Forbidden Pregnancy for the Vampire Prince

Chapter Seven

Kira’s POV

I paced my room like a trapped animal. Back and forth, back and forth.

My fingers were in my mouth before I even realized it, teeth digging into the skin as I tried to think, really think but my thoughts were nothing but noise. Panic. Fear. That word echoing over and over again.

Pregnant.

It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.

My hands dropped to my stomach, hovering there like I expected something to move beneath my skin. There was nothing. No bump. No proof. Just the memory of Uncle Josh’s voice, shaking, terrified.

You are carrying a hybrid and my chest tightened.

“How could I be so stupid?” I whispered to myself, my voice cracking. “How could I let this happen?”

I knew how. Because for one night… I didn’t want to be a princess.

I didn’t want to be the future queen. I didn’t want to be Malakai’s mate. I didn’t want to be my father’s perfect weapon. I just wanted to feel something that was mine.

And now...Now I was going to die for it.

A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened without waiting for my permission.

I froze.

One of the palace maids stepped in quietly, her posture respectful, but her eyes… her eyes lingered on me a second too long. Like she was trying to figure something out.

My heart skipped, can she smell it? Can anyone smell it?

“Your father wants to see you,” she said. My heart dropped straight into my stomach, “Oh no…” I breathed.

This is it, he knows. He knows and this is where it ends. How did he find out so quickly? How could he be so keen enough? I knew I could only hide this for a few days. I have been hiding it for a week, so I expected this to happen.

I swallowed hard, forcing my feet to move. Each step felt heavier than the last as I followed her out of my room, down the long, polished hallway that suddenly felt like a path to execution.

The palace was quiet. Every guard we passed bowed slightly, but I could feel their eyes on me, watching tok closely, measuring or maybe I was just paranoid.

No, I was just paranoid because I have something to hide. There's no way anyone could tell that I'm pregnant. We reached the dining hall doors.

The maid pushed them open, “Princess Kira.”

My father was already seated at the head of the long table. Even sitting down, he looked like he owned the entire room. His presence was filled the space, heavy and suffocating, like the air itself answered to him.

His amber eyes lifted to mine, “Kira,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “Come. Sit.”

I hesitated for half a second before walking in, forcing my expression into something neutral. I took my seat across from him.

“I haven’t seen you in days,” he continued, picking up his glass like this was any normal evening. “You’ve been… absent.”

My fingers tightened in my lap, think fast. Think! “I’ve been working on a project,” I said carefully. “I needed full focus. School was becoming… distracting.”

It wasn’t even a good lie but it was the best I had.

His eyes narrowed slightly, “A project.”

“Yes.”

Silence stretched between us and then, “Halloway mentioned you’ve been skipping lectures.”

My pulse spiked, of course he did, “I haven’t been skipping,” I said quickly. “Just… prioritizing.”

“Your education is a priority,” he corrected, his voice sharpening just enough to remind me who I was speaking to. "You need to finish school in order to settle down with Malakai and start the affairs of the state properly."

I lowered my gaze slightly, “Yes, Father.”

“Are you well?” The question caught me off guard and my head snapped up slightly. He was watching me closely now like a father trying and failing to read his child.

“I’m fine,” I said but he didn’t look convinced.

“You don’t look fine,” he said bluntly.

“I’m just tired.”

"Your scent tells me something is up, it's been all over place, I can't place it at all but it's not tiredness."

I wanted to stop breathing right at that moment. But I forced a smile, "I'm really just tired and nothing more."

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he leaned back slightly, “Malakai left earlier today.”

My stomach twisted and I forced myself not to react.

“He has gone to meet with the vampires regarding the new treaty,” my father continued.

My heart stopped, the vampires and I remembered Cessian again. My fingers curled under the table.

“I expect tension,” he added, almost casually. “The vampires have always lacked discipline. They provoke. They test boundaries.bHe will need to control himself,” my father went on. “Though I doubt he will. Malakai has never been one to tolerate disrespect.”

I swallowed. Please don’t let them meet like this… What if Cessian said something to Malakai?

“Their kind is arrogant,” he said flatly. “They forget their place. They forget what they’ve done to us.”

My stomach churned as servants began placing food on the table. The smell hit me instantly, heavy spices, roasted meat, rich sauces that felt way too much that my senses flared violently.

I could smell everything. The iron in the meat. The oil. The herbs. Even the faint scent of blood beneath it all.

My stomach twisted dangerously. Not now… please not now…

“And that is why,” my father continued, as if nothing was wrong, “we do not mix with them. They are parasites,” he said. “They used our kind. Drained us. Treated us like livestock.”

I gripped my fork tighter.

“They are not to be trusted,” he finished.

I forced myself to pick up a piece of food, I had to act normal, I have to eat, l put it in my mouth and chewed, swallowed and then my stomach revolted against me.

“They smile in your face,” my father continued, his voice steady, almost instructional now. “But behind that, there is nothing but calculation.”

I took another bite but it was another mistake as the taste exploded on my tongue and instantly turned sour, my stomach lurched.

“Remember this, Kira,” he said. “Your duty is to your people. Not your feelings.”

I nodded weakly, “I understand.”

But he could've told me this before now. I'm carrying a vampire's child inside of me already.

My stomach twisted violently. Oh no! I dropped my fork, “I—excuse me—” I didn’t wait as I pushed my chair back and ran.

“Kira—”

I didn’t stop.

The hallway blurred as I rushed toward my room, my hand clamped over my mouth. I barely made it inside before sprinting into the bathroom.

I dropped to my knees and threw up everything, again and again until there was nothing left. My body shook, weak and trembling as I leaned against the cold tile.

“You’re not okay.” The voice came from behind me.

My entire body went rigid immediately. Slowly… slowly… I turned my head.

Malakai was standing in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, watching me and my heart dropped.