---- VALERIA My body was exhausted, not just physically but mentally as well.


    Ever since I was tricked into fighting Aldric on that cliff, up until the moment everything around me fell apart, I had been tense and stressed, overthinking my options, fearing the future, not knowing how to survive in the present.


    I dont know where I am or what has happened.


    My confused mind reconnects with reality, but something immediatelyes to mindIm pregnant.


    Scared, I shift my senses, checking my belly where my pups healthy life continues to grow and develop.


    Ilet out a sigh of relief.


    That was the most important thing, and then I focus on the person beside me.


    Someone is breathing behind me, a warm body, muchrger than mine.


    Im lying down, blinking as I try to focus on the strange furniture in the room.


    The hand around my waist tightens gently, possessively, pulling me closer to the broad chest, merging me with the powerful body.


    Vale, are you awake? The rough, familiar male voice pours into my mind.


    The man behind me tenses, and I feel him shifting, trying to turn me onto my back.


    Ido as he wants and move into position on the bed where we are resting.


    ---- His beautiful face, with worried gray eyes, looks at me intently.


    Little one, answer me.


    Does anything hurt? Do you feel any difort in your belly? Id better call the sorceress...


    No, Im fine, Aldric.


    Im fine, and so is the baby, I stop him as he starts to get up.


    Hes lying on his side, almost on top of me.


    I lift my hand and take one of his reddish strands between my fingers, then move to caress his beard.


    He looks somewhat haggard, his furrowed brow full of worry.


    His eyes close, and he leans into my touch when I stroke his face.


    This is my man.


    I dont know how I ever imagined living without him by my side.


    Youre going to turn into a wrinkled old man if you keep this up, I say, running my fingers over his furrowed brow.


    He lowers his forehead to press it against mine, sighing, his broad hand descending to caress my belly tenderly.


    All his love, the promises for us, pour through the strengthened bond that connects us.


    Tve been so scared, baby.


    Ever since I realized on that cliff how wrong I was about you, not a second has passed without fear, he confesses against my lips, and Im even surprised that a man as proud as him would speak this way.


    T feared for your life, feared your rejection, losing you forever because I was a fool.


    His tormented eyes open as he carefullyys his body over mine.


    Tlove the feeling of him dominating all my space, skin to skin from head to toe.