The Heir

Copyright © 2015 by Suzanna Lynn

The Heir – The Bed Wife Chronicles

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Any unauthorized reprint
or use of this material is strictly prohibited. No part of this
book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without express
written permission from the author except for the use of brief
quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s
imagination and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead,
events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Edited by Hollie The Editor

Content Editing by Shawn W. Gillogly

Book Cover Design by Funky Book Designs

Formatting by Sharon Kay of Amber Leaf
Publishing

(The following story contains mature themes
and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.)

Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

For those who can see that dragons exist in
stories, not to be scary, but to show us what can be overcome.

The snow had fallen on the Kingdom of
Grasmere for what felt like ages. Though it had been three months
since the solstice, winter’s firm grip held tight over the lands
and proved hard for the entire Kingdom. The people of the villages
had difficulty keeping full bellies and warm hearths within their
homes. Even inside the castle the hardship of winter had taken
hold.

Many in the castle had fallen ill from a
strain of sickness that baffled the royal physician, Master Keon.
Even King Ashmur was a victim of the relentless infection. It
caused an intense fever, labored breathing and an inability to keep
food down. Thankfully, though it left the sick feeble for nearly a
month, none of those who had fallen ill had succumbed to
perish.

The fear of the illness had the Kingdom in a
panic, especially with all the expectant bed wives within the
castle. All the young women, excluding Luana, were fruitful in
producing heirs and were heavy with child. Master Keon warned that,
should one of the bed wives fall ill, their unborn child could be
lost.

Luana too, it seemed, contracted the
illness. Though the symptoms were much milder, the illness took
hold for far longer than in anyone else. For over a month she
struggled with nausea and weakness. Master Keon checked on her
several times at the pleading of Prince Baylin, only to dismiss it
as the illness that plagued the Kingdom.

However, the past few days proved to be a
bit easier on Luana, and she was able to find comfort from the
effects of the illness during the evening before she retired to
bed.

Standing on the frigid balcony in the
moonlight, Luana stood wrapped in a thick, silvery grey fur hooded
robe that Baylin had gifted her when the winter nights had turned
harsh. She watched as great pillowy white flakes drifted through
the air in utter silence, landing on those that had come before to
create a thick, seamless pale blanket that covered the Kingdom in
white.

Through all the strain the mounding snow and
unending illness was causing, Luana could not help but feel
joy.

That very day Master Keon had come to check
on her. With her illness not passing, the worry was more than
Baylin could bear. He insisted that she, again, be examined by the
old physician.

Luana thought about how Master Keon’s visit
had changed everything for her.

“
Please come in, Master Keon.” Luana
strained to hold the chamber door open as the wrinkled,
hunched-over old man hobbled through the doorway. She shut the door
as he made his way into the room.

“
His Grace, the Prince, tells me you are
still feeling unwell. He has requested I examine you again.” She
shut the door behind the old man as he entered the room and seated
himself at a table. “Tell me, do the symptoms give you grief? Do
any of your remedies seem to be helping?”

In the beginning, when Luana brought Prince
Baylin back from the brink of death, the old Master was highly
skeptical of her use of herbs for healing. However, after seeing
how many of them worked, he became more open to them and was kind
enough to supply her with some when she needed them. He joked with
her that she had more knowledge than the elves when it came to
herbal remedies.

Luana sat across the table from Master Keon.
“Well, sir, I am very tired. I find that I cannot seem to get
enough sleep. At times, I get rather sick, and some days I have
trouble keeping anything but water down. However, other days I feel
fine.”

“
Let’s see now, how long has this
afflicted you?” Master Keon opened his black leather bag and took
out a few bottles of herbs, along with some instruments that Luana
was most certain she did not want used on her.

“
It comes and goes, as I said.” Luana
looked at the Master’s instruments. She started to fidget as she
watched him pull out more devices and lay them on the table. “But I
suppose it’s been going on for nearly two months now. Back when the
illness first showed up in the castle.” She bit her lip as the
anxiety began to overwhelm her.

“
It comes and goes you say?” the old man
asked, flipping through some pieces of parchment as though he were
looking for something important. “And when do you find it to be at
its worst?”

Luana tilted her head to the side, narrowing
her eyes as she looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean,
sir?”

“
Do you find it to be worse after eating
certain foods? Perhaps before bed?” the physician asked. “Do you
feel ill in the morning, or do you wake feeling well?”

“
I suppose,” Luana said, fingering the
hem of her sleeve as she shifted in her seat, “I would say I am
most worse in the morning. As the day goes on, especially if I rest
during the day, I feel much better in the evening.”

Master Keon looked up at her from his work
on the table. “My dear, when did you last bleed?”

“
Oh… it has been at least two months,”
Luana said as the words gave her the answer that had been right in
front of her the whole time. “Actually, if I’m not mistaken, it’s
been nearly three.”

Luana was angry with herself for not seeing
it. “You fool!” she thought.

“
Are you entirely sure?” Master Keon
questioned. “How can you be certain?”

