Robbin's POV
The castle felt empty despite the many people who were here today. I suppose it's because everyone was busy trying to keep the rogues at bay. Xander wanted me to take part in the meeting in the war room today and I felt nervous about it. They plan to use dragons in this new war. I wonder if he'd let me ride on the front lines.
Probably not. Even if I wasn't pregnant, Xander would have me far away from the action. I should tell him before the meeting. If I'd planned to do something during the battle, we'd have to change everything for my late news.
I arrived in the war room in time to see Xander arguing with one of the guards-something about more troops from the east. My presence was automatically known by the entire room and they bowed. I waved one of my hands for them to carry on.
Xander seemed to relax slightly after noticing me. The upcoming war must be straining on him. Hell, it's been a lot for all of us. No one wants this. Good men were going to die during it.
Xander met me halfway as I walked up to him. His eyes were tired and his posture was starting to slouch. How long had he been up?
"We need to talk," I said.
"Is everything okay?" he scanned my figure quickly before returning my gaze. Not even my mate could smell the change in me. It made me partially feel guilty. Xander had no idea how shocking the words about to come out of my mouth were going to be.
"Yes," I answered honestly, "I just need to tell you something."
"I'm sorry, but it needs to wait. Everyone has arrived and we need to start."
"Oh...okay."
"Are you sure everything's okay?"
"It can wait, Xander."
I pulled my seat back and sat down. Xander did the same, sitting at the head of the table and everyone followed our leads as they waited for us. Here from the Northerner kingdom were the head of our military, Jon Horne, Alpha Landon of the Sno pack, Alpha Peter of the Nova pack, and alpha Tristan of the Caden pack.
From the Westerlie kingdom were my family and our top dragon trainers. King Weldon from the Easterlie kingdom sent his royal advisor, David Hue, to speak in his place, and the Southerner kingdom sent their elected president, Arthur Coldwell.
Here in this room sat most of the worlds most important people. How stupid of us to do this. Then again, each of them did bring a chunk of their armies with them for protection. No one could barely make it into the castle.
"I'd like to thank everyone for coming on short notice," Xander said, "As you all know, we all are facing the same threat. Ryker and his army of rogues. I fear a war breaking out and we cannot let another kingdom fall."
"So, you've called us here to fight with you," asked president Coldwell?
"Not fight, but show Ryker that he cannot take on every kingdom."
"They have a dragon," My father reminded him, "One dragon can wipe out an entire army."
"Any you have hundreds."
"It only takes one."
Xander shifted in his seat. "What do you propose we do, Drakon." he addressed my father with such an informality, I nearly slapped him for it.
"The Northerner kingdom may have our armies, not our dragons. We don't need another world engulfed in flames."
"And you, president Coldwell? Where do you stand in this?"
"Where do I stand," he retorted, "There's only one side to choose. I am on the side of justice, not destruction. I don't want to invade them, the southerners aren't conquers. We're diplomatic people. We'll assist in any surrender you wish to offer, but that's it."
"The easterlie kingdom will stand with president Coldwell," announced David.
Xander nodded at every statement they made. This was good. We had such an upper hand in this that Ryker couldn't stand a chance.
My mate seemed to feel the same way. If he didn't agree with them, he would've said so."I want to get a message to him to set up a truce. If he doesn't agree to pull away his army and surrender, we fight."
"And what are the terms of this surrender," David questioned.
"He and his closest aids will give up their lives and the rest of his men can choose between prison or death."
"He'd never agree to that, brother," Gus spoke out for the first time. I could tell this was hard for the both of them; fighting the person you grew up with, trust into your home and family. But Ryker betrayed the Northerner kingdom. They had to set aside and empathy.
"He should know by now that we have greater numbers than him. Going to war with us is a death sentence for him."
"So if this comes down to a fight, where will my daughter be," my father asked.
Xander hesitated for a moment. "Anywhere she wants. It's taken me time to accept that she'd fight in a battle even when I've told her not to. Preferably, I'd like her in the sky with protection."
"That's exactly where Ryker would look for her!"
"She'd be safe with Grey and her siblings."
