Fussing

"Dorian," Manon seethed, "I am pregnant, not an invalid. Quit your ridiculous whining and let me do as I wish."

"Asterin said it was dangerous," he protested, going next to her, only taking his arm away when she bared her teeth. "You should be in bed."

There was a hiss building up in her throat, but she forced it down. "You unbearable fool, I am only going to the stables, not a war zone." She hadn't seen Abraxos since the day before and was feeling in need of his company.

Alone.

Not with a mate that would panic so much she sneezed in the wrong way and a group of equally intolerable witches that would gladly carry her around everywhere wrapped up in a protective layer of armor had their Wing Leader not consistently threaten them with permanent bodily harm.

But Dorian, the worm that he was, remained furiously insistent. "And I'm going with you, and with Asterin and Sorell."

Manon paused, looking at him with defiance. "I have as much chance dying by visiting the royal stables"-stables that were located inside the castle walls-"as I am by being incessantly coddled by you, you insolent idle-minded mutt."

Dorian let out a breath, his perfect face concerned. "But it's dangerous," he complained. When she rolled her eyes, he stepped close and dared to brush away a few stray strands of white hair from her face. "Manon, please, I worry for you."

She watched him closely. "I sometimes wonder if you are part Fae with how much you fuss. Your worry is absolutely ludicrous, farcical, nonsensical, derisory-"

"I love you."

He pouted and she looked away quickly before being enchanted. He was not going to win this one, damn it.

Slowly, the witch turned to him, her expression less forced. "Nothing will happen," she muttered and transitioned into a calmer voice, one she knew he couldn't say no to. "I just need my time alone." His chin was jutting at an angle and she pleaded her case by grabbing him by the waist, her nails teasing at the fabric of his shirt.

"Please…" He shuddered at the tone and she knew she had him.

With the same care she raised her head and brushed her lips against the side of his chin while Dorian went completely stiff. "Manon," he whispered, but there was no man there, only male.

She smiled to herself. "I will be fine." Her lips traveled higher, toward his ear while her hands went under his shirt, stroking his spine.

His hands stroked her neck, like he was thinking. "Alright, just Asterin then," Manon stepped back, the moment broken, and before she could speak Dorian was already on it. "She'll keep her distance."

A growl, but she was done fighting over this fallacy. Reluctantly she said, "if I so much as smell her nearby be advised that you will be sleeping on the bathroom tiles tonight."

The King smiled and Manon wondered if she had made a mistake by agreeing with his bargain. "I accept your conditions," he told her. "I shall await for your return in our room then, my Queen." He even bowed and Manon wasn't sure how to feel.

The witch crossed her arms before nodding a little hesitantly. "So be it…King," her tone was more challenging than his and her use of the word 'King' was teasing, like she was imagining the bed all to herself tonight. "I'm leaving now."

Dorian merely smiled as he watched her go, noting how Asterin gave him a nod before following after her at a respectable distance, Sorell not far behind.

I do hope this scenario isn't too hard to imagine as Manon is slowly gaining her feelings in canon. Either way pregnant-Manon would be super adorable, or as adorable as she could be. And Dorian being the puppy he is, would be overly protective.

Thanks for the nice review TaoGrace and these are short on purpose as I'm waiting for the next book to perhaps expand on their relationship in accordance to canon. For now, please continue to enjoy.

Thank you for reading.