Heir to Desire

Chapter 7

Stella

"Everyone has arrived?" Joy asked, brows raised.

"That's what I've been told." I huffed a breath, vigorously combing through my damp hair. "Several have asked for the conference to begin now, and why not? The weather is ass. Travel advisories are all over the news. Might as well start things off here."

"But we weren't planning to start the conference for three more days!" Joy gawked. "That was with our plans to move it up!"

"Tell me something I don't know!" I snapped, immediately regretting it. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Anna is already making all the necessary calls. The kitchen is busy getting meals prepared, the DJ is on his way. Everything is under control."

"Okay." Joy nodded, biting her lip. "Can I do anything to help you?"

"Just keep making sure Caspian and Asher stay away from each other. This conference is two weeks long, no matter what date we start."

"Why not talk to Asher? At least get him out of the castle."

"When am I supposed to do that?" My shoulders sank. "Every important leader has gathered for this conference. I don't need any of them finding out what's going on — nor do I have the time for the drama. I'm in back-to-back meetings, I'm expected to be a good host, and I feel like garbage. Hosting the winter Alpha conference is supposed to be such an honor, and right now it feels like anything but." I threw my brush down, reaching for the blow-dryer.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Joy said softly. "What a way to spend Valentine's Day."

Valentine's day. A day devoted to love and romance. It hadn't held any meaning for me for many years now. Caspian always gifted me flowers, a romantic dinner, and turned me into dessert afterward. Asher used to do something special too. Now they were both angry with me.

Joy lingered in the doorway, watching me carefully, too afraid to say anything else, but not wise enough to leave right away either.

"The tailor let out your dress some more. I left it on the bed," she said. "I'll meet you downstairs?"

"Fine." I managed a smile that felt stiff on my face. "Thank you."

She hesitated, then nodded and left, pulling the bathroom door shut behind her.

It felt too quiet after that. I made sure to turn my blow-dryer on high, if only to drown out the silence. Half an hour later, hair and makeup done, I walked to the bed and stared down at my dress. I'd worn it before. More than once. It was my favorite, sleek yet functional, it highlighted all my curves in just the right ways.

I stepped into it and tugged it into place, smoothing the fabric down my sides. For a second, everything felt normal. Familiar. My shoulders loosened.

Then I reached for the zipper.

It stopped halfway up my back.

I frowned and tried again, slower this time. Nothing. I twisted slightly, catching my reflection in the mirror, and gave it another pull.

Harder.

Still nothing.

My breath hitched. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, fingers tightening around the metal.

I tried once more, then again, irritation bleeding quickly into something sharper. The dress felt snug in a way it never had before. Too snug. Heat crawled up my neck as I stared at myself, at the stubborn line of the zipper refusing to move, at my swollen breasts, wider hips, and the bump that grew bigger each day.

I pressed a hand to my stomach without thinking.

I hadn't seen this.

Not this moment. Not this feeling.

Instinctively, I reached for my magic—just a glance ahead, just enough to steady myself. I didn't dare try for more. Even still, the future slipped sideways. Blurred. Nothing settled where it should have.

My chest tightened.

A laugh escaped me, short and brittle, followed by a sharp breath. I tugged at the zipper again, hands shaking now, frustration burning hot behind my eyes.

Get it together.

A knock sounded at the door.

I froze.

Another knock followed.

"I—just a moment," I called, my voice thin.

I looked at the dress, half-zipped and unforgiving, and felt the last of my composure crack. I yanked on a bathrobe, dabbing my eyes as I headed for the door.

Flinging the door open, I stared wide-eyed at Asher.

"Asher, what are you doing here?" I half-heatedly snapped. "I told you I would find you when I had a minute."

"You can't keep me waiting forever Stel." He frowned. "I need to know if I'm the father or not."

"And how do you expect me to figure that out?" My shoulders sank. "I won't know until the pup is born."

"You don't know who the father is?" Caspian asked, a stunned look on his face as he rounded the corner.

"Cas — what are you doing here?" My face fell, a knot forming in my stomach.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier, but now I have lots of questions." His arms fell slack.

"Who is he?" Asher asked. "Another donor? Should we be expecting anyone else?"

"Both of you inside — now!" I hissed, praying no other unwanted guests would arrive.

Asher let himself in, scanning the room. "You've made quite a few changes to the place."

"My parents and Levi moved out years ago. It was time for a change."

"Oh, so he gets to see where you live, but it's a problem if I do?" Caspian shook his head.

"Don't put words in my mouth." I scrubbed my hands over my face. "Goddess, both of you sit down!" I snapped.

Mercifully, they both listened. Asher took the chair while Caspian settled for the armrest of the couch. Both were eyeing me expectantly.

"Here is everything you need to know. Asher and I dated back in college. We broke up - "

"With no explanation," Asher said under his breath.

" - and three years ago I met Caspian. We ended things the day before I went to the clinic. When I got there, they were having technical problems and, long story short, both of you were contributors. My doctors say that either of you could be the father, but we won't know until after birth."

