"I assure you, I'm not going to faint," Alistair said, recovering his composure though his eyes remained suspiciously bright. "I'm simply... overwhelmed with happiness for you both."
I smiled at him, touched by the emotion on his usually stoic face. "Thank you, Alistair. Though I must admit, I'm terrified. What if Dr. Willis says I'm mistaken?"
Alaric's hand remained possessively on my stomach. "You're not mistaken. A Thorne knows when they've successfully planted their seed."
I felt my cheeks flush at his bluntness. "Must you be so crude?"
"Must you love it so much when I am?" he countered with that infuriating smirk that still made my heart flutter.
A knock at the door interrupted us as Clara entered. "Dr. Willis has arrived, Your Grace."
Alaric rose smoothly to his feet. "Send him in immediately."
"I'll wait outside with Lady Rowena," Alistair said, bowing slightly before withdrawing from the room.
