He was the last person I expected to see. Several weeks ago, he offered me money to leave Herrel. Then he threatened me. I never told Herrel about his visit and now, here he is again. All of the blood has drained out of my face. I feel cold and faint. The temperature in the house feels like it has dropped to the freezing stage. I shiver. I feel fear.

"What do you want Vallyon?" Herrel snaps.

"Aren't you going to ask me in cousin?" He smirks.

"No! What do you want?" Herrel snaps again.

"Really cousin, such hostility. I am not your enemy. Please, let me in. I came to see your lovely wife. To better make her acquaintance." His tone is oily. His smile is very unpleasant. I know Herrel wants to slam the door in his face, but civility won out. He opens the door wider and allows Vallyon in. He strides in; tossing his cloak and gloves onto the hall table then turns to look at me.

"You are looking as lovely as always Miss Jaisea." He says this as if we know each other. Herrel glowers at him. I swallow but hold my ground. "What do you want Vallyon?" I ask.

"I want to offer my congratulations on your marriage, and to wish you good fortune. It is after all, Solorius." He bows to me. Herrel snorts. "Oh really Vallyon. Well, we both know that's a lie. Get to the point then get out. We don't care to participate in any family drama. We have our own lives to live without any interference from you."

Vallyon glances at both of us. "Very well then. Your father, Lord Hyron, is getting married to the Lady Elise of House Trajon."

"Is he?! Good for him," Herrel snaps. "I don't really care."

Vallyon laughs. "Oh really cousin. The look on your face makes that a lie. Nonetheless, it is so, and it will affect the family. All of us as a matter of fact. If they have an heir, both you and Halse will be disinherited."

"I never expected to inherit anything from my father. He never cared about Halse or me. Why would it matter now? We are doing fine without any help from him." Herrel turns away angrily. He walks over to the couch and sits down. "Is that all you have to say?!" He doesn't wait for Vallyon to answer. "Then get out!"

Vallyon looks surprised. He turns to look at me and I am confused. I walk over and sit down next to my husband. "Love, what is he talking about?" I ask Herrel. Vallyon now looks from one to the other. "Doesn't she know?" he asks Herrel?

Sighing Herrel says, "My father never married my mother, or Halse's. If he has any children with Lady Elise, it will make us both illegitimate. We will get nothing from the estate, should he die. Neither will any of the other family members. Unless Hyron chooses to leave them something in a will, it will all pass to his legal wife, or any children in birth order, and so on."

Vallyon moves over to a chair and sits down. He says, "If either you or Halse were to have a child, that child would stand before any children Uncle Hyron might have. He is," he pauses, then says, "somewhat old to father any more children." Herrel looks at him sharply. "Why do you care Vallyon? It still leaves your side of the family out. Unless you plan on getting rid of all of us."

Vallyon quirks an eyebrow at Herrel. "My side of the family, as you put it, is very well positioned. However, it benefits none of us to see any infighting amongst Hyron's heirs. That could get very messy and inconvenient. We don't wish to be dragged through the mud. Understand?"

Herrel leaps up off the couch. "Don't threaten us Vallyon! Like I said before, I don't give a damn about Hyron's marriage or lack of it. I'm done with all that and that's that! Now if you don't mind, please leave!"

Vallyon rises from couch. Turning he gathers up his cloak and gloves. "I didn't have to warn you Herrel. I don't dislike you in particular. I just don't want the boat rocked. You see? Better you heard it from me, than from your brother or gods forbid, Nerilka. She would delight in giving you the news." Herrel snorts again. Striding over to the door he yanks it open.

Turning towards Jaisea, Vallyon sweeps a deep bow to her. "My lady," he says. "It was a pleasure to see you again." He sweeps his cloak around his shoulders, pulls on his gloves, and strides out the door. Turning one last time he looks at Herrel. "I'll see you again cousin."

Herrel shuts the door harder than necessary and throws the lock. He looks upset and his fists are clenched tightly as if he is trying not to hit something. I get up off the couch and walk over to him. Wrapping my arms around him I hug him tightly. He returns the embrace, murmuring softly in her hair. Tilting my head back, I look up at my very handsome husband. "Love, I have something to tell you."

He looks down at her, his expression softening. "What is it honey," he asks? She grins at him. "I'm pregnant." The look on his face is priceless. He gaps at me astonished. "You…your…what?" he stammers. I give him my cheekiest grin. Taking one of his claws I gently place it on my lower abdomen. "We are going to have a baby Herrel," I murmur. "I'm three months along and that my dearest husband is why I haven't been feeling so well lately. And it's why I couldn't go with you this morning. I went to Eva's to confirm my suspicions."

He knelt down in front of me his claws sliding around my hips to pull me toward him. He kissed my belly then, reverently brushing my clothing aside so his lips could touch my bare skin. Heat flared where he touched me and I moaned in pleasure. My claws clutched at him tightly as I pulled him closer. Oh how I wanted him right then. But we were not to be so lucky.

Another knock at the door interrupted us. Herrel stood up slowly, his amber eyes glowing softly. His look let me know that I was not getting away so easily. I shivered in anticipation. Oh tonight was going to be filled with pleasure, I just knew it.

The knock came again and Herrel sighed. He flipped the lock on the door and opened it. Outside was a courier from Pandemonium. He handed Herrel a thick envelope and bowed. Herrel took it and turned it in his hands. His looked puzzled. "What is it my love?" I asked him. I couldn't quite see what he was holding and curiosity was getting the better of me. "It's a letter from the family lawyer." Herrel tossed it onto the hall table. "It can wait until later," he says as he turns and scoops me up into his arms. "We have more important things to do." I squealed as he kissed me again. He turned and carried me off to our bedroom.

It's a terrible thing to be torn between too equally interesting things. I really wanted to know what that letter said, and yet I also wanted to find out what Herrel had in store for me. Wistfully I glanced towards the door, then turned all my attention on Herrel. He had this silly look on his face and I relaxed. He is happy about the baby. He gently lays me on the bed, then stretches out beside me. He props his head up on an elbow and slowly strokes my belly with his other claw. Heat stirs where he touches me and I squirm because it tickles too.

I reached out to pull his lips down to mine. This isn't going quite as I expected. He let me and our lips met in a gentle kiss. I leaned in closer, my breath coming quicker. All thoughts of anything were slipping away. I wanted Herrel right now. My early morning sickness was forgotten as I began to work on the strings on Herrel's jerkin. "Is this a good thing?" he murmurs against my lips. Shocked, I leaned back from him to look at his face. "What do you mean?" I asked him.

"Do you want to have a baby Jaisea?" I did some internal eye-rolling. "Of course I want to have your baby! Oh Herrel, this is the best news ever!" I resumed my attempts to get his jerkin off. I was startled by his laughter. "Ok love, I can see you have a one track mind today. But I don't want to hurt you or the baby," he says. More eye-rolling on my part. "Herrel, the only way you can hurt me is by staying in your clothes."

He laughed again, and caught my claws in his and pinned them above my head. He rolled over on top of me, gently pressing me into the mattress. At last I thought. I shifted under him, pressing my body into his. He gazed at me a moment longer, then kissed me. I sighed in pleasure. Oh yes, the rest of the night is going to be bliss.