Luana blushed. “It was right before the
winter solstice.”

“
And might I assume that you and Prince
Baylin have lain together since then?” the old man asked.

Luana pursed her lips together as she
nodded, looking down at her hands in her lap. “Yes, sir. Many
times.” She looked up at the old man, embarrassed at discussing the
subject of making love to Baylin. She knew it was required, but it
made her feel exposed.

His expression softened. “Well, my dear, I
would say you are with child. But I will need you to go lay on the
bed so that I may confirm.”

Luana looked from the Master to his
instruments and then back to him again as her heart began to race.
She gripped the arms of the chair, causing her knuckles to turn
white under the strain. She sat up straight, her shoulders and back
going ridged. “He is not going to poke and prod at me with those
things.”

The physician seemed to read her mind and
smiled. “Do not worry, my dear. I just need to feel of your belly
and check your heart, certainly nothing to fret over.”

His words caused Luana to slump back in her
chair with relief. Her lips parted, releasing a deep breath she was
unaware she had held. She did as she was told and laid down on the
bed for the exam. She was slightly scared of the old man,
especially since she had been so disrespectful of him before.
However, he was kind to her.

Master Keon pressed gently around on her
lower stomach, as though he was outlining an imaginary circle. “My
dear, I would say you are nearing your third month.”

She opened her mouth, but words would not
come. “How could I not have seen it?”

He looked at Luana with a kind smile on his
face. “It would seem that our Prince has an heir on the way.”

She smiled at the old man in spite of
herself. “I’m with child.”

Luana sighed as the memory faded from her
thoughts. Though her belly had not yet begun to swell, she couldn’t
help but touch it lovingly and think of the tiny life growing
inside.
Please be a son.

She gazed up at the deep blue sky. The stars
filled the dark blanket of night like millions of winking diamonds
and all of them stared down on her and the child within.

Luana could feel the presence of Baylin as
he quietly made his way out onto the balcony. He slipped up behind
her, wrapping her in his arms. Even on the coldest of nights, his
touch was as warm as the summer sun.

“Good evening, my love,” Baylin said,
kissing the curve of Luana’s neck. The sensation of his lips
against her skin sent goose bumps all over her.

Luana smiled as she turned to face him. She
reached up and rested her hand on his cheek.

“Did Master Keon come today?” Baylin asked
as he slid a strand of Luana’s silver-blonde hair behind her
ear.

She nodded, trying not to act overly
excited. She had been waiting all day for him to return so she
could give him the news.

Baylin cupped Luana’s chin, looking into her
eyes. “What did he find? Why are you unable to recover from this
illness?”

The anticipation bubbled inside her as she
struggled to keep her composure. “He said I am quite healthy.”

“Healthy?” Baylin questioned, worry on his
face. He paced the balcony, running a jerky hand through his long
black hair. “How can he consider you healthy? You have been so weak
for so long. Perhaps we should seek out another physician.”

Luana smiled, walked up to Baylin and placed
a gentle hand on his arm. “It is okay. I am healthy, I promise you.
It’s just that…” She had waited for this moment for months and now
that it had come she could hardly find the words.

“Just what?” Baylin asked, his face heavy
with concern.

She took his hand into her own and gazed
into his blue eyes. “Baylin, I am with child.”

The Prince was still for a moment, as though
comprehension had not quite taken hold when she said the words.
However, the next instant, understanding and shock flooded his face
and he placed his hand on her stomach. “With child? You’re with…
we… I am to be a father?”

Luana giggled and nodded. “Yes, my
love.”

Baylin pulled Luana to him and kissed her
deeply. When he pulled away to look at her, Luana could see the
thin sheen of tears he was fighting away. His face was pure joy as
he knelt and kissed her stomach. “Our child.”

Luana stroked his hair as he held his cheek
against her belly, tears forming in her own eyes. Baylin stood and
kissed her softly on the lips, then lifted Luana into his arms and
carried her into the bed chamber.

Baylin pushed through the thick indigo blue
drapes that had been hung over the opening of the balcony to keep
the weather out. The blazing hearth fought to keep the cold at bay.
He carried Luana over to the bed, laying her gently atop a soft
mound of furs. The Prince leaned in, kissing her. He began to pull
away, but Luana gripped his tunic, drawing him in closer and
kissing him again. She wanted nothing more than to celebrate their
news by making love.

She had been forced to suffer without Baylin
for months. With his father ill, the Prince had been given all the
responsibilities of the King. Luana had not felt Baylin’s touch for
a couple of weeks as he spent a majority of his time in war
council.
But tonight he is mine.

Baylin leaned in to the kiss as he slid his
hands up Luana’s thighs, pushing her dress up over her waist. He
rubbed his pelvis against hers. She could feel he was aroused,
which caused a tingling between her thighs. She quickly began
unlacing Baylin’s tunic. He pulled it over his head and threw it to
the floor. As he kissed her, Luana’s hands explored his body,
sliding over his hard muscles.