The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,150

have known all of that when he ended the engagement with Tatiana. And while that was overwhelming in a way I had little experience with, it was also terrifying.

Because without the Summer fae fighting back against the Winter fae, mankind would fall. The Order I worked for wouldn’t be able to hold them back.

It wasn’t just the future of the Summer Court that relied on the King choosing his Queen. The entire world did as well.

I’d always dreamed about the kind of love where someone was willing to risk everything. I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of it, but I wanted it—wanted it so damn badly.

But was that kind of love worth everything? The downfall of the Summer Court? Mankind? I shuddered as the back of my nose burned. A part of me wanted to scream that yes it was, but could I really live with myself—live happily ever after for however long Caden and I had—while the world fell apart around us? Until the Winter Court came for him, and he wasn’t able to fight them off?

Could Caden really live with that?

He might think so now, but months and years from now? I didn’t think so.

I knew I couldn’t.

And now, with the knowledge that I could…that I was bringing a child into a world that would definitely have an expiration date stamped on it? I couldn’t do that.

Luce had tipped forward when I reopened my damp eyes. “Is it possible, Brighton, that the King is the father? Or could it be someone else?”

“Aric didn’t…he didn’t rape me.”

“You said you didn’t remember anything like that,” she clarified gently. “I would think it would be unlikely for it to be him, based on the stage of your pregnancy. But if it happened at the beginning of your captivity, it wouldn’t be wholly impossible.”

I was pretty sure Aric hadn’t forced himself on me. To be honest, he’d seemed pretty disgusted by humans, especially me. But toward the end, I’d thought he started to respect me, as messed up as that was. If I hadn’t been able to kill him when I did, I had a horrible, sinking feeling that this conversation might be different.

I shook my head. “It’s not him.”

Luce’s gaze met mine. “Then the King is the father. Or possibly someone else?”

The breath I exhaled punched out of me. “There’s no one else. It has to be him. We had…well, we were together, and there wasn’t protection. I didn’t think it would be a concern.”

Luce didn’t move for several moments. I wasn’t even sure if she breathed, but then she swallowed and sat up straight. “It’s extremely rare for a human to become pregnant by a fae, but it happens.”

I knew that. A halfling could be born from such a union. Ivy Owens was a prime example of that—

“The prophecy.” I jolted, heart leaping into my throat. “The one that could cause the gates of the Otherworld to open—”

“You’re not a halfling,” Luce interceded calmly. “Your child most likely wouldn’t even be one.”

Yes, she was right. The prophecy that would tear open the gates between our worlds, freeing the demented Queen Morgana, required a Prince or Princess or a King or Queen to procreate with a halfling, creating a child that should never exist. I knew that. I wasn’t a halfling, but I also wasn’t exactly human anymore, was I? The King had given me the Summer Kiss, something that no one else knew. Well, no one who was alive. Aric had figured it out, but—

“Wait.” My brain had finally processed everything she’d said. “M-my child most likely wouldn’t be a halfling? It would be human?”

“No.” Luce leaned forward again, pressing the tips of her fingers together. “The child would most likely be completely fae.”

I opened my mouth, closed it, and then tried again. “How is that even possible? I’m human.” Mostly. “And he is fae. His genetics can’t cancel out mine.”

“Actually, for the King or for an Ancient, they would.”

I stared at her. “Does science mean nothing to you people?”

A faint smile appeared. “Only to a certain degree, Brighton. We are not human, and we are not bound by human science, biology, or genetics. We are far more superior than that.” A pause. “No offense meant.”

I blinked at her.

“This could explain why the pregnancy is still viable despite the trauma to your body,” Luce went on, a look of curiosity creeping across her face. “A child of a King would be incredibly strong, even at this stage