"Have you even tried to have a vision? See what the future says about it?" Asher asked.

"No, I haven't." I bit out.

"She doesn't like having visions," Asher explained, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I know." Caspian's voice was clipped. "Do you know why?"

Asher's face fell. "No."

"Well, at least we have that in common," Caspian clicked his tongue.

"She still tastes like honeydew?" Asher asked, eyeing me curiously.

Caspian looked ready to kill. I quickly stepped between the two.

"Alright — that's enough. I have to go make announcements so we can get this conference started and over with. I don't need any of this right now. The bottom line is I have no idea who the father is, and I won't until after the pup is born. Do with that information what you will."

I brushed past both men, anxious to put distance between us. In my room, I tugged on the first dress I could find that fit, a summer dress — it would have to do. At least it was pink. Perhaps I could play it off as a Valentine's Day dress — though I doubted it.

I didn't make eye contact with either man as I headed towards the main floor, quickly darting into a supply closet as nausea began to set in again. A few deep breaths while sitting on the floor had me feeling mildly better, but I knew only one thing would truly put me at ease.

Knowing who the father was.

My nerves were still on edge as I focused on my magic — something I hated to do. I didn't like how it felt, or the memories it made surface. But just this once... I would try.

The truth was, I spent my life working towards my goals and accomplishing every one of them. I made it my mission to be the strongest, fastest, smartest version of myself I could. There wasn't a thing I was lacking in my life — except this.

My magic.

Wild and untamed, just like it was in college. While all my siblings were busy perfecting their control over their own gifts, I was busy trying to bury mine deep down. It wasn't hard when I threw myself into other lessons. But even the occasional vision would sometimes send me into a spiral, leaving me a mess for days following.

Part of me thought I should wait — at least until after the end of the conference — but the other part said screw it.

My magic began to flare.

I squeezed my eyes shut, saying a silent prayer for an answer. The first vision came seconds later...

The sun was shining, a warm breeze cutting through the tall grass. In the distance, a blanket. Asher sat on it with a small bundle of blankets, a pup wrapped tightly inside. He looked up and smiled at me, the same warmth he used to have when we were dating resting within his eyes.

"Finally asleep," he whispered.

My breath caught. I blinked furiously — but was quickly dragged into another vision.

Caspian was standing in a nursery, in my old spare room. Moonlight spilled through the window as he hummed a low tune. He rocked back and forth, a burp cloth draped over his shoulder, a pup in his arms.

"Finally asleep," he whispered.

My magic sputtered and stopped — throwing me from the second vision. I gasped for air, tears streaming down my face. I wiped away the evidence — some of my mascara going with it.

A servant flung open the door, jumping when they saw their queen crying on the floor.

"Queen Stella, are you alright?!" She asked.

"Go get Joy — or Anna." I pleaded. "Please."

"Yes, of course."

She quickly scurried away, letting the door click shut softly behind her. Minutes later, both Joy and Anna were there, Joy fanning my face, Anna coaxing me to sip some water.

"You can't go out like this," Joy frowned.

"I'm sure everyone would understand if you told them the pregnancy was taking a toll — "

"And look weak to the other rulers? No. I just need a few minutes. I'll make my announcement and take it one step at a time. I just need to get through one day at a time."

Joy dabbed carefully at my face, her mouth pressed into a thin line as she assessed the damage. Anna hovered nearby, arms crossed, eyes sharp with concern but mercifully free of questions.

"I can fix the makeup," Joy said gently. "But you need to settle first."

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. The images refused to fade—the warmth of sunlight, the hush of a nursery, two identical moments spoken by two different mouths. Finally asleep. As if my magic were mocking me.

Two futures.

Both whole.

Both impossible to reconcile.

I pressed my palm flat against the floor, grounding myself, forcing the room to stay solid beneath me. My magic was quiet now, recoiling and sulking like it always did after being dragged out into the open. It had given me answers, just not the ones I wanted.

"Did you see anything?" Anna asked carefully.

"Yes," I admitted. "And no."

That earned me a look, but she didn't push.

I stood slowly, steadying myself against the shelf as the last of the dizziness passed. The nausea lingered, but it was manageable.

Everything about this felt manageable in pieces—just not all at once.

Both visions had felt real. Both had felt right. And that was the problem. My magic wasn't choosing. For once, I had no idea what to expect. That terrified me more than anything.

Joy handed me a tissue and stepped back, giving me space. "You don't have to be perfect," she said quietly.

"I know," I replied. And yet, the weight of expectation settled back into place the moment I straightened my spine. Queen first. Woman second. Always.

I glanced at my reflection in the polished metal of the shelf. My eyes were red, my face pale—but there was steel there too. There always was.

"I'll make the announcement," I said. "We'll start the conference. I'll smile, I'll shake hands, and I'll get through the day."

One day at a time. That was all I could manage now.