Asche knows he cannot hide his jealousy from me. It shows vividly on his beautiful features. I smiled as he continued to look at the wall, taking pictures of the different languages.

I kept a good distance away from him to allow him to explore peacefully. Whenever he is ready to include me, I'll happily join him. Jules did a wonderful job of explaining the history of the magnificent wall and Asche smiled, seemingly awed by it.

I couldn't help but smile further as sheer joy blossomed on his face. All I wanted was to make him happy and ensure that our child is well taken care of and raised in the right way. At this moment, I wished my parents were here to witness this; my mate pregnant with our child. They'd be proud grandparents, showering their little grandchild with hugs, kisses and dozens of gifts.

I sighed, feeling a stab of pain. My parents meant so much to me and their sacrifice will not be in vain. I will ensure that our species lived on and I'll rebuild our fallen kingdom. I'll do it all, with my mate by my side. Auxus may be lost to us, but there's still hope. We've got earth.

"Drakos, come on over, let's take a picture!" Asche waved at me and I looked up at him, my feet moving towards him immediately.

Jules held Asche's cellphone in position to take a snapshot while Asche stood there, awaiting my presence to fill the empty spot beside him. He was smiling, his cheeks flushed in contentment, having smiled for the majority of our duration at the wall.

I walked into his arms and he wrapped a hand around my waist, grinning broadly. I instinctively drew him to me, sliding a covetous hand around his waist causing him to shudder.

"Is there a specific pose you want me to do?" I leaned in and whispered in the cusp of his ear.

"Kiss me," He answered, reaching up and cupping my chin, "Kiss me breathlessly so we can capture this moment in the eyes of a Frenchman with taste.

"Mmm, I like your style." I chuckled bringing my lips down to touch his tenderly. He moaned into the kiss just as Jules took multiple shots judging by the clicking sound the cellphone gave off several times.

We kissed languidly for several more seconds before reluctantly drawing away. I placed a kiss on his forehead and held his hand in mine with a reassuring smile.

He blushed and turned to Jules who presented the camera to him with an approving smile, before taking us to the nearest restaurant after Asche took a few more pictures of the wall that he was deeply infatuated with.

We sat opposite each other as we ate lunch, staring out at the busy streets beyond the glass that separated us.

Asche ate his lunch heartily. He stabbed the lettuce rather hastily as he devoured his appetizer. I watched him carefully as his cheeks were stuffed like a squirrel's and he moaned delightfully after wiping his plate clean.

I was halfway done with my ratatouille soup. It was absolutely endearing watching him eat without care. He dabbed his lips with a napkin and licked his lips clean afterward.

"I love french food." He appraised, finally giving me his attention.

"Correction, you love to eat." I teased, taking the final spoonful of soup.

"Can I help it? I've got an entire human lodged in my stomach. I must say he or she is very greedy." He pointed out, giving out a little belch. "Ooh, excuse me. Where's the next course?" He glanced around for the waitress who came to our table as if on cue to take the empty china.

She then returned with the main course.

For the main course, we settled for pasta which Asche ate in one point six seconds.

"Slow down, you look like a glutton." I chided, frowning.

"Relax, I'm not going to choke or anything." He said after swallowing a mouthful.

"I hope not," I murmured, focusing on my meal.

"You know, you never told me much about yourself, besides you being...ahem...supernatural." He whispered the last part as he leaned in.

I twirled my fork in a pile of pasta, bringing it to my lips and raking it off the fork with my teeth. I glanced at him, feeling a wave of surprise that he showed a spec of interest for me. Well...to know about me to be exact.

"This conversation would be more suited to be discussed when we're back at the hotel. I wouldn't want anyone to overhear such confidential details. I've been hidden among humans for so long that I seemed to have blended in quite naturally." I said.

Asche mused over this, nodding his head slowly. "I understand. There's also a lot I have to ask you. I seriously need to know how your mind works and what really fueled you to...to search for me so frantically and determinedly." He gazed at me through his lashes and I held his gaze.

"Desperation, attraction, faith, and infatuation at first, but that infatuation soon matured into love. You gave me a run for my money, I must say. But I had to have you. My soul felt compelled to find you and bond with you. My...other half was obsessed with you. He saw more in you that I did and I finally came into alignment with his perceptions. Asche, you have to stop downing yourself. You are worth loving. You are worth courting and you are worth more than all of my achievements and assets. What would a life filled with riches be like without my soul's desire? I'd be living a soulless life, a shell of a man. Riches and life would have no meaning to me. And that's how I felt when I knew I loved you, when I was aware that you were carrying my child but...you may not have desired to keep it."

Asche took a moment before he spoke, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed and looked away to the streets outside.

I watched his features fill with raw emotion and his eyes watered but he blinked them rapidly.

"I guess we should take this conversation elsewhere," He eventually replied, placing his napkin down over the plate and standing up. "I'll meet you outside."

I stared at him with a frown as he moved away from the table and exited the restaurant.

***

Would you look at that? I'm a proud momma bear.