"William," Lark echoed. She had seen him with her own eyes. It was not surprising that August had been motivated to seek out that which he thought he could never have in his demon form. He had sought a family and heir. But only a human woman could provide him with what he wanted most. And Ora had brought him so close only to be destroyed. Lark felt as if she might weep. She was overwhelmed with the possibilities that had been presented to her. But what if she was unable to bear his child? Would he still want her company? August reached out to her.
"That is not why I wish to make you my wife," he assured her. "Though I would be elated for the chance to raise my own child I only need you to be satisfied." This calmed Lark slightly but she was still shaken. If Ora had been murdered while carrying the lord's child she knew she could expect a similar fate. Unless she took action to stop it. She knew August would stop at nothing to protect her but she knew this alone was not enough.
"When will we marry?" she asked bluntly.
"A month from now," he replied quickly. "If you will have me so soon."
Lark nodded firmly.
"I will have a dressmaker sent to your chamber within a fortnight," he continued. "You may order whatever you wish. And Sara must have a dress as well."
For a moment Lark allowed herself a small smile. Though she had been living luxuriously for many months she was still delighted at the prospect of ordering a wedding dress she could hardly have dreamt of in her former life. It was a small comfort as she faced her own mortality. August held her hand against his chest and breathed deeply to calm himself. With Devroe in his custody he knew his problems were only beginning in earnest. Soon they would face a flood of difficulties. But he felt more steady with Lark at his side. He had not dared to hope for love after the tragedy of Ora's death. But his future seemed to be brighter since he had met Lark. As the night faded into the dewy haze of early morning they sat together discussing their life together and tactfully ignored the encroaching shadows.
Over the next few weeks, preparations for the wedding began. Lark ordered a dress of black velvet dripping with clear gems like drops of water cascading from the gathered bust. A black veil was ordered to match along with a dramatic cloak lined with purple silk that would fall to the ground behind her as she approached August at the altar. It would be an intimidating and powerful statement made simply by her attire, a declaration of her strength and power that could not be ignored. Sara's black silk gown would be understated but beautiful, hugging her ample curves beautifully. Lark had noticed that her handmaid was spending more time in the library as the weather changed. She knew it must be to visit Bernard. It filled her heart with warmth to think of the two of them together whispering and laughing in the many shadowed alcoves of the library. They were blissfully in love, existing only in their own soft and gentle reality. Any memories of Devroe's attack seemed to have vanished from Sara's mind and been replaced with images of Bernard's face.
August had set a date and sent many invitations. Some were rejected outright, many were accepted, and word of the wedding was beginning to spread throughout the territories. Even those who had not been involved or invited had begun to learn of the event and react to the news. Many were outraged, furious that their own ladies and noblewomen had been passed over for a human woman. Some territories which had previously been allies began to voice their anger and withdraw their support. But some stayed firmly beside August and his impressive army. It was safer to stay quiet and accept his choice. He had spent much of his time conferring with William on how to handle the mounting tension and awaiting the council's word on how to handle Devroe's act of violence. But they seemed uninterested in the imprisoned vampire even as he slowly began to starve. August had not deemed it necessary to feed the monster confined to the feeding room and simply allowed him to slowly rot. He had become gaunt and weak and his mind was beginning to twist and warp from his solitary existence. But before long the council would finally speak out. On a cool, windy night they convened at a secluded castle in the nearby mountains. August gave his testimony with Lark at his side, though she was not permitted to speak in the presence of the council. They brought Devroe with them, chained tightly to prevent his escape. However it barely seemed necessary. He was now only a shell, empty of any sensation or desire besides his deepening bloodlust. He screamed and clawed frantically towards Lark, the only human in the room. His hunger was beginning to take full control of his senses. There was nothing but hunger. Lark stood by impassively, barely granting him a second glance as he contorted on the black stone floor of the grand hall where the council was seated. They were impressed by her stalwart and confident appearance, unfazed by the beast at her feet. Having learned of August's intention to marry her they had been doubtful of the legitimacy of the union. But some now considered that while it was unconventional, at least this human woman was strong willed and courageous. She might help to shape August into a better ruler. And given her human constitution, she would not live long enough to interfere greatly with their goals. After a lengthy trial and debate, they granted them permission to marry and gave them power over Devroe's fate. He was returned to the feeding room to await their final judgement.
Security had been greatly increased in the castle to prevent any harm from coming to Lark. She was always accompanied by a guard, often several, and moved carefully through the broad corridors and halls she had come to memorize. She had not seen Vayn for many weeks but knew she was still hidden somewhere in the harem on the other side of the castle. Though she had been to visit Ariane she had seen no sign of her former rival. She was curious as to her fate but resisted the urge to investigate. It was better to remain entirely separate from her. She was confident that Vayn was no longer a threat. She had been promised a new life. Lark only hoped that she would be granted it soon. But she had noticed her own fatigue as time passed. She spent every night in August's arms and wondered if she might be exerting herself too much with the planning and execution of wedding plans. She had also been taking the initiative to study the role of a noblewoman. She was aware that August did not expect her to fully take part in her new position but she had no intention of ignoring her new duties. In fact she looked forward to the possibility of having more purpose in her life. Helping to run the territory would give her an outlet for her endless curiosity and desire to learn. But she was so easily tired after only a few hours of study and her appetite had increased. As the wedding approached she knew there could only be one explanation. She was pregnant.
