Before I start today's chapter, I have some news.

On the morning of September 6, I was in a car accident on my way to a job interview. I was the only person involved in the accident and luckily, I wasn't hurt. However, my car is in really bad shape. They might be able to fix it, but more than likely, it's totaled. If today's chapter is a little late, that's why. I need to focus on finding a job so I can get another car and pay my parents back for the one I crashed. Not having a car isn't an option right now because I'm in college and I need to be able to get to and from the school. And to top it off, we just replaced my mom's car after my dad hit a deer and totaled the car, so our insurance is not looking good.

Here's hoping I get a job soon. I have prospects, but I have to reschedule the interview for a later time. They were very understanding about the whole situation and I'm very grateful. Many of you probably don't care about my personal life, but I figured I should let you know that this very scary thing happened to me and I'm okay. This will affect my writing time and the speed of updates as I deal with the effects of the accident. Thank you for understanding.

Here's today's chapter.

"Neil!"

The alchemist looked up to see Nikki in the doorway, Max slumped over next to her. A knife was sticking out of his back. Neil gasped and helped her put Max on the examination table.

"What the hell happened?!"

"W-we were out in the garden, and this guy attacked us out of nowhere! I didn't see his face because he was wearing a hood."

"Jesus Christ." Neil took a few vials off the shelf, along with some bandages. "Max, I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt. Nikki, I need you to help me get the knife out of his back. Then take off his shirt so I can get at the wound."

Nikki nodded and they gripped the handle. Together, they pulled it out. It shone red with Max's blood, making Nikki feel sick to her stomach as she ripped off his shirt. Neil uncorked one of the vials and poured its contents on the wound. Max hissed in pain as Neil poured one of the remaining vials on top of it.

"Nikki, get me a rag."

"Right!" She handed him the cloth and he dabbed at the liquid, cleaning away the blood before bandaging the wound.

"God, that hurts!" Max complained as he sat up. Nikki hugged him tightly, tears running down her face. "Nik!"

"Who did this?" Neil asked.

"It was some guy dressed all in black and wearing a hood. We couldn't see his face, but he wasn't after me. He was after Nikki. I just got in the way and took the hit." Max touched the bandages, a worried expression on his face. "Who the fuck would want to hurt her anyway?"

"Well, let's run down the list of possible candidates. First, there's Prince Edward, but he's in prison."

"Cross his dad off the list, too," Nikki added, tossing the bloody rag into the trash can. "We're at peace with Woodland now."

"Then there's the Children of Zeemug, but they can't leave the forest," Max stated. "And there's no way Captain Baker is holding a grudge." Neil tapped his chin, then his eyes widened.

"Wait, what about that guy we met in Sleepy Peak right after Nikki ran away from her wedding? The one that both of you punched after he drugged Nikki's drink?" Max's eyes narrowed.

"Son of a bitch. Jason."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about him," Nikki stated with a shrug.

"To be honest, I did, too. He wasn't that memorable." Max slid off the table. "But if he's the one who went after you, then he's dangerous and a fucking psychopath. As long as he's out there, you're not safe."

"Does that mean more guards?"

"I think Nerris and Harrison will be more than enough. Magic is stronger than weapons."

"Thank God." She hugged him again.

"In the meantime, let's keep this on the down-low. We don't need our parents freaking out; otherwise, you'll have a dozen guards breathing down your neck at all times."

"I'm just glad you're okay."

"Yeah, side note: Neil, that shit hurt like a bitch!"

"It's the best way to keep it from getting infected and killing you!" Max rolled his eyes.

"Can I have the knife?" Nikki asked.

"I'd like to clean it first," Neil insisted. "Unless you want a knife covered in your husband's blood?"

"Nah. I just want the knife in case something happens. I can defend myself with it."

"We know you can; we just… we don't want a repeat of what happened with Rosemary." Nikki nodded in understanding.

"I know, but if it's to protect myself and the baby, I think I can handle it."

"Let's just hope you don't have to use it," Max stated. Neil used a bottle of something to clean the blood off the knife, then wrapped it in cloth before handing it to Nikki.

"Let's also hope she doesn't have to kill anybody."

