Thank you all that have followed the journey this far. I know this chapter comes out really late, I have been on vacation. I hope you all continue to enjoy Ana & Lux's story. Feel free to comment and rate!
Chapter 8
Lux
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"How could the stone have changed so quickly?!? What is wrong with her?" I sneer at the doctor. I watch as his face pales in front of my anger.
"She.. she.. she must have been already pregnant when you chose her as your companion. As for her current, uhm, condition, it seems her body is overwhelmed and needs rest. She should be fine as soon as she wakes." He stammers out a reply.
I stare down at Ana, my little mouse, as she lays on my--our--bed. Her porcelain chest rises and falls slowly as she breathes. The rest of her body is hidden beneath a blanket. A small smile plays on her lips. I wonder what she is dreaming of. It is a hell of a lot better than reality at the moment. I was told she was a virgin when I chose her. That was apparently a lie. Both Ana and the Matron will have to answer for this. A Draxis of my rank and title is not to be fooled!
I turn away from her for the first time since I found her collapsed and slam my fist into the adjacent wall. The stone cracks beneath my knuckles and I welcome the pain into my body. Had she just been a companion and not my mate this would not be an issue. But the thought of another Draxis's hands on her has me on fire. I want to kill something, beat something to a bloody pulp, destroy something and make it feel like my heart does right now.
Without another word I storm from the room and hit my comms to connect with the Matron of Ana's camp.
"Hello. Matron Trinity speaking." She answers on the third ring.
"Commander Lux here. We need to have a discussion." I grit out between clenched teeth. My jaw popping under the weight.
"Hello Commander Lux. Nice to speak with you. I was afraid you would call. Ana has always been a problem. If you just return her then I will be more than happy to give you any companion you wish. Perhaps you would like two, since you have had to go through this trouble."
"Shut up. I don't want a companion. As a mated Draxis I am not eligible. What I want is an explanation as to why my mate is laying in my bed pregnant with another male's seed."
"Mate--oh dear. I assure you, she is a virgin but there was a procedure done to try to bring out her gentle side. Make her more attractive to Draxis males. A few months ago we slipped her amarynth root and after she passed out, she was inseminated. The doctor here assured me that a child would make her softer around the edges. We had no idea anyone would ever choose her as she is now. Commander Lux I am--"
"An Idiot." I finished for her cutting off her long winded speech. "Your explanation means nothing. Inseminating a companion is against policy. You and the good doctor will be lucky to escape this debacle with all your limbs!"
Silence. It seems the Matron is taking this time to panic. Then the thought strikes me...
"Did she know? About the..." I can't even finish the sentence.
"How could she? She was fast asleep under the effects of the root. I didn't even know that the pregnancy had taken hold until you called."
This revelation douses my fire. Ana didn't know. She wasn't touched by another male. This is another thing forced upon her. With an abrupt nod of my head I make my decision.
"You will speak of this to no one. If you do, I will see to it that you are put to death. Relay the same message to the doctor. As far as Ana is concerned, she has a mate and therefore has no more use for you."
With that I ended the call on my comms and returned to the bedroom. Sitting gingerly beside her I take her hand and stare at her lifeless state as I carefully explain to the doctor, "Ana is pregnant. She is pregnant with my child. Do you understand me?"
I can hear the doctor nod his head but reply with a growl.
The doctor jumps, "Yes sir! I understand. Ana is pregnant with your child. Congratulations Commander!"
A smile emerges on my lips and I feel like a weight has been lifted since this all has begun. My mate is having my child.
"You are not to say any differently to her. Do you understand?" I bark at the doctor.
"Understood sir." He clambers over to the bed and raises his stethoscope. "Allow me to check her now please?"
I nod but don't release her hand. The doctor listens to her chest and then lowers the stethoscope to her abdomen.
"Too soon to hear much yet. Soon her stomach will be nice and round with child."
"You may go. I will call you if there are any changes in her condition."
The doctor, looking relieved himself, packs up his things and makes his way to the door. "Of course sir. Best of luck to the mated pair!"
Ana
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When I finally come to, I see Lux sitting on a chair beside the bed, his head resting in his arms with one hand clasped to mine. I give it a light squeeze and he awakes with a jolt that causes me to jump.
"Ana! You are awake! You are okay!" He leans in and kisses me on my lips, slipping his tongue inside my mouth briefly before he retracts.
"Good morning to you too." I say with a smile. "I don't know what happened. Last thing I remember is we were walking down the hallway and I was thinking of how many clothes I could get you to buy me."
A smile as wide as the Grand Canyon spreads across his face, "you fainted from all the stress your body is under. Between the mating and the pregnancy, it is going through a lot of changes."
"Oh." I say as I reach up and feel the small knot on my head, "that makes sense."
"Wait!" I scream, "What?!?!" Lifting the covers I peer down at my vagina and there is the stone, glowing a beautiful color.
"I'm pregnant!" I move to stand but Lux places his hands on my shoulders to stop me.
"Slow down. You just fainted. Get some more rest." He chastises me.
"Fuck rest! I need to... I don't know. Go look in the mirror or something. Do I look different?" A million thoughts race through my mind. First I am mated and now pregnant? I guess the pregnancy technically had to have come first. But... seriously? Can't a girl catch a break? I take in deep deliberate breaths to calm myself and close my eyes. "It's okay Ana. You trained for this at the camp. Reality just decided to hit in a bit sooner than I'd like but what is that saying, fate laughs while we plan. Something like that. Fate must be laughing his ass off right about now." I mumble to myself.
I open my eyes to find Lux has his head cocked to the side staring at me quizzically. "You humans are very strange."
"Get used to it bud. Seeing as how our kid will be half one." Just saying it out loud causes my stomach to drop. I don't think I'm done freaking out yet.
"Lux, could I have a glass of water please? My throat is a bit dry." I ask, looking my most angelic.
"Of course little mouse. Be right back." He says one thing but I can tell by the look on his face that he doesn't want to leave my side. It's sweet. He is so protective of me. I have never had that before.
As soon as Lux rounds the corner and I hear his footsteps down the hall I jump out of bed and beeline right for the bathroom, slamming and locking the door. Lux must have heard the door because it doesn't take long for his fists to start pounding on the wood.
"Give me a minute will ya? What happened to you serve me now as I serve you? Or was that just lip service?" A shiver runs down my spine thinking of what his real lip service feels like. I shake my head, "now isn't the time for that."
I brace myself against the counter and look, scanning my body. I don't see anything different other than the inky black mark on my neck. Which I have to admit is kind of hot. Turning on the faucet I splash some water on my face then dry it with a towel. My new mantra swirls in my head, "it's going to be okay. It's going to be okay." Maybe if I think it enough it will be true. I lay my hand gently on my stomach and look at myself in the mirror, turning side to side. A life is growing inside of me. A life that Lux and I created. A life made from love.
"From love" I speak softly and continue to stare. I smile and look down at where my hand connects with my abdomen, "well little dude...Looks like it's the three of us now."
Lux