Page 63 of Princess

“There, there,” I told Nikayla when I lifted her to my breast and she gave up her tears so she could latch onto my nipple.A few whimpers interspersed with the sucking noises made my heart swell.

Nikayla’s tiny fingers wrapped around one of mine when she finally relaxed.Her large blue eyes opened.They said most babies were born with blue eyes and they could change.Mine were brown which was strange for a Shadow Warrior.Hers matched her father’s perfectly and I had a feeling; they would stay blue.

“What wonders do you hold?”I asked softly.

Neither King nor the Shadows knew what to expect from her.Amissa said she would assure lasting peace.Getting to that peace was my job.

Nikayla eventually stopped nursing and fell asleep.I placed her in the center of our bed.A soft knock sounded at the door.Axel and Garret stood waiting.

“You just couldn’t stay away could you?”I asked Garret.

He smiled and tried looking over my shoulder and into the room.

“I am sorry I wasn’t here for the birth.This man,” he nodded to Axel, “insisted I care for other patients while he had all the fun.Where is the princess?”

I gave an internal groan.If people continued calling her princess, spoiled rotten would be an understatement.I didn’t want to ruin Garret’s mood so I let it go.For now.

“She’s sleeping but you can come in.I haven’t noticed that talking disturbs her.Please take one of the chairs.”

“I came to see howyouare doing,” Axel said, after we were seated.

“Of course you did.”I smiled.“A little tired, but overall, I feel good.”

“A little tired in Marinah speak means you are exhausted and overdoing it.You need protein and sleep.The second part, I can do nothing about unless I drug you.The first part I can handle.I’ll speak with the kitchen staff and make sure you are given an overabundance of meat.”

Just the thought sent queasiness through my stomach.My internal protein regulator knew exactly what I needed.“Check to see if they have tofu,” I said.“Lots and lots of tofu.”

Axel’s face scrunched.

“I lived off tofu and vegetable proteins until the hellhounds attacked the first time.For some reason, I’m craving tofu.”

“What about beans and rice?”he asked.

My stomach gave a small rumble.“Those sound wonderful too.”

“Interesting,” the doctor said.

“Is that good interesting, or bad interesting?”

“I’m unsure.Ask me in a week or two so I have time to study this strange phenomenon.As far as I know the word tofu has never been spoken by a Shadow Warrior in my lifetime.”

I shook my head slightly and grinned.I wanted what I wanted.

Garret kept looking toward the bed or I should say the middle of the bed.

“Go ahead and pick her up,” I told him.

He did exactly that.I won’t say he ran to the bed, but he had the baby in his arms within seconds.

“Meet Nikayla Labyrinth Greystone,” I told them.

“Quite the name,” Axel said.

She’ll need to grow into it,” I said with a smile.“Did you hear about the Shadows arrival?”

“Yes.I want to introduce myself and see if anyone needs medical attention,” Axel replied.

“From what I saw, they were healthy but you should introduce yourself.”I remembered the looks they’d cast at Caleb.“Don’t expect instant comradery,” I said.“They gave Caleb the cold shoulder.”

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