Page 143 of Red King

“Why did you call me?” I ask. It’s been driving me nuts ever since. “It wasn’t an accidental dial. You’re a terrible liar, Paisley.”

“Oh, thank god.” She clutches her chest. “I thought I was getting good at it…lying, that is.” Then she widens her eyes and clears her throat. “I’ve had to tell so many whoppers since getting back that I thought I was getting good at it, which worried me.”

My mouth twitches. “Are you going to tell me why you called?”

“No.”

I laugh, putting my hands in my pockets. “Of course not; that would be too easy.”

“You go first,” Paisley insists. “Why are you here?” She folds her arms.

“Okay.” I pull in a breath. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m going to tell you anyway, and you’re going to listen this time.” I lick my lips. I’ve never been this nervous in all of my life. “I am in love with you, Paisley Reed. Totally and utterly in love. I’m a mess without you. I’ve missed you more than words will ever do justice. These last weeks have been fucking miserable without you. I should never have let you go.” I take her hand, and thank fuck she lets me. “Never.” My voice is a rough rasp. “I know you have fertility problems. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m hoping we can look at other options. I’ve been researching this topic. There’s egg donation and surrogacy.”

“You’ve been researching?” Her eyes are filled with hope. Then they fill with tears, and her lip wobbles.

“Yes, of course I have. And it turns out that there are other ways to have a child together. Provided you want children?” I ask.

“What will the Council say? Surely they won’t agree?” Her voice is so soft it crushes me. Ends me.

“I don’t give a fuck about the Council. I have one life to live, and I want to live it with you, Paisley. Whether we end up having kids or not is fine by me. What’s important is us. That we’re together. If need be, my brother can take the crown. Frost is perfectly capable. He’ll need to find a mate…” I chuckle at the thought.

Paisley doesn’t look happy about any of what I just said.

“Say something.” I squeeze her hands. “What do you think? You don’t look happy.”

“You were born to lead…to rule, Arctic. You can’t step down.”

“I was born to be with you first.” I’m not sure how that came across because it sounded corny to me, even though I meant it. “We’re meant to be together.” That sounded worse, even though I mean every single word. “Don’t you feel it? Inside your heart…your soul?”

Paisley starts crying. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She cups my face. “You are the sweetest…kindest…most—”

“Please say badass next.”

She laughs. “Yes…that, too. I’m also very much in love with you, Arctic.” Her whole stance softens, and a tear runs down her cheek.

I start to go in for a kiss, but she stops me with a hand to my chest.

“There’s something I have to tell you.” Her whole face morphs. She looks worried, like maybe it’s bad. Really bad.

“What?” I think I pop out a few scales. My voice is a rough growl. “Sorry, it’s just that you’re scaring me a little.”

She licks her lips. “I’m… I don’t know how it’s even possible. I still can’t believe it myself. It’s a miracle.” She looks down at her shoes and then back at me. “I mean, these things do happen. At least, according to Becs, they do.” She licks her lips again. “No, I have seen cases with my own eyes where—”

I put my finger over her lips. “Shut up, Paisley.”

Her eyes go wide. “Don’t tell me to—”

“What I meant to say was, there’s no need to be nervous with me; just tell me.”

“Okay.” She swallows thickly. “I’m pregnant.”

I just look at her for a while. At first, it doesn’t really register. Maybe I heard her wrong. I must have heard wrong.

“Pregnant,” I repeat, expecting her to laugh and to say another word that sounds just like “pregnant” but isn’t. I can’t think of a single word it could be. Not a one. “Did you say pregnant?” I repeat.

“Um…yes…I’m pregnant. It’s your baby. I mean, of course it is. It’s not like I’ve had sex with anyone else.” She giggles, sounding nervous. “It’s still early days, Arctic. I don’t know how it even happened, but I’m pregnant. I don’t ovulate…I hardly ever ovulate. How the hell did I ovulate?” She’s talking more to herself. “My uterus is like a war zone. Actually, it’s more like a desert.” She looks me in the eye. “It’s why I called you the other day. I had just found out. I wanted to tell you, but then I heard Hannah’s voice and freaked out because Maggie told me you were dating her that first time I chatted with her, and I assumed you were still together with her. That you had forgotten me.” She sniffs. “But I was going to tell you, I swear. I have an ultrasound booked for Tuesday. I just needed to confirm that everything was okay. That—”

I pick her up, hugging her close. “You’re pregnant, Paisley.” My eyes sting. My throat clogs. I put her down. “Pregnant with my baby,” I say again, like a fool. My eyes are stinging. I’m going to be a father.

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