Page 64 of First Comes Orc, Second Comes Baby
Brahnt stood, sliding his arms around her and pulling her close. She buried her head against his chest.
“It was perfect,” he murmured.
“I’ll arrange the public, socially acceptable one soon.”
His arms tightened.
Later that night she half woke from a satisfying dream that involved Charlotte and her new sisters waging war on an army of cupcakes wielding battle axes. The muted light of a smartphone drew her gaze to where Brahnt stood on the bedroom balcony, back to her.
“Was there blood?” she heard Regine ask.
“A little,” Brahnt said, voice very soft.
“And did she speak the traditional words?”
“She did.”
“Good girl.” Regine paused. “Are you happy?”
“I didn’t think I’d be.”
“I’m glad for you, son. She’s a little frothy, but the circle will whip her into shape.”
“She’s perfect the way she is.”
“Of course of course.”
Charlotte smiled and turned on her side, closing her eyes.
20
Charlotte took a deep breath,braced herself, and shoved one leg out of the car. Brahnt hovered, holding out an arm and assisted her to her feet.
It. Took. Forever. To. Stand up these days.
“I don't like being pregnant anymore,” Charlotte said as Brahnt fetched Snowkiss from the backseat. At eight months along, it was a normal refrain in their home.
She couldn't breathe, because her lungs were squashed. She had to pee even on days she refused to drink anything so she could have a few hours without waddling to the toilet. Her ankles were swollen and that was not an attractive look. Even for a woman who was used to feet that looked like a train wreck.
Heartburn, indigestion.
She couldn't walk faster than a strolling sloth, and forget about going up more than a half flight of stairs at one time.
She used to pride herself on how in shape she was.
And then she'd gotten knocked up.
Charlotte didn't think her back would ever return to normal.
“You don't have to stay long,” Brahnt said, matching her pace as they walked into the mansion. “Two to three hours to do your social duty, and then you can lie down and nap. My parents want to show you off. The Singhs’ son joined MillionOrc the same time as I did, and he's not engaged yet. My father is gloating a little. Endure it with grace.”
Charlotte tried. Her best. Caro and their circle of friends were present at the baby shower, and Charlotte actually liked Samesh's relatives—they were, gasp, normal people, though of course normal was on a scale of “comfortably well off” to “trust fund baby with a Netflix reality show.” In fact, Charlotte had overheard a conversation where Brahnt vehemently vetoed the request cameras be present to capture footage.
Which kind of irritated Charlotte, because she could use that kind of exposure. Maybe snag her own spin off because who wouldn't want to see her face on television? But in the end—at least in this matter—Brahnt's rabid desire for privacy was more important to Charlotte than fleeting streaming service fame.
Though it was a close call and had taken some serious soul searching.
“So when is there going to be a public wedding?” Ati, one of Samesh’s aunts, demanded.
