By the time the sun starts rising I know we are far from where I was, and I still can't stop hoping Igor comes for me. I clutch the fabric of my sleeping dress tighter.

Luckily, I had worn the one that is ankle length since the cave is a bit cold than our home and most of the blankets go towards cushioning me from the hardness of the stone I was sleeping on.

Oh, orc, I hope you are safe from harm where you are. If they found me, it is hard to believe he is unscathed. And if they didn't catch him, knowing Igor he would have been looking out for me somehow. But for him and Wolfie to both be nowhere to be found is suspicious.

"How far along are you?" he asks, tone neutral. But I am not a fool to believe he is anything but.

"That is not your business, Shamus."

"It is if it could be Shepherd's child." I hear a dark note under his words, and I don't turn to him as my mind fires in all directions. He suspects the child could be Shepherd's? But he knows I wasn't sleeping with him then, because he was.

Or maybe...maybe he thinks his lover may have lied to him and slept with his wife behind his back.

"Worried there, Shamus?" I turn with a focused, confident expression. I'm fishing.

His jaw ticks and I get my answer. But he regains his center quickly before he darkens his features and the devil shines through.

"You are being stupid, Aria."

"You don't have to take me back."

He turns to look outside with a hard look. Who is putting pressure on him? The mighty Shamus.

"But I do. I really must." He breathes after a few moments. We sink into silence again and the day goes. By the time it is midday, I am dying of hunger. My lips are dry too and no amount of swallowing my saliva is filling me up. But I stay silent.

By afternoon the carriage stops for longer and Shamus opens the door. We are somewhere in the forest, but I don't see any of the trees from our house and I don't recognize any of these mountains.

When Igor and I made the trip here, I was too busy talking and looking at him to focus on anything else.

Shamus takes a seat on a big rock and after everyone has their seats and they secure the carriage I get out too. I get a little dizzy when my feet touch the ground. I have been sitting for too long.

All the soldiers look at me, but its stolen looks. I guess they didn't see me that well at night because of the night but now they can see for themselves.

They pretend to look away from me, but Shamus doesn't. His gaze is zeroed on my belly as he peels an apple with a pocketknife.

I shouldn't be getting anywhere near him, but it seems he got instructions to bring me breathing so I have that as a shield for now. I sit on another rock away from him, but I don't turn my back on him.

His gaze is still on my stomach.

"You know I always knew there was something wrong with you. To spread your legs for such a beast. Have you no shame?" He says in a tone full of disdain, but low enough that the soldiers don't hear. They are all sitting away from us.

"I could ask you the same. Have you no respect for yourself. To be the dirty secret of a man who will never claim you publicly. Forever just a dirty—"

I am cut off by a knife flying my direction and missing me by barely an inch and my heart launches to my throat.

Frack.

"Don't stop on my account, queen." He rises from his seat. He stalks to me in dangerous, slow steps. "Carry on, finish what you want to say." He finishes right in front of me, and he stares down at me with more hate than I have ever seen.

I look away from him and a cold hand touches my chin. Tears come quick.

"Oh, don't run away scared now, Aria. Go on, talk."

My lips tremble with an impending sob. I shake my head. Why I fear is not him but what I know he is capable of, and now that I am carrying the little orc what he could do to us.

He pulls my face to him with force, and I gaze into his soulless ones.

"Don't have the full cunt to say what you wanted to say now, huh?" his tone is bone chilling and low so only I can hear him. "You do well to watch your mouth, you filthy whore. Your life is still in my hands." He looks behind me. "I only have to bring you back alive, between now and then I can do whatever I want with you, and I'm sure even though you are just defiled filth, some of them would still take their pound of flesh."

I have never felt so violated in my life. My mouth parts as I shrink into myself.

"Shamus, please. My child. I beg you." My voice comes out pathetic as I stare at the devil. I fist my hands to try and help the tremble.

His face flashes with consideration but it hardens again with determination. "We are never going to be free of you until you are gone."

"Please. He listens to you. Please, just let me go." I try again, hating myself for having to do it. But as a parent I have to try, my need to protect my child is greater than my pride.

He straightens to his full length, and he turns and takes the seat again. "Sorry, queen. No can do. It has been decided."

We get back to the carriage after they offer me an apple and water. I take it only because I know they are supposed to take me back breathing. We travel for another full day and by afternoon of the next day we enter the city's gates.

Streets are abuzz as I enter. There are people lining the streets like they have been waiting for me. I try not to look around a lot, but I see their expressions. They are a mixture of many things. Some disdain, some sadness, some pity, and some outright glee.

I don't understand what's going on. The carriage makes its way through the city and the horn announces me as we approach the palace's gates. I look around frantically now. I'm looking beyond the trees. I'm hoping Igor jumps out somewhere and he saves me. My blood runs icy cold as I feel the impending doom.

My heart feels like it wants to very well punch through my chest and my clammy hands clutch the fabric as we come into view of the welcoming party.

Shamus's smile widens as he watches me.

It's the council and my family and Shepherd and his mother. He looks worse than I remember. He looks tired. My father and stepmother also seem okay on the outside, but their eyes are a little big.

My father looks like he doesn't even want to breathe. My sister-in-law holds a pregnant belly too. It's the same size as mine. That means she was probably pregnant when I left as I have noticed my stomach is bigger than it should be. My brother has deep lines filled with worry. Everybody else has mostly neutral expression.

The closer we roll, the higher I hear the sound of the drum playing to the end of my life.

When the carriage stops, my heart almost comes out my mouth. I breathe loudly as my skin feels moist.

Shamus gives me a wide grin. "Showtime."

He nods to the guard who approaches, and he opens the door. Shamus exits the carriage, and he stretches his hand for me. I want to swat it away, but I take it like I'm supposed to.

I don't understand yet what's going on and I need to know the new lay of this land so I can try and see how I can save myself.

But I am a little hopeful since not everyone is out with their pitchforks and demanding I be beheaded. I school my own face. Shamus is right, this is show time.

I don't lick my lips so they stay parched. I widen my eyes, so I look vulnerable. I trail slowly next to Shamus, and I see the softening gazes of most of the council.

Everyone is staring at my stomach. I see a change in their demeanors. Though I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing yet.

My stepmother steps forth with my family in tow. She has a deep frown in her face.

"Oh, my child. The goddess brought you back to us." she throws her hands around my shoulder, and she embraces me, well as far as she can considering my stomach. That sounds a lot like relief in her voice. She pulls away from me and holds me by my shoulders. I am so confused.

"Look at you. You have been through so much. But you are safe now." She reassures and I nod.

Next my father kisses my forehead which I freeze as a response. He hasn't kissed my forehead since I was a child.

"Welcome home, bundle." He uses a name I haven't heard in almost 20 years. I can't help my frown.

What is going on here?

My very pregnant sister-in-law is next, and I can't help the smile when we both look at our pregnant bellies. She gives me a side hug. "Glad you're safe."

She retreats and my brother kisses my cheek and that is all. Shepherd's mother is next, and she has her ingenuine emotional face and I want to run now. She pulls me in a cold embrace.

When she pulls away, she says, "I always knew you could do it." she says, and I frown.

Do what? I don't get the chance for contemplation when they all move to the side. Shepherd approaches with small steps that may seem harmless, but I can see it. I know this man. He is furious. It is now I understand I am in deeper trouble than I think.

He opens his arms as he approaches, and Shamus moves.

"My wife, you are back." It's filled with emotionality I know isn't real. "Thank the goddess." I don't miss the malice simmering underneath.

Shepherd takes me into his embrace like a dotting husband. His cold lips touch my ears, and he says, "You should have stayed dead."

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