Chapter 0118
“Did my mom have a difficult pregnancy with me?”
That makes me pause. Lola rarely asks about her mother. It is a touchy subject due to how other people, including our very own family, treated her differently because of who her mother was. I never really tried to ask about the scullery maid that had given birth to Lola as Bernard had tried to erase her presence in the castle as if she never existed. My mother had been upset about his infidelity, and he had tried to make it up to her by making everyone in our home never mention Lola’s mother as if it could negate the shame of what he had done.
I never saw Lola as something to be ashamed of. She is my heart and some of the best parts of me. I look at her, and I see none of Bernard’s cruelty and selfishness. I see a happy little girl who just wants to live a normal life.
“I
“I don’t know,” I finally reply. “I never really knew her.”
Lola goes quiet. I can see the play of emotions on her face as she takes this information in. We reach the door of her bedroom, and she hesitates before going inside.
“Did your mom have a difficult pregnancy with you?”
“I’ve never asked her, and she’s never told me.”
“Maybe you should talk to her about it?” she suggests. Just in case anything isn’t normal with the pregnancy.”
“Normal?” I echo.
Lola looks worried. “There were also those stories in the library about hybrids. I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay.”
I reach over to touch the apple of her cheek gently. “Of course I’ll be okay, Lo.”
“I hope so.” She surprises me by hugging me, her arms wrapping around my middle. “I don’t want to lose you again, Emory.”
I pat her shoulder, trying to hold back the swell of emotion that threatens to make me cry. All the pregnancy hormones make me want to burst into tears at every little thing. The lack of sleep doesn’t help. All I want to do is have a good cry and take a long nap
“I’m not going anywhere, Lola,” I say, “I promise.”
Lola goes into her room after that. I give in and take a lengthy nap in my room. The baby doesn’t seem to bother making me want to puke my guts out when the sun is up which is a much needed relief. Nellie looks guilty as she has to wake me for lunch. I begrudgingly get up, and my maids help me change into a
Ar sundress and strappy sandals.
Having lunch with Queen Agatha has become part of my routine. She has a spread of delicious food waiting in the gazebo every day for us. The queen has been kind enough to have food Lola especially likes. And after that incident with garlic bread and me puking into her prized rose bushes, she makes sure to not have any food that would set off my oversensitive nose. Vampires don’t really care for garlic
anyway.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0118
Queen Agatha smiles when we arrive at the gazebo. “You’re looking better today, Emory. Have you been
able to rest?”
“I took a nap,” I reply. “The baby lets me sleep before sundown.”
She takes a sip of her blood. “That’s good. You should try these meat pies the cook worked on today. There’s no garlic and onions in them.”
I pick up one of the meat pies from the platter. It is the size of my palm. I place it on my plate and slice through it with a butter knife. Spearing it with a fork, I take a small bite. I taste butter, meat, and pastry. It isn’t bland, but it’s not too flavorful. I’m able to swallow without an issue.
“That’s really good.”
The Queen pours a cup of tea for me, pouring a small amount of milk in and stirring. She slides the cup toward me and asks, “How did the check–up with Dr. Martin go?”
“It was fine. He said there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual with the pregnancy.”
“That is a relief to hear. Have you told Kane?”
