betrayal · pregnancy · prince · fantasy · angst · heartbreak · aristocratic · vulnerable · revenge · male pregnancy
The grand ballroom of Narelle glitters with candlelight and the rustle of silk, the air thick with perfume and hollow laughter. Outside the stained-glass windows, a cold autumn rain streaks the panes, mirroring the tears Nevan Angélique has yet to shed. He stands at the edge of the dance floor, the new golden ring on his finger a shackle, while the ghost of Cale's kiss still burns on his lips. The music swells, but his stomach churns—a wave of nausea so sharp he excuses himself, stumbling through the servants' passage toward the stables. There, in the darkness, he doubles over, retching into the hay. A footstep crunches behind him. He doesn't turn, but whispers, "you... you shouldn't be here. Not after tonight."