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Morgaine pulled a chair out next to her when I stepped in late to the council ht be a traitor, I’d had a hard tihtly behind her instead, pretending not to have noticed her gesture

"It wouldn’t be a bad thing," Quaid said "At least then David can come home sometimes, since it’d explain the scent"

"True," Blade said

"It’ll also explain a pregnancy if it ever happens," Falcon added

I realised then that they were discussing the idea of nancy so we can crown David noait until Ara actually conceives?" Morgaine said

"Hey, good idea, Morg," Quaid said "What’d you guys think?"

"I’reed

But not aine’s ed when they looked attaller "It’s out of the question"

"Mike, they will force her to marry soon, and I can’t be back there yet--"

"Why?" Mike cut David off "All your reasons for being away iven current events, David What’s really going on?"

Morgaine shifted in her chair; I finally sat down

"I’ at the phone "How can we protect our queen, and our nation, if you’re keeping things froret or Walter or any of the Ancient Rune Readers have to say is irrelevant Drake believes David to be the knight of the prophecy, and the only reason he didn’t attack before the coronation is because, Ara ht be powerful, but she is not worth a dah I didn’t agree In truth, I knew David had things to hide, but I trusted him After all, he was the one person who absolutely had my best interests at heart So, I’d help him keep those secrets for now, even if I didn’t knohat they were "David’s been busting his chops trying to find another Lilithian--trying to find Vauys have the audacity to question hisbut our best interests at heart, and you would all do well to respect his decisions," I finished

"Right," Morgaine said "We stick to plan A; get this prophecy child conceived and get David crowned under disguise of Jason"

"And to do that, Jason has to be Ara’s husband," Mike yelled "They have to wed!"

"Not if she’s pregnant first," Morg reasoned "They don’t have to be ht of heir"

"But the child has to be born first, doesn’t it?" Quaid asked

"Nope," Blade said "As long as it’s conceived, the father will have rights to be ruler"

"Yes, which get revoked if the child dies," Morg finished for hinancy and crown David in Jason’s place," I said si this, Mike"

Mike dropped his head against his fist "Ara, you’re killing ether," I said "And it reater powers froether"

Mike sat down

"How long before we can announce a pregnancy?" Eh the phone than David’s had been

"A , anyway, since Jason’s only just arrived," David said "I’nancy"

"Right" Mike nodded, pushing off the table to stand up again "A month then"

"Good," David said I kneas happy because that would give hi out there But I was sad because it one--for reasons I knew nothing of

"Okay then" Morgaine clapped once, seely happy with all this "Then Jason will officially be Ara’s new boyfriend"

"Ara?" David said, his voice disappearing under the crappy connection

"Yeah?"

"Take the phone somewhere private, please I want to talk to you"

I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I snatched it, then flew up the stairs to the Throne Roo it from loudspeaker to handset "Hey, what’s up?" I said chirpily

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For covering for me in there" He paused "I’ve been an absent husband--left you alone, yelled at you, confessed that I’s from you, yet you stepped up to support me despite that"

I smiled to myself "Well, what else would I do?"

"You just don’t kno much I appreciate that--especially since you don’t even knohat you’re supporting"

"I do, David I’ you Whatever you decide, I know it’s always for the best So, you don’t have to be honest with "

He went quiet for a very long time

"David?"

"Still here"

"Are you okay?"

"I’ve row up"

My bottohed "My love, you have no idea how different you sound each ti the woman I always knew you were--deep down inside"

"Really deep down," I said, laughing

"Well, the past doesn’t in to tell you what your support means to me"

"Well, I love you, David I trust you"

"I love you, too, Ara And I alill Nowe’re apart--I will love you in this life and the next"

"The next?" I laughed "We don’t get an afterlife"

He cleared his throat "With ie our lives That’s what I meant"