Jason balled his fist as he leaned against a wall in town, his mask off to allow him to breathe. He'd gotten Max instead of Nikki. Damn. And now they'd be on high alert for anybody suspicious within the castle walls. He wouldn't be able to get back in easily or be able to get close enough to get a good shot at the princess. Max could live or die for all he cared, but it was the bitch of a princess that he wanted dead.

Her and that baby. That's what she gets for rejecting me.

What could he do now? There wasn't a way for him to get back in.

Unless, of course, he used a major event to sneak in like he had for the wedding. Or maybe if he waited for the alert from his attack to go down, he'd be able to get back in.

Yeah. That'll work.

Watch your backs…

"…and then, we'll announce the name of the baby."

Nikki groaned as the herald rattled off the plans for presenting her baby to the kingdom.

It had been four months since Jason's attack, and in that time her belly had swelled with the baby's growth. Everyone was excited for the royal birth—especially those who wanted a male heir. Nikki and Max had insisted that they didn't care what gender the baby was as long as it was healthy. That did not sit well with the nobility, most of whom were shown the door once they made it clear that they loathed the idea of having a new princess over a prince.

"Can't we just have a simple ceremony instead of all this fanfare?" she asked.

"Your Highness, this is a royal baby. You honestly think we're not going to make a big deal out of this?"

"I want to enjoy being a mother and not terrify my baby before they're even two months old!"

"Fine. Let your child be unknown and not remembered!" The herald left her alone, letting out an offended huff as he exited the room. Max glanced at the man as he entered.

"Let me guess—he wants there to be a big fanfare?"

"Yep." Nikki rested a hand on her enormous belly. "I can't wait until the baby gets here. Maybe I'll stop feeling like I'm going to pop any minute. I'm rounder than a melon."

"But you're still you. That's all that matters."

"Thanks." They hugged, which was difficult given Nikki's current condition. "I'm heading to our room. I need some sleep."

"Sorry you're so miserable."

"It'll be worth it when the baby arrives." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he followed her out. "Do you have to follow me?"

"Neil said you could give birth any day now. I don't want to miss it."

"And you're not going to. I promise." She squeezed his arm. "You need to relax."

"Childbirth is the number-one cause of death for women."

"Max, stop listening to Neil's statistics. They're going to make you more worried than anything else."

"Fine. I'll see you later. Have a good nap."

Nikki smiled and headed to the room she and Max shared, her bare feet cooled by the stone beneath them. She'd stopped wearing shoes when her belly had expanded to the point where she couldn't see her feet. Her choice had been met with disdain from her mother and approval from Gwen and Max. But the young mother-to-be didn't care what her mother thought. All that mattered was that she was ready for the baby.

She entered the room and lied down on the bed, making herself comfortable. Her hand went under her pillow and touched a wrapped object, which she pulled out to look at. It was the knife she'd gotten from Neil, still in the rag she'd wrapped it in. She decided to keep it where it was, just in case.

Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her belly. She hissed and held the spot, thinking the baby was just kicking. It subsided quickly and she breathed a sigh of relief as she laid back down.

It was then that she realized she wasn't alone.

"I know you're here!" she declared, pulling her knife out from under her pillow. "Come on out and I might go easy on you."

"You can't fight as you are, you stupid whore." Jason stepped out from behind the curtain, a dagger in his hand.

"Why do you want to kill me so badly?"

"Because nobody rejects me and gets away with it!" She gave him an odd look as another wave of pain washed over her. He rushed towards her and she unwrapped the knife, kicking him in the abdomen to give her a moment to stand up.

"Seriously! You're trying to fight a pregnant woman! What kind of sick fuck are you?!"

"I'm not sick! You just don't have taste!" He rushed for her again, and she dodged him in the nick of time. Just as quickly, she whirled around and drove the knife into his side. His dagger nicked her arm as he froze solid. She looked over to see Nerris in the doorway, looking panicked.

"Nikki!" the sorceress gasped, running over. "Are you okay?"

"He nicked my arm. I think I got him worse."

"Yeah, you did."

The pain returned and bloomed across her belly once again and she gripped the spot.

It was then that she realized exactly what was going on.

"Nerris… I think it's time."

"Are you sure?!"

"Why else would I be having pain like this?! Get Max and Neil!"

It was time to welcome a prince or princess to the world.