Chapter 50 : The Princess' Bounty

*Ember’s POV*

I sat on the bed, watching Alec rush about the room as he haphazardly packed his belongings. I felt breathless and numb. I supposed that I had always known that war would come as soon as Alec had rescued me from Lukas, but it had always been an alien, abstract concept. Now that it was actually happening, I realized that I had never allowed myself to really consider what war would mean. And with my newfound mate and the pregnancy, what would happen to us?

“How long will you be gone?” I asked softly, trying to disguise how my brain was reeling from this newest development.

Alec paused to look at me, his face unreadable. “I don’t know,” he answered. I knew what he really meant, that he didn’t know if he’d even make it home, let alone when.

Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I needed to strong for Alec, and for the baby. But what would happen to this child if Alec never returned? What would we do then?”

“Alec…” I started, struggling t