too.”
Damon raised an eyebrow. “The nanny?”
“Well, I figured the twins might need their nanny to keep an eye on them so you two don’t have to all the time.” Andrei’s gaze met mine. “There will be lots of other children there, too. It would be a shame to exclude them.”
He was right, of course. I still felt guilty for having the children hidden away at the cottage during the full moon festival. Even though that night had gone to shit and it was probably better that they weren’t there, I knew they would have loved the games and the treats.
Finally, I nodded. “Alright. I’ll see to it that they have suitable outfits.”
Andrei’s eyes narrowed faintly, and for a moment, I felt an unsettling feeling wash over me. But then his face broke into a smile. “Perfect. I can’t wait.”
And just like that, he turned on his heel and strode out with his hand on Lilith’s lower back. I bit the inside of my cheek and stared at the backs of their heads, refusing to pay attention to that point of contact. Why should it bother me if she was pregnant? I didn’t love Andrei. Not anymore.
Jane was over the moon when I told her about the ball later that night. She literally jumped up and down, clapping her hands excitedly.
“So we’re going to a real party?” she squealed. “With dancing and pretty dresses?”
“That’s right. And you’ll get to wear a beautiful gown, just like a princess,” I said. I couldn’t help but smile, too;
1/2
Chapter 199
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