#Chapter 431- Arrival of Old Friends

Ella

Cora comes early the day that the festivities begin – if they can be called that. Because while the atmosphere is supposed to be festive, I know that simmering beneath it is a great deal of political tension that my mate is hoping goes just precisely right.

I throw my arms around my sister the moment I open the door to my bedroom, letting her in. “Thank you thank you thank you!” I cry out, the words all mushing together as one.

“Whoa!” Cora says, catching me and laughing, giving me a hug in return. ” It’s fine, Ella – honestly, where else would I be on a day like this?”

“I don’t know, sleeping?” I say, looking at her with wide eyes. “Its 4 am!”

“True,” she says, giving a little shrug and grinning at me. But then she slips a hand to her belly. “Not like I wasn’t up anyway, though.”

“What?” I gasp, tugging her into the room. Cora is about two full months pregnant now, which isn’t much according to a human pregnancy, but if this is a wolf pregnancy? Then she’s probably just getting into her second trimester.

But…is this her second trimester? With a hybrid baby…

She laughs at me, watching me try to do the math in my head as I stare down at her belly, which is juuuust barely starting to swell.

Which is so, so cute

“Yeah,” she says, giving a little shrug. “The morning sickness is starting to hit hard. I got away with it in my first trimester but,” she sighs. “It mostly hits at night for me too. So, I was already up.”

“Poor sister,” I murmur, looking up into her face and meaning every word of it. I reach for her then, wanting to put a hand on her cheek, but she laughs and pushes it away, which makes me laugh as well. Cora isn’t one for coddling or pity.

get you?” I ask, the smile returning to my face. “I’ve heard ginger tea does good

she says, nodding firmly. “That

say, grabbing her

little when she steps inside because even though it’s 4 am? It’s already chaos –

for the fourth time. He wants to get it absolutely, perfectly correct. “Thanks for coming early.

sighs, sitting down in the poufy arm chair next to Rafe’s littleplay pen, smiling down at him and patting his head to say hello. “He is lazy, and wanted more sleep. He says he’ll be here at the more

too late,” Sinclair murmurs, shaking his head and reaching for his phone. “I

murmurs, accepting the little

do on mornings like this. Just throw on a

grinning when she detects that I’ve given

has a point!” Sinclair calls out, tossing his phone back onto a side table after he finishes texting Roger and

both flatter,” I murmur, giving them both a pleased little glare and flapping my hands at them. “But we’ve got

giving me a smile. “I haven’t been pampered like this in a long time. Plus, the

bride,” I say, turning and giving her a grin.

rolling her eyes, “I’m supposed to steal the show. But

I say, pointing to the man who is going to be you know

will be on you, my Queen,” Sinclair says, coming my side and tugging me close, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I smile when I note that his tie is indeed perfect. “Or,” Sinclair continues, considering and turning

to the baby, who burbles in the playpen, swatting at some

at us, taking a sip of her tea. “Guys, he’s very cute, but…you’re looking at him with

the little dresser where we keep Rafe’s things, but before I can pull anything out another

appointment,” Sinclair murmurs, moving away from me

to give Cora

the King of Vanara as soon as he mounts the four short steps up to the dais on which Sinclair and I stand, greeting each of the

in his arms and giving me a warm, lingering

see you we were all so worried when you left.

so my son can meet the King who was so kind to me during such a large part of my pregnancy. Cora smiles, handing him over willingly, Roger at her side likewise looking eagerly at the Vanaran delegation, which holds so many familiar faces. Henry declined to attend this part of the

laughing and taking Rafe from my hands and cradling him in his arms, staring down at him with true joy. Then he laughs, lifting his head to Sinclair at my side, his eyes crinkling with pleasure at the edges. “Well,” he says, reaching for my mate and giving him a warm hug around the shoulders. “No

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