"Robbin is the queen and will carry your heir one day." my blood ran cold in my feet at my father's words. No one in this room aside from Alec knew I was pregnant, but just hearing the words made me nervous. "We cannot risk it."
"Do I get a say in this," I question, finally speaking up. Everyone turned to me, my father and Xander's gaze burning the brightest. "Ryker doesn't just want to overthrow Xander and I. he wants us dead. We have royal blood in our veins, and even though we aren't the only ones in our families to carry on the next generation, we can't afford it. As much as I want us to fight with all of you, I don't think we should. I know you love your people Xander," I turned and spoke to him now, "But we need to think about the future. Besides, with the size of our combined army, we're unstoppable."
"I'm surprised. You're usually the first to rush into battle."
"We need to prioritize, Xander. I can stay here with the people; keep our kingdom under control."
He gave me an agreeing nod, though I'm sure he's ecstatic at the idea. I'm the last person Xander wants fighting in this. He may be finding it odd and out of character for me, but everyone will think it's from a maturing mind. We can't have to dead rulers. Now I have to tell him the true meaning of my decision.
Our meeting ended with a forged plan. That was all we had. Theories and possible outcomes. No actual results would be determined yet. There was no one to fight right now.
But we couldn't just wait for something to happen.
After everyone was escorted out of the war room, I tried asking Xander for a few minutes but he wanted to review our army's positioning, so I had nothing to do until he was done. I asked to be excluded from it for a while. Being with him but not being able to tell him the news would be hard for me.
With every moment passing, fear became overtaken with sadness. I didn't have the time to think about my mother. She sadly passed in the Great War, never knowing what became of her children. Phineas, the King in the west. Robbin, the Queen in the north. Olympia....
I wonder if she'd be proud of us. Of her daughter having a child. We never talked about it much. I was always off flying or training, living the most out of my life. I never wanted to be married or the queen for that matter. It was simply not my role in the family.
Yet, here I am, doing everything I never wanted to do, and I don't regret it.
What would my life be like if I'd made it to the Westerlie kingdom? No Xander, Lilliana, Gus or Alec. Or a child. I'd have less than I do right now. How could I regret that?
Nightfall took over and the sky blackened at its arrival. Waiting for Xander made me anxious so I decided to just go to him. No more pacing the floors or cold feet. He needed to know about our child.
I walked the halls of the palace. The air was colder than usual and smelled crisp. I knew that meant it would snow soon. Moonlight illuminated long corridors as I walked down them back to the war room where he had been all day.
I reached the doors were two guards stood. They bowed for me and opened the doors. Inside were Xander, Alec, my father, brother, and Gus. their eyes flipped up to me as I entered.
"Hello, Robbie," My father said, "Ready to join us? We have a lot to talk about."
"Well, I'd like to, but I need to speak to Xander alone."
"It'll have to wait," Xander commented and looked back at the table plastered with papers.
"It can't. Please, Xander, it's urgent." I felt weak in my words as I begged. I never begged. There was a spice of desperation in my tone but barely noticeable to anyone.
He dropped the files in his hands and left the room with me following close behind. I didn't even spare my father a glance as I walked out. I knew my interruption was unexpected and odd, especially for me.
Xander walked towards a balcony on the left side of the hallway and opened it, letting in the cold winter air.
He stepped outside and closed the door after me.
"What's going on, Robbin?"
I felt nauseous. Part of me wanted to jump off of this balcony and run away. "We've been through a lot together, wouldn't you say?"
I think my question caught him off guard. I certainly wasn't what I planned on saying.
"I think that's an understatement."
"Right...and things tend to happen over time, unexpected things. Sometimes what we do can have life term effects on us."
"What are you trying to say," he asked in a slightly darker tone.
"Change is good, right? So many things change our lives. When we met, both of our lives changed. And now after all this time, there's going to be one more."
"You're not leaving me." It wasn't a question. Xander never asked for anything, only demanded.
"What?"
"Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier? That you're leaving me? When I need you the most?"
"Xander, no. I couldn't do that even if I wanted to, which I don't. We don't need any more wars."
"Then What is it? What's this life-changing thing that's going to affect us long term?
"I'm saying...the reason I don't want to fight on the battlefield is because I'm pregnant."