She wasn't sure whether she should call for a doctor or inform August of her suspicions. If she lost the baby she could only imagine that August would be devastated. But it seemed wrong to keep the possibility to herself. Seeking out a doctor would raise August's suspicions and she was never alone. Regardless of when she met with them he would quickly discover the truth. One evening as she helped him dress before a meeting with William, Lark took August by the hand and led him to sit beside her on the couch.
"August I need to tell you something," she said softly. August could see from the look on her face that she was nervous. And she was. What if she was wrong? What if she miscarried? How would she reconcile her grief? But she knew she could not keep her worry to herself. She hadn't even been able to tell Sara yet. Her courage had failed her every time she tried to breach the subject. But she wouldn't allow herself to be weak this time.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently. He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She had just taken it down to prepare for bed. Recently she hadn't been able to stay awake past nightfall as easily as before. She was just so tired. A wave of exhaustion crashed into her as she tried to think of what to say. The touch of his fingertips on her temple made her feel calmer and more settled. She dared to look him in the eyes.
"I think I might be carrying your child," she said quickly. The words poured out so quickly that August was taken aback. He seemed unwilling to accept the news and sat stiffly, unsure of how to react. "I cannot be sure," she continued. "But I would like to request a doctor to be sure. I thought I should be honest with my intentions. I know I have not been entirely myself over the last few weeks."
August nodded silently. She had been more moody and particular about what she was served for meals. She slept longer and dreamed more. He had never guessed that this could be the reason. It seemed unlikely that he would ever have the chance to meet another compatible partner. He held in any excitement or premature celebration. There was no guarantee. His face darkened. Even if she was pregnant it would be difficult to ensure that she and the child would be safe. He managed to smile but couldn't hide the worry etched across his face. Lark squeezed his hand comfortingly.
"It's only a guess. Perhaps I am mistaken."
August sighed deeply.
"Do not misunderstand me. It would be the greatest joy of my life to welcome a child of my own. But the road ahead is perilous for us all. If the child even survives to be born. I do not wish for you to suffer." Lark shook her head but knew his worry was not unfounded. It would not be easy to move forward with her life if her child did not survive. The grief would be acute and overwhelming. But she knew she would find a way to overcome it.
"I will send for a doctor," he concluded. He rose to his feet and Lark hurried to stand with him and walk him to the door. He dropped a kiss on her head and she tried to smile as he exited. Two guards flanked the entrance and she felt safe within August's chambers. But she longed to escape to the freedom of the courtyard. She would be permitted to visit with guards standing by but it wasn't the same as her evenings strolling in private, feeding King from her hand. She hadn't seen the raven for many days. He visited very rarely recently, spending more time with his own blossoming family. He had brought his wife and daughter to meet Lark and she had delighted in watching them squabble over treats. He had brought her some small gifts including a tiny silver key which now hung around her neck on a chain. Though most of his gifts were kept in a small chest in her chamber she liked to keep this one close. She stepped into the hallway and was led to her own chamber by a guard. Now that the feeding room held their prisoner, this was her only way to move between their two rooms. When she entered she saw that Sara was gone, likely visiting Bernard or perhaps she was already asleep. She rushed into the small private courtyard attached to her chamber, hoping King would be there waiting for her. But he had not come. She found a single black feather resting on the stones even in the dark and picked it up to tuck it behind her ear. But she was startled by a loud banging on the door to the feeding chamber. Devroe was usually a quiet prisoner, slowly wasting away in the dark. But he had become more reactive as his hunger increased. He could smell her flesh through the heavy doors. Blinded by his hunger he screamed out to her. But Lark ignored him. She lit a lantern hanging in the garden and worked on her most recent embroidery. In between time with August and planning their upcoming wedding she had started a new project as a gift for her betrothed. She slowly and deliberately stitched two black swans embracing in a silvery lake. Each black thread represented her worries and as they were transformed became luxuriant feathers and gentle sloping shapes she felt them begin to fade away. She worked for hours until the light began to spread slowly across the sky and she finally fell asleep still seated on the stone bench in the courtyard.
As her embroidery fell to the soft grass beneath her feet Lark was safe from what was occurring just inside her chamber. She was not awoken by the heavy sound of doors opening and closing or by the quiet shuffling and grunts of an altercation. By the time her body had relaxed completely onto the cold stone and her discomfort roused her to wakefulness her chamber appeared to be undisturbed. She returned to her bed groggily and collapsed back into a dreamless sleep. She was completely ignorant to how close she might have come to her own death. What had occured was not discovered until the following night. Lark had spent her day lounging in the courtyard awaiting the arrival of the doctor. She would not come until the following evening but Lark was too anxious to focus on much more than her embroidery and a review of her gown alterations. Even if she was pregnant her measurements would hardly be changed by the time of the wedding. It was less than a week away now. But as she held the fabric in her hands that would soon be her wedding dress the door to the feeding chamber flew open and a dark form burst forth in a frenzy and placed its hands